W9 - What is Success?

What is success? Everyone seems to think about it quite differently! Some people think that money or fame equals success, is there more to it than that?

Before Wednesday's chat watch these two videos to help inspire you!

 

Q1: What does success mean to you at the moment?

Q2: Share a photo or a link to some learning successes you have had this term.

Q3: What are the qualities you think a successful person possesses?

Q4: What are some barriers that prevent you from succeeding?

Q5: How does your family support you to be a successful learner?

Q6: Is success an accident/luck or choice?

Q7: What is the most successful thing you have achieved in your life so far?

Q8: What is one thing you are going to work on next term to ensure you have a successful term?

Is Sport Important?

Hi everyone

Lots to discuss in this week's chat. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts on Wednesday at 2pm. 

Please remember to update your class' bio on Twitter - we like to connect with each other. This information helps us to see where you are from, and what year level you are. It's also really important that your teacher's Twitter handle is included on the bio.

Happy chatting!

Q1. Should playing in a sports team be compulsory for children at primary school?

Q2. Children often get hurt or injured playing sports. Should children be allowed to play risky contact sports when there is a risk of being hurt?

Q3. Professional sports stars are paid huge salaries to play their sport, far greater than a regular job.  What jobs do think should be paid as highly as sports stars and why?

Q4. In NZ we place a great deal of importance on our sports stars and people look up to them.  Do we do the same for our artists, readers, writers and why not?  

Q5. What are the benefits of playing in a sports team?

Q6. If you could swap lives with any New Zealand sports person who and why?

Q7. If you could choose a New Zealand sportsperson to have breakfast with who would it be?

Q8. If you could invent a ‘team’ that wasn’t sport related what would it be and what would they compete in?

Q9. New Zealand has many successful athletes, who is your favourite athlete and why?
(If you add their Twitter handle into the tweet, you may even get a reply!)

Thanks

Juliet Revell

W7 - 'Words of wisdom...'

Before taking part, watch this video...



Questions

Q1. What would your words of wisdom be to a younger student?

Q2. Leave a message about what's the most important thing to know about this year's class for next year's students.

Q3. Do you agree with the 7 year old that training wheels are for babies?

Q4. As you grow older, do you become wiser? Why?

Q5. If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would it be and why?

Q6. What is one great piece of advice that someone has given you in your life?

Q7. If you are going to live a happy and successful life, what do you think are key skills that you need to learn?

Q8. "Dear 7 year old, no matter what anyone says, stay weird!" What do you think of this advice?

Q9. What is your favourite piece of advice? Why do you like it?

Q10. We all make mistakes in life. What is one mistake that you have made and what did you learn from it?

W6 - 20 Things we should say more often!

This week's topic is based on Kid President's Video '20 things we should say more often'. We did this topic last year and I really enjoyed it so I thought we would do it again. I have added in a few new questions.

Before taking part please watch the video below!



QUESTIONS

Q1. Which is your favourite of the "20 things we should say more often." Why?

Q2. Create your own phrase to add to this list. Why do you think we should say this more often?

Q3. Do you agree with Kid President when he says it's okay to disagree, but it's not Ok to be mean? Why?

Q4. Kid President's number 1 thing to say was 'Something nice'. Can you tweet something nice to someone?

Q5. Kid President believes in using good manners (Please, Thank you and Excuse me). Do you think manners are important? Why?

Q6. Can you think of something that someone you know says a lot? (Teacher, parent, friend) What is it?

Q7. Do you think the Kid President is awesome? Why?

Q8. How many Kid President You Tube clips have you watched? Which one is your favourite and why?

Q9. What will you do to make the world more awesome? 

Q10. Make a sentence, story or poem using the following words: Awesome, Thank you and Corn Dog! Remember to be creative!

I look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday! Stephen (@PalmyTeacher)

Week 5 Questions - Celebrating great books

Last week New Zealand's best books for 2015 were chosen at the NZ Book Awards. We have decided that this weeks questions will celebrate the greats books kids from across New Zealand read.

See you at 2pm on Wednesday!

Here are this weeks questions:

1. If you could be any character in a book, who would you choose to be and why?
2. If you could have dinner with 3 of your favourite book characters who would they be and why?
3. Describe the perfect place to read.
4. Which books do you prefer reading, non-fiction or fictions books.  Give us a reason why!
5. If you have created an e-book, share the link. We would love to read them and give you feedback.
6. Suggest a book that would be great to read as a class. Tell us why it’s an awesome book.
7. Describe what happens in your class that makes reading fun for you?
8. If you wrote a book, what would it be about? Why would you choose that?
9. Share a favourite quote from a character in a book you loved reading about.

I love books, so can't wait to hear what everyone else enjoys reading!

P.S:If you love reading and LOVE Pizza encourage your teacher to take part in this challenge.

W4 - Maths

This week's Kidsedchatnz is all about MATHS. It's New Zealand Maths Week so I thought it would be an appropriate topic!

Here are the questions!

QUESTIONS

Q1. What have you been learning about in Maths? Tell/Explain a Maths strategy that you have learnt this year?

Q2. What are some of your favourite activities/games that you have done in Maths this year? Explain how it works or what you did.

Q3. Math is fun: Agree or disagree?

Q4. Maths is only something we learn and do in school. Do you agree or disagree?

Q5. What does this quote mean? What can you do when you are struggling with a Maths problem?

Q6. The saying goes that Maths is everywhere! What Maths you can see in this picture?

Q7. The answer is 24. What is the question? See if you can make it a word story.

Q8. How many trees did it take to make all the chairs? Make up your own Maths question from this picture!

Q9. How many black dots can you see? Why does this happen? 

Q10. Maths Challenge! I'll post the question on the day!

I love Maths! See you on Wednesday!

W3 - NZ Flag

This week's Kidsedchatnz is all about the New Zealand Flag. I thought this would be a cool topic as New Zealand is currently debating whether to change our flag at the moment.

Before coming to the chat please watch the videos below and I would also like you to design your own New Zealand Flag or find a design that you like. Be prepared to share your design during the chat.

If you want to learn a few new flags here is a fun game you can play! FLAG GAME

QUESTIONS

Q1. Why do countries have flags? Are they important?

Q2. What is the history of the New Zealand flag? How did it come about?

Q3. What do the different parts of the current New Zealand flag stand for?

Q4. Do you think New Zealand should change its flag? Why or why not?

Q5. What makes a good flag design? Why are these important?

Q6. Share with us the flag you have designed or your favourite NZ flag design. Explain your design.

Q7. Comment on the flag designs that were shared. Which one is your favourite? What do you like or dislike about them?

Q8. What is your favourite overseas flag? Why do you like it?

Q9. Fun Question! I'm going to post a picture of a flag and the first class that tweets the correct answer gets the Kidsedchatnz mascot sent to them!

Q10. Write a sentence, poem or short sentence using the following words: Cross  Proud  History

See you on Wednesday!

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