# Stage 2 HSIE Units (Years 3–4): History and Geography Resources > Stage 2 HSIE units for Years 3-4: NSW history and geography lesson packs with slides, worksheets and assessments, organised by unit and term. ## Stage 2 HSIE Units for Years 3 and 4 Looking for this term's Stage 2 HSIE unit? Below are complete history and geography packs written by NSW teachers for Years 3 and 4, most of them numbered Unit 1 to Unit 8 to match the NSW Department of Education's sample units for the new HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024). Each pack typically includes teaching slides, student worksheets and an assessment task, so you can preview it, buy it and teach it this week. Jump to your unit below, or browse the most popular Stage 2 HSIE units first. ## Popular Stage 2 HSIE Units _(Dynamic listing feed — browse at the page URL for live results.)_ ## Stage 2 HSIE Units at a Glance The NSW Department of Education publishes eight [Stage 2 HSIE sample units](https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/hsie/hsie-curriculum-resources-k-12/hsie-k-6-curriculum-resources/hsie-s2-units.html), one for each term across Years 3 and 4. The table assumes Unit 1 starts in Year 3; in a composite or multi-age class the cycle may start in either year. Most of the packs on TeachBuySell follow the same numbering, so "Unit 3" in a listing title lines up with the department's Unit 3. Your school's scope and sequence may order them differently, so check the topic, not just the number. | Unit | When | Focus | Subject | |---|---|---|---| | Unit 1 | Year 3, Term 1 | Climate zones, rainfall, maps, grids and compass directions | Geography | | Unit 2 | Year 3, Term 2 | Ancient Maya, Aztec and Inca civilisations | History | | Unit 3 | Year 3, Term 3 | Aboriginal connections to Country, settlement and where people live | Geography | | Unit 4 | Year 3, Term 4 | Navigation and voyages that shaped knowledge of Terra Australis | History | | Unit 5 | Year 4, Term 1 | Caring for reserved lands, reducing waste, sustainable food | Geography | | Unit 6 | Year 4, Term 2 | The First Fleet and the British penal colony | History | | Unit 7 | Year 4, Term 3 | Life in the penal settlement at Sydney Cove | History | | Unit 8 | Year 4, Term 4 | Community needs, active citizenship and world religions in Australia | Geography | The department's own units need a NSW Department of Education staff login. The packs below are teacher-made alternatives that anyone can buy and use. ## Stage 2 HSIE Geography Units Stage 2 geography in the new syllabus sits under the focus area **Geographical information is used to understand the world**. Its content groups move from Aboriginal Peoples' sustainable care of the environment, to climates and environments, to caring for Australia's environments, to active citizenship. ### Unit 1: Climate and maps Students locate climate zones in relation to the equator and the poles, compare seasonal rainfall, and practise grid references, relief maps and compass directions. It is the most map-heavy unit of the stage, so look for packs with plenty of labelled maps and a mapping skills assessment. ### Unit 3: Country, place and environment One of the most popular Stage 2 HSIE units on TeachBuySell. Students learn how Aboriginal Peoples use and care for Country, then look at human settlement and how population is spread across Australia. Teachers often pair it with local Aboriginal Land Council or Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) input. Browse [Stage 2 mapping and Country units](/s?keywords=Stage%202%20HSIE%20Mapping%20Country). ### Unit 5: Caring for environments Reserved lands such as national parks, waste minimisation and sustainable food practices. There is no complete Stage 2 pack for this unit on TeachBuySell yet, so [browse all Stage 2 HSIE units](/s?keywords=Stage%202%20HSIE) to see what sellers have added since. ### Unit 8: Communities in action Active citizenship, how communities meet people's needs, and the major world religions practised in Australia. It is the last unit of the stage and often runs in Term 4 of Year 4. ## Stage 2 HSIE Geography Units _(Dynamic listing feed — browse at the page URL for live results.)_ ## Stage 2 HSIE History Units Stage 2 history in the new syllabus sits under the focus area **History uses sources to construct narratives of the past**. Students use sources to find out how people lived, starting with Aboriginal Peoples as the oldest living continuous Cultures in the world. ### Unit 2: Ancient civilisations of the Americas The Maya, Aztec and Inca, taught through the content group on Mesoamerica and the Andes. Students use artefacts, images and sites as evidence of daily life, food, beliefs and achievements. Our [Stage 2 ancient civilisations guide](/teacher-guides/stage-2-hsie-ancient-civilisations) covers how to teach it in detail, or [browse Maya, Aztec and Inca units](/s?keywords=Maya%20Aztec%20Inca). ### Unit 4: Journeys and voyages How people have used navigation to connect with other places, and the voyages that shaped European knowledge of Terra Australis. Strong packs here run to around 16 lessons with maps, ship and route sources, and a timeline task. ### Units 6 and 7: The First Fleet and Sydney Cove The arrival of the First Fleet, then what sources tell us about life in the first penal settlement at Sydney Cove. There are few full Stage 2 packs for these units yet, but there are [First Fleet and convict resources](/s?keywords=First%20Fleet%20convict) such as Year 4 historical recounts and convict life activities that slot into a unit. ## Stage 2 HSIE History Units _(Dynamic listing feed — browse at the page URL for live results.)