Oxford Big Ideas Humanities and Social Sciences Western Australian Curriculum Skills and Activities Books are full-colour write-in Student workbooks supported by integrated digital resources. Designed to prepare students to enter ATAR-level HASS studies with confidence, they provide syllabus coverage and scaffolded skill development for Years 7–10 HASS students in Western Australia.

Each Student workbook has been written by expert Western Australian authors and features a range of recent, local case studies, practice source analysis and engaging skills-based activities, plus revision sections for each of the four subject areas.

Closely aligned to syllabus content, they support not only students using the market-leading Oxford Big Ideas Humanities and Social Sciences Western Australian Curriculum series, but also users of other HASS resources seeking additional opportunities for revision and extension.

Key features
Each Student workbook covers all four subject areas (History, Geography, Economics and Business, and Civics and Citizenship) and includes a range of innovative features:

• Glossary grab provides a space for students to record key terms and encourages students to develop their understanding of key terminology as they learn.
• Word wizard engages students’ literacy skills using key terminology from the unit of study.
• Skill school explicitly focuses on building key skills in each subject area.
• Analysis ace develops students’ confidence in analysing sources in each subject area.
• Case cracker enables students to develop and practice skills in context using engaging case studies.
• Writing winner develops essential HASS writing skills, from taking notes and referencing sources to constructing essays and using data.
• Fun finish engages students with fun tasks, including designing and drawing, group activities, working with their hands and thinking innovatively.
• Skills survey concludes each section with a self-assessment checklist for students to rate their confidence using essential HASS skills.
• Revision remedy offers students a range of skills-based multiple-choice and short-answer questions designed to consolidate learning.

Integrated digital resources
Each Student workbook comes complete with access to an exciting range of integrated digital material, including interactive maps, timelines and activities; videos; weblinks; auto-marking quizzes; a world statistics database; and other digital resources designed to enhance learning.

PART 1: GEOGRAPHY

Chapter 1: The Geography toolkit

Chapter 2: Growing food
Word wizard: Match that
Skill school: Interpreting and creating a cross section
Analysis ace: Interpreting geographic information systems
Case cracker: Using the PQE method to interpret geographical data
Writing winner: How to: Plan a fieldwork report
Fun finish: Where does your food come from?

Chapter 3: Food security
Word wizard: Cash in your word bank
Skill school: Analysing topographic maps
Analysis ace: Interpreting geographical data
Case cracker: Comparing farming methods
Writing winner: How to: Weigh up pros and cons
Fun finish: Geographic infographic

Chapter 4: An interconnected world
Word wizard: Word ladder
Skill school: Explaining connection to place using maps and images
Analysis ace: Comparing maps with satellite images
Case cracker: Investigating travel using patterns on choropleth and topographic maps
Writing winner: How to: Interpret variables
Fun finish: Being a global citizen

Chapter 5: The effects of global connection
Word wizard: This or that
Skill school: Examining graphs and predicting change over time
Analysis ace: Interpreting complex choropleth maps
Case cracker: Understanding spatial patterns
Writing winner: How to: Evaluate your data
Fun finish: Top tourism trends

Skills survey: Geography
Revision remedy: Geography

PART 2: HISTORY

Chapter 6: The History toolkit

Chapter 7: The making of the modern world
Word wizard: Code cracker
Skill school: Synthesising your research
Analysis ace: Analysing maps as historical sources
Case cracker: Investigating cause and effect
Writing winner: How to: Compare perspectives of different historians
Fun finish: A revolutionary invention

Chapter 8: The Industrial Revolution
Word wizard: Fill in the blanks
Skill school: Evaluating the usefulness of sources
Analysis ace: Identifying and analysing different perspectives
Case cracker: Analysing continuity and change
Writing winner: How to: Conduct a historical inquiry
Fun finish: Industrial jobs

Chapter 9: World War I (1914–1918)
Word wizard: Match that
Skill school: Developing your hypothesis
Analysis ace:  Analysing propaganda posters
Case cracker: Analysing cause and effect
Writing winner: How to: Perfect your TEEL paragraph
Fun finish: Women and the war effort

Skills survey: History
Revision remedy: History

PART 3: ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

Chapter 10: The Economics and Business toolkit

Chapter 11: Understanding the economy
Word wizard: Word puzzle
Skill school: Understanding the economy
Analysis ace: Comparing economic data
Case cracker: Problem-solving in action
Writing winner: How to: Write about economic data
Fun finish: Campaigning in the international market

Chapter 12: Managing financial risks and rewards
Word wizard: Sequencing the text
Skill school: Understanding cause and effect
Analysis ace: Applying economic reasoning to sources
Case cracker: Analysing contemporary causes of business management
Writing winner: How to: Break down a prompt and write an introduction
Fun finish: Don’t be fooled!

Chapter 13: The changing work environment
Word wizard: True or false
Skill school: Creating a resume to enter the workforce
Analysis ace: Analysing innovative marketing campaigns
Case cracker: Understanding the role of technology
Writing winner: How to: Proofread and plan
Fun finish: Fifty years’ difference

Skills survey: Economics and Business
Revision remedy: Economics and Business

PART 4: CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP

Chapter 14: The Civics and Citizenship toolkit

Chapter 15: Government, democracy and the citizen
Word wizard: Word search
Skill school: Understanding the consequences of political actions
Analysis ace: Analysing the reliability of political sources
Case cracker: Understanding the difference between fact and opinion
Writing winner: How to: Investigate political concepts
Fun finish: Create your own party

Chapter 16: Australia’s legal system
Word wizard: Crossword
Skill school: Researching the key features of WA’s legal system
Analysis ace: Analysing court cases
Case cracker: Evaluating both sides of an argument
Writing winner: How to: Research and construct an essay
Fun finish: Mock trial

Skills survey: Civics and Citizenship
Revision remedy: Civics and Citizenship

Glossary grab

Leo Conti
Leo Conti is the President of the Geographical Association of Western Australia. He worked as an author on the Oxford Big Ideas Humanities and Social Sciences Western Australian Curriculum 7–10 Student books. Leo currently works as the Head of HASS at Ballajura Community College in Perth, and as a senior lecturer at the University of Notre Dame.

Kirstin Woodard
Kirstin Woodard is a currently working as a History teacher at Applecross Senior High School in Perth. Kirstin has experience teaching ATAR-level History, as well as Years 7–10 History and Geography.

Annie Rees
Annie Rees has been teaching HASS in independent schools in Perth since 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource Management) and a Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), with a major in Business Studies and a minor in Humanities and Social Sciences. A passionate Business and Economics teacher, she has experience teaching Years 7–10 HASS, as well as Business Management and Enterprise ATAR.

Ashley Breadsell
Having taught since 2007, Ashley Breadsell is an experienced HASS teacher. Ashley has taught ATAR-level Geography, as well as Years 7–10 HASS. Ashley currently works at Mandurah Catholic College, where she held the position of Assistant Head of Learning Area HASS in 2014, 2017 and 2018.

Siobhan McCarthy
Siobhan McCarthy has experience teaching ATAR-level Politics and Law, as well as Years 7–10 HASS. Prior to teaching, Siobhan studied Law, Political Science, Languages and History. Most recently, Siobhan has worked at Prendiville Catholic College in Perth.

Haylie Pepper
Haylie Pepper is currently working as a Civics and Citizenship specialist at Perth College. Prior to teaching, Haylie worked as a laywer. She has experience teaching ATAR-level Politics and Law, as well as Years 7–10 HASS.