Questions for discussion

Day of mourning

  1. Describe the importance of a day of mourning.
  2. Where did the idea for a day of mourning start?
  3. How is it like a funeral?
  4. How have some children been seeking support?
  5. Why do you think it’s important they get support?
  6. Describe the different emotions of people affected by the fires.
  7. How have some children been expressing their feelings?
  8. What have students been doing to get back into a routine?
  9. Why do you think this is important?
  10. What do you understand more clearly about dealing with loss after watching the BtN story?

Send a message or tell us what you think on the BtN Guestbook.

Stimulus package

  1. Briefly explain the BtN story to another student.
  2. What is the stimulus package?
  3. What is the Government hoping it will do?
  4. What is a recession?
  5. What does the Government want people to do with the money they are given?
  6. Who will benefit from the stimulus package?
  7. How will schools be better off with extra funding?
  8. Outline the reasons why some people are opposed to the package?
  9. Do you agree or disagree with the stimulus package? Give reasons for your answer.
  10. What else do you think could be done to stimulate the economy?

Create a plus, minus and interesting chart about the Government’s stimulus package.

Shark attack

  1. In your own words, describe what happened to Hannah Mighall.
  2. What sort of shark attacked Hannah?
  3. Describe what Hannah’s cousin did.
  4. What do experts say about shark attacks in Australia this summer?
  5. What is happening to the shark population and why?
  6. What species’ of sharks are increasing in numbers and why?
  7. What did Hannah want to happen to the shark?
  8. Do you think the dangers associated with sharks are exaggerated? Explain your answer.
  9. Has your thinking about sharks changed since watching the BtN story? Explain your answer.
  10. What do you think should happen next?

`Should sharks be culled?’ Vote in the online poll.
Test your knowledge in the online quiz.

East Timor volunteers

  1. In your own words, describe what a group of West Australian students did when they finished school?
  2. Why did they choose to become volunteers?
  3. Where is East Timor in relation to Australia?
  4. What has happened in East Timor in the last 6 years?
  5. Why do you think countries like East Timor need support from other countries?
  6. What role did the school leavers play in East Timor?
  7. How much money did the volunteers raise for the project?
  8. Choose three adjectives to describe volunteers.
  9. What do you understand more clearly about volunteers since watching the BtN story?
  10. How did this story make you feel?

Research an organisation that relies on volunteers for work that it does. Identify the different roles the volunteers have within the organisation.

Kids Olympics

  1. In your own words, describe the aim of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
  2. What age group competes in the Youth Olympics?
  3. How many different countries competed?
  4. Describe the experience for the young people competing.
  5. Where did the young athletes stay and compete?
  6. How does it prepare young people for the `real’ Olympics?
  7. How did some Olympians help out during the Youth Olympics?
  8. Why do you think it was important for the athletes to take part in drug education and testing?
  9. What advice did Matthew Mitcham offer the young athletes?
  10. If you could send a message to a young athlete, what would it be?

Go to the Australian Youth Olympic Festival website http://ayof09.olympics.com.au/ and summarise a news story. Present your summary to another student.


Volunteering

In Western Australia, a group of school leavers decided to celebrate the end of their schooling in a very different way.

Focus Questions

  1. In your own words, describe what a group of West Australian students did when they finished school?
  2. Why did they choose to become volunteers?
  3. Where is East Timor in relation to Australia?
  4. What has happened in East Timor in the last 6 years?
  5. Why do you think countries like East Timor need support from other countries?
  6. What role did the school leavers play in East Timor?
  7. How much money did the volunteers raise for the project?
  8. Choose three adjectives to describe volunteers.
  9. What do you understand more clearly about volunteers since watching the BtN story?
  10. How did this story make you feel?

More about volunteers

Students will deepen their understanding of what it means to be a volunteer and the role of volunteers in the community. Begin with a class brainstorm to establish what students already understand about volunteers and volunteering. Record responses to key questions raised in the discussion as a mind or concept map. Some key questions include:

·  What does being a volunteer mean?

