Current Event 15 August 2011

Christchurch rebuild

Have a look at the video of Bob Parker talking about the plans for rebuilding Christchurch:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/videos

What do you like about the plans?
What don't you like about them?
Do you think it is possible (in terms of money and time) to rebuild it this way?
Do you have any of your own ideas that were not included in the plans?

Current Event 1 August 2011

Hayley Westenra, Rugby, All Blacks, New Zealand

Read the following article:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5358602/Hayley-Westenra-signs-on-for-Rugby-World-Cup

and write interesting comments to these questions:

- what do you think about a Kiwi singer being the official Rugby World Cup voice for another country?

- what do you think about the comments about Hayley's lifestyle?

- what do you think about the new All Blacks jersey? (google it if you have not seen it yet)

- what are your hopes for the World Cup? Or could you not care less? Explain.

Current Event 20 June 2011

10 Reasons to stay in Christchurch

Follow the link below and put your comments on the blog:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5157671/Top-10-Reasons-to-stay-in-Christchurch

Do you agree with these reasons and why?
Which one would make you want to stay the most and why?
Have you got some reasons of your own why people should stay in Christchurch?

Poetry Presentations

Publish the poem you have chosen to present to the class here.
Write comments about your classmates' poems. Don't just write comments like "awesome", "like it", etc. Be specific what you like about them.
Comment on at least 5 poems.

Speech writing website

Lots of good ideas, topics and helpful hints:

http://www.best-speech-topics.com/

Current Event 23 May 2011

Go onto The Press homepage http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/ and find the daily quiz section.
Complete the quiz and write in your comment how well you scored, which questions you knew and one thing that you learnt (from seeing the correct answer afterwards). You may do the quiz with your family but let us know on the blog who knew which questions. You can do this every day or just once over the next fortnight. You only need to post one comment. Have fun testing your current events knowledge (I have never scored more than 11/15...who can beat me???)

Current Event 9 May 2011

Do you find this news story funny?

Should something like this make the news? Why/why not?

Do we need some news that make us smile?

Or do you think news have become about bad things?

BERLIN | Wed May 4, 2011 11:20am EDT

(Reuters) - A mayor in Germany helped rescue a man who became trapped in a women's prison after mistaking it for a shortcut to a nearby park, police in the northern city of Hildesheim said on Wednesday.

Hildesheim Mayor Henning Blum heard the man's cries for help while passing by the prison near the city center and notified police who came and freed the 24-year-old.

The man told police he was strolling through town and did not immediately notice he had walked into a prison. By the time it dawned on him where he was, the gate to the jail had already closed, locking him inside.

Police said they are investigating why the prison gate was open, enabling the man to wander in.

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey, editing by Paul Casciato)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/04/us-germany-prison-odd-idUSTRE7434SF20110504