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.
Clear filter
Showing 1 - 12 of 17 results
Sort by:
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 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
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

Information sources

Topic

Information is all around us, every day. Regardless of whether we are looking for the information or having it presented to us unexpectedly, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of data we are exposed to.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media
A yellowed sheet of paper with the headline '[Co]nventional Lies of the Anti-Federal Party'. The 'C' and 'O' of the word 'conventional' is missing as the corner of the page has been torn off. The very small text is set out in four columns

(1899). Conventional lies of the Anti-Federal Party, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135107257

Commentary: Conventional Lies

Topic

The idea of Federation of the states had been discussed in Australia from about 1850, with the movement gaining real momentum in 1889 after a speech by veteran New South Wales politician Sir Henry Parkes.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media
A page of a newspaper with the headline 'LITERACY: FACT and FICTION'. The page also includes cartoons and black and white photos

N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. (1919). LITERACY: FACT and FICTION, Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710682297

Defining literacies

Topic

Media, information and digital literacy, by their most basic definitions, relate to a person’s skills and ability to locate, create, use and engage critically with information in a range of formats.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media
Man wearing face mask and purple vest standing new a doorway. On the wall around the door are instructions on how to vote in a federal election.

Sandy Scheltema, Australian Electoral Commission officer standing next to a 'How to Vote in a Federal Election' poster outside the polling place in Glenlyon Hall, during the Australian federal election, Glenlyon, Victoria, 21 May 2022, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3108998796

Media literacy skills matter

Topic

We interact with information in a vast array of forms from any number of sources every day. It is becoming increasingly apparent that, to fully participate, navigate and thrive in the modern world, people need the skills and abilities to engage critically with information presented to them.

English
Languages
Mathematics
Teachers
Communications and media
A man looking at newspapers in multiple languages at a newspaper kiosk on Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.

Australia. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Overseas Information Bureau. (1991). Ethnic newspapers are prominent on this kiosk in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, 1991 [transparency]. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136834359

Language in print

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: Languages for years 7–10.

Languages
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Languages
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
A page from The English Chinese Advertiser newspaper written in Chinese.

(1858, August 7). The English and Chinese Advertiser (Vic.: 1856–1858), p. 1., nla.gov.au/nla.news-page15910530

Chinese

Topic

Stringent colonial restriction laws affected early Chinese migration to Australia.

Languages
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Languages
A page from a French newspaper titles Courrier Australien.

LA CLIQUE DARLAN (1943, January 1). Le Courrier Australien (Sydney, NSW : 1892 - 2011), nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161749598

French

Topic

French settlement in Australia commenced soon after the arrival of the First Fleet.

Languages
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Languages
A page from the Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung, 1851.

(1851). Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung (SA: 1851–1862), nla.gov.au/nla.news-title277

German

Topic

German migrants came to Australia as founding pioneers following colonisation, with 10,000 migrating during the gold rushes of the 1850s.

Languages
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Languages
A page from La Stampa Italiana (or The Italian Press) newspaper.

LE DIRETTIVE DEL GOVERNO ITALIANO NELLA POLITICA MONDIALE IL DISCORSO DEL DUCE A NAPOLI. (1931, December 3). Stampa Italiana = The Italian Press (Perth, WA: 1931–1932), nla.gov.au/nla.news-article249697143

Italian

Topic

Migration from Italy to Australia can be dated back to the 1800s and, since that time, many groups have followed.

Languages
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Languages

Need help?

Our librarians are here to guide you.

Ask a librarian