Questions for discussion
Libya strike
1. What is the main message in the Libya strike story?
2. Who is the leader of Libya?
3. What is the job of the United Nations Security Council?
4. Why did they decide to take action in Libya?
5. Who are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?
6. Non-permanent members join for _____years at a time.
7. What is meant by a `no-fly zone’?
8. Did all countries vote to support a `no-fly zone’? Explain your answer.
9. What are the concerns about the UN Security Council’s mission?
10. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
Use the internet to research ten facts about the United Nations. Display the information as a `Did you know?’ fact sheet.
Christmas Island
1. Before you watch the Christmas Island story, write down what you know about the place.
2. Why have asylum seekers been protesting on Christmas Island?
3. Which country owns the island?
4. Why did they buy it?
5. What is the population on the island?
6. In your own words, describe life on Christmas Island?
7. Residents on the island consider themselves a part of…
8. What rare and unusual wildlife is Christmas Island known for?
9. What are the similarities and differences between Australia and Christmas Island?
10. How has your thinking changed about the island since watching the BtN story?
Create an artwork that represents an aspect of life on Christmas Island.
Duck hunting
1. Discuss the issues raised in the Duck hunting story with another student.
2. In which states is duck hunting legal?
3. When is the duck hunting season in most states?
4. How does the Government decide whether there will be a duck hunting season?
5. Why are limits put on the number of ducks hunters are allowed to kill?
6. Why is this duck season expected to be good?
7. Duck hunting is a controversial sport. What does that mean?
8. What do shooters and some residents see as the benefits of duck hunting?
9. Why do animal rights groups want duck hunting banned?
10. Do you think duck hunting should be allowed? Explain your answer.
`Should duck hunting be allowed in Australia?’ Vote in the BtN online poll http://www.abc.net.au/btn/
Stuttering
1. Which movie has raised awareness about stuttering?
2. Stuttering is when a person’s speech is______by ______.
3. Previously, it was thought that stuttering was caused by…
4. What is the current thinking about the causes of stuttering?
5. Stuttering is more common in girls. True or false?
6. What is meant when researchers say they think stuttering could be genetic?
7. Why is early treatment important?
8. Describe the treatment shown in the BtN story.
9. What do you understand more clearly since watching this story?
10. Discuss how you felt about this story with another student.
The King’s Speech raised awareness about stuttering. Think of some ways you could raise awareness and educate the public about stuttering.
Ballet boys
1. Which three words do you associate with ballet?
2. Ballet is the French word for ______.
3. In the 1600’s, France opened its first ballet school where only ______were allowed to dance.
4. Which French ballet terms are used today?
5. Why are fitness and strength important in ballet?
6. A recent study compared ballet to which sports?
7. What were the findings of the study?
8. What are blocks and when do ballet dancers wear them?
9. What was surprising about this story?
10. In small groups, brainstorm famous ballets and give a brief description of the stories they tell.
Test your knowledge in the online Ballet quiz. Go to the BtN website and follow the links.
Using Dance Maker on the Dance Academy website, choreograph your own ballet sequence using actors from the show http://www.abc.net.au/abc3/dancemaker/
Libya strike
Focus Questions
1. What is the main message in the Libya strike story?
2. Who is the leader of Libya?
3. What is the job of the United Nations Security Council?
4. Why did they decide to take action in Libya?
5. Who are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?
6. Non-permanent members join for _____years at a time.
7. What is meant by a `no-fly zone’?
8. Did all countries vote to support a `no-fly zone’? Explain your answer.
9. What are the concerns about the UN Security Council’s mission?
10. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
United Nations
Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete from each section.
Remember and understand
· Think about the words `united’ and `nations’. Use the dictionary and internet to look for meanings, information and synonyms for the words.
United / Nations· Use the internet to research ten facts about the United Nations. Display the information as a `Did you know?’ fact sheet.
· On a world map, highlight the permanent and non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Apply and Analyse
· The United Nations has four main purposes. Research what these are and choose the one that you think is most important. Give reasons for your choice.
· Research the history of the United Nations. When and why was it formed? Publish the information as a poster, video or slideshow.
· Read the plain language version of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of a Child.
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/resources/plainchild.asp
Which rights are most important to you? Why? Give some examples of what each right means.
Evaluate and create
· The United Nations kid’s organisation is called UNICEF. Create a profile of UNICEF including how the organisation helps kids, the emblem and what it represents.
· Create an artwork that represents an aspect of the work the United Nations does. Display the artwork in a public space in the school.
· Write a series of journal entries as if you were a child somewhere who has received help from UNICEF.
8 Related Research Links
ABC Behind the News - Libya
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3153965.htm
ABC News – UN clears way for Libya no-fly zone
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/18/3167294.htm
United Nations – UN at a glance
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/index.shtml
Social Studies for kids – Airstrikes continue, but Libya situation murkier
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/currentevents/libyaprotests2011_12.htm
Scholastic - Six parts of the UN
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=6498
Children’s BBC – Who are the Security Council?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_2770000/newsid_2772000/2772053.stm
Duck hunting
Focus Questions
1. Discuss the issues raised in the Duck hunting story with another student.
2. In which states is duck hunting legal?
3. When is the duck hunting season in most states?
4. How does the Government decide whether there will be a duck hunting season?
5. Why are limits put on the number of ducks hunters are allowed to kill?
6. Why is this duck season expected to be good?
7. Duck hunting is a controversial sport. What does that mean?
8. What do shooters and some residents see as the benefits of duck hunting?
9. Why do animal rights groups want duck hunting banned?
10. Do you think duck hunting should be allowed? Explain your answer.
Duck hunting
Students will examine persuasive texts and create an argument for or against duck hunting in Australia. Ask students to discuss in small groups what they know about persuasive texts and give examples of them. Have a range of texts to show students including letters to the editor, advertisements and brochures. Discuss the purpose of each text and the techniques used to persuade the audience. Examples of arguments written by students are at the Jenny Eather Writing Fun website http://www.writingfun.com/writingfun2010.html Students can also publish their writing online.
