March 2008 Edition
As Teachers’ Toolkit Issue 10 is about to be mailed out, we send you our first e-newsletter for 2008. March already and Easter (early as it is) is only a few weeks away! Well, at least the countryside is looking much greener than when we sent you Issue 9 of the magazine.
In this e-newsletter, apart from all the extras we normally provide, a few highlights include:
- what you will find in Issue 10 of the magazine (arriving anytime after Thursday 13 March)
- new giveaways and a reminder of some existing ones.
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In this e-newsletter you will find:
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What's in Teachers' Toolkit Issue 10
Each listing below will take you directly to the unit on the Teachers’ Toolkit website.
Some great teaching units:
World Kids Colouring Day
Bushrangers
International Year of the Potato 2008
Inside Covers with Pan Macmillan
Great Inventions, Great Minds
The Cane Toad
Civil Aviation in Australia
Nim’s Island
Some special events:
Reconciliation Action Plan
How to Say You’re Sorry
Anzac Day Schools’ Awards 2008
Anzac Day: Lest we Forget
Anzac Day with MacquarieNet
Resource advertisements from:
Essential Resources
Ripper Reads with Five Mile Press
First Australians: Plenty Stories
Get the AIS into your Classroom
Schools Tree Day 2008: Register Now |
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Get the AIS into your Classroom: Reminder
Don’t forget to get your FREE PDHPE RESOURCES FOR UPPER PRIMARY SCHOOL
Go to www.nestle.com.au/AIS to obtain your copy of Get the AIS into your Classroom and other free 2008 PDHPE resources
AND
a chance to WIN a set of the AIS SURVIVAL Cookbook series!
To enter, register at www.nestle.com.au/AIS before 5 pm AEDST on 31 March 2008.
For full details, take a look at Teachers’ Toolkit Issue 9.<> |
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Nim's Island – Wendy Orr
As you will discover in Issue 10 of the magazine, there’s a new movie (of the same name as Wendy Orr’s book) starring Jodie Foster about to hit the big screens. With a strong environmental theme and age-appropriate content, this movie is ideal to incorporate into your classroom teaching program.
To celebrate the movie’s release, Allen & Unwin have provided 10 copies of Wendy Orr’s book. To obtain a FREE copy of this book, be one of the first people to email to info@teacherstoolkit.net.au the answer to the following question: What is the name of Nim’s favourite fictional hero and the world’s greatest adventurer who inspired Nim’s own adventure?
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Pan Macmillan giveaways
While talking about FREE books, and to celebrate a new feature in Issue 10 of the magazine, you will discover — on pages 18–19 — more books being given away. As part of this new regular feature, for every title highlighted (all with accompanying teaching notes), there are 7 copies being given away. Simply email info@teacherstoolkit.net.au with the answer to the easy question and a copy could be yours. |
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New Kids' Books in Oz
And a final book-related note — don’t forget to take a look at Chris Cheng’s new blog featuring the latest Australian children’s book releases. See http://newkidsbooksinoz.blogspot.com to view the list.
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What's for dinner?
Teachers’ Toolkit has worked with Nestlé in getting some great resources to schools that are appropriate for students’ health and wellbeing. Along the way we discover a great recipe resource for all the cooks out there — which of course does include students. Take a look at the Nestlé Recipes website for your own home use, but also for some of nutritional information that might prove helpful for use with your students. |
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Sorry: the apology
Such a lot has been said and written about this historic event that took place on Wednesday 13 February 2008. Teachers’ Toolkit has addressed the issue in the Issue 10, providing some useful starting points for use with your students.
Here you will find the complete text of Prime Minister Rudd’s apology.
Also, pay a visit to Reconciliation Australia. |
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Chinese New Year
While the 2008 Chinese New Year is underway, consider other festivals and events celebrated in Australia by our rich mix of cultures. Set up a festival calendar and make a point of having special days in your classroom.
