Available through the National Library of Australia is digital classroom, a resource available for teaching Australian students history, geography, art, civics and citizenship using photographs, documents and recordings from the National Library collection.
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It can be used in a classroom setting, or at home to spark conversation.
The resources, divided by year level, from year 3 up to senior high school, are aligned with the Australian School Curriculum and have an inquiry approach and allow student to build analytical skills and draw their own conclusions about the Australian story.
The year 6 group of resources includes sections on national identity, Edward Mabo, Fanny Durack, the Sydney Opera House, Federation and Henry Lawson.
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Another section in the year 6 group is titled 'Neighbour and his Bravery', which invites students to investigate the heroic actions of Aya-I-Ga, or Neighbour, who saved Constable Johns from being swept away by floodwater in 1912.
Students are asked to examine an image of the Albert Medal that Aya-I-Ga was awarded by King George V, with questions such as "What does the text say on the front?", "What do the monogram and crown represent?" and "Do you think the item has monetary value or personal value?".
They are directed to read the background of the awarding of the medal, ask questions of the players in the story and write a biographical entry for Aya-I-Ga for The Australian Dictionary of Biography.
Year 8 students have a section titled 'Cultural Perspectives in Literature' from which they can choose poet Judith Wright, cartoonist Judy Horacek or writer Joan Lindsay.
The activities about Joan Lindsay provides students with context and background information about the physical location and cultural environment in which 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is set.
Students look at a map and locate the areas/towns mentioned in the book and consider the travel time required between them in 1900. They also examine images of people and places around Hanging Rock at the time the book was set in regards to clothing, transport, etc.
They are asked to debate the importance of whether the book is based on real events or fictional, and research the traditional custodians of the land, reflecting on the importance of the site in their culture.
