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!

The stapler has travelled to New York, Disney World, the Ritz Hotel, the Rugby World Cup England vs Fiji match, a  Boston baseball game, and a musical.

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.

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

September 20, 2015 9:33 pm·

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?

Homework Challenge - Week Two

This week I am bringing Museum Victoria to you at home!

Enjoy the Think Ahead Virtual Tour and Images.

Think Ahead is an exhibition about advances in science and technology across ten themes - communication; medicine and health; music and sound; food; natural systems; transport; space; cities; daily life; and money. With more than 200 museum objects from the past, the present and the speculative future, Think Ahead blends innovative technology with hands-on experiences to inspire you to research, think creatively and share your ideas.

Ask yourself the following questions before you watch the video.

What will our future be like?

What will our cities look like in the future? 

How will new materials change our houses, cities and clothes? 

What will we eat? 

How will we use the space around Earth?

Fantastic Images highlights some past visions of the future featured in the Think Ahead exhibition.

Futuristic Images...

Now answer the following questions...

1.  What problems do you think these forward-thinking futurists were trying to solve?

2.  Which problems have been solved today?

3.  What are the differences between the real solution and the imagined one?

Use these images to stimulate your imagination and think about how we solve problems.

4.  List 5 things you think we do to solve problems?

To leave your Challenge answers post a comment, remember to use the Quality Blog Comment check list!

Holiday Challenge - Week One

As promised here is your Week One holiday challenge...

Watch the following Kid President video...

Now answer the following questions...

1.  What is your FAVOURITE holiday memory and why?

2.  List 5 NO COST activities you could do these  
     holidays?

3.  What do you really want from a vacation?

4.  List 5 things you would do during a 'Whole Vacation'
     using Kid Presidents idea of a 'Whole Vacation'.

To leave your Challenge answers post a comment, remember to use the Quality Blog Comment check list!

http://www.gigaglitters.com/ - Glitter Graphics