Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland > Educational resources
Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland > Educational resources
Teacher Erik Orre in Pirttijärvi, 1962. Image: Rafael Olin. SLS/Rafael Olins fotosamling
Archives are a valuable resource for anyone working with history, source criticism, cultural heritage, and society. We offer educational programmes for those who wish to learn more about the SLS archives or use archival materials in teaching. Come and visit us, borrow or download!
We offer hands-on archival training for upper secondary school students, university students, and other higher education groups. The sessions can be delivered online, on-site, or as a combination, and can be tailored to suit the group’s needs.
Introductory package – a first insight into the SLS archives
An accessible introduction to the archives and our collections, including:
· A general presentation of the SLS archives and collections
· An introduction to sls.finna.fi
Format: Online or on-site, approx. 30–45 minutes
Suitable for: Upper secondary school students or other groups on a first visit
For on-site participants, the visit concludes with a brief viewing of original materials and a simple practical task. The full visit takes approximately 60 minutes.
Advanced package – meet the originals!
Independently searching for and ordering archival materials provides the best way to understand how archives work in practice. This advanced programme is suitable as part of a course where archival materials are used in teaching. The content is planned in collaboration with the course instructor.
Content:
· An in-depth presentation of the SLS archives (history, activities, collections, and search tools)
· Independent searching in sls.finna.fi
· Where possible: independent research on site
Format: Online and/or on-site
Online only: 60 minutes
On-site: from 2 hours to recurring visits
Note: Advance ordering of archival materials and booking of reading room spaces are required for group visits on site.
Suitable for: University students and other higher education groups
Book a free visit at arkivet@sls.fi.
Skolväskan (The school bag) highlights the development of society in the 20th century, reflected through realistic copies of archival material. The school is suitable for group work and the bag is lent free of charge to schools. Book the school bag at arkivet@sls.fi.
918 – Jag var där (1918 – I was there) is a bilingual teaching aid based on unique archival material that highlights the impact of the Civil War on individuals and society.
The book is a collaboration between the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland and the Finnish Literature Society (Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura).
In addition to archival material, it includes source criticism guidance and information.
The 1918 website consists of two entities that support each other:
Here you can read about the unofficial place names in the cities of Kokkola, Loviisa, Vaasa, Turku, Maarianhamina, Tammisaari, Helsinki and Porvoo. You can also share other names you know.
The website can also be used as a starting point for discussion and work in the classroom. On the website you will find ready-made assignments for upper secondary school students.
Finna Classroom offers educational programmes from museums, archives and libraries. In Finna Classroom, teachers can choose material packages adapted to primary and secondary school curricula. The material packages can be used widely in several different subjects and modules.
SLS has contributed to the packages on Edith Södergran, the changing urban environment, places in our local environment, games from the past, the activities of the Finnish Defence Forces, the life of veterinarian Bernhard Åström in early 20th century Finland, and the audio package Lyssna på dialekter och talspråk (Listening to dialects and spoken language). Finna Classroom is continuously supplemented with new material packages.
Are you interested in emigration, the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, recycling during the Second World War or perhaps the emergence of the welfare society? We have taken material from our archive and created twelve smaller thematic units with images, documents and information. The thematic units take a brief look at our history and provide an insight into what archival material looks like or what it can add.
The units can be used independently or as a complement to Schildt’s & Söderström’s educational series I tiden.
Topelius för lågstadiet (Topelius for Primary Schools) is based on texts by the author Zacharias Topelius and is especially aimed at pupils in grades 5 and 6. There are thematic units suitable for teaching Swedish language, but also history, music and visual arts.
Topelius för gymnasiet (Topelius for upper secondary school) is aimed at teachers of history or Swedish language in upper secondary school. The thematic units, based on Topelius’ texts, make the 19th century alive and relevant for students.
The teaching materials have been produced by Schildts & Söderströms Läromedel in co-operation with SLS.