T3 - W2 Photo Chat

Hey everyone, the first Kidsedchatnz for term 3 will be on at 2pm Wednesday, Week two. 

And what is the topic you ask? Well I'm going to try something a little different for this chat. The topic is a Photo chat! All questions are based on a number of different photos! 

Sounds interesting? Check out the photos and questions below! (All photos come from the fabulous website Lend Me Your Literacy)

QUESTIONS/PHOTOS

Q1. If the doors above were portals into the future and the past, which door would you visit first and why?  

Q2. Do you think people that lived a 100 years ago had better or worse lives than us?

Q3. Why do you think the two sides are so different?

Q4. If you could be more like any animal, what would it be and why?

Q5. How do you think the little boys are feeling? Would you exchange places with them?

Q6. What does a cow pack in a suitcase? Where do you think it is going?

Q7. If you were trapped inside the tree, how would you escape?

Q8. You return to find your home city in ruin, what do you do next?

Q9. If you could have any super power that could help people, what would it be?

Q10. You discover a stone giant at the bottom of the ocean. Do you remove it or leave it where it is?

I'm looking forward to Wednesday's chat, I hope to see you there!

Let's talk about Term 2

This week you will put your thinking caps on and talk about some of the things that happened for you during this term.

Questions:

1. What was your most favourite part of this term. How did this make you feel and why? 
2. What was the most interesting thing that you have learned in Term 2?
3. What were some of the challenges for you? Tell us why.
4. Do you have any artwork or blog posts that you would like to share with us?
5. If you could describe this term in one word, what would that word be?
6. What would you like to do better in Term 3?
7. What are you planning to do for the holidays?
8. What would you like to learn about in Term 3?

Matariki

Our topic for this week is Matariki.

This year Matariki will begin on 18 June.  You can get a chance to see Matariki if you get up very early in the morning.

In preparation for our chat:

• Design a poster to advertise Matariki (incorporate the star cluster and the time of year)
• Find out all about the Matariki constellation by playing this interactive game. 

Questions:

1. What do you think Matariki is all about?
2. Is Matariki a happy or sad time? Why do you think that?
3. There are two meanings to Matariki. Tell us what they are.
4. What does the rising of Matariki signal to the Māori?
5. Do you celebrate Matariki? If you do, tell us how.
6. What are your favourite party foods?
7. What is something that you have learned about Matariki that you did not know before?
8. Share some of your art work or the poster that you have designed and tell us about it shortly.

SCIENCE

This week's Kidsedchatnz is all about Science! Yes, the fabulous topic of Science! My class @PalmySquad are learning all about plants this term so we thought Science would be a great topic to chat about!

If you get time watch the video below, there are some fantastic, simple experiments you might like to give a go!




Here are the QUESTIONS:

Q1. Have you done any Science this year? Tell us what you did and learnt.

Q2. Can you share with us an experiment you have taken part in this year? What did you learn?

Q3. What do you like/dislike about Science at school?

Q4. Why is it important to learn about Science at school? Do we do enough science at school?

Q5. What science problems/questions do you really want to solve or answer? Why?

Q6. Would you like to become a scientist? What do you think are the key roles that a scientist needs to perform?

Q7. Some Scientists like 'Fracture mechanics' or breaking something to see how things works. What would you like to break to see how it works?

Q8. Science has come a long way in the last 100 years. What do you think scientists will discover in the next 100 year?

Q9. Fun questions: What happened to the dinosaurs? Is the Earth really round? Are there other life forms out there?

Q10. Write a sentence, poem or short story using the following 3 words: Explosion Discovery  Problem

I can't wait for Wednesday, see you then!

Challenges

Tēnā koutou everyone

Welcome to Week 7's chat. The questions and concept for this week's chat are from The Super 15 of Mahora School in Hastings.

This week's chat is based around challenges in your learning and life.

Nissan Qashqai Challenge London -
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

We know that lots of our classes use tuakana-teina when taking part in a chat, and we thought this week's topic lent itself perfectly to the concept!

So, questions 1-4 are aimed at our junior classes (big kid free zone) juniors this is your time to shine!  The senior classes will be reading, replying, retweeting, favoriting, commenting, and supporting our juniors.  Please try and get a conversation going with a junior kid - imagine their little faces getting replies to their tweets from big kids!

Challenges:

Questions 1-4 (junior rooms)

1. What subjects do you find the most challenging?

2. What do you do when you find something tricky?

3. Who are some people who could help you when you are stuck?

4. Share some of your learning. (take a photo and share it)

Questions 5-8 (senior rooms)

1. What makes you step up to a challenge and want to take it on?

2. What have you tried recently that was a challenge?  Why was it a challenge?

3.What strategies do you have to help you overcome challenges you have faced?