·  Why do people become volunteers?

·  What qualities and values do volunteers need to have?

·  How do people become volunteers?

·  What personal experiences do students have of volunteers or volunteering?

·  Who does volunteering benefit in the community?

To gain an insight into the sort of work volunteers do and why they choose to do it, students will interview a volunteer working in their school or local community. In groups of 3-4 students, ask students to brainstorm the volunteers working within their school or local community. Students then need to organise to interview a willing volunteer. Interview questions can be based on key questions discussed earlier in class. Some additional questions could include:

·  How and why did you become a volunteer?

·  What skills are needed to carry out the volunteer work?

·  What do you gain personally and professionally from volunteering?

Students can share their responses with students from other classes.

Further investigation

Research an organisation that relies on volunteers for work that it does. Identify the different roles the volunteers have within the organisation.

8 Related Research Links
Stateline WA – The Timor Leavers
http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2006/s2440611.htm

Bank of IDEAS – Official website
http://www.bankofideas.com.au/about_frames.html

Volunteering Australia – What is volunteering?
http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=1954&nav_cat_id=221&nav_top_id=50


Stimulus package

The Government has announced it’s going to give nearly 10 million Australians some extra money to help stimulate the economy.

Focus Questions

  1. Briefly explain the BtN story to another student.
  2. What is the stimulus package?
  3. What is the Government hoping it will do?
  4. What is a recession?
  5. What does the Government want people to do with the money they are given?
  6. Who will benefit from the stimulus package?
  7. How will schools be better off with extra funding?
  8. Outline the reasons why some people are opposed to the package?
  9. Do you agree or disagree with the stimulus package? Give reasons for your answer.
  10. What else do you think could be done to stimulate the economy?

Will be economy be stimulated?

Students will investigate community perceptions and understandings of the Government’s stimulus package. Watch the BtN story again and brainstorm with students what the aim of the stimulus package is. Clarify their understanding of the global economic crisis. Watching the BtN stories about the credit crisis http://www.abc.net.au/news/btn/story/s2387803.htm and the recession http://www.abc.net.au/news/btn/story/s2338962.htm will support students with their understanding of the concept.

Students will be interviewing people about how effective they think the stimulus package will be. Working in pairs, ask students to generate some key questions to ask. They will also need to identify a range of people to interview. Some key questions include:

·  Do you think the stimulus package will help Australia’s economy? Why?

·  Is the package fair? Are there people missing out who should be receiving it? If so, who?

·  Do you think there are better ways to stimulate the economy? How?

Students need to present the interview responses to the rest of the class.

Suggested formats include:

·  PowerPoint presentation

·  Short film/animation

·  Oral presentation

Reflection

How has the investigation changed your thinking about the stimulus package?

8 Related Research Links
ABC News – Initial praise for Govt stimulus package
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/03/2481129.htm

ABC News – Treasury chief backs timing of stimulus package
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/05/2483718.htm

ABC News – Stimulus package dismissed as `worse than useless’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/05/2483688.htm

ABC Radio Australia News – Australian stimulus package gets approval
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200902/2490618.htm?desktop

ABC News – Country schools miss out in stimulus package: Nationals
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/04/2482135.htm

SBS World News – Stimulus package gets thumbs up
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1007545/Stimulus-package-gets-thumbs-up


BtN: Episode 2 Transcripts 24/02/08

On this week's Behind the News:

§  the nation stops to remember the Victorian bushfires

§  the teenage girl who survived a shark attack

§  and why is a 'kids Olympics' being held

Hi I'm Nathan Bazley welcome to Behind the News.

Also on the show today we meet a group of kids choosing a very different way to celebrate schoolies week.

Those items later but first to our top story:

Day of Mourning

Reporter: Sarah Larsen

INTRO: The country is still trying to come to terms with the Victorian bushfire disaster.

Police have now worked out that more than 200 people have been killed ~ thousands of others have lost their homes.

An enormous amount of help is flowing into the area and on Sunday a special service was held as a show of support. Here's Sarah.

SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: All sorts of people gathered together on Sunday. There were survivors, fire-fighters, royalty and politicians but they all felt the same way.

JOHN BRUMBY, VICTORIAN PREMIER: These fires have united us all in grief, they have united us all in our resolve and they have united us all in the task of rebuilding.

Services were also held in the fire zone and in other states and while it was a day of sadness, it was also a time to come together.

KEVIN RUDD, PRIME MINISTER: For on Black Saturday what we saw at work was the worst of nature but the best of humanity.

Sunday was an official day of mourning. It's like a funeral; a time for the whole country to take in what's happened and a reminder that they're not alone in feeling sad.

THANIA, KIDS HELPLINE COUNSELLOR: I think it can really help for children and young people to have some sort of ritual or ceremony to acknowledge that loss that they've felt

Thania is a counsellor for Kids Helpline which is a free service kids can use if they need to talk to someone.

They've had a 70 percent increase in calls from fire affected areas. Thania says it’s important for kids to have someone to talk to if they want to.

THANIA: We've had callers talking about guilt for having survived and having their loved ones perish in the fires... not having their clothes, their belongings, not being able to sleep in their own bed which is really, really difficult.

And it's not just kids in the fire zone. Some have also been upset by seeing pictures or hearing stories. Thania says it’s also important to understand that different kids react differently when they're upset.

TANYA: One person may cry and cry and cry and another person might throw themselves into school work and try not to think about it. There are many any ways of dealing with it and there is no right or wrong way to do it

For some people it helps to get back into a routine and that's exactly what's happening here in Alexandra. Its right near the fire zone and you can tell from their drawings that some of these guys have seen some pretty terrible things but now they're excited about going back to school

ALEXANDRA SCHOOL STUDENT: Go out to play and play with my friends.

ALEXANDRA SCHOOL STUDENT: I've been looking forward to writing and reading.

Not all schools have reopened. Some burned down and kids will have to enrol somewhere else. Others are having temporary classrooms brought in. It will be months before things are rebuilt properly but at least they know everyone's behind them.

Website Feedback

INTRO: And we've also been getting tons of messages for bushfire survivors on our website.

Kids have been sending messages of support and telling us how they're donating their time and money to help out. Here's just a few of them:

To everyone who lost their home I am very sorry. I hope that your hearts heal. I'm very very sorry. Zoe

I have been devastated by the picture on the news of the fury and destruction of the bushfire. Get better soon. Melvin

On Friday we had a uniform free day to raise money to help you. We raised $2 000. We hope you start to feel better soon. Charles Conder Primary

Dear fire-fighters, thank you for working so hard and also for saving lots of people. You are the best people ever. Kaiti

Thank you everyone. I was in Victoria visiting my aunt and uncle when it happened. I got one leg burn and my cousin’s arm was burnt. My smaller cousin Sam didn’t make it, neither did the cats. Apart from that we got out ok.

Jess

Presenter

Hope Jess and everyone else get better soon. Right now Sarah is actually in the fire zone finding out how kids are rebuilding their lives.

We'll have a special report from her next week. In the meantime, Catherine has an update on the fires in the Wire.

The Wire

Authorities are warning that the fire risk in Victoria isn't over yet.

Some fires are still burning in parts of the state and extreme weather this week could fan them out of control.

Families are being told that if they are going to evacuate they should do it early.

And in Britain, doctors have raised hopes of an effective treatment for nut allergies.

A clinical trial has helped children build up a tolerance to peanuts - by eating them.

It's the first time anyone has been successfully de-sensitised to a food-related allergy.

Stimulus Package

Reporter, Nathan Bazley

INTRO: OK time to talk money. The world economic crisis has stretched into the new year and doesn't even look close to being over. Many countries are suffering, including Australia.

But the government has announced a pretty interesting way of helping us ride through this tough period. They're giving a lot of us a whole lot of cash and they want us to spend up big!

But is it as good as it sounds?

Plants can really suffer under the sweltering summer sun.