Teachers’ Toolkit Enewsletter Issue 14

As Term 1 draws to a close and with Easter school holidays upon us, we are pleased to send you this e-newsletter with some late-breaking news.

A New ERA for Libraries

Forget the traditional libraries of old, where dusty novels sit idle and dog-eared encyclopedias and dictionaries clutter up the reading rooms ... libraries have entered a brand new ERA of online access!

Macquarie Online (including MacquarieNet and Macquarie Dictionary) is thrilled to announce it has been selected for inclusion in the product list offered by Electronic Resources Australia (ERA) for 2009.

ERA is a national consortium initiative through the National Library of Australia which has expanded its product offerings allowing the public greater access to exciting information traditionally offered only in print.

ERA offers all Australian libraries the chance to purchase quality electronic resources at reduced rates. Libraries just need to register their intention by 15 April via the online product poll at: http://era.nla.gov.au/product_list/productpolls.html

Macquarie Online is proud to be part of ERA and is offering libraries special subscription rates for both Macquarie Dictionary Online and MacquarieNet.

Go to http://era.nla.gov.au/product_list/Macquarie.html for pricing information.

Though this falls at the end of the holidays, many schools focus upon this event either before or following the break. We remind you of the great resources available for download from the Teachers’ Toolkit Website, but specifically in the latest issue of the magazine. Have you used the Women at War unit? Check it out in the magazine or else online.

For those living in or near to Sydney, or perhaps visiting, there is a wonderful new exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Suitable mainly for upper primary and secondary students, It’s not all black and white: The South African Jewish Story, and the Culture and Continuity: Journey through Judaism are two of the exhibitions currently on show. There are educational teaching resources available to accompany these exhibitions. For more information, visit: www.sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au

Staedtler and Save the Children Fund encourage you register for this event to help raise funds to secure quality education for children out of school due to war and armed conflict in Columbia. It is a fun and creative way to raise much needed funds. Visit: www.world-kids-colouring-day.com.au or else look through Teachers’ Toolkit Magazine Issues 13 & 14.

Has your school registered for this important annual event? If not, go online to www.treeday.planetark.org

On land they are clumsy and slow, but when they take to the skies, Providence Petrels are masters of flight. Here is a great term project to not only research this amazing bird which is on the endangered species list, but also to set up a chart to track their migration. Your students might be amazed with travels of the Providence Petrel. To embark on this project, have your students go online and search (Australia) for Providence Petrel. Also consider having your students take a look at the list of bird species that are listed as ‘threatened’.

PS. And talking of threatened species. Did your Easter purchases include some chocolate Easter Bilbies? There are a number of websites containing Bilby information - perhaps start with The Australian Bilby Appreciation Society.

Share this e-newsletter with your colleagues, including those new to your school, and suggest they also register for all the Teachers’ Toolkit benefits.

April 2009

A New ERA for Libraries