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 with books flying in the air

Lit up! Stories behind the stories

A full-day conference for primary and secondary teacher librarians, children’s librarians and teachers.

Onsite excursion

Hands on World War I

Stage 5
History

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

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
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Exploring perspectives through animation

Stage 4
English
Dive into an exploration of animation and find out how Indigenous stories can be represented through visual techniques.
Learning activity

Voices of resistance

Stage 5
English
Students will explore, analyse and evaluate the ways in which the online exhibition Coming out in the 70s represents aspects of human experience and social contexts. 
Learning activity

Being seen and heard in the 70s

Stage 5
History
Using  the online exhibition Coming Out in the 70s, students will think critically about the impact of the gay rights movement in Australia in the 1970s on current societal attitudes and beliefs about the LGBTIQ+ community.
Learning activity

Duelling poets and visual representations

Stage 4
English
Through engaging in an examination of collection items related to A. B. Paterson and Henry Lawson, students will analyse visual language, compose their own poetry and create a visual representation.   
Virtual excursion

Illustrating explained

Stage 3
Stage 4
English

Have you ever wondered how picture book illustrators bring a story to life?

Learning activity
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - Natives of New Holland

Eight days in Kamay – texts and the human experience

HSC
English
Students explore the online exhibition Eight Days in Kamay and reflect on how texts may invite the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally. 
Virtual excursion

Spotlight on Shakespeare

Stage 4
Stage 5
English

Dive into the world and works of William Shakespeare through an exploration of our extraordinary collection.

Learning activity

Painting with words

Stage 4
English
Students respond to written and visual collection items to explore the use of interesting and effective language and visual features. Students will then use a painting from the collection as the inspiration for their own descriptive writing.

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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