Here’s a web link for Chinese New Year. This site also has some useful information about other festivals and celebrations. The International Festivals and Events Association website contains information from all over the world. |
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Children's media
Patricia Edgar and Barbara Biggins, who both served on the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal's children's program committee, recently wrote an article titled ‘Children’s media: Clean the slate and start again’. Discussing the federal government’s ‘education revolution’, they argue that ‘No education revolution can succeed unless it encompasses all the media that dominate children's lives’. Read the article online and make up your own mind. |
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The role of technology in the learning process
Talking of media and technology: another recent article, ‘Dial-up Duxes’, was recently published in some newspapers. |
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MacquarieNet: Australia's leading online reference library
www.macquarienet.com.au
There is so much to find in this great online reference library. Browse the site, take a FREE trial and from only $19.95 a year you can take out a subscription. Different subscriptions are available for individuals through to complete school access. To help you familiarise yourself with this resource, MacquarieNet has created a FREE Anzac Day Portraits Learning Trail. Go online to sign up or contact support@macquarieonline.com.au to take advantage of their great FREE offer. |
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Is T-Rex still king of the dinosaurs?
Is this farewell to T-Rex as king of the dinosaurs? Scientists have discovered that there might have been even bigger flesh-eating dinosaurs roaming the planet. Allosaurus could grow up to 12.5 metres in length, Carcharodontosaurus up to 14 metres. Spinosaurus? Giganotosaurus? Both possibly as long as 15 metres. Wow, poor T-Rex.
ABC Science Slab
ABC Walking with Dinosaurs
Teachers’ Toolkit Walking with Dinosaurs Unit |
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Action Earth
Foxtel have released a DVD containing 20 short-form programs starring Ian Thorpe. Each program covers an aspect of environmental education and is a great resource for use in classrooms. Every school was sent a FREE copy late in 2007. The DVD is supported with some online resources at the Action Earth website. Email Foxtel your contact details if your school didn’t receive a copy or require additional copies. foxtelconnecting@foxtel.com.au |
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World Environment Day & MESA
To celebrate World Environment Day on 5 June, the following presentations will be available via CENTRA. Both presentations are suitable for mid-Primary to lower Secondary school students.
Further details from www.mesa.edu.au/Seaweek2008
(1) From the Gulf to Las Vegas
Presenter: Lyle Squires Jnr, Cairns Marine Aquarium.
Cairns Marine has collected juvenile sawfish under permit from tidal waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria since 1998. Find out how sawfish get from the Gulf to the United States.
(2) Getting to the POINT with sawfish
Presenter: Stirling Peverell, Fisheries Biologist Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
An overview of sawfish biology and ecology from one of Australia's leading researchers. |
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Nominate a sound
The images and sounds of film, television, radio and recording are a reflection of our creativity — a window onto our life and times, our dreams and stories, our place in the world.
The National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive which collects, preserves and shares this rich heritage. You have until 1 April to submit a 2008 nomination for the Sounds of Australia registry. |
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Did you know?
While Australia has now ratified the Kyoto Agreement and the Rudd Government has started to look at new environmental initiatives, here are a few sobering facts about Australia’s energy use to share, discuss and research with your students.
- Electricity use has soared 40 per cent since 1990.
- Australia’s CO2 emissions in 2004 were 4.5 times higher than the global average.
- Our energy efficiency is lower than in Japan, Europe and the US.
- 39 per cent of household energy goes on heating and cooling.
- Australians own more cars per person than any other country except the US.
- Australians generated 690 kg of municipal waste per person in 2003, making us the fifth biggest producer in the OECD.
Information courtesy of CSIRO |
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Classroom debate (1)
Republic or Not?
People are again asking: is it time for Australia to become a republic?With a change of federal government, it is not surprising that such a question might be back and doing the discussion rounds. Have a classroom discussion about what a republic is and what it might mean for Australia, and then perhaps set up a classroom debate. It is often said that people get the government they deserve. So might a republic happen if we are ready to work for it? Here’s some useful websites to help with your discussion:
ActNow: Australian Republic Debate
Australian Republican Movement
No Republic! Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
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Classroom debate (2)
Advertising
Should the clothes we wear bear the logos and motifs of the manufacturers? Isn’t this free advertising that the manufacturers don’t pay for? Can we apply the same question to cars, for example? Or sunglasses?
The Teachers’ Toolkit team
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