Primary Catalogue

Each year at 11am on November 11 we remember those who died in World War I, and commemorate those who represent the United Kingdom in conflicts past and present. This Miniclip provides a simplified context for the beginning of the Great War, the signing of the Armistice, the effect of the war on people, and the importance of commemorating it each year. Students will also discover the significance of the red poppy and the role of cenotaphs in local communities. Show Less

Students read, sing and learn about various occupations, helping them to understand and appreciate roles and responsibilities of paid and unpaid community workers. This curriculum-aligned song targets outcomes of curriculum documents and supports and integrates classroom learning across key subject areas. Show Less

The ancient world - from 60,000 BCE to 650 CE – is the period in which early civilisations emerged. This programme provides an introductory snapshot of eight of these civilisations, looking at what they had in common and how they were unique. We trace the rise, fall and legacy of the ancient societies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Maya, India, China, Rome, Greece and Persia. Show Less

This program provides a succinct overview of the history of children’s rights – from early 19th century British laws protecting children during the Industrial Revolution, to the progress of child rights throughout the 20th century. Ongoing challenges such as child labour and slavery are discussed, and we hear a former child soldier’s story and perspective on children’s rights and freedoms. Show Less

Follow two students as they conduct an historical inquiry into the 1966 Westall UFO sighting in Victoria. Aldi and Jess have completed their research and are now organising their information chronologically. Presentation formats like essays and multimedia are discussed as well as the importance of including historical terms and concepts. Show Less

Follow two students as they conduct an historical inquiry into the 1966 Westall UFO sighting in Victoria. After Aldi and Jess collect information from various sources, they evaluate whether these are fact or opinion based in order to determine the relevance of the information. Show Less

Follow two students as they conduct an historical inquiry into the 1966 Westall UFO sighting in Victoria. Examples of primary and secondary sources are given, how they differ and pros and cons of each. The importance of collecting information from numerous sources is highlighted. Show Less

Athens and Sparta, the leading city-states of Ancient Greece, helped to establish many of the ideas and concepts we take for granted: citizenship; voting; and individual rights and freedoms. This programme provides insight into the values of each city state by examining their attitudes toward: education, entertainment, military training, and crime and punishment. Key groups within Athenian and Spartan social structures are discussed, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens and women in each city-state are compared. Show Less

While the Ancient Greeks lived in separate city-states, most shared a common language, culture and belief system. This programme examines the way their beliefs and values about warfare and death influenced daily life. Specific rules of engagement, battle manoeuvres, naval warfare, beliefs about death, and funerary customs are explored in detail. This resource is ideal for any close examination of the common practices and rituals of Ancient Greece. Show Less

The Black Death was the greatest and most devastating ecological disaster of the middle ages. As well as a high mortality rate, the epidemic affected many aspects of society. This programme examines its impact on: religion, feudalism, farming, urban life, the arts, and minorities in Europe; the economic and political consequences of the disease in Asia; and the socio-economic impacts in North Africa and the Middle East. Filled with unique examples, this is an informative and accessible look at the far reaching effects of the Black Death. Show Less

This programme takes a detailed look at the spread of the Black Death in the 14th century. From its theorised origins in Asia, we trace its movement along the famous Silk Road trade route to Europe. This ‘golden age of trade’ provided the ideal conditions for the rapid transmission of the disease via caravans and ships, while attempts to escape it only further contributed to its expansion. Excellent maps and graphics will help audiences to follow this relentless and pervasive epidemic along its devastating journey. Show Less

The outbreak of the Black Death in the 14th century decimated populations across Europe, Asia and Africa. This programme looks at: the symptoms of the disease, how it was caused and transmitted, and the role poor living conditions and a lack of medical knowledge played in its fast and far reaching spread. Prevailing and sometimes bizarre beliefs about its causes and cures are discussed in this stylised and at times gruesome presentation which is sure to capture viewer attention. Show Less

While practicing for his upcoming acting role as a Viking, “Erik” gets a little carried away and ropes his neighbour Mikey into joining him on a modern day exploration mission, with a little bit of looting on this side! This lively and enjoyable look at the Vikings is packed with fascinating information about Viking expansion, and how they were able to be such successful raiders, traders and explorers. Show Less

When a modern day Viking finds himself in police custody, being questioned over some bizarre recent activities, he tells the officer an almost unbelievable story — that of famous Viking, Erik the Red. Can his fantastic tale really be true, or is this a case of one actor taking his upcoming Viking role too seriously? This is a fun and funny look at Erik the Red's significant contribution to Viking expansion and settlement. Show Less

