HSIE Resources for Stage 1 (Years 1–2)

Stage 1 HSIE: People, Places & Communities for Years 1–2

Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) at Stage 1 introduces young students to the world beyond their immediate experience. Covering Years 1 and 2 in the NSW syllabus, Stage 1 HSIE focuses on how people are connected to places, how daily life has changed over time, and how people in communities work together.

TeachBuySell offers a growing collection of teacher-created Stage 1 HSIE units, worksheets, and activities designed to bring these concepts to life for early primary students.

The NSW HSIE syllabus at Stage 1 builds on the foundational experiences of Early Stage 1, expanding students' understanding of people, places, and the past.

Geography — People Are Connected to Places

Stage 1 Geography explores how people are connected to places near and far. Students investigate the natural and human features of places, why places are important to people, and how people can care for places. They develop early mapping skills — including using simple maps, aerial photographs, and directional language.

Key inquiry questions include:

• What are the features of, and activities in, places?
• How are people connected to their place and other places?
• How can spaces within a place be rearranged to suit different purposes?

History — The Past in the Present

Stage 1 History focuses on how daily life has changed over time. Students compare their own lives with those of people in earlier generations — exploring changes in technology, transport, communication, and family life. They use personal and family histories as starting points for investigation.

Community and Belonging

Students explore what makes a community, the roles people play within communities, and how people from diverse backgrounds contribute to community life. This strand supports students' developing sense of identity and belonging.

Curriculum Alignment

Stage 1 HSIE aligns closely with the Australian Curriculum's HASS learning area for Years 1 and 2. Resources designed for the NSW syllabus work well for teachers in other states using the national curriculum.

You can view the full HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024) on the NSW Curriculum website, or explore the national Australian Curriculum v9 for HASS.

Make It Hands-On and Experiential

Young students learn best through concrete, hands-on experiences. Take students on walks around the school and local area, use sensory activities to explore places, and incorporate craft, drawing, and model-making into geography lessons.

Use Picture Books as a Starting Point

High-quality picture books are powerful tools for introducing HSIE concepts. Books about families, communities, places, and the past give students a shared reference point for discussion and investigation. Pair read-alouds with structured follow-up activities.

Build on Personal Experience

Stage 1 HSIE is most effective when students can connect new learning to their own lives. Start units with students' own stories — their family, their home, their daily routines — then gradually broaden the focus to include other communities and places.

Develop Skills Progressively

At Stage 1, students are building foundational skills in:

• Reading and creating simple maps and plans
• Sequencing events on timelines
• Asking and answering questions about the past
• Comparing features of different places
• Communicating findings through drawings, oral presentations, and simple writing

Integrate with English and Creative Arts

HSIE provides rich contexts for literacy development. Students can write recounts about local places, create information reports about communities, and use art to represent what they've learned about places and the past.

Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten)

Students explore their immediate world — their family, classroom, and school. They learn about personal identity, how to care for familiar places, and begin recognising that things change over time. Activities are play-based and sensory-rich.

Stage 1 (Years 1–2)

The focus broadens to communities, connections between places, and the past in the present. Students begin using simple maps and timelines, compare their lives with those of earlier generations, and investigate how people contribute to community life.

Stage 2 (Years 3–4)

Students examine how environments are shaped by natural processes and human activity, explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connections to Country, and investigate how Australia has changed over time. Geographic and historical skills become more formal.

Stage 3 (Years 5–6)

The most complex stage covers Australian colonial history, global geography, sustainability, and civics. Students work with multiple perspectives, analyse a range of primary and secondary sources, and develop structured inquiry skills.