Issue 105

Association for Library Service to Children

www.ala.org/alsc
Teacher librarians seeking to expand their horizons will locate a variety of pertinent information from this US site. Of particular relevance are links to book awards, a blog, professional resources, and elearning.
SCIS no. 1858313

Autism apps

www.autismapps.org.au 
The Autism Association of Western Australia has reviewed a selection of apps relevant for children with autism. Topics covered on the database include fine motor skills, literacy, numeracy, ethical behaviour, and social skills.
SCIS no. 1659236

Bee-bot

itunes.apple.com/au/app/bee-bot/id500131639?mt=8
By using this app, younger primary students can improve their skills in ‘directional language and programming through sequences of forwards, backwards, left and right 90 degree turns’, learning to control the virtual robot. Also available from Google Play.
SCIS no. 1858338

Collections care manual

manual.museum.wa.gov.au
Emanating from the Western Australian Museum, the 12-part video guide and digitised book provides practical advice for small libraries on how to best preserve and care for their collections. Content includes pest management, dealing with temperature and humidity, treating mould, and textile management.
SCIS no. 1858413

Cycling safety for students

education.amygillett.org.au
The singular goal of the Amy Gillett Foundation is bike rider safety. The foundation offers teachers a five-lesson cross-curricular unit of work intended for students in years 3–6. The student section provides fact sheets, a history of bicycles, and activities.
SCIS no. 1858417

Essential skeleton 4

itunes.apple.com/au/app/essentialskeleton-4/id623811668?mt=8
This 3D app should find a place in the resource files of biology and PE teachers who are teaching the human skeletal system. This easily navigated app allows students to drop location pins, listen to correct pronunciation, and view descriptions of skeleton structures.
SCIS no. 1858470

Geoscience Australia – education

www.ga.gov.au/education
Primary and secondary teachers searching for resources on the earth and environmental science topics of earthquakes, erosion, plate tectonics, minerals and fossils are provided with background information, posters, maps, classroom activities, and virtual exhibits.
SCIS no. 1858423

Gold rush game

www.nma.gov.au/education/resources/multimedia/gold-rush
The National Museum of Australia offers teachers a significant array of online material and resources. One such resource is this award-winning gold rush era game, for 1–4 players aged from 8 years. Students need to combine strategic thinking with a dose of luck to be successful.
SCIS no. 1858434

Music sparkles

itunes.apple.com/au/app/music-sparkles/id452584114?mt=8
This engaging app offers primary students the opportunity to play different musical instruments (some are free, others need an in-app purchase) either by themselves or following and repeating a provided musical pattern. Instruments include drums, xylophone, electric guitar and piano.
SCIS no. 1858468

Parliamentary Education Office

www.peo.gov.au
Primary and secondary students and teachers are presented with a plethora of information about the Australian Parliament. The teaching resources are aligned to the Australian Curriculum and include videos, images, role plays, units of work, links to external websites, and fact sheets.
SCIS no. 1018522

Rosie's world

www.rosiesworld.co.nz
DairyNZ has published this website, linked to aspects of the New Zealand curriculum, which encourages students to explore most aspects of dairying and have fun at the same time. Content includes games, a blog, videos (‘moovies’), background information, and sections for teachers and parents.
SCIS no. 1858494

Tax, super + you

www.taxsuperandyou.gov.au
The Australian Taxation Office has created an informative website explaining to secondary students why they have to pay tax and superannuation. Students, teachers and parents need to get a login to access the information, tests, forums, and associated media.
SCIS no. 1567829