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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.
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black and white photograph of a man lecturing at a lecturn

Mulligan, J. A. (John Aloysius), 1927-1996. (1970). Sir Mark Oliphant lecturing at the University of Sydney, 1 September 1970 [1] [picture] / John Mulligan. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145323842

Oral history: Sir Mark Oliphant

Topic

Sir Mark Oliphant was an Australian physicist who is known for his work in nuclear physics and radar, and, later, for becoming governor of South Australia.

Science
Year 9
Science and technology
A photo of a large number of protestors gathered in front of the Victorian state library.

Francis Reiss, Protesters gathered outside the State Library in Swanston Street, Melbourne peace rally, 14 February 2003, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147324313

Participation and protest

Module 

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry-based learning approach that develops a student’s understanding of Australians’ rights, freedoms and opportunities to participate in Australia’s democracy.

Humanities
Year 8
Australian history
Protest and dissent
A black and white photograph of a billboard advertising the 'Big Show of 1936', a variety performance

(1936). Frank Neil presents new international variety stars in the Big show of 1936. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2404782107

Performing arts in Australia

Topic

Sydney’s first theatre was said to be opened in 1796 and was managed by Robert Sidaway.

Arts
Year 5
Year 6
Performing arts
sketch of a man smoking a pipe

Mahony, Frank, 1862-1916. (1900). [Self-portrait] [picture] / F.P.M. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136050024

Personalities

Topic

The Picturesque Atlas of Australasia and its principal Sydney-based artists - Julian Ashton, A. Henry Fullwood and Frank Mahony - transformed the way settler colonial Australia was seen both here and around the world.

Arts
Year 9
Year 10
Art, drawing and illustration
Santa Claus presenting gift to family entering the room

Jane Jolly & Robert Ingpen, Tea and Sugar Christmas, 2014, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6420587

Picture books

Topic

Reading picture books is important in speech development, building literacy skills, helping children to use their imagination.

English
Year 3
A black and white portrait photo of an elderly woman with short white, wavy hair wearing a black roll neck jumper and a small floral brooch just below the collar, with her interlaced fingers resting in the foreground.

Jacqueline Mitelman, Portrait of Judith Wright, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136372491

Poetry: Judith Wright - 'Bora Ring'

Topic

These activities introduce students to the poem Bora Ring, as well as to the poem’s background and author. They also develop students’ understanding of how an author’s perspective can change and enhance the meaning of a text.

English
Year 7
Literature and writing
A colourful watercolour showing the mountainous coastline of Tahiti. The mountains are shades of grey, blue and purple. The sky has billowing clouds.The shore is dotted with vegetation. In the foreground, two figures row a long canoe along the coast. The canoe is carrying something, although it's unclear what it is.

Nicholas Chevalier, (1868), Otaheite [i.e. Tahiti], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134623111

Polynesian expansion across the Pacific (c.700-1756)

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills in investigating Asia-Pacific societies in depth.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
World cultures and history
A colourful woodblock print showing a warrior gripping a spear in battle. He wears a detailed robe with bold patterns, including phoenix designs. Arrows are embedded around him, and swords are visible at the bottom of the image.

Kuniyoshi Utagawa & 歌川国芳, Honchō Suikoden gōyū happyakunin no hitori : Eda Genzō Hirotsuna [Kagaya Kichibei], 1830, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151535028

Pre-Shogunate Japan

Topic

Take your students on a journey through Japan’s early political and cultural development, leading up to the rise of the shogunate.

Humanities
Year 8
Asia-Pacific
Sheet music featuring an illustration of a child looking out an open window

Edith Harrhy & Bronnie Taylor, Songs for young Australians [music] / words by Bronnie Taylor ; music by Edith Harrhy, 1941, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-175231656

Presenting weather

Topic

The weather is an important part of our lives, and this is reflected in the arts and other sources we consume.

Humanities
Science
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Environment and biodiversity
Geography
The front page of the Tribune newspaper. The headline reads 'USA FORCED TO DROP CUBA INVASION'. There is a black and white photograph of 5 people holding protest signs.

(1962, October 31). Tribune (Sydney, NSW : 1939 - 1991), p. 1, nla.gov.au/nla.news-page25610837

Print media: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Topic

Under legal deposit provisions of the Copyright Act (1968), one copy of everything that is published in Australia must be lodged with the National Library of Australia. As a result, the Library’s collection holds a vast array of Australia’s printed news media.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media
A black-and-white photograph of Jessie Street seated at a desk representing Australia at a United Nations conference. She is wearing a white shirt and suit jacket and is writing, with other women visible beside her.

Jessie Street representing Australia at the United Nations, 194- , nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231551090

Prominent women in Australia’s feminist movement

Topic

Explore the contributions of key Australian feminists who shaped the fight for women's rights and reflect on their lasting impact on feminism today.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Australian women
Democracy
Government and politics
Law and legislation
Protest and dissent
A large red and yellow poster with a bold headline reading 'COAL IS VITAL TO VICTORY!'. The poster has three sub headings that read 'Switch off PROMPTLY' with a picture of a light switch, 'Turn that GAS down!' With an image of a pot on a gas cooktop, and 'Don't waste WATER!' with an image of a running tap.

Commonwealth Coal Commission from New South Wales. Department of Health. & Commonwealth Salvage Commission (Australia). & Commonwealth Coal Commission (Australia), Coal is Vital to Victory!, from [Posters Relating to the Australian Civilian War Effort During World War 2]. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2633341080

Public service announcements: For the war effort

Topic

The posters on this page were published during times of conflict.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media

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