When Mikey catches his neighbour practicing for an upcoming film role as a Viking, he unexpectedly learns a whole lot about the real Vikings — and perhaps that his neighbour is taking his research just a little bit too far! This lighthearted and entertaining look at the Vikings is packed with fascinating information about the daily life of Vikings including home life, work, leisure, laws and society. Show Less

The social hierarchy in Ancient China was paramount. Emperors, government officials, nobles, peasants, merchants and slaves all had their role to play within Chinese society. This clip collection looks at each of these key groups, examining their daily life and the role law and religion played throughout society. Show Less

The amount of crime in Britain has risen sharply over recent times. Is this because we report more crime, or is it because there really is more crime? Just how reliable are the figures? Has our attitude to crime changed? Late Victorian Britain saw a move towards reforming the criminal and making them a better member of society. Is this still our attitude? And has our definition of what is a crime changed? Many people today think, for instance, that drug laws criminalize people unnecessarily. Show Less

This film is an in-depth look at how it was to be alive at the beginning of the 20th century. This programme looks at how ordinary people lived at the time with particular focus on London, the biggest city in the world in 1900 with six million inhabitants. For the poor it was a time of suffering and want. People lived in cramped conditions, mostly families all living in one house usually with a lodger as well. The divide between rich and poor was immense with poor people in the developed western countries living in conditions much like shanty towns today. This film coves all aspects of life at this time as well as the monumental changes that took place in the early century such as the role of women and suffragettes. Show Less

This programme gives students a chance to meet and question one of history's most famous explorers - Christopher Columbus. Listen as Columbus describes why he believed that a shortcut to Asia could be found by sailing West and how he was able to keep his crew from mutinying after his first voyage lasted much longer than he had expected. Learn about the goals, successes and failures of all four of Columbus's voyages to the New World, and find out about his technique of using the prevailing winds to cross the Atlantic. Learn more about the Taino, the native people of the Caribbean, and their encounters with Columbus and his crew. Discover how Columbus's questionable tactics led to the downfall of this native group. Students will enjoy learning the truth of this often-romanticised explorer and hearing Columbus discuss and defend his actions in this exciting video dramatisation. Show Less

People have explored since the dawn of time, seeking wealth, power, colonies, information and the attainment of other goals. This programme takes a closer look at the major reasons that inspired people to explore throughout the ages and the innovations that supported advancements in exploration. Discover the motivations of early explorers whose bravery in exploration provided a foundation for the successes that would occur during the European Golden Age of Discovery. Learn about the development of some important tools of navigation, and see why these improvements enabled explorers to travel over land and sea more successfully. Show Less

During the Age of Exploration, England's advancement initially lagged behind the other European powers. However, it quickly became involved in the race to colonise and reap the benefits of the new world. Join our two young hosts as they are introduced to Sir Walter Raleigh, who tells the story of the great English explorers. Learn about the voyages of John Cabot, credited with making the first European landfall in North America after the Vikings. Discover the story of Sir Francis Drake, the first European to travel in his own ship all the way around the world. Students will also enjoy listening as Raleigh describes his attempts to organize the first English settlement in North America. Show Less

When France sent explorers to the New World, it was searching for wealth, colonies and a route to the East. Follow along with our two young hosts as they learn how the French established New France and claimed most of present-day Canada. Hear about Giovanni da Verrazano, the first European to sail into present-day New York Bay; and Jacques Cartier, who discovered the St. Lawrence River. Hear about Samuel de Champlain, who established the first permanent settlement in North America at Quebec; and Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette, who traversed the Mississippi River Valley; as well as Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who claimed the land at the mouth of the Mississippi for France. Show Less

Ferdinand Magellan sailed West in search of a passage to the trading lands of the East and became the first person to lead an expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Join our young hosts as they listen to Magellan describe his discovery of a new passage at the southern tip of South America and his experience crossing Earth's largest ocean. Learn about his discovery of a new chain of islands, the Philippines, and how he proved that the Indies could be reached by sailing West. Find out why Magellan renounced his Portuguese citizenship and set sail as a Spanish subject. Discover the way in which his crews conspired to mutiny on several occasions, and learn how Magellan met his untimely death in the battle in the Philippines. Plus, find out how we discovered the true story of Magellan's great voyage, even though most of his journals were destroyed. Show Less