Thursday, October 8, 2015
Monday, October 5, 2015
Holiday Challenge Term 3 - Week 2
Read the News Articles and answer the questions that follow each article...
The Adventures of a
Stapler
After seeing the note attached to the stapler in her London office reading “Floor 4. Do not remove,” Helena Landon decided to disobey.
The stapler has now been all around the world, appearing in photos in different countries with the sticker still attached!
At first Helena took the stapler to the 2nd floor to snap a photo as a joke and her team encouraged her to rebel against the rules, helping her show the stapler a world outside of the office.
Photos of the stapler’s adventures have gone viral on the internet with demands to see more. Now whenever Helena or any of her colleagues head out somewhere with a great photo opportunity they take the stapler along with them!
1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article?
2. What was the key event from the news article?
3. Where did this event take place?
4. When did this event take place?
Devastating flooding in central Japan
Created on September 18, 2015
Tens of thousands of people in central Japan have been ordered by authorities flee their homes after rain flooded rivers and caused landslides. One person is missing after a mudslide buried houses.
Special downpour warnings have been issued for areas north of Tokyo.
Specialists say the scale of the downpour has not been experienced before and it warned of grave danger.
Authorities have ordered more than 90,000 residents to evacuate, while another 80,000 were advised to leave their homes.
The swollen Kinugawa River in Joso city, home to 65,000 people, has burst its banks.
Some people were left clinging to the roofs of their houses, waiting for helicopters to rescue them.
1. Find a quote from the main person in this news article?
2. In your own words describe what happened in this news article.
3. Find out where this event took place and include some information about this place.
4. Tell us when this event happened and explain what might happen in the future.
5. Explain in your own words why this event took place.
6. Use a Dictionary to find the meaning of 3 words from the article.
2. In your own words describe what happened in this news article.
3. Find out where this event took place and include some information about this place.
4. Tell us when this event happened and explain what might happen in the future.
5. Explain in your own words why this event took place.
6. Use a Dictionary to find the meaning of 3 words from the article.
RWC Kicks Off Saturday
Created on September 17, 2015
On Saturday 19th September at 7.00 AM New Zealand time the Rugby World Cup kicks off.
The first match of the tournament will see the hosts England take on Fiji at Twickenham in London.
While England are firm favourites to win the match, most rugby fans throughout New Zealand will be hoping they can celebrate a Fijian victory on Saturday.
Some interesting statistics to consider:
• These two teams have played five tests against each other – England has won by at least 13 points every time.
• The only World Cup meeting between the two teams was also at Twickenham – England won 45-24 in 1999.
• England have won their first fixture in each of the five World Cups since 1991.
• Fiji have won their opening game at four of the six World Cups.
• England have won seven straight victories at Twickenham.
• England are yet to lose to Fiji – France, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa are the other nations yet to lose to Fiji.
• In each of their last seven tests Fiji have scored at least three tries.
1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article?
2. What was the key event from the news article?
3. Where did this event take place?
4. When did this event take place?
Holiday Challenge Term 3 - Week 1
Student In Texas Builds Clock
Still from a video of Ahmed Mohamed. Image: Wikipedia.
Ahmed Mohamed is a bright, well-spoken and creative grade 9 student in Texas. One of his favourite things to do is invent and build things. He once built himself an extra long-life battery charger for his cell phone. Recently, he built a clock.
His clock wasn’t much to look at. It didn’t look like the kind that would be on your bedside table; it wasn’t in a fancy package. It was in a big metal case, and it had wires coming out of it. But it worked. It was a real digital clock and it worked; it kept the time and it had an alarm.
The 14-year-old was proud of the clock he had built, and he thought his teachers would be, too. So he brought the clock to school to show it to them. He thought they would be pleased.
The device Mohamed took to school. Image: Wikipedia.
Instead, Ahmed’s teachers thought his clock might be something dangerous. They were wrong, but they felt that Ahmed might be a threat to the safety of the school so they called the police, and Ahmed was taken to jail. (He was later released and he was not charged with any crime.)
At a news conference, Ahmed said, “I built a clock to impress my teacher but when I showed it to her she thought it was a threat to her. I’m very sad that she got the wrong impression of it.”
Since then, Ahmed’s week improved—to say the least. Many people around the world stuck up for Ahmed and his clock. They said he is creative and smart, and they said he shouldn’t have been arrested or accused—he and his invention should have been praised.
One of those people is U.S. President Barack Obama. He invited Ahmed to the White House. Leaders at big technology companies have offered him “internships” (jobs). Google said they have reserved a spot in their prestigious science fair for him. The creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, said online that, “The future belongs to people like Ahmed.”
Some people think that the teachers’ actions were affected by the fact that Ahmed’s skin is brown, and he and his family are Muslims. If so, that is racism. (In this case, “racism” means believing something bad about someone based on things like the colour of their skin or their religion.)
In a media conference, Ahmed said he is going to change schools. It looks like he will have plenty of great options.
Writing PromptIf this had happened several years ago before social media, the outcome may have been very different. In your opinion, what role did social media play in Ahmed’s situation?
If you were to send a tweet to Ahmed, what would you say? (Remember it can only be 140 characters long).
Reading Prompt: Elements of StyleThe headline for this article is very straightforward–boring, even. The headline could have been a lot more “sensational.” Why do you think the author chose this headline?
Identify various elements of style – including foreshadowing, metaphor, and symbolism – and explain how they help communicate meaning and enhance the effectiveness of texts.
Language Feature: DefinitionsIn this article, racism is defined as “believing something bad about someone based on things like the colour of their skin or their religion.” Are there other definitions of racism?
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