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Resources for students and teachers

Investigate our collection through education resources designed to connect with life in the classroom.

Australian history general

Vrroom online classroom

Easy access to more than 800 original documents, photographs, maps and audiovisual material organised by topic – perfect for student research and classroom use. Year 5 to 12

Over 60 film and television recordings from the National Archives, with teachers notes on topics such as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, Australia Post, confidential military operations and nuclear testing. Year 5 to 12

Faces of Australia

More than 200 selected photographs, most from the 1950s and 60s, showing the face the Australian Government wanted to present to the world – people at work and at play, commemorating and celebrating. Foundation to Year 12.

Democracy and citizenship

Exploring Citizenship

Collaborative and interactive learning about civic rights and responsibilities. This resource kit focuses on: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; aliens and immigrants; and conscription and conscientious objectors. Year 7 to 12

Voices for Democracy

Explore democracy in Australia. This teachers' kit focuses on: John Curtin and leadership; Vida Goldstein and the struggle for women’s rights; Jessie Street, individual rights and the national interest; Paul Hasluck and education for democracy. Year 7 to 12

Environment

Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience

An education kit to accompany the exhibition with notes for teachers and self-guided activities for Primary and Secondary students (4.6mb)

Antarctica: the Australian experience

Discover documents and recordings covering Antarctic exploration, environmental impacts and Antarctic transport. Foundation to Year 10.

Huskies Banned!

Document study on the role of huskies in Antarctica and their ban from the continent in 1991. Year 7 to 12

Huskies Banned! (pdf, 4.2mb)

Mush!

Your mission is to cross the Antarctic sea ice with a husky team to find the penguin rookery. Requires Flash. Online game suitable for all ages

Play Mush!

A Sunburnt Country?

Document study about the impact of societal attitudes on water use and conservation. Year 7 to 12

A Sunburnt Country? (pdf, 1.2mb)

The Very Hungry Cactoblastis Cactorium Caterpillar

Document study on the introduction of the cactoblastis cactorium caterpillar, its success against prickly pear, and issues of biological controls for pests. Year 7 to 12

The Very Hungry Cactoblastis Cactorium Caterpillar (pdf, 2.5mb)

Water Dreaming

Document study investigating techniques of obtaining and managing water – from nuclear explosions to praying for rain. Year 7 to 12

Water Dreaming (pdf, 1.3mb)

Watering Inland Australia

Document study investigating issues surrounding large-scale water schemes and their consequences. Year 7 to 12

Watering Inland Australia (pdf, 1.5mb)

Federation and the Australian Constitution

An introduction to the Australian Constitution

Professor Fiona Wheeler explains the key concepts at the ACT Schools Constitutional Convention, 15 September 2010. Year 5 to 12

1901 and All That: A Federation Resource Kit

Explore the themes of Federation, and make connections with the present. Kit contains teachers notes, activities, primary and secondary sources, and a decision-making game on CD-ROM. Year 9 to 10

Constitution for a Nation

Website covering the 10 tumultuous years (1890–1900) of the creation of the Constitution – the people, the conventions, the arguments, the passion and the politics. Year 5 to 12

Documenting a Democracy

Website dedicated to the history and significance of the documents which give the Australian federal, state and territory governments the right to govern. Year 5 to 12

Federation Gallery: Activity sheets

Activities focusing on the Australian Coat of Arms, the role of the Governor-General, and the constitutional documents on display in our Federation Gallery in Canberra. Year 5 to 6

Federation gallery: Activity sheets (pdf, 130kb)

Federation Gallery: Teachers' notes

Teachers notes for the key documents of Federation on display at the National Archives, Canberra. Year 5 to 6

Federation Gallery: Teachers' notes (pdf, 1.8mb)

People and society

Charles & Ruth Lane Poole

Uncover the lives of the Lane Pooles on our Uncommon Lives website. Charles was the first Commonwealth forester and Ruth was the interior designer for The Lodge and Government House. Year 7 to 12

Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda

Examine the case of Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda on our Uncommon Lives website. Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda was the first Aboriginal Australian to have a case heard in the High Court. Year 7 to 12

Jessie Street

Our Uncommon Lives website follows the rich trail of records left by this dedicated human rights lobbyist. Year 7 to 12

Max Dupain on Assignment

This education kit can be used with an online showcase of photographs by one of Australia’s leading photographers. Developed for the touring exhibition, Max Dupain on Assignment. Year 5 to 12

Muslim Journeys

Explore the individual experiences of Muslim migrants on our Uncommon Lives website. Adventure, adversity and opportunity in an unfamiliar land, from 1901 to 1975. Year 5 to 12

Scene Stealers: Australian Theatre 1870–1955

This education kit explores how the dramatic arts reflect the burning issues of Australian society, including race relations, class conflict and the emergence of the new woman and her enemies. Year 7 to 10

Wolf Klaphake

Investigate the story of scientist and inventor Wolf Klaphake (1900–67) on our Uncommon Lives website. Discover what happened to Klaphake after he emigrated from Germany in 1935. Year 7 to 12

Prime ministers

Australia’s Prime Ministers

The most authoritative website on Australia’s Prime Ministers, with links to a broad range of primary documents. Features Fast Facts, Meet a PM and Who's Who. Year 5 to 12

World War I (and its aftermath)

Mapping our Anzacs

Interactive website commemorating the original Australian Anzacs. Users can search 375,000 service records via a person’s place of birth or place of enlistment, add a note or photograph and create a tribute to a group of service men and women. Year 5 to 12

Using Mapping our Anzacs

Guide to the website Mapping our Anzacs, for use with the Shell-shocked: Australia after Armistice kit. Year 7 to 12

Using Mapping our Anzacs (pdf, 1mb)

Shell-shocked: Australia after Armistice

Education kit designed to explore how Australia dealt with the lingering effects of World War I. Developed for the touring exhibition. Year 7 to 12

Shell-shocked: Australia after Armistice – kit (pdf, 2mb)

World War II

'Wog dog’ – vector or victim?

Document study investigating the action of Australian Quarantine in the case of ‘Horrie the wog dog’. Year 7 to 12

'Wog dog' – vector or victim? (pdf, 3.7mb)