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Secondary schools

Stage 4 to HSC

Secondary schools

Secondary schools

Stage 4 to HSC

Our secondary learning programs are designed to connect students and teachers to the extraordinary collections held by the State Library. They can be enjoyed onsite, online and across NSW.

Stage 4 and 5 programs cover History, Geography and English and are linked to the NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. For HSC students we have resources to assist them to develop their research skills and gain valuable advice, resources and inspiration.

Drawing of a girl reading a book

Lit Up! Celebrating Children's Literature

A full-day conference for primary and secondary teacher librarians, children’s librarians, teachers and anyone with an interest in children’s literature.

Learning activity
An illustration of a woman and a dog with their backs to each other on a green and black background

Learning about process with Shaun Tan

Stage 4
English

Students will use Shaun Tan’s original sketchbooks, oil sketches and final artworks for the picture book Dog to develop an understanding of the process of illustrating picture books, before creating their own illustration.

Onsite excursion
Three high school students looking at an artefact with a State Library educator

Big ideas on the page

Stage 4
Stage 5
English

Students investigate the value and significance of picture books, developing their visual literacy skills as they explore our picture book exhibition.

Three students sit around a table with notebooks and pens

HSC

Whether you're just starting out or looking for in-depth resources for your HSC year, there's something here for you. 

You'll find information and featured content for each of your subjects; help online and onsite; resources you can use at home, and research guides that bring together resources relevant to particular subjects.

For teachers, there are learning activities, resources and workshops for your HSC program. 

Showing 48 results
Learning activity

The tablet of Sin-Kasid, King of Uruk

Stage 4
History
Students will investigate the evidence provided by a cuneiform tablet dating from c. 1860 BCE, and investigate the emergence of writing, one of the defining characteristics of the ancient civilisation of Sumer.
Onsite excursion

Hands on World War I

Stage 5
History

A white gloves experience for Year 9 History students, investigating WW1 artefacts.

Learning activity

Battle of the Wasser

Stage 5
History
Students consider a number of accounts of the Battle of the Wasser from different primary sources and consider what effect this event might have on the Anzac legend. 
Learning activity
seven little australians papers

Censoring Tettawonga

Stage 5
History
Students investigate the removal of a section from Ethel Turner's 'Seven Little Australians' and consider why this may have happened, in the context of contact between European settlers and Indigenous people.
Learning activity
Soldiers posing for a photograph

The Fry family story: service and sacrifice

Stage 5
History
Through analysis of a collection of sources related to the lives of Alan and Dene Fry, students consider the motivation of soldiers to enlist and fight in WWI, and the impact of the war on the families left behind. 
Learning activity

Women and war

Stage 5
History
Students investigate a range of primary sources in order to better understand the changing lives of the Australian women who served in World War I. 
Learning activity

Royal seal of Henry IV

Stage 4
History
Students investigare the royal seal used by Henry IV and his reign as king.
Learning activity
portrait of woman from 1835

The convict experience: Mary Reibey

Stage 5
History
Students learn about the life of Mary Reibey and her experiences from convict to free settler.

Onsite excursion: before you visit

Plan your visit

make a booking enquiry

Venue and safety information for school excursion

Bus subsidy program: The Library offers K-12 school students from DET schools in the Greater Sydney region, access to FREE bus travel to visit the Library 

SLNSW HSC HD

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