Wk 9 - 2015 Reflection

Welcome to the last KidsedchaNZ for the year, where we will be reflecting on 2015. Thank you to all the classes who took part in the chats and for sharing your ideas. 

Here are the reflection questions for Wednesday:

(poster from: MargD)

Q1. What was your most favourite part of this year? Why?

Q2. What facts have you learnt and what information are you now sure about?

Q3. What are some new ideas you learnt and how could you use it in the future?

Q4. What have been some of the challenges you have faced this year?

Q5. What things could you have done better?

Q6. Do you have any learning (special to you) that you would like to share?

Q7. If you could design your class for next year, what would it look like?

Q8. If you could choose what you want to learn next year, what would you choose?

Q9. What do you want to improve in 2016?

Q10. If you could describe 2015 in one word, what word would you choose?

Have a wonderful Christmas and a great summer holiday with your whānau!

W8 - Minecraft

This week's Kidsedchatnz is all about MINECRAFT! Yes, you read correctly, Minecraft!



Below are some fun Minecraft challenges will might want to have a go at building at home. Even better ask your teacher if they will give you time in class! You never know, they might just say yes!

CHALLENGES

1) Create a Pick a Path adventure using Minecraft.

2) Create your very own Restaurant using Minecraft. Make sure you create a name and theme for your new restaurant.

3) Get into the Christmas spirit and build something with a Christmas theme. How about a giant Santa, a nativity scene or a xmas tree.

4) Create the letters for a word in Minecraft. Mix up the letters and challenge someone to figure out the word. For example what is this word? N C I T A R F M E

5) Recreate your local shopping mall or centre in Minecraft. Try to make it as close as possible to the original.

6) Build a famous landmark using Minecraft.

7) Build a small village challenge! Also see if you can hide the town jewels somewhere in the town and challenge a friend to find them. Even better write a set of instructions to your jewels!

8) Create a Minecraft creation based on a picture book. For example create the setting for the book 'The Smartest Giant in Town'. Your creation should track the giant's movements and create all the places in the story!

QUESTIONS

Q1. Do you use Minecraft? How often do you use Minecraft & where & how do you use it? Home? iPad? Laptop? 

Q2. What do you like about Minecraft? What makes it exciting to use?

Q3. Do you prefer to play in Survival Mode or Creative Mode? Why? What is the difference?

Q4. How did you learn to play Minecraft? What are some tips for new users?

Q5. Do you use Minecraft in your classroom? How do you use it? What would you like to build? If you completed the challenges, please share.

Q6. Should you be able to use Minecraft in your School/classroom? Convince us! How can it help learning?

Q7. What are the negatives about Minecraft? How can it be improved? What would you like to see in the next update?

Q8. In the video, it says, “The only limit is your imagination.” What does this mean?

Q9. Minecraft has been called Digital LEGO. Do you agree? Which do you prefer and why? 

Q10. Write a sentence, short story or poem using the following 3 words: Mineral, Mob and Survival.

I hope to see you all at 2pm on Wednesday! I think this chat is going to be a ripper!

Kidsedchatnz 3rd Birthday!

Wow! Kidsedchatnz is turning three! Kidsedchatnz started in 2012 and three years later it's still going strong! A big thanks must go out to the organisers (Stephen, Juliet, Marnel and John) and all the fabulous classes who have joined us throughout the three years. Without you guys Kidsedchatnz would be nothing!

Anyway this week we thought we would have a special Kidsedchatnz birthday party to celebrate! The topic is going to be based around.......CELEBRATIONS! Hopefully we can have a huge turn out to celebrate this special birthday!

What we would love to see is each class dress up their room with birthday decorations! Maybe they could even make a special Kidsedchatnz birthday cake? The class with the best classroom decorations and birthday cake will have the Kidsedchatnz Mascot 'Follow' sent to them as a reward! 

So what are you waiting for? Get planning!

QUESTIONS

Q1. Today is Kidsedchatnz 3rd birthday party, could you please leave Kidsedchatnz a birthday message?

Q2. How are you celebrating Kidsedchatnz's birthday? Can you tweet a picture of your decorations/cake/party?

Q3. Today we are celebrating Kidsedchatnz's birthday, why do you think it is important to celebrate birthdays?

Q4. How old did you turn on your last birthday? What did you do to celebrate it? 

Q5. What was your favourite birthday present/party? Why was it special?

Q6. There are many different celebrations around the world. Can you name some things that you celebrate and what do you do?

Q7. Kidsedchatnz has been going for 3 years, how long have you been taking part in it? Tell us about your experience?

Q8. Do you enjoy taking part in Kidsedchatnz? Why do you like it?

Q9. What topics would you like to discuss next year during Kidsedchatnz? Are there any changes you would like to see?

Q10. Make up a sentence, story or poem using the following 3 words: Presents, Excitement and Laughter.

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

Learning Dispositions - Values - Key Competencies

Welcome to this weeks chat. 

