Summer Learning Journey-Day 20-Week 4

Day 20: Return to New Zealand

Your trip has now come to an end and it’s time to fly back to New Zealand. As you board the airplane, you start to think about all of the people who will be waiting to pick you up from the airport in Auckland and you get very excited. It’s time to go home!

http://www.conventionsnz.co.nz/

Activity 1

Imagine that you have just arrived at the airport in Auckland. Your whole family is there to greet you. They can’t wait to hear all about your trip! You decide that you’ll go home and have a special meal together to celebrate your return. Your mum offers to make you anything that you would like to eat. On your blog, tell us what you would choose to have for your special meal.

If it was me, I would ask for homemade hamburgers with ketchup, American-style mustard, onions, tomato and lettuce; Cajun-style wedges with tomato sauce and Greek salad with cherry tomatoes and lots of feta cheese. For dessert I would ask for vanilla cake with chocolate icing and neapolitan ice cream. What would you ask for?

I would take several stops at my favourite fast food shops, Burger king, McDonald, Denny’s. Eat burgers, chips and cold drinks. With the German food I've been eating, it wouldn’t hurt to eat some fried food. Or….

I'd have my family have a barbecue. Patties, sausages and home made potato salad.

Activity 2

After four full weeks of planning and travelling, you are now safely back in New Zealand. You have now had some time to relax and to reflect on your experiences. What are two things that you have learned from your travels? On your blog, tell us about any two things that you have learned.

1. Germany’s national celebration day is called the The day of German Unity, which is celebrated on the 3rd of October every year.
2. One of Germany’s famous landmarks is a castle which is called Neuschwanstein Castle.

Bonus Activity

School is about to start again for a new year. Yay! Imagine that you walked into your classroom and your teacher asked you to stand up in front of the class and talk about the country that you visited. On your blog, you can:

1. Post a short video clip of yourself talking about the country that you visited and the things that you learned (1 – 2 minutes)
2. Type out what you would say to the class if you had 1 – 2 minutes to speak.

What a journey. I flew to Germany eager to learn more about my German background. That is what I did, I met several of people from varieties of countries. I would say i’m the luckiest girl in the world, I visited the Neuschwanstein Castle. Yes!, a real life castle!. The beautiful chandeliers, dining rooms, and well painted portraits. I do hope someday you guys could also visit, and experience what I had gone on.

Now for the questions. Any questions?

Summer Learning Journey- Day 19-Week 4

Day 19: Planes, trains and automobiles

It’s the last day in your country and it’s the final chance to head out and see places or people that you have yet to visit. It’s also your last day to sample the local food and enjoy the atmosphere. You decide that you will head out of the city and explore some of the smaller, neighboring towns. In order to leave the city, you will need to find a vehicle. It could be a bus, a train, a taxi, a bicycle, a scooter...

Activity 1

Let’s imagine that the neighbouring town was about 30 kilometres away. There are a number of beautiful villages and interesting things to see along the way. You have four options for this trip. You can take a:

1. Train – 25 minute ride; No stops along the way; $12 for the trip (return)
2. Bus – 45 minute ride; Two stops along the way to look at interesting villages; $8 for the trip (return)
3. Scooter – 1 hour ride; Unlimited number of stops; $5 for the trip (return)
4. Bicycle – 2 hour ride; Unlimited number of stops but there are some hills along the way; $1 (return)

On your blog, tell us which of these four options you would choose and why!

I’ll take the 1 hr scooter ride. It’s more efficient and only 2 people on the scooter. I would have a hour ride with unlimited stops. I can stop at several beautiful sightings within that times.

Activity 2

These days there are, literally, dozens of different kinds of vehicles that we can use. Some of them are quite familiar (eg. car, truck, bus) but some are very unique and different. Watch this Youtube clip of the most Amazing vehicles ever made.

When you have finished tell us which of the vehicles you liked the most. On your blog tell us the name of the vehicle and the reasons why you liked it so much. There are a number of pretty interesting options!

The vehicle I liked the most is the hover board. Unlike the the hoverboard with wheels this hoverboard actually hovers above the ground. I heard in the video that the board hovers over a non ferromagnetic material. I like that you can balance properly without falling back or frontwards.

Bonus Activity

The Canadian government has decided to build the longest walking trail in the world. It is called the ‘Great Trail’ and it covers 15 000 miles. Wow! For this activity, we are drawing inspiration from this walking trail and thinking about our own footprints.

