Over the past term, our Year 10 students have explored the unit “Desire”, which invites them to consider the core question: What do humans desire, and how can we be alert to them?

Through this unit, students examined the complex interplay between human aspirations and societal influences, challenging them to reflect on how laws and advertising shape our wants, needs, and behaviors. This provided an opportunity to explore the forces that influence their daily lives in meaningful and thought-provoking ways.

The unit began with an investigation into how societies have transitioned from traditional rites of passage to modern legal thresholds, focusing on the role of the law as a social technology that guides human conduct and reflects societal norms. Students collaborated to research legal frameworks across various countries, comparing the different approaches to how laws are created and enforced.

The focus then shifted to advertising, where students explored its powerful ability to shape desires through strategic messaging, psychological techniques, and cultural cues. As part of this exploration, students participated in a field trip to an urban environment, where they critically analyzed the pervasiveness of advertising in public spaces. This hands-on experience allowed them to map the scale and influence of advertising on society, examining how it reinforces social norms, drives consumerism, and impacts individual choices.

The culmination of the unit was a creative task: students were challenged to showcase their understanding of desire, laws, and advertising in a creative form. This gave them autonomy to present their learning in innovative ways, using art, multimedia, and written reflections to explore the unit’s core themes.

We are proud of the work from each of our Year 10 HT classes, showcasing their understanding in ways that also reflect their interests and talents. Their curiosity, effort, and creativity have demonstrated an excellent grasp of the forces that shape individual and collective desires.