From the Library
Here are even more places to go suggested by the National Library Service
Topic Explorer: a great place to start with a topic and create interest in a potential direction for an inquiry. New topics are being added all the time and it is particularly good for New Zealand material.
Any Questions: This is an online, live reference service for students. They can chat with a librarian to get some research help but even better, the flip side is Many Questions. Many Questions provides study guides and research links to all the most common topics that crop up in Any Questions so credible and reliable links are at your fingertips, 24/7.
EPIC databases: These are a set of subscription databases that are provided free to all schools – I can’t emphasise enough the huge wealth of information in all of these and just how valuable they are – an entire reference library for all ages. I have also attached a brochure of all the databases which you can give to students and include your school username and password details.
Some highlights in EPIC are:
Britannica School – this is provided in 3 levels so is ideal for everyone from primary to secondary. It includes articles, video, activities, an atlas – a one stop reference library at your fingertips. Make sure you share the link here with students – they cannot just google Britannica and log in, they need to go via the EPIC proxy link to gain the free access provided to your school. This applies to all the resources in EPIC page as the ‘launch pad’ to all resources.
National Geographic Kids and New Zealand Geographic: Nat geo kids has an online version of their magazine and can provide a great reading resource for primary students. NZ Geographic includes the current edition and the entire archive of all issues.
Gale Cengage In Context Databases – these cover a wealth of information from Science, History and Biographies and are suitable for years 7 – 13.
I could go on – explore the EPIC group of databases and be amazed at what you can find there!
New Zealand Material
Digital New Zealand is an amazing resource for searching New Zealand material from a wide variety of providers. Check out the ability to create a log in and create your own ‘story’ – this would be a fantastic online activity for students (can be public or private).
Check out our resources for teaching New Zealand History, Primary resources, and World War 1 resources.
Free Audio Books
Radio New Zealand – Treasure Chest: https://www.radionz.co.nz/collections/storytime-treasure-chest
Radio New Zealand – Not for Children (Young adult) https://www.radionz.co.nz/collections/not-for-children
These two above have been revamped to Storytime https://storytime.rnz.co.nz/
Free audio books: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/free-audio-books-and-why-you-should-try-them
Loyal Books http://www.loyalbooks.com/genre/Children
Learning Lift Off: audio books for kids: https://www.learningliftoff.com/free-audio-books-for-kids/
Free eBooks
Open Culture http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks
Project Gutenberg - https://www.gutenberg.org/
Get epic! https://www.getepic.com/ (free for educators)
29 best sties to download free ebooks: https://www.tckpublishing.com/websites-download-ebooks/
Free text book eBooks
https://www.esri.com/en-us/news-publications/ebooks