This textbook is an innovative History resource written for the Victorian Essential Learning Standards Level 5. Based on a big ideas framework, the underlying pedagogy enables students to develop deep, transferable understandings and skills.

Title overview (PDF)

• Encourages deep learning through understanding, connecting and transferring
• Explicitly teaches thinking skills in conjunction with content
• Provides a multitude of questions and activities that cater for multiple learning styles and different abilities.
• Is supported by a wealth of online support material

Chapter 1 History skills: How do we process information?
1.1 Where do we look to find evidence?
1.2 How do we work with time?
1.3 How do we analyse evidence?
1.4 How do we form an opinion?
Transferring Ideas: Ramses II

Chapter 2 Ancient Egypt: How do civilizations develop?
2.1 Where do civilisations begin?
2.2 How are civilisations organised?
2.3 How do beliefs and values influence a civilisation?
2.4 How do civilisations progress?
Transferring Ideas: Ancient Sumer

Chapter 3 Ancient Greece: How do civilisations influence one another?
3.1 How do civilisations develop?
3.2 How is one civilisation influenced by the organisation of another?
3.3 How is one civilisation influenced by the culture of another?
3.4 What impact does a strong civilisation have on another?
Transferring Ideas: Ancient Persia

Chapter 4 Ancient Rome: Why do civilisations rise and fall?
4.1 How do civilisations expand?
4.2 How are civilisations controlled?
4.3 How do past civilisations influence today's world?
4.4 Why do civilisations end?
Transferring Ideas: The ancient Mayans

Chapter 5 Ancient China: How do civilisations compare?
5.1 How are civilisations organised?
5.2 How do civilisations become strong?
5.3 How do the beliefs and values of civilisations compare?
5.4 How have ancient civilisations influenced the modern world?
Transferring Ideas: Ancient Japan

Chapter 6 History Skills: How do we assess evidence?
6.1 Can we trust the evidence?
6.2 How do we form a point of view?
6.3 How do we conduct an investigation?
6.4 Can we use someone else's material?
Transferring ideas: The Mongols

Chapter 7 Feudalism: How are societies organised?
7.1 How did feudalism develop?
7.2 How are societies controlled?
7.3 How do societies stay powerful?
7.4 Why did feudalism decline?
Transferring Ideas: Medieval Japan

Chapter 8 Medieval Life: What influences lifestyle?
8.1 How does location influence daily life?
8.2 How do social divisions influence daily life?
8.3 How does religion influence daily life?
8.4 How does standard of living influence daily life?
Transferring Ideas: Life in Melbourne

Chapter 9 Bold New World: Why do societies change?
9.1 How do new ideas change societies?
9.2 How does exploration change societies?
9.3 How do new discoveries change societies?
9.4 How do strong leaders change societies?
Transferring Ideas: Easter Island

Glossary
Index
Acknowledgements

Over the last ten years’ Maggy Saldais has been actively involved in a range of education publishing programs and is also completing her first novel.

Sample Pages

Big Ideas History 5 - Chapter 5


Sample teacher support resources
What is Oxford Big Ideas History?

Download all chapter resources
Teaching program
Big ideas assessment rubrics
Fresh ideas student rubric 1
Fresh ideas student rubric 2
Answers to question blocks
Worksheet 5.1—The Silk Road
Worksheet 5.2—Make and use an abacus
Worksheet answers


Sample IWB activity
Chapter 4: Ancient Rome




Oxford Big Ideas History Level 5 is supported by free, password-protected, teaching, learning and assessment resources. If Oxford Big Ideas History Level 5 is on your booklist or you have purchased a full class set you are invited to access this material.

1.0 History skills: How do we process information?
Worksheet 1.1 - Evidence of the 2008 Olympic Games
Worksheet 1.2 - Old, old artefacts

2.0 Ancient Egypt: How do civilisations develop?
Worksheet 2.1 - Ancient Egypt map
Worksheet 2.2 - Farm like an Egyptian
Worksheet 2.3 - Look cool
Worksheet 2.4 - Make a mummy
Worksheet 2.5 - Make papyrus

3.0 Ancient Greece: How do civilisations influence one another?
Worksheet 3.1 - Analyse maps
Worksheet 3.2 - A long road to equality
Worksheet 3.3 - Design an ancient Greek temple
Worksheet 3.4 - Design a mask for an ancient Greek play
Worksheet 3.5 - Create a sport for the ancient Greek Olympics

4.0 Ancient Rome: Why do civilisations rise and fall?
Worksheet 4.1 - Sourcing Gladiator
Worksheet 4.2 - Create a mosaic

5.0 Ancient China: How do civilisations compare?
Worksheet 5.1 - The Silk Road
Worksheet 5.2 - Make and use an abacus

6.0 History skills: How do we assess evidence?
Worksheet 6.1 - Construction of a Viking longboat
Worksheet 6.2 - Investigating Viking mythology

7.0 Feudalism: How are societies organised?
Worksheet 7.1 - Medieval church windows
Worksheet 7.2 - Castle construction

8.0 Medieval life: What influences lifestyle?
Worksheet 8.1 - Medieval recipes
Worksheet 8.2 - Medieval herbal remedies

9.0 Bold new world: Why do societies change?
Worksheet 9.1 - Printing with potatoes