_ ## What a Complete Stage 2 HSIE Unit Should Include A full term of HSIE is a lot of planning. Before you buy, check the listing preview for these: - **A full term of lessons.** Many complete Stage 2 packs run to 16 lessons, which suits two lessons a week across a 10-week term. Some sellers split a unit into two listings (for example Lessons 1–5 and Lessons 6–16), so check whether you need both or a bundle. - **Teaching slides.** PowerPoint or Google Slides for each lesson, with learning intentions and success criteria. - **Matched student worksheets.** One per lesson, including map work, source analysis and short written responses. - **An assessment task.** Ideally with a marking rubric tied to the syllabus outcomes. - **Planning documents.** A unit overview or program that lists outcomes and content, which saves time when writing your own program. - **Syllabus version.** Packs labelled "NEW SYLLABUS" or "NSW 2024 Syllabus" are written for the HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024). If your school is still on the older History and Geography syllabuses this year, check the unit overview before buying. Prefer fully scripted lessons? Our [NSW HSIE explicit lesson plans guide](/teacher-guides/nsw-hsie-explicit-lesson-plans) collects explicit-teaching sequences across all stages. ## Which HSIE Syllabus Applies in 2026? The [HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024)](https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/learning-areas/hsie/hsie-k-6-2024/overview) brings history and geography together under one syllabus. NESA's timeline makes 2026 the year to plan and prepare, with teaching of the new syllabus starting in 2027. Schools may choose to start teaching it early, which is why many Stage 2 classes are already using the new units. Until then, the History K–10 Syllabus (2012) and Geography K–10 Syllabus (2015) still apply. Under those, Stage 2 history covers Community and Remembrance and First Contacts, and Stage 2 geography covers The Earth's Environment and Places are Similar and Different. NESA has said the older syllabuses will not be available after December 2028. Teaching outside NSW? Stage 2 lines up with Years 3 and 4 of [Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)](https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/) in the Australian Curriculum v9, so most of these units adapt well. Moving up or down a stage? See [Stage 1 HSIE resources](/teacher-guides/hsie-resources-stage-1) for Years 1–2 and [Stage 3 HSIE resources](/teacher-guides/hsie-resources-stage-3) for Years 5–6. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Stage 2 HSIE ### What are the Stage 2 HSIE units? The NSW Department of Education sample units for the HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024) run Unit 1 to Unit 8 across the eight terms of Years 3 and 4: climate and maps, ancient civilisations of the Americas, Country and settlement, journeys and voyages, caring for environments, the First Fleet, life at Sydney Cove, and communities in action. Your school may order them differently. ### What year levels are in Stage 2? Stage 2 covers Year 3 and Year 4 in NSW primary schools. It follows Stage 1 (Years 1–2) and leads into Stage 3 (Years 5–6). ### Is the new HSIE K-6 syllabus compulsory in 2026? Not yet. NESA treats 2026 as the year to plan and prepare, and teaching of the HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024) starts in 2027. Schools can start early, and many already have, so you will find units written for both the new and the older syllabuses. ### What should a Stage 2 HSIE unit pack include? Look for a full term of lessons (many complete packs have 16), teaching slides, a matched worksheet for each lesson, an assessment task with a rubric, and a unit overview listing the syllabus outcomes. Check the preview to confirm the syllabus version. ### Where can I find Stage 2 Maya, Aztec and Inca resources? Unit 2 packs are in the history carousel above, and our [Stage 2 ancient civilisations guide](/teacher-guides/stage-2-hsie-ancient-civilisations) explains how to teach the unit. You can also [search Maya, Aztec and Inca resources](/s?keywords=Maya%20Aztec%20Inca). ### Are there free Stage 2 HSIE resources? Some sellers offer free samples and single lessons. [Browse free HSIE resources](/s?keywords=HSIE&price=0%2C0), then filter by Year 3 or Year 4. ### Can I use these units outside NSW? Yes. HSIE is the NSW name for history and geography; most other states teach the same content as HASS under the Australian Curriculum v9. Stage 2 units line up with Year 3 and Year 4 HASS, though unit order and some topics differ. --- Source: https://teachbuysell.com.au/teacher-guides/hsie-resources-stage-2 Marketplace: https://teachbuysell.com.au