Australia’s Defining Moments Digital Classroom is a treasure trove of free online learning resources aligned with the Australian Curriculum.

Quizzes, games, videos, a Virtual Museum and an Australian history timeline have been designed to engage school students of all ages.

For teachers, we have created comprehensive learning modules and clear curriculum links. Many resources have accompanying teachers’ notes with ideas for classroom use.

Produced by the National Museum of Australia with the generous support of Gandel Foundation, the Digital Classroom aims to enliven the teaching and learning of history, geography and civics and citizenship. It complements the Museum’s:

• onsite school programs

• digital excursions

• teacher professional learning programs.

The Digital Classroom was launched in 2020. It is the Museum’s dedicated website for teachers and students.

Defining Moments in Australian History began at the Museum in 2006 when a group of eminent historians compiled a list of 100 key moments in Australian history. This led to a conservation with the public about what matters in our history and why. The Museum’s Defining Moments in Australian History website grew out of the list of 100 key moments and remains an important and trusted source about Australian history.

The Digital Classroom is based on the rich content of the Defining Moments in Australian History website, adapted for a student audience. Its aim is to inspire young people to embrace history and engage with the nation’s story in new and innovative ways.

Preferences in terminology

The Museum recognises that First Nations peoples may be referred to in a variety of ways, including as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, First Australians or Indigenous Australians.

Citing or referencing our website

We encourage students to reference any material or content used from Australia’s Defining Moments Digital Classroom. The referencing format includes the name of our organisation, the webpage title, the URL and the date on which the webpage was viewed.

National Museum of Australia, Defining Moments: 1851 Gold rushes in New South Wales and Victoria begin, digital-classroom.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/gold-rushes-begin, viewed 5 August 2020