Questions for discussion

Basin Plan

  1. Discuss the main issues raised in the Basin plan story with another student.
  2. About how many species of native fish in the Murray-Darling system are endangered?
  3. Why is the Murray-Darling Basin important to agriculture in Australia?
  4. The amount of water taken out of the Murray-Darling system over the years has
  5. Decreased
  6. Increased
  7. Stayed the same
  8. What factors have contributed to the poor state of the river system?
  9. What is a water allocation?
  10. Describe both the farming and environmental side to the water allocation issue.
  11. What did the Murray-Darling Authority recommend in their draft report?
  12. How have the farmers and environmental groups reacted to the report?
  13. What do you think should happen? Should farming or the environment take priority?

`In the Basin plan should the farmers or the environment take priority?’ Vote in the BtN online poll

Chile rescue

1.  How long were the miners trapped underground?

2.  Briefly explain how the miners became trapped.

3.  Explain how supplies like food and medicine were being delivered to the miners.

4.  Which two minerals were being mined at the San Jose mine?

5.  Who helped the Chilean Government with the rescue?

6.  How were the miners taken up to the surface?

7.  Experts were lowered to the miners before they were rescued. Why?

8.  What concerns do some people have about the miners once the media attention finishes?

9.  The Chilean Government has been criticised for the way it handled the rescue. True or false?

10.  Brainstorm a list of emotions the miners and their families might be feeling during and after the rescue.

Test your knowledge in the online quiz.

Newspapers

  1. What are the different elements of a newspaper?
  2. What costs are involved in running a newspaper?
  3. How do they make money?
  4. Who are newspapers competing with for news and information?
  5. What part have newspapers played in history?
  6. Where are newspaper companies starting to publish news?
  7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of news in this format?
  8. How are newspapers and online news similar and different?
  9. Where do you and your family get news from? Which is your preference and why?
  10. What do you think the future of newspapers is? Explain your answer.

Create a timeline of the history of newspapers beginning with Acta Diurna, the first newspaper published in Rome.


Fred’s van

  1. Before you watch the Fred’s Van story, record what you know about homelessness.
  2. Approximately how many people in Australia are homeless?
  3. Describe the work that Fred’s Van does?
  4. Where did the name come from?
  5. How does working with the homeless make Emily and Bianca feel?
  6. Where does the food that is served to the homeless and disadvantaged come from?
  7. Choose three adjectives to describe volunteers.
  8. How does volunteering benefit the community?
  9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
  10. Brainstorm a list of ways your class or school could help homeless or disadvantaged people in your local community.

Write a message about the story and post it on the BtN guestbook http://abc.net.au/btn/guestbook.html

Rodeo kids

  1. Retell the story in your own words.
  2. When did rodeos first start?
  3. Describe the dangers associated with rodeo riding.
  4. How are rodeos helping some kids improve their lives?
  5. What opportunities does the rodeo industry provide?
  6. Why do you think some people might be opposed to rodeos?
  7. How have the horses involved in the rodeos been given a second chance?
  8. How did this story make you feel?
  9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
  10. Create a plus, minus and interesting chart about rodeos.

Use information from the BtN Rodeo kids story to create a quiz about rodeos. Students may need to use the internet to find more facts.

© ABC 2010