Curriculum Library for Secondary Schools

What do magpies, dugongs, goannas, yams, pie floaters, European vegetables and swans have in common? This clip explains, as animated pair Norman and Miranda serve up a timeline of Australian culinary history – from millennia before British settlement across more than two centuries since colonisation, to the multitude of influences on today’s cuisine. It is an engaging and easily-digested resource for lower to middle secondary students. Show Less

This short film introduces environmental criminology—the idea that social spaces are more than just a simple background to our behaviour. It covers Zimbardo's 'Anonymity of Place' experiment, broken windows, zero tolerance policing, Giuliani and Bratton, and the strengths and limitations of environmental criminology. Show Less

This clip explores both the historical and contemporary relevance of strain theory to our understanding of the relationship between crime and consumption. The film covers Merton’s strain theory, Venkatesh's Gang Leader for A Day, the strengths and limitations of strain theory, Agnew and general strain theory, criminal sub-cultures and gangs, and the relationship between consumption and crime. Show Less

What a feast! Australians eat a huge diversity of food. Join animated friends Norman and Miranda as they tempt us with tasty morsels about the many influences on modern Australian cuisine – geography and climate, a plateful of Indigenous and multicultural food fascinations, technology transforming kitchens and changing eating habits. More than a mouthful, this video is ideal for lower to middle secondary students. Show Less

Let Miss Regia give your students background and insight to Mary Shelley and her classic novel 'Frankenstein'. The video also takes a look at some of the classic and most famous adaptations of the novel to the screen. Show Less

Enrich learning and teaching with our entertaining and informative video full of insights and background on Louisa May Alcott's classic work 'Little Women'. The video includes a look at some of the most significant film adaptations of the novel, and resources to help prompt discussion and writing. Show Less

Emerson and Parker have lost control of the final commercial flight of the Berringer-848 model aeroplane. As it plummets from the sky, every second is vital. Fortunately skills coach extraordinaire, Ray Roundtree, is on hand to outline some strategies for better managing their time. As Ray himself remarks when all was said and done, they learned a valuable lesson. Show Less

World-famous magician Angelo Mysterioso can’t take a trick. No matter how hard he studies his craft, he can’t get it right. Enter skills coach Ray Roundtree, who enlightens the magician on learning styles – visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic – and how important they are for developing effective study skills. Angelo is so impressed, he takes the show on the road. Show Less

It’s high drama – police have identified a time-bomb in a car boot. Brave Constable Taviner decides to defuse it herself – brave because she has no idea what she’s doing. In a flash, skills coach Ray Roundtree appears to save the day with sure and savvy tips about online research – using search engines effectively, identifying reliable information sources and skim-reading. Show Less

It’s the day of the bank raid. Underworld lynchpin Black Cat isn’t impressed that Bugsy’s forgotten how to crack a safe. A knock at the door…it’s skills coach Ray Roundtree who loads them up with guidelines for digesting and remembering information. But Black Cat doesn’t buy it…big mistake! The cops busted them and they’re in for a long stretch. Show Less

While ecosystems face increasing pressure from human activity, science plays a critical role in controlling and minimising harmful effects. This clip explores the role of science and technology in identifying impacts on ecosystems and finding solutions for a more sustainable future. It provides students of biology and other sciences with an excellent overview of this important area of study. Show Less

Every organism lives in an ecosystem. This clip defines and looks at different types of ecosystems, and explores two critical processes that go on within them – energy flow and the cycling of matter. It is ideal for middle to upper level students of biology and other natural sciences. Show Less

Humans have caused massive changes to the natural balance of ecosystems around the globe. This clip examines some of the most dramatic and destructive ways in which people have impacted ecosystems – covering climate change, pollution, deforestation, and introduced species. Middle to upper level biology and other science students will find this an informative and engaging learning resource. Show Less

Our planet has four spheres – the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. This clip provides an overview of vital biogeochemical cycles that occur across the four spheres, including the nitrogen, phosphorous, water, and carbon cycles. It is an excellent resource for middle to upper level students of biology and other natural sciences. Show Less

When Victor Frankenstein created his monster he never named it, yet its complex personality and struggle for identity and acceptance provides a profound insight to the human condition. This clip examines the troubled relationship between Frankenstein and the monster, and the role of other characters in the novel, including William, Dr Clerval, Elizabeth, and Captain Walton. It is an ideal resource for English literature students. Show Less

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley employs writing styles reflective of early 19th century literature. This clip explores a range of those styles, including using a series of letters to develop a narrative, structuring a narrative concentrically, and the inclusion of Gothic elements like horror, suspense, and poetic descriptions of wild, remote settings. It assists students of English literature to gain a fuller appreciation of this important novel. Show Less

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein delves into a range of themes, which were particularly popular among 19th century Romantics, and which have been perennial favourites of numerous writers since. This clip highlights some of those themes, including the pursuit of knowledge and the responsibility involved with acquiring it, what makes us human, and the power of nature. It is a valuable resource for students of English literature. Show Less

Influenced and educated by her parents, Frankenstein’s author, Mary Shelley, grew up in a world of radical artists and writers. Her immortal novel explores various themes of early 19th century Romanticism. This clip looks at Mary Shelley’s background and major influences on her thinking and writing, giving students of English literature a broader understanding of the nature and significance of this notable work. Show Less

As a species, we have been getting larger and in some Western societies obesity is now at epidemic levels. So why are we doing so much damage to ourselves, our health services and our planet? Is it mainly due to nurture, the environment? Or is it more to do with nature, our biology? In this programme, featuring contributions from Dr Clare Llewellyn and Dr Giles Yeo, we consider the evidence for nurture vs nature. Show Less

Using examples from a range of classic studies, this clip takes students through the naturalistic forms of observation. It looks at different types of of observation, applications of naturalistic observation, and its uses and limitations in psychological studies. Show Less

Jirtle and Waterland’s Agouti Mouse Study has been called one of the most important pieces of research in the 21st century and this film explores both it’s substance and significance for the Nature-Nurture debate in psychology and sociology. The film, featuring extensive contributions from Randy Jirtle and original film laboratory film from the Agouti study, looks at the context of the study, the experiment itself, reactions to the study, and it's implications. Show Less

Estuaries… many of us live on or near an estuary and maybe use it for boating or fishing or swimming, or even just for the view. Estuaries are often at the heart of coastal cities. But what’s their story? What’s happening under the water and why are our estuaries increasingly threatened? This programme defines what an estuary is, explains where they are found, and describes the ways that they are formed. It also includes a case study of a typical estuary and how tidal flow, salt water wedging, seasonal change, human use and pollution are effecting it. Show Less

The world over, teachers hear the lament ‘why do we have to study Shakespeare?’ from their students. Here are the answers to that ubiquitous question! This densely packed and student-friendly programme includes well-known examples from his plays and a look at his contribution to the English lexicon to demonstrate Shakespeare’s enduring impact on language and the study of literature. Show Less

Educators looking to introduce students to features of Shakespeare’s plays and the places where they were presented: this is your stop. This concise presentation offers students of all abilities a path to clearly understanding the main features of a Shakespearean play – from the page to the stage – and to put themselves in the picture as audience members. Show Less

Positioning Shakespeare historically and geographically is a must if we are to appreciate his works. This study opens in the wider context of Elizabethan and Jacobean England and narrows to Shakespeare’s familial, personal and creative profile. We also nail down the main forms and genres in which he wrote, along with key techniques such as iambic pentameter. Show Less