Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

This course will introduce students to children and childhoods using the lens of global history. Students will engage with some of the key debates surrounding childhood studies, including: what defines childhood and how does that definition change through time and in different places? How do class, race and gender affect experiences of childhood? And how can we uncover children's experiences and perspectives from the archives? Using a wide range of primary sources, including photographs, objects, drawings and children's own writing, we will explore a number of case studies of children living in empires from the 18th to 20th centuries. Students will be encouraged to think of creative ways to apply historical knowledge, including developing materials for children.

20 x weekly 3-hour seminars taught on-campus

Successful completion of Junior Honours in History.

None.

None.

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ 1 x 10 minute oral presentation (1000 words) 10% 

■ Peer feedback (oral and written) on another student presentation (1000 words) 10% 

■ 1 x literature review essay (3,000 words) 20% 

■ 1 x research project on selected case study (3,000 words) 20% 

■ 1 x creative learning resource for children 20% 

■ 1 x poster presentation of a material culture source with museum style label (1000 words) 10% 

■ Peer feedback (oral and written) on poster presentation (1000 words) 10% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to essay, written feedback, literature review, research project, learning resource, or poster presentation, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ Recorded presentation (with extended analysis) as alternative to oral presentation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

The aims of this course are:

■ To introduce students to core theoretical debates about the nature of childhood and show how those debates and definitions have changed through time.

■ To develop practical skills in identifying secondary literature, locating and analysing primary sources, and developing new ways to communicate historical research to a broad public audience.

■ To use feedback productively to reflect on their work and make improvements.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Define key terminology related to childhood studies and relate it to the relevant historiography.

■ Explain the key debates around the history of childhood.

■ Assess the role of children as historical actors.

■ Evaluate and compare historical sources produced by and for children.

■ Propose and design a learning resource for children.  

■ Create an innovative medium to synthesize a selected piece of material culture.