4. What social challenges have you faced and what did you learn from them?

Any questions - please contact me @Juliet_Revell or the brains behind this week's operation - the Super 15.

See you on Wednesday.

Grandad's Letter

This week's Kidsedchatnz is based on the following letter. Please read it with your class before coming to the chat.

James K. Flanagan passed away on September 3, 2012. He left behind this powerful letter for his 5 grandchildren. In truth, this letter holds great advice for us all…

1. Each one of you is a wonderful gift to your family and to all the world. Remember it always, especially when the cold winds of doubt and discouragement fall upon your life. 

2. Be not afraid . . . of anyone or of anything when it comes to living your life most fully. Pursue your hopes and your dreams no matter how difficult or "different" they may seem to others. The worst thing in life is to look back and say: "I would have; I could have; I should have." Take risks, make mistakes. 

3. Everyone in the world is just an ordinary person. Some people may wear fancy hats or have big titles or have power and want you to think they are above the rest. Don't believe them. They have the same doubts, fears, and hopes; they eat, drink, sleep, and fart like everyone else. 

4. Make a Life List of all those things you want to do: travel to places; learn a skill; master a language; meet someone special. Make it long and do some things from it every year. Don't say "I'll do it tomorrow" (or next month or next year). That is the surest way to fail to do something. There is no tomorrow, and there is no "right" time to begin something except now. 

5. Be kind and go out of your way to help people -- especially the weak, the fearful, and children. Everyone is carrying a special sorrow, and they need our compassion. 

6. Read books, as many as you can. They are a wonderful source of delight, wisdom, and inspiration. They need no batteries or connections, and they can go anywhere. 

7. Travel: always but especially when you are young. Don't wait until you have "enough" money or until everything is "just right." That never happens. Get your passport today. 

8. Pick your job or profession because you love to do it. Sure, there will be some things hard about it, but a job must be a joy. Beware of taking a job for money alone -- it will cripple your soul. 

9. Don't yell. It never works, and it hurts both yourself and others. Every time I have yelled, I have failed. 

10. Live in harmony with Nature: go into the outdoors, woods, mountains, sea, desert. It's important for your soul. 

11. Hug people you love. Tell them how much they mean to you now; don't wait until it's too late. 

12. Be grateful. There is an Irish saying: "This is a day in our lives, and it will not come again." Live every day with this in mind. 

QUESTIONS

Q1. Do you think it was a good idea for the Granddad to write down his advice? Why?

Q2. Which piece of advice is your favourite and why?

Q3. Create your own piece of advice or find a cool quote to add to the list.

Q4. How much time do you spend with your grandparents? Do they give you any advice?

Q5. Do you agree with the statement, "Everyone in the world is just an ordinary person." Why/Why not?

Q6. Number 8 says pick a job that you love. What job would you pick and why?

Q7. Number 6 says read books. Do you like reading books? What book would you recommend? 

Q8. Number 11 says tell people how much they mean to you now. Have you got a message to someone special in your life?

Q9. What are 3 dreams/things that you would like to achieve in your life?

Q10. Write a sentence, poem or story using the following 3 words: Life - History - Family

I look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday!

Your School

Click on the picture to view a message from the surface of the earth...

This week our topic is 'Your School'

Here are our questions:

1. What do you like about your school / What makes your school special?
2. Does your school have any special physical features? Describe its layout and physical features.
3. Where exactly is your school and how many students and teachers does your school have?
4. Describe your classroom. What does it look like? 
5. How would you like your learning to happen in the classroom?
6. Is there anything you would like to change at your school/in class? What is it?
7. Do you think it is good to have your own blog? Why?
8. What other technologies are you using in your learning? Tell us why you are you using them.
9. What fun things do you like to do when it is raining during lunch time?
10. Tell us what you liked about school today.

Tweet of the Week - The Food Revolution

Thanks for the wonderful sharing of ideas yesterday everyone. The Food Revolution was clearly a topic that gave us all a great deal to chew over!

I found it very difficult to choose, because all of the schools that are participating are sharing and crafting their tweets to a very high standard. Ka mau te wehi! You are awesome.

The tweet of the week goes to Harry of @MahoraRm6 and his @MahoraRm15 helpers. Apologies for any perceived bias, but this tweet captured me this week.

A special mention to @Room2Auroa for their fantastic tweeting. This was a thoughful tweet from Renee.

Great work Team. See you next week.

+Juliet Revell

Week 4 Chat: The Food Revolution

“By educating children about food in a practical, fun and engaging way, we can provide them with the knowledge and skills they so urgently need to lead healthier, happier lives." Jamie Oliver 

Image from http://www.foodrevolutionday.com/

http://www.foodrevolutionday.com is Jamie Oliver's global campaign to put compulsory practical food education on the school curriculum. 