Students will be developing an argument for or against duck hunting being allowed in Australia. Watch the BtN story again or use the transcript to revisit the arguments.
Some questions to consider:
· What is duck hunting?
· Where does it occur?
· How is it managed/regulated?
· What are the ethical/humane considerations?
· What are the environmental considerations?
Structure of an argument
Statement of position
State what the issue or topic is.
Form a clear, forceful statement of position or opinion.
The audience should be clear about the stand being taken by the author.
Argument stage
Construct arguments that support the author’s point of view.
Each paragraph starts with a topic sentence which introduces each point.
The rest of the paragraph gives more reasons.
Arguments can be ordered from strongest to weakest.
Conclusion
Restates the author’s position.
Summarises the main arguments.
Language features
Words that link arguments (because, therefore)
Evaluative language (important, best, safest)
Thinking verbs (we believe, people think)
Students can publish their arguments in one of the following ways:
· Slide show using Microsoft Power Point
· Brochure using Publisher
· Letter to the editor
· Speech/oral presentation
· Short film using Movie Maker or Photo Story
Reflection
Ask students to think about how difficult it was to think of arguments to support their case. Do they think they could have created a stronger argument for the opposing view?
8 Related Research Links
ABC News – Duck hunting
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/17/3166142.htm?site=news
ABC 730 Victoria – Hunting bonanza
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/03/18/3168127.htm
RSPCA – Duck hunting
http://www.rspca.org.au/how-you-can-help/campaigns/hunting.html
Field and Game Australia – Official website
http://www.fga.net.au/
Department of Sustainability and Environment – Duck Hunting Season 2011
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/9A657EFEB7FF349DCA25781600236DDB/$File/2011-Duck-Season-FactSheet.pdf
BtN: Episode 8 Transcript 29/3/11
On this week's Behind the News:
· From the kids of Christmas Island why it's more than just a detention centre.
· Duck hunting season is underway but not everyone's happy about it.
· And from Kings to kids why speech problems are more common than you might think.
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News.
Also on the show today we find out why boys are leaping at the chance to do ballet.
But first.
Libya Strike
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: There's been a lot of fighting in an African country called Libya.
The guy who runs the country started bombing his own people because they were trying to get him out of power.
But now other countries have decided to help and it all came about because of a very important meeting thousands of kilometres away from there.
So how does one meeting change the course of a war?
Let's find out more about it.
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: Top Gun is heading for straight for Libya.
These fighter jets are from countries like Britain, France and the US and they're all heading to Libya for a joint mission.
Their aim?
To take out anything Colonel Gaddafi could use to hurt his own people, as they rise up against him.
The coalition force appear to have saved the Libyan rebels from near certain defeat.
So how do countries suddenly decide to team up and help out?
Well it might sound like something out of a comic, but there is one group of people who have the job of maintaining world peace and security.
They are the league of the most powerful countries in the world; otherwise known as the United Nations Security Council.
NATHAN: Okay so they might be powerful but they aren't all that exciting to listen to, so to take their place for today, meet the UN security council of kids!
These are the people that decide how and when the world's biggest armies should be used.
The most powerful of these members are the five permanent ones: The US, the UK, Russia, France and China.
Then there are less powerful members; countries that are allowed to join for two years at a time.
And a few weeks ago, representatives from all 15 countries held an urgent meeting to discuss a big problem.
CHINA: Okay, quiet! So you've all seen what's happening in Libya right now. What should we do about it?
UNITED KINGDOM: Well Gaddafi seems to be killing a lot of Libyan people in bombing raids, so maybe we should get our jets up there to enforce a no fly zone, so we can stop his jets dropping bombs.
FRANCE: We need to stop him launching more attacks too, so we should take out his aircraft hangers and radar equipment.
AMERICA: Okay, that sounds like it could help the people of Libya get rid of Gaddafi.
CHINA: Let's put it to a vote then. Who's in favour?
Bosnia, Colombia, France, Gabon, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States all put up their hands.
CHINA: Resolution passed!
And with that, the operation went ahead.
BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: I authorise armed forces to begin a limited military action.
NICOLAS SARKOZY, FRENCH PRESIDENT: France has decided to play its part.
DAVID CAMERON: Colonel Gaddafi has made this happen.
But you might remember there were 5 countries that didn't raise their hands to support a no fly zone.
As permanent members, Russia or China could have stopped the no fly zone if either one voted against it.
CHINA: I'm not sure this is the best course of action.
RUSSIA: Yes, maybe there are other things we could try but there are a lot of people in the area that support a no fly zone.
But they decided to let the other nations try their idea, so they withdrew from the vote.
Now that the no fly zone is in place in Libya and most of Gaddafi's air force has been destroyed, questions are starting to be raised about what should happen next.
Some countries want to go after Gaddafi - the man behind the attacks.
But others say that was not what they agreed to at the meeting.
So it could be up to the Libyans to force him out of office.
And that's exactly what these Libyan rebels intend to do.
The Wire
Last week we told the story of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster through the eyes of 13 year old Hiroshi from Tokyo.
More than a thousand of you sent messages of support to Hiroshi through the BtN website.
And Hiroshi has asked us to pass on his thanks.
Let's get an update on the situation in that country now and find out what else has been making the news in the wire.
*********
The clean-up is continuing for the people of Japan as the official death toll there continues to rise.