The very first book written in every civilisation and in every continent was about History. That's why History is a universal subject, because every country has its own story to tell.

But History is not only valuable for the stories that it tells, but also for the way in which it tells them. History is a literate discipline, so it improves your ability to write, speak and communicate in English. It is also a thinking subject, which means it encourages you to explain and evaluate important ideas and events. The fact is, History changes over time, as new interpretations challenge previous orthodoxies, and as new ways of expressing historical developments are created. Consequently, History is not only the story of what happened in the past, but how that story is told today.

There are three members of staff responsible for teaching History/ Humanities across the Secondary school; Mrs Caroline Haas as History Co-ordinator, Ms Natalia and Mr Kroon.

Photo Gallery

Lower Secondary

Curriculum

In Years 7-9, students answer a series of overarching enquiry questions based around a number of key historical topics. This enables students to engage in a range higher order thinking skills, such as classifying, analysing and evaluating historical information. The topics cover a broad chronological and geographical span, so that students have some understanding of the main themes and developments that have characterised the past. For example, Year 8 students examine the origin and development of the slave trade, while Year 9 students seek to explain the horror of the Holocaust.

In terms of resources, students have access to a variety of worksheets, textbooks, videos and dvds, and are encouraged to take every opportunity to visit recommended web sites.

Year 7-9 Course Outline

IGCSE

In common with almost every leading international school, ISB students follow the Cambridge IGCSE International Relations Since 1919 course. This builds on the topics studied in Year 9, and includes the World War One peace treaties , the League of Nations, the collapse of international peace in the 1930s, the rise and fall of the Soviet Empire, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Also included in the course is a detailed study of Germany 1918-1945.

IGCSE Course Content

Course Overview
In IGCSE History students cover international relations from 1919 to 1989:

1. World War I peace treaties
    The League of Nations
    Causes of World War II

2. Depth study of China1945 - C.1990

3. The Cold War;

The division of Europe after WW2The Iron Curtain and the Berlin Blockade
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The Vietnam War
The end of the cold war and collapse of the USSR

Assessment Summary

IGCSE History is assessed by coursework and/or final exams.

• Paper 1 - Core content and Depth studies; counts for 40% of final grade
• Paper 2 - 20th Century topic - topics are prescribed each year and are taken from the Core content; counts for 33% of final grade
• Paper 4- Alternative to coursework. 27% 1 hour paper on Depth Study China 1945-c.1990

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB course enables students to use the knowledge and skills they acquired at IGCSE to deepen their understanding of world history. Consequently, all IB candidates examine the causes and effects of the two World Wars, plus the start and end of the Cold War. Higher Level students also study Europe in the 20th Century, which includes topics such as the Russian Revolution, Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany.

IB History Outline

Assessment Information

Lower Secondary

The continual monitoring of progress is essential and must be part of the successful teacher's planning and general working methods. Assessment comes in several forms and performs different tasks but they all have the one aim: that of improving the standard and level of education being offered. In History, assessment is achieved in the following ways: 

• By continually checking and monitoring students' progress by oral questioning and by facilitating discussion and feedback.
• By marking students' work regularly, promptly, supportively through formative and summative assessment.
• By giving students key assessment tasks and assessment criteria to understand the purpose and objectives of each task they undertake.
• By engaging students in self-assessment and target setting so that they are able to take control of their own learning and therefore facilitate greater progress.
• By the History Department meeting regularly to moderate key assessment tasks across the year group

By each member of the department sharing good practice and working with the attainment levels for Year 7, 8 and 9.

ISB ASSESSMENT LEVELS HISTORY YEAR 7

ISB ASSESSMENT LEVELS HISTORY YEAR 8

ISB ASSESSMENT LEVELS HISTORY YEAR 9

IGCSE

IB

• IB Standard Level: Two examinations (75% of the total marks) and a coursework assignment (25%).
• IB Higher Level: three examinations (80% of the total marks) and a coursework assignment (20%).