Digital Classroom | National Library of Australia (NLA)
Search

What can we help you find?

Not sure where to start or need help? Ask a Librarian

Digital Classroom

Explore Australia's history at the National Library's Digital Classroom, aligned with the Australian Curriculum. With over 10 million items, we support diverse learning styles, fostering inquiry-based learning for students to analyse sources and draw conclusions about the Australian story.
Showing 1 - 12 of 206 results
Sort by:
Map of the world during World War II showing Japanese and German influence and occupation, international boundaries, transportation, oil fields etc. Scattered around the map are depictions of war technology including battleships, aircraft and artillery. Some countries have depictions of animals or 'things' relevant to the country eg. in the middle of Australia is a kangaroo, emu, a platypus and sheep. Inset at bottom left and right are close ups of the Mediterranean and Solomon Islands respectively.

(1942). [Japanese map of World War ll]. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-234704475

'Enemy aliens' and war With Japan

Topic

As the outbreak of war was announced, police forces around Australia moved swiftly to ensure there were no concerns about security at home.

Humanities
Year 10
Military history
painting of small house in the Australian bush

Atkinson, Robert, 1863-1896. (1889). Sheedy's Castle, Balmoral Beach [picture] / Robt. Atkinson. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135211215

A Nation Imagined: The artists of the Picturesque Atlas

Module

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Visual Arts for Year 9 and 10 students. It adopts an inquiry approach to develop students’ skills as art historians.

Arts
Year 9
Year 10
Art, drawing and illustration
A buff coloured manuscript of 'Waltzing Matilda'

From Macpherson, Christina Rutherford. & McCall McCowan, Joan, Papers relating to the song "Waltzing Matilda", nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224075208 nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224076484

A national identity

Topic

Waltzing Matilda is recognized as Australia’s most popular folk song.

Humanities
Year 6
Australian history
A black and white photo of a man sitting on a train

Robert McFarlane, Charles Perkins travelling to University, 1963, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136494589

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Topic 

Additional Library resources with educational value for teachers and students.

Teachers
First Australians
Front cover of 'The school magazine' with a drawing of a man in a hat riding a galloping horse through a gate at night.

New South Wales. Department of Education, The Warrumbungle Mare. (1 September 1949). In The School Magazine of Literature for Our Boys and Girls, Vol. 34, no. 7 (Part 4, Class 6), nla.gov.au/nla.obj-827990456

Adventure

Topic

The 19th century was the age of the English language boys’ adventure story.

English
Year 4
Literature and writing
Copy of a printed playbill containing details for a performance of Jane Shore at the Sydney Theatre in 1796.

George Hughes (Government Printer), Playbill for a performance of Jane Shore, The Wapping Landlady and The Miraculous Cure at the Theatre, Sydney 30 July 1796, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1419486 - the earliest surviving document printed in Australia.

An early arts scene

Topic

This playbill, or poster, advertising a theatrical performance at the ‘Theatre, Sydney’ on 30 July 1796, is the oldest surviving printed document produced in Australia.

Humanities
Year 5
Australian history
First Australians
painting of many indigenous people interacting with Cook

Antoine Phelippeaux & Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Tableau des decouvertes du Capne. Cook & de la Perouse. (1798). Tableau des decouvertes du Capne. Cook & de la Perouse, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135227083

An enlightened world

Topic

The British colonisation of the Americas began in 1606 with the chartering of the Colony of Virginia.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Explorers
World cultures and history
The front page of The Australian Panorama Arabic Newspaper. The masthead is written in red Arabic script.

(2008). The Australian panorama Arabic newspaper. [Panorama Arabic Newspaper], [Parramatta, New South Wales] https://www.panoramanews.net nla.gov.au/nla.obj-747828340

Arabic

Topic

Migration from Arabic nations to Australia has a complex and multifaceted history.

Languages
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Languages
Painting Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden

Wang Gai (1645–1707) et al. Painting Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden, Nanjing 1679, National Library of China

Art

Topic

Emperor Shunzhi, the first emperor of the Qing dynasty (since the taking of China proper in 1644) died in 1661. His son, Kangxi, took over at the age of seven and reigned for 61 years. He encouraged painting, porcelain making and literature.

Humanities
Year 9
World cultures and history
blue, yellow, and red poster advertising the beach

Gert Sellheim & Australian National Travel Association. (1936). Sunshine and surf : Australia, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6385925

Art in advertising

Topic

Poster artists working for The Australian National Travel Association (ANTA) had to decide which pictorial styles would best convey Australia’s attractions.

Arts
English
Humanities
Year 10
Art, drawing and illustration
Australian history
Literature and writing
A black and white photograph of a group of men standing at a white information desk. Above the desk is a large sign that says INFORMATION. Men behind the counter and speaking and hanging out brochures.

Wolfgang Sievers, Information desk at German stand, Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Victoria 1966, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161478886

Art: The Death of Cook

Topic

Within the Treasures Gallery in the Library hangs a large oil painting in a gilded frame. The artwork was painted in 1781 by British artist George Carter (1737–1795). It is titled Death of Captain Cook.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media
A vintage poster featuring a large blue-toned illustration of a man's face and hand, positioned above the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The man’s hand is raised with fingers partially curled. Below, the Harbour Bridge is shown at night with city lights reflecting on the water.

Tom Purvis, 1888-1959 & Australia's 150th Anniversary Celebrations Council & Australian National Travel Association, Australia's 150th anniversary celebrations Sydney - summer season, 1938, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135689940

Australia Day

Topic 

Discover the origins of Australia Day and guide students to consider what it means  to different people using promotional material from our collection.

Humanities
Year 3
Art, drawing and illustration
Australian history

Need help?

Our librarians are here to guide you.

Ask a librarian