We are lucky that our curriculum in New Zealand enables our teachers to teach children about healthy eating. Jamie's crusade still applies to us however, as our childhood obesity rate is climbing.

How healthy is your school lunch?

You many like to watch this story from Campbell Live about pre-packaged school lunches. 

@Mahora6 and @MahoraRm15 have been exploring this topic, and the Super 15 have come up with the questions for this week's chat. 

QUESTIONS

Q1. How can we make sure all children have the chance/opportunity to have healthy meals at school?

Q2. Should the Government be responsible for providing healthy options?  Why?

Q3. Do you think that Schools should only have ‘Healthy’ bought lunch options for children to buy?

Q4. Do you think people would buy less or more bought lunches if only healthy options were available?

Q5. How do you know if something is healthy?

Q6. What is your favourite cereal to eat in the morning? Do you add sugar to it?

Q7. Should every school have a garden to grow vegetables?

Q8. What would the ingredients be in your DREAM sandwich?

See on Wednesday at 2pm.

Juliet Revell

Tweet of the Week

Thanks everyone for another great Kidsedchatnz today! It was awesome to see some new classes mixed in with our regulars!

So who won Tweet of the Week? Well here are the tweets that stood out for me!

And Tweet of the Week goes to.....

Family

This weeks Kidsedchatnz is all about family. With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday I thought this would be a cool topic for us to chat about!

Try to watch the video below before the session to understand more about how important families are. 



QUESTIONS

1. Who makes up your family? What position were you born in your family? Oldest? Youngest? Middle? What's it like being that position?

2. What is special about your family? What do you love about your family?

3. Would you prefer to be in a big family or small family? Why?

4. Do you have any family traditions? (Holidays, fun activities etc)

5. How often do you spend time with your grandparents? Do you think it's important to spend time with them?

6. What's the best piece of advice a family member has given you?

7. Share a story about your family. What's something interesting or funny we can learn about them?

8. Kid President has a list of 10 things every Mum needs to know. What would you add to the list? 

9. It's Mother's day on Sunday, can you send a special message to your Mum?

10. Just for fun! Make a poem, sentence or story using these 3 words: Kind, Proud, Hero.

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

Tweet of the Week

Wow, thanks everyone for a wonderful Kidsedchatnz today! There were 20 classes who took part and well over 1,000 tweets were recorded! Top effort!

Anyway, who won Tweet of the Week? Well it was a very difficult choice as there were so many quality tweets. Here are a few tweets that stood out for me!

TWEET OF THE WEEK GOES TO.....(This is brilliant!)

W2 - TEAMWORK

The first Kidsedchatnz of the term is in Week 2 and it's all about TEAMWORK! With a lot of classes looking at ANZAC day and Conflict I thought this would be an appropriate topic to talk about.

Before coming to the chat please watch the videos below. Also if possible please complete some team building activities in your class. These activities could be working in a group or playing a game together.

If you want you could complete the tower building challenge. 

The challenge is to build the TALLEST freestanding tower that you can!

The Rules: 

- You are only allowed to use the following materials: 1 newspaper, 10 ice-block sticks, 2 paper plates, sellotape and scissors.

- Groups of 3-5

- Time limit: 30-60 minutes

- Your tower needs to be free standing

How tall can you make your tower? Measure and take a photo!

Here are the questions!

Q1. How often do you work in a team or group in your class? What team or group activities do you do? Share a photo!

Q2. Do you enjoy working in a team with others? Explain why or why not?

Q3. What are the key elements of teamwork? Why are they important?

Q4. Do you think it's important to be able to work with others? What are the benefits?

Q5. What can you do when someone is not pulling their weight in a team? What could you say?

Q6. If you had to make up some team rules, what would they be?

Q7. In one of the videos is the NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs. Who is your favourite team? Why do you like them?

Q8. When you get older employers are looking for people who can work in a team. What other skills are they looking for?

Q9. TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More. What do you think this means?

Q10. Make a short story, sentence or poem using these three words: Sharing - Encouragement - Friends

I look forward to seeing everyone in Week 2!

ANZAC Chat - Tweets of the Week!

Awesome Twitter chat yesterday everyone! I was so proud of all of you. All of the tweets were of a high quality, lots of children were starting conversations with each other and everyone did a great job of sharing their new learning about ANZAC Day. 

The tweets of the week this week go to @Room11GMS and @hunua3. 

If you're looking for a good ANZAC story to read over the holidays or for the beginning of Term 2 you may like to read some of these:

Caesar the ANZAC Dog - By Patricia Stroud

The Red Poppy - By David Hill

The Poppy - By Andrew Plant

ANZAC Biscuit - By Phil Cummings

The Bantam and the Soldier - By Jennifer Beck

Simpson and his Donkey - By Mark Greenwood

Grandad's Medal - By Tracy Duncan

My Brother's War - By David Hill