This week we are looking at Learning Dispositions, School Values, and the Key Competencies. We want to know how they impact on your learning and your outlook on life! 

Every School has them, they are different at every School and we all call them something different.  Whether they are plastered on display boards in the playground, stuck in your books, or displayed around your classroom. What do they mean to you as a learner and as a kid? The videos below are to get you thinking and wondering about the values people hold as important.

 

1.What are your School's Values? Tweet a photo of your School's Values displayed either in your classroom, playground or books. 

2.Who designed/wrote them? As a student did you get a chance have your say when they were decided? 

3.Why does every School have different 'Value Statements'? All School's are trying to educate children, shouldn't they be the same for every School?

4.How do your School's values impact on your learning?

5.How do your School's values impact on your behaviour?

6.Which of your School's values do think is the most important? Why?

7.If you had to rewrite your School's Values.  What would you change them to?

8.Tweet a photo or video of you and your friends/classmates displaying one of your School Values.

9.Outside of School what are the most important values to your family?  Why?

The Language of the Future?

In this week's KidsedchatNZ we are wondering abut the future. What do you think your future holds? What skills do you think you will need? Do you have any ideas about what you want to do?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

This clip talks about coding, which is a skill that people believe will be very sought after in the future.



1. Tell us about the clip. Was there anyone that inspired you to give coding a go?

2. Have you been learning coding in your school? If so, what do you use to do it? Why do you like it?

3. Have you created anything before using coding? What was it? 

(Include your photos)

4. How can we encourage more children to learn to code? Will you get involved in the #hourofcode ?

5. Can you think of any problems that you could solve with coding?

6. What do you want to do in the future? Does this job exist now?

8. Do you think that schools need to buy more technology like Dot and Dash?

9. What do you think you could create that would help people in the future?

See you on Wednesday

Juliet Revell

Week 4 - Passions, Talents and Lifelong Learning Skills

Week 4 - Passions, Talents and Lifelong Learning Skills 

This week's topic is about your passions, talents and lifelong learning skills. Part of the chat is flipped so make sure you watch the Kid President's YouTube clip on how to be an inventor. 

You may also like to physically create or just draw a picture of something you would invent to make the world more awesome. 

There will be an opportunity for you to share your inventions during the chat. Teachers, you may also like to watch the 'Creativity Takes Time' YouTube clip yourself and do this mini lesson with your class.

 

1. What are your interests, talents or passions?
2. Do you get to learn about your interests in the classroom? Give us an example.
3. What do you have to do to become really good at something?
4. Do you think it's important for children to have some time each week to learn about something that they're interested in? Why?
5. The top 10 jobs in 2015 didn't exist in 2004. What jobs do you think there will be in 10 years time?
6. What skills do you think we will need for these jobs in the future?
7. The Kid President wanted to invent a Catuum Cleaner. What would you like to invent to make the world more awesome? *Opportunity to share a photo via a tweet here. 
8. Is creativity important? How can we encourage creativity in the classroom?
9. Sometimes we get stuck with our learning and have to problem solve. What does good problem solving look like?

Wk 3 - Ten Random Questions

This week you will be 'tagged' with some random questions...

Q1. If you could change one rule that your school has, what would you change?

Q2. Of all the things you are learning, what do you think will be the most useful when you are an adult?

Q3. If you were a teacher and the kids in your class would not listen to you, what would you do?

Q4. What is the hardest thing about being a kid?

Q5. If you could travel back in time three years and visit your younger self, what advice would you give yourself?

Q6. Are you a good friend? Why do you think so?

Q7. If you could grow up to be famous, what would you want to be famous for?

Q8. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Q9. If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Why?

Q10. If you could invent something that would make life easier for people, what would you invent?

T4 - W2: Rugby World Cup

This week's topic is the Rugby World Cup! Are you excited? I certainly am!

Before taking part could you please watch the following videos.







QUESTIONS

Q1. Have you been following the 2015 Rugby World Cup? Why or why not?

Q2. What do you think is going to happen in this year's Rugby World Cup? Why do you think this?

Q3. Who is your favourite All Black at the Rugby World Cup? Why do you like them?

Q4. Every team at the Rugby World Cup has their supporters. What do you think it means to be a good supporter?

Q5. "Everybody deals with pressure in the Rugby World Cup in different ways" What do you think this means? How can we best deal with pressure?

Q6. When Richie McCaw prepares for the Rugby World Cup he writes "Start Again" What do you think this means?

Q7. What do you need to think about to be an effective rugby world cup player? Is this the same in your life?

Q8. Before every Rugby World Cup match the All Blacks perform the Haka. What is a Haka and how does it make you feel when we perform it?

Q9. How does the Rugby World Cup help build relationships with others?

Q10. Write a message of support for our Rugby World Cup All Blacks!

See you at 2pm on Wednesday! I can't wait!

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?