A collection of resources for all areas of Social Science including Geography, History and Economics/Commerce. They cover all levels. There is coverage for civics & citizenship, peace & legal studies, and lists for various Social Science strands. You should also check pages in Science and Social Science that are not curriculum specific such as Antarctica, World Information, Volcanoes and Weather.

For secondary schooling there may also be resources available from Social Science topics among various Tertiary Subject pages.

Remember many sites are not Australian. Check carefully to be sure they conform to Australian requirements before use, e.g. spelling, Mathematical formatting, terminology, … .

Listed individual resources are suitable for teacher use with all education levels unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Australian Sites

• A Guide to Government & Law in Australia
  Discovering Democracy Units. ‘This website contains the complete text of A Guide to Government and Law in Australia by Dr John Hirst. The book is an exploration of the history, structure and operations of Australian democracy with a concise description of the operations of the Australian system of government and law. The text also has a units index and there are links from the units to relevant sections of A Guide to Government and Law in Australia. Although written largely for teachers, older students may also find it useful’.
• Australian History Pictures
  ‘More than just pictures, they show and tell the story in rhymes and notes of the first 100 years of Australian history.’
  Primary
• Australian Social Science Data Archive
  Free registration required.
• Citizenship Education Resources
  Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Resources for Primary and Secondary students. One recent package is based around a character called Gina Giraffe. This page provides links to material for teachers and students.
• Civics and Citizenship Education
  ‘Promotes students’ participation in Australia’s democracy by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, values and dispositions of active and informed citizenship. It entails knowledge and understanding of Australia’s democratic heritage and traditions, its political and legal institutions and the shared values of freedom, tolerance, respect, responsibility and inclusion. Overview of civics and citizenship education.’
• Classroom Resources
  ‘We produce teaching resources for primary and secondary levels. Resources include background information, student activities, full-colour cut-out 3D models and posters’. From Geoscience Australia. Covers both Social Sciences and Science. Don't forget to check their Publications.
• Discovering Democracy
  Australian program to look at democracy - rights, responsibilities, ways of going about this.
  Primary, Secondary

Driving Help

There are Free giveaways and other non-related things on these, but they cover a range of information and/or material for driver education, some only available within the particular state. Secondary

• Free2go WA
• NRMA Free2Go
  [NSW]
• RACQ Free2Go
  [Qld]
  Check the Tightrope DVD in particular.

• Earth Awareness - Brain Pop
  ‘Topical collections of online educational movies, interactive quizzes, activity pages and other teacher resources covering themes from your curriculums’. Not all sections are Free.
• Ergo
  ‘This website is provided by the State Library of Victoria and is designed for Victorian students and their teachers’.
• Floods
  ‘Floods are devastating natural disasters that impact directly on communities. They often cause damage to properties, homes, and businesses’. Teaching Topic from Enhance.
• Human Society and Its Environment
  Annotated links, Primary School.com.au. Covers all areas. Sites, lessons, software, texts, videos, teacher reference.
• Government - What’s It to You ?
  ‘A Learning Quest dealing with the 3 levels of Australian Government’.
  Primary, Secondary
• Learning and Teaching Support - History Domain
  Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria. Resources listing.
• Look, Listen & Learn
  ‘Each Look, Listen & Learn^™ set includes a DVD and an interactive CD-ROM, as well as full-colour books [both printed or electronic]. Students can view, listen to, and read material, then complete tasks that reinforce learning and encourage critical thinking and discussion. By watching the video and following the activities, children are encouraged to place their own interpretations on the material studied’.
  Primary
• Mon-Ed-Box
  New, innovative way to teach your children one of the most basic but most important lessons of their lives - Money Management. Some Free [see Parent’s Resources], Some Fee-based.
  Primary
• Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  ‘Visit our Exhibitions page for more information about the new Democracy exhibitions. For information about daily tours and activities, visit the Tours and Activities page’. Also check their Resources page where you can download a series of kits.
• Teaching and Learning for Peace
  ‘New programs, international noticeboard, information about published peace-building stories and most importantly, ways you and your families, friends, local schools, libraries, child care centres and communities can become involved in peace-building.’ Some samples include Turtle Dreaming [Moodle] unit [also available as a Downloadable Document here] and the Bunyip Broadcasting webquest, for different school levels.
• The History Teachers’ Association of Australia : Resources
  Lists competitions and Useful links for teachers. Each entry is well annotated.
• Understanding Our Political System
  Traces the development of the system from colony to commonwealth. From EnhanceTV.

