June 2009
Wow, what a busy term it has been. We hear that Issue 15 of the magazine is being well thumbed with schools requesting extra copies and downloading it from the website. We’ve also noticed an increase in traffic to the website – the revamped design seems to be a hit!. Thanks for all your feedback.
A reminder that we also welcome your lesson plans and these can be lodged via the website. We are particularly interested in seeing any webquests or learning quests that you have created.
Celebrate with Teachers’ Toolkit.
To celebrate the launch of the revamped Teachers’ Toolkit website, our Earlybird Notice for Issue 15 offered all registered members the opportunity to receive a hardback copy of the Five Mile Press title, Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure. The winners are listed below and their copies of the book are in the mail. Our thanks to Five Mile Press and you for supporting us.
| Emma Powell (SA) |
Jude Preece (Tas) |
| Helen Sharwood (NSW) |
Bernie Bree (NT) |
| Paull Mitchell (NSW) |
Kerry –anne Kwong (ACT) |
| Simon Edgar (WA) |
Janine Eagle (Vic) |
| Debbie van der Werf (Qld) | Kon Bouzikos (Vic) |
Book Week 2009 – Book Safari
Not much time remaining to get your responses in for the Pan Macmillan Inside Covers question as featured in the June issue of the magazine - see page 14. We are giving away 10 packs of books containing copies of:
-
G2g – Ms Communication & Canteen Casonova (Jane Anderson)
-
Just Macbeth (Andy Griffith)
-
The Puzzle Ring (Kate Forsyth)
Special Days and Special Events
Planet Ark: Schools Tree Day. Friday 31 July
Has your school registered for this important annual event? If not, go online to www.treeday.planetark.org
Other special days ahead include:
| July |
|
| 17: |
School AIDS Day |
| August |
|
| 3: |
Energy Safety Week (NSW, Qld, SA, Vic) |
| 6: |
Hiroshima Day |
| 9: |
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People |
| 15: |
National Science Week |
| 21: |
40-Hour Famine |
| 24: |
Keep Australia Beautiful Week |
| 31: | National Literacy and Numeracy Week |
For extra information visit EDNA: Australia’s Free online network for educators.
Wednesday 2 September.
Register your school to participate in The Great Book Swap now!
Have you seen the new banner ad on the website homepage? Have you clicked through? Letterbox is a new children's education game show targeted to primary and high school aged students. 'The program focuses on grammar and spelling skills, and features energetic young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and Indigenous language segments.
Play games! Letterbox includes fun and education games for your students to test their grammar and spelling skills. Follow the link below to play these games for free. Or simply follow the links from our website.
Do Something: creating positive social & environmental change
The environmentalist Jon Dee has partnered with retired professional tennis legend, Pat Cash to set-up Do Something. Do Something has been set up to create positive social and environmental change. You can check out some of their sites at:
www.paperlessalliance.com.au
www.bottledwateralliance.com.au
www.foodwise.com.au There is a great e-booklet here to enjoy as well.
Coming soon will be their main site at www.DoSomething.net.au
Kids and mobile phones
The NSW Commission for Children and Young People with the University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney have published their research findings about the role mobile phones play in children and young people’s lives. Mobile Me
WHOLE Network
The Wellbeing and Health Organisation Links for Education (WHOLE) Network has been established specifically to support Victorian primary school communities in their health and wellbeing programs. This is a great central resource and the WHOLE information and the links to all programs and resources is available on the Victorian government's Go for your life website.
It might be winter with the rains about, but that is no reason not to acknowledge the many educational institutions around Australia that are introducing fantastic water education programs and initiatives into schools. These will play a vital role in achieving long-term attitudinal and behavioural change to water and the way we use it. By encouraging students to introduce water management practices at school and at home, we are able to spread the water conservation message and collectively contribute to a more sustainable future.
Check the great resources at the website, including the recently launched Mission H2O
Space for Kids
It is still the Year of Astronomy.
Try these websites: Space for Kids. NASA for Kids Windows to the Universe
Timelines
How do you collect information over a period of time and present it in an interesting manner? Ever tried using a timeline? A timeline can include just photographs or else a variety of inclusions such as texts, images and data graphs, etc. When completed it can be played like a slideshow or else presented in a logical sequential manner. A great idea for history projects. Have your students try these free web-based software programs to start building their own timelines:
Did you know?
(Discuss these with your students or around the staffroom. Each headline has a weblink to an article.)
The world’s most carbon-dense forest is in Australia.
New Zealand has been named the world’s most peaceful nation.
New Zealand main islands may be given Maori names.
Need help with a phobia but too scared to go out and get it?
Why does a seahorse swim upright?
Use two thumbs to avoid RSI when texting, says study
Cyber bullying - don’t let your students be victims.
Share this e-newsletter with your colleagues, including those new to your school, and suggest they also register for all the Teachers’ Toolkit benefits.
Hooroo for now.
The Teachers’ Toolkit Team.
 |
Macquarie Dictionary Australia’s Great Partners |
 |
You are currently subscribed to the Teachers' Toolkit E-Newsletter.
If you wish to unsubscribe, click here