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

Perfecting poetry and prose

Stage 5
English
The most successful writers edit their work to create a perfect finished product. Through the study of original manuscripts from the collection, students will understand the writing and editing process.  
Learning activity
Man walking in protest group holding a placard

Aboriginal rights and freedoms: 1970 commemoration and protest

Stage 5
History
Students engage with the online exhibition, Eight Days in Kamay, to investigate the 1970 Day of Mourning protests held in response to the 200th anniversary of the Endeavour's landing in Kamay (Botany Bay).
Learning activity

WWI: recruitment, conscription, propaganda

Stage 5
History
Students work closely with graphic materials and newspaper articles from WWI, analysing what recruitment and conscription paraphernalia and news reports reveal about the values and attitudes of people at that time.
Learning activity

Aboriginal rights and freedoms: the 1967 referendum

Stage 5
History
Through analysis of the drafting of the Constitution of Australia students will consider what this process, and the final form the constitution took in 1901, reveals about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights and freedoms..
Learning activity

Aboriginal rights and freedoms: the freedom ride

Stage 5
History
Using a range of primary sources, students investigate Aboriginal Australians’ rights and freedoms in first half of the twentieth century and the Freedom Ride that took place in NSW in February 1965.
Onsite excursion

Library tour for secondary students

Stage 4
Stage 5
Creative Arts
English
Geography
History

Explore Australia's oldest Library.

Onsite excursion

Picture books reimagined

Stage 4
Stage 5
Creative Arts
English

Students use the original artworks of a published illustrator and the original manuscript of a well-known children's author.

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: 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

{"thumbnail":null,"thumbnailLarge":null,"mediaDerivativeUrls":[],"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Bu_yWvddMI8","mediaMime":"video\/youtube","transcriptUrl":null,"width":null,"height":null}
Caption on bottom