Education Resources
An abundance of free resources has been produced by the Library for use by teachers and students. They have been designed to link with the VELS and VCE curricula. They can be used in the classroom or as tools for professional development.
ergo: research skills and resources online
Need support material to teach research and writing skills? Looking for primary and secondary source material? ergo is designed to build secondary students’ skills in research, critical thinking and writing. Features include:
- comprehensive, easy-to-follow guides to research, writing and study skills
- curriculum-focused primary and secondary source material, based on the Library’s collections (over 500 digitised resources)
- section themes including crime, rights, landscape and colonial Melbourne
- drop-down notes that help students to assess resources by highlighting issues such as bias, language use and historical context
- video interviews with prominent authors, historians and artists
- education resources focused on critical literacy and image or document study
- tips on using the State Library.
Visit ergo >
Ned Kelly's armour - A virtual reconstruction
As seen in The changing face of Victoria exhibition , this five-minute multimedia presentation uses primary source material such as images of Ned Kelly, his armour and his gang to illustrate the story of Ned Kelly and the Glenrowan siege. A great tool for introducing students to the infamous Victorian bushranger.
Explore the Kelly armour video >
The Medieval Imagination exhibition education resource
This education resource, available as a downloadable PDF, was designed to complement the Library's 2008 exhibition The Medieval Imagination: Illustrated Manuscripts from Cambridge, Australia and New Zealand. It provides an ongoing resource for learning about English, History or Arts units on medieval history, in particular medieval manuscripts, art traditions and book production. It is an ideal resource to use with a visit to the Library's permanent exhibition Mirror of the World: books and ideas, which includes some illuminated manuscripts. It includes classroom activities, resource sheets and references. It is aligned with VELS Level 5 requirements.
Download this education resource >
Victorians on Vacation exhibition education kit
This education resource kit, available as a downloadable PDF, was produced for the Library's 2007-09 touring exhibition Victorians on Vacation and is available as an ongoing resource around the themes of holidays, travel and leisure. Using online material about vacations from the Library’s collections, it provides in-depth, engaging VELS-supported activities for Years 3-10. It includes images for teachers and students to use as starting points for discussion and analysis.
Download this education kit >
Inside a Dog website
As Groucho Marx said, ‘Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.’ Students can get in touch with the books and writers that matter on insideadog.com.au, Australia’s leading website about books for teenagers. They can interact with the online writer-in-residence, share opinions, write book reviews, win stuff, sample new books, download podcasts and (in August-November) vote in the Inky Awards, Australia’s first teenage-choice book awards. Inside a Dog is a project of the Centre for Youth Literature.
Visit insideadog.com.au >
Mirror of the World website: Explore rare books online
The Mirror of the World website showcases treasures from the Library’s collection and reflects the content of the Library’s superb permanent exhibition Mirror of the World: books and ideas. This unique website brings the world of books and ideas alive for students, as they turn the pages of rare books, zoom in to examine an ancient cuneiform tablet, hear readings and music, and admire contemporary book design and illustration. The site also features teacher resources for classroom activities to complement a visit to the exhibition.
Visit the Mirror of the World website >
Mirror of the World audio dramatisations
This series of educational audio dramatisations highlights the materials on display and the ideas explored in the Mirror of the World exhibition. The seven dramatisations will enhance students’ understanding of the development of written language, the power of the written word, graphic novels, ancient civilisations and early exploration. They can be accessed before or after a visit to the Mirror of the World exhibition, and to complement the Mirror of the World website. (If you wish to visit the exhibition with your students, call 03 8664 7555 to make a booking.)
Hear the audio dramatisations for students >
Port Phillip Papers - online
Did you know that early Port Phillip Papers are freely available online for you and your students to access and read? These rare manuscripts are the earliest and most important documents relating to the European settlement of Victoria, including:
- John Batman’s journal
- Edward Henty’s journal
- the Melbourne and Geelong Deeds (Port Phillip Association)
- the Melbourne Advertiser
- William Buckley’s Reminiscences.
Previously only available to a few, these unique and fragile documents can now be explored online by everyone, in the form of high-resolution digital images with interactive features. You can read the manuscripts page-by-page, compare original text with transcripts, and examine handwritten notes and sketches in detail using zoom and pan tools.
Explore the Port Phillip Papers online >
Soundscapes: History comes alive!
Your students can now experience key events in Victoria’s history through online soundscapes. Two of the Library’s most treasured collection items, Ned Kelly’s famous Jerilderie Letter and William Strutt’s historic painting Black Thursday, February 6th, 1851, are brought to life in unique soundscapes that recreate the voices, stories and atmosphere of the bushranger’s lament and the great 1851 bushfire.
Listen to the Jerilderie Letter Soundscape >
Listen to the Black Thursday Soundscape >
The Centre for Youth Literature
The Centre for Youth Literature (CYL) at the State Library offers a range of innovative programs and resources to promote creative reading for young people. They include events where students can meet and hear leading Australian and international writers, engaging professional development programs for teachers, plus online resources and an informative newsletter.
Find out more about CYL >
Schools Periodical Service
The Library’s Schools Periodical Service makes it easy for VCE English and Literature teachers to access valuable teaching resources online. The service provides a range of articles and reviews relevant to the English and Literature VCE curricula. Teachers can register as service users free of charge, and selected articles are mailed to teachers for a small fee.
To register, follow the link to the Schools Periodical Service in the Library’s online shop >
Education enewsletter
The Library’s Education Programs Unit sends out a free electronic newsletter each term, with updates on programs, services and events for teachers and students.
To stay in touch with what’s happening at the Library, please forward your email address (indicating primary or secondary) to education@slv.vic.gov.au
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