Resources for teachers

Once a term, one of our librarians can come to your preschool or school to read stories to tamariki and talk about library events. Preschool visits available on Thursday & Friday mornings. New entrant visits available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the day.

🕘 30 minutes

A low sensory storytime, exploring some traditional Kai Tahu myths and legends, some of which are depicted in the whakairo (carvings) found in the wharekai at Te Rau Aroha marae in Bluff:

• Kā Roimata: The legend of Kā Roimata whose tears turned to oysters in Te Ara a Kiwa (Foveaux Strait)
• Tama Rereti: Captain of the waka Te Rua o Maahu, this is the story of how Tama Rereti and his waka became known as the stars on the Southern Cross
• Tunaroa: The legend of the great eel Tunaroa and where the colours of the forest came from
• Ngā Pakanga Manu:The story of a huge battle between the birds of the land and the birds of the sea

These are all local tales, retold in print by Bubba Thompson and Charisma Rangipunga and published by Te Rūnaka o Awarua.

Followed by a craft based on the myth.

🕘 1 hour

What better place for storytime than the library? Join us for some terrific tales, followed by some fun crafts. Let us know if you would like your craft to be themed, or we’ll provide one inspired by the story.

Researching for a project at school? Come to the library to find out what resources we have on your topic. This session includes:

• What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?
• How to use the dewey decimal system to your advantage
• Online resources students can use from home
• Tour of the 1st Floor and Archives

We are also happy to sign students up to the library for a free library card while they are here. Let us know in advance and we can send through some forms to fill in before your visit.

Examples may include WWI & WWII, Geneaology, Suffragettes, Historic Buildings or any other topics your school is researching.

🕘 90 minutes

Learn about the lives of local Southlanders by listening to excerpts from the Southland Oral History Project.

Ages 4-8: Listen to stories by local Southlanders and match their words up with a selection of pictures in front of you. What do you hear? How do their stories make you feel? Are their lives similar or different from your own? (30 mins)

Ages 9-13: Listen to stories by local Southlanders and answer questions based on what you hear. Next, interview someone in your class asking the same questions. Compare answers between the past and present. What has changed and what is the same? (30 mins)

We are also able to show students how to access our oral history collection at the library, and cater snippets to what they are learning in school. If you are working on a research project let us know!

🕘 up to 90 minutes

Trying to get your students started with research? Bring them into the Library for a demonstration on Any Questions/Many Answers.

Any Questions & Many Answers is a free online reference service for all New Zealand school students. Learn how to use the live text based chat with Librarians across the country, or find relevant and appropriate research resources for students.

This service is supported by the Ministry of Education, managed by the National Library of New Zealand, and staffed by librarians from around New Zealand, including Invercargill City Libraries.

To learn more, visit anyquestions.govt.nz

🕘 30 minutes

Looking for a fun day out? Try out some of our digital/STEM activities we have on offer here at the library, including:

• Robots: control robots using coding, race each other and work together to make your way through a maze (13 robots available)
• Scavenger Hunts: Choose from a variety of scavenger hunts we have here at the Library. Great for letting off some steam during the day!
• Digital Think Games: Practice coding, creativity and problem-solving skills with games on our tablets, such as Thinkrolls (Kings & Queens), and DNA Play (40 tablets available)
• Lego Challenges: Using lego, solve different engineering challenges and test them to see if they work
• Playstation 5 Virtual Reality: Immerse yourself in virtual reality, playing a variety of entertaining video games (suitable for ages 12+ only)

Can’t make it to the library? We can come to you! Let us know, and we can bring any of the tech above to your school as part of a visit.

Please note, due to health and safety recommendations, students must be over 12 years old in order to use our virtual reality headset. We have one VR machine only for use. If you would like a list of our games, please let us know.

🕘 up to 2 hours

Once a term, one of our librarians can come to your school for a lunchtime book talk to show off our new releases to students. Books can also be issued out to students from the classroom.

🕘 30 minutes