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Other Sites

• Asia Society [Resources]
  ‘Educational website for students and teachers covering some thirty countries that comprise Asia today, featuring materials that stem from early civilisations to current events.’ There is also a section called Asiakids which has stories, art, language, games and more.
  Primary, Secondary
• Classroom Activities
  A range of activities based on the theme of tolerance. Other Teaching Kits about tolerance can be found via this page.
  Secondary
• New Internationalist Magazine Guide
  This provides links to a wide range of topics for which there are articles and themes. Among those which may be most suitable for this area are Sustainability, Climate Change, Human Rights, Globalisation and Fair Trade.
• The British Museum
  This section of the site targets resources for students 7-11 and covers primarily history topics, though there are others. Not all are available as some relate to visits to the museum, but others have PDF and/or Word downloads, e.g. Anglo-Saxons, The Parthenon, etc.. There is a similar page for Students 12-16 with a range of topics suited to that level.
• United Nations CyberSchoolBus
  In many languages. World countries, peace studies, special days of the year, human rights, cities, more.
  Primary, Secondary

Economics & Commerce

• Economic Education Web
  ‘The mission of EcEdWeb, the Economic Education Website, is to provide support for economic education in all forms and at all levels. Select from the menu to find exciting material for teaching economics’.
• mtrek from ING Direct
  ‘Open your eyes to the world of money ! Brave the desert, climb mountains and dodge crocodiles while you explore everything there is to know about earning, spending, saving and investing.’ Use Amy or Sam to help discover information.
  Secondary
• My Money Skills
  ‘Tips, interactive tools and easy-to-use calculators to help maintain financial health and well being. Divided into six topics which can be viewed in any order and any pace.’
  Secondary

Geography

• Borderless World : Geography and the Internet
  Thinkquest. All aspects of geography.
  Primary, Secondary
• Electronic Resources for Geography
  Links to sites about geography, lesson plans that could be useful.
  Primary, Secondary
• Geo-Globe
  Interactive games to help students learn geography basics.
  Primary, Secondary
• Geography For Kids - By KidsGeo.com
  ‘An indepth online geography textbook written for kids. Learn about the world around you. Geography is the study of the Earth as it exists today, focusing on the surface, the atmosphere, the oceans, as well as the distribution of plants, animals, and people. Select a topic you would like to learn about by clicking on a link’.
• Geography Ideas
  Links, some to other sites, some to PDF files.
• GeographyIQ
  World map, with sub-maps, that includes information about each country. It ranks countries using various factors. Currency converter.
  Primary, Secondary
• Geography Zone
  ‘Created to help spread geographical awareness and an understanding of the places and cultures across our world in an exciting and dynamic atmosphere. The Geography Challenge, the world’s largest online geography contest, as well as tons of the geography tools and facts to help make you a geography expert.’
  Primary, Secondary
• Geosource
  ‘Web resources for human geography, physical geography, planning, geoscience, environmental science’. 4 000+ links.
  Secondary, Tertiary
• Helping Your Child Learn Geography
  US Department of Education. Activities designed to teach the elements of geography to students. Now archived, but still available for use.
• Internet Geography
  ‘Welcome to the activities menu. This area of Internet Geography contains lots of online activities for students to complete. The following is [also] a key to the different activities’.
• JetPunk.com - Quizzes
  Try your skill with a wide range of geography, travel and culture quizzes.
• Mapping Our World
  ‘Works with maps and globes to transform pupils’ understanding of the world. Nine structured activities come with teachers’ notes and are designed for whole class learning on an interactive whiteboard or PC. The website supports the [UK] Geography curriculum.’

Software

Clearly indicated where this is not free. Secondary

• 3D Virtual Worlds
  Read the knowledgebase and access the materials available there.
• Project GeoSim
• Geography Centre - Rocket Download
• Free Software & Commercial Vendors

• Teaching Geography
  Links under specific geographical headings.
• Teaching Geography [2]
  ‘Video workshop for grade 7-12 teachers; 8 one-hour video programs, workshop guide, Web site.’ Video on demand available after signing up. Worth considering.
• The Geography Site
  Vast collection of links, other resources covering all areas of Geography plus related learning.

• Geomania
  A good introduction to Geology and related areas.
  Secondary

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History

• Best of History Web Sites
  ‘Award-winning portal created for students, history educators, general history enthusiasts. Find sites, rated for usefulness and accuracy, that will help you study or teach a wide variety of topics and periods in History.’
  Primary, Secondary
• Educational [and Fun] Resources
  From Penn Museum. Podcasts, videos, interactive resources, links to sites such as Write Like a Babylonian and Write Like an Egyptian, guides and other resources, Activity Books, links to exhibitions, more.
• History Channel [Australia and New Zealand]
  The Classroom sections conatins 4 major areas including History in Your Area, Teacher’s Guides, This Day in History and links.
• History Links
  A series of topics mostly from Modern and British history. Done in the UK for senior students. Each topic runs off sets of sub-topics using particular sites that cover that area. Worksheets are also available.
• My Place In History
  ‘Provides interactive and engaging activities and resources which place history in context with each student’s own family background. The three unit program has been designed by teachers for teachers to easily slot in to any curriculum’.
• Teachers’ Virtual School: History
  ‘This is the home page of the History Department of the Teachers’ Virtual School, which is a part of the Association of Teachers’ Websites’. Covers topics suitable from upper primary through secondary.
• TimeMaps
  ‘The TimeMaps : Atlas of World History is a Free teaching resource that tells the story of human history’.
• Women in World History
  ‘Information and resources to help you learn about women’s history in a global context. Here teachers, students, parents, history buffs and the interested public can find information on the following [listed] topics’. Includes lessons, biographies, Q & A, essays, more.

Maps

• About - Blank Outline Maps
• Outline Maps
  Outline maps to print and use.

Social Science Software

Commercial software. For Freeware, check the Education Software page.

• Atlas of The Ancient World
• Australia Unfolded Interactive Atlas V2
• Studylink
  Careers oriented software.

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