Questions for discussion
Hurricane Irma Recovery
1. Briefly summarise the Hurricane Irma story.
2. Where in the United States do Gaby and Bella live?
3. How did they feel when they heard the hurricane was coming?
4. What had the supermarket sold out of?
5. Why were some cars left on the side of the road?
6. Hurricane Irma did huge amounts of damage in places like ______.
7. Describe the devastation on the island of Saint Martin.
8. Who visited the French territories in the Caribbean?
9. How are Gaby and Bella feeling about going back to their home?
10. What do you understand more clearly after watching the BTN story?
Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.
School Uniform Debate
1. In pairs, discuss the School Uniform story. What issues were raised in the discussion?
2. What did a recent study find about kids who were shorts or pants to school?
3. Who did Sophia write to about the uniform issue?
4. What did the Education Department decide about school uniforms?
5. Western Australia’s government made it compulsory for all public schools to give girls a choice between dresses and pants. True or false?
6. Which other state has said it might bring in similar rules?
7. What is the name of the group that is campaigning for change?
8. What questions do you have about the BTN story?
9. What do you think? Should it be up to individual schools to decide what their students wear? Give reasons for your answer.
10. What’s the uniform policy at your school? Is there anything you would change about your school uniform?
Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.
Kangaroo Control
1. Hold a class discussion for the Kangaroo Control story with another student. Record the main points of your discussion.
2. About how many kangaroos are there in Australia?
3. Why are kangaroos a problem at the Sandy Creek Conservation Park?
4. Why is over-grazing a problem?
5. How long has ecologist David Paton been monitoring the fenced-off area?
6. What does he think should happen?
7. What does it mean to `cull’?
8. Why are some people against the idea?
9. Why do some people think eating kangaroo meat is a good way to keep kangaroo numbers down?
10. Do you think culling kangaroos is a good idea? Give reasons for your answer.
Check out the Kangaroo Control resource on the Teachers page
New $10 Note
1. What did the BTN story explain?
2. What new features does the $10 note have?
3. Describe a security feature of the new note.
4. Who are the two famous faces on the $10 note?
5. Name three facts you learnt about Banjo Patterson.
6. What well known poems did he write?
7. Describe the work that Dame Mary Gilmore did.
8. Why do you think she was included on the $10 note?
9. What did you learn watching the BTN story?
10. Do you like the new $10 note? Give reasons for your answer.
Check out the New $10 Note resource on the Teachers page
Minecraft Playground
1. Explain the BTN story to another student.
2. Where in Australia has the playground been built?
3. Which computer game did they use to help them with their design?
4. Describe the playground the students designed.
5. What materials did they use to build the playground?
6. Describe one of the features of the playground.
7. Why are computer programs useful when designing something like a park?
8. How do the students feel about the final product?
9. What did you like about the park in the BTN story?
10. Illustrate an aspect of the story.
Design a piece of play equipment using a computer program like Minecraft. Do
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