Canberra's institutions may have closed their doors during the pandemic, but they still offer plenty online for inquiring young minds.
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Questacon: The National Science and Technology Centre
"Wherever you are," Questacon invites visitors, "be inspired by science and learn about the way our world works through a variety of fun experiments and activities you can do at home!"
Kids can learn how to make slime, lava lamps, balloon-powered cars or flying hovercrafts; watch presentations by air force pilots, plastic surgeons, and Nobel Prize-winning physicists; or discover the magic of the Science Circus.
For younger kids, there's a series of early learning adventures in science: learning about animals, the moon, and a blood bank.
Questacon also provides their pick of online science resources each week.
The National Library of Australia
The NLA's Digital Classroom takes online visitors on a tour of their Treasures Gallery. Highlights include Captain Cook's Pacific journal, Eddie Mabo's papers, Keith Murdoch's Gallipoil letter, and torches from the two Australian Olympic Games.
There are also teacher resources for students from Year 3 to senior school covering Indigenous experiences, the European exploration of Australia, convicts, the gold rush, Federation, sport, the arts, and advertising.
The National Museum of Australia
Through free, curriculum-linked classroom resources, students can learn about prehistoric Australia, the struggle for Indigenous rights, Ned Kelly, the gold rush, and more, or journey through Australian history in a dozen items.
There are also a dedicated online Kspace, with videos, quizzes and games, and interesting facts, quotes, and photos; and dozens of craft activities.
The Museum has new content every day, a virtual exhibition tour, talks by curators, or a behind the scenes look at the Museum.
Visit: https://www.nma.gov.au/
The Australian War Memorial
Visitors can explore the AWM's galleries, or see online exhibitions about vehicles, war photography, war songs, cricket, and tattooing.
They can find out more about the meaning of Anzac Day, including the event's history and the Gallipoil experience.
They can learn the stories of people who served for Australia, from service personnel to nurses, and their families left behind; or read free e-books about Australians in wartime.
The National Film and Sound Archive
The NFSA is always online. There are curated collections for kids and animal lovers, sports fans, fashionistas, amateur historians, and transport buffs.
Hundreds of hours of film and sound, including Australian music, cinema, classic TV and radio, Indigenous media, and more. New content will be added every fortnight.
Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House)
Many of the Museum's collections are available for viewing, exploration and research online. Revisit the 1954 Petrov affair or the dismissal of the Whitlam government, explore the election speeches of Australia's political leaders or catch up with our more recent political history in the Behind the Lines cartoon exhibitions.