As Head of Social Sciences Tim Poga told us a short while ago, “Everybody in their daily life is going to deal with geography, history, economics and politics. You may not realise it, but every single day those things impact on your life.”
In Week 4, Mr. Poga and the Mercedes College Social Sciences department had the chance to show just how integral these subjects are! Over the week, Social Sciences staff ran a series of activities to promote the social sciences, engage students, and provide them plentiful opportunities to demonstrate their Social Science savvy.
Geography Quiz
The week kicked off with a bang, with Monday’s lunchtime Geography quiz receiving a packed house. The overwhelming popularity led to some last minute overflow seating arrangements, as students peered through windows in their enthusiasm to participate!
First prize for the quiz went to Emily Scanlan, who participated from outside the classroom’s back window! Well done Emily, as well as Edi and Heidi who took out second and third prize respectively.
Mystery Suitcase
Activities throughout the week continued with the “Mystery Suitcase” challenge, where students were encouraged to investigate a suitcase in the Library and use clues based on historically or politically significant events to work out who its owner could be (can you guess based on the photos below?).
Congratulations to Year 8 student Anna Lam, who successfully guessed the suitcase’s owner as Prime Minister Harold Holt!
Inflation Cartoon
Social Science teachers challenged students to create a cartoon representing the economic issue of inflation.
Congratulations to Year 12 student Naomi Rodricks, who won the contest, as well as runner ups (and prizewinners) Matilda Tran and Rupanshi Hada of Year 11!
Door Decoration Contest
Over the course of the week, each homeroom participated by working together to decorate their door with images and information about a country, sharing information about its history, geography, economics and/or political and legal system. There was stiff competition around the college, as you can see below!
After Judge/Deputy Principal McClintock returned from his travels around the world/campus, he picked his winner!
Honourable Mentions
- Year 7: 7.5 (Japan) and 7.2 (Italy)
- Year 8: 8.3 (Japan) and 8.4 (Ukraine)
- Year 9: 9.2 (England) and 9.7 (Sweden)
- Year 10: 10.5 (Greece) and 10.4 (Canada)
- Year 11: 11.1 (China) and 11.4 (Mexico)
Overall Winners: 8.3 (Japan) and 8.4 (Ukraine)
Most Enthusiastic: 10.4 (Canada)
Well done to all students for their participation!
Historical Recreations Contest
In a hotly contested challenge, students recreated famous historical scenes or artworks, either alone or with friends and family, with many chocolatey prizes to be won. At lunchtime on Friday, competitors and supporters gathered in the library to find out who would take home the big prize!
Highlights included group submissions from the Marissa Mezzatesta and a group of Year 12 girls, who submitted recreations of famous historical turning points, including the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Grand Duchesses of Russia before the revolution. Poppy Bartlett and Mia and Abbey Steffanelli recreated historical works of art, respectively Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas. Other students recreated famous scenes from films, including Aliyah Gelmi, who recreated a scene from The Beatles’ Help! with her family (complete with 3 meter-long scarf), and Yasmyn Browne and her dog playing Dorothy and Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Well done to Messrs. Mee and Poga, who each got involved with their representations of significant statesmen in Winston Churchill and Richard Nixon.
Congratulations to Poppy Bartlett, who won First Prize for her recreation of Girl with a Pearl Earring! Second Prize went to the Year 7’s for their recreation of the iconic moment when George Bush was informed of the attacks on America on 9/11. For their recreation of the Russian Grand Duchesses, the Year 12s won the The History Golden Globe Award, awarded by a panel of judges for the best overall entry! Congratulations to our winners, as well as all who participated!
An outstanding effort from the Social Sciences department this year, it was fantastic to see the students getting involved and putting their knowledge into practice. Well done to all our Social Science teachers for creating such an engaging and entertaining week.
