History (HIS01‑03)
Core elements

The pupils shall learn to understand themselves as being both shaped by history and as shapers of history, with a past, present and future. The pupils develop an awareness of history by taking an exploratory approach to the subject, developing source-critical competence and the ability to see different perspectives and connections within the subject. The pupils shall also develop historical empathy while acquiring an overview of history.

The pupils shall develop a sense of wonder and learn to reflect on and assess how knowledge about the past is established. They shall learn to express their curiosity and actively seek and create knowledge by conducting research and shaping narratives. The pupils shall learn to acquire, interpret and use historical materials as a source in their own history presentations. Source-critical awareness refers to the ability to determine how the historical material can be used and to what degree it can shed light on the questions we ask. The pupils learn to understand that inadequate sources can limit our knowledge.

The pupils shall learn to assess connections between actions, events and phenomena in the past and understand that different points of view affect how the past is understood and portrayed. They shall learn to evaluate possible cause and effect outcomes in the past and to see why systems and phenomena either change or remain stable. The pupils shall also learn to understand the challenges and actions of people in the past. At the same time, they shall learn to understand that historical developments are not predetermined, but a result of people’s choices and priorities.

The pupils shall develop insight into and an overview of important historical content and important themes and periods in Norwegian and international history by working on important questions. They shall learn to identify connections in history and the understanding that features of development are interrelated. The pupils shall learn to understand the significance of the past for themselves in both the present and future. How have people obtained food and a livelihood and both created and distributed wealth and resources? How have people organised themselves into a society? How have people communicated and interacted with other people? How have people created, lived with and resolved conflicts, yet also managed to live in peace? How have people been defined, how have they defined themselves and how have they perceived their place in the world?