Your task is to use DrawIsland tool to create your own digital footprint. The footprint must include your name and the name of the country that you are visiting. Otherwise, you can decorate it in any way that you want. It’s totally up to you! Once you have drawn your footprint, save it, and then upload it to your blog. Here is an example of my footprint:

Here is my design

Summer Learning Journey-Day 18-Week 4

Day 18: Famous/Infamous animals

It’s time to go to the zoo! You have been invited to tour the national zoo with some students from one of the local schools. Although you don’t really know anyone you decide to be brave and give it a go! When you arrive at the front gates, you walk into the zoo and you immediately see…

Activity 1

Imagine that you have just entered the zoo. On your blog, tell us what you think you might see on your visit. You can start with this sentence:

I had just entered the zoo when, all of a sudden, I saw humongous life like animal balloons. Floating in mid air, I can hear animal noises coming from the balloons. They must be real, wait...nope. I turn my attention to the Safari exhibit. I start walking towards the exhibit and several Giraffe heads poke out and give me an odd look. Coincidently I was eating a apple at that time, which explains the look the Giraffe gave me. I slowly approached the hungry animals. One Giraffe nudged me and I stumbled a little, exposing the other apples in my bag. I start running rapidly to the monkey exhibit, panting rapidly, tongue out and legs spread.  I grabbed out a banana out of my bag. I felt eyes suddenly shoot at me, at that moment I lifted my head to the sight of banana loving monkeys. “Oh no”. Without hesitating, I gave my bananas to the monkeys and quickly ran to the petting zoo. “I should leave before I attract other animals with my food. And i’m really hungry. One more snack.”. I pull out a carrot and I sigh immediately as I spot rabbits hopping towards me.

“Oh come on!!”.

Aim for a blog post of 8 - 10 sentences in length. You can do it.

Activity 2

When you are at the zoo, you have the chance to learn about some animals that are specifically found in your country. They are called ‘indigenous’ animals. This means that they are originally from your country. Use Google to identify two indigenous animals from your country. On your blog, post a picture of the animals and tell us a bit about them. What are they called? Where do they live? What do they eat?

Alpine Ibex

http://www.letsbewild.com/tag/alpine-ibex/ -Photo Link

Alpine Ibex are wild goats, that live in the mountains of the European Alp. Alpine Ibex reminds of a story I was told when I was younger, have you heard of the Billy Goat Gruffs. They are Herbivores, so they only eat vegetations such as, shrubs, bushes and grasses. Ibex make their homes on cliffs that would be dangerous for predators. They are smart prey. There are 5 species of Ibex, The Nubian ibex has a special way to deal with the hot, dry climates of the African and Arabian mountains. Their shiny coats reflect sunlight and keep them cool.

http://www.livescience.com/28102-ibex.html - Fact Link

Bonus Activity

Sadly, there are a number of animals in the world that are struggling to survive because they cannot find enough food to eat or a safe place to live. Many of these animals are dying and, in some cases, there are very few of them left. They are called ‘endangered animals.’ In New Zealand we have many endangered species, including the kakapo, a shiny green bird that likes to make its nest on the ground. Unfortunately, the nest is really easy to get to and other animals can easily steal the kakapo’s eggs. As a result, very few new kakapo are born. There are 55 kakapos in New Zealand right now.

http://www.arkive.org/kakapo/strigops-habroptila/image-G41488.html

The New Zealand government is trying to save the kakapo. They are looking for creative ideas. What do you think they could do? On your blog, tell us what you think should be done to save the kakapo. Please be as creative as you can!

I think Nz should reserve an island for the Kakapo to live in, and to stay permanently. The island should be filled with all the resources needed for the Kakapos to survive and to breed properly. Predators of any kind are not permitted to be on the island.

Another way to save the Kakapos, are donations. Commercials could be made to spread the word to the world and to the country. The slogan could be Save the Kakapos. I’m still working on it.

Summer Learning Journey- Day 17-Week 4

Day 17 – Famous Sights

Before you leave to head home, you will want to dedicate a few days to sightseeing in your country. There are dozens of beautiful buildings and gorgeous natural wonders. Scroll down to see pictures of three of the most famous landmarks in each country.

Germany

Brandenburg Gate – Beautiful arch in downtown Berlin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Gate

Neuschwanstein Castle – One of the oldest castles in Germany

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle

Berlin Wall – The most famous symbol of the Cold War in Germany. It used to separate the east side from the west side of Germany.

https://kuruc.info/r/4/160532/

Day 17 – Famous Sights

Activity 1

On your blog tell us which of the icons you would most like to visit in your chosen country. Be sure to tell us why you have chosen it!

I have already spoken of this before in my previous posts. As I said I would like to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is because of a dream i’ve always had, being in a real life castle.

Activity 2

Let’s imagine that you have been asked to host a visitor from another country. They are going to come and stay with you for three days. During that time, you are expected to take them on a tour of New Zealand and show them some our most famous icons. Where would you take them? If it was me, I might take them to Mt Cook in the south island, to the Sky Tower in Auckland and to Chums Beach in the Coromandel. What about you? On your blog, tell us which three famous places in New Zealand you would go with your visitor.

I would start of the visit at the Sky tower. Admiring the city view from the sky tower and perhaps book an appointment for bungee jumping which would be spectacular.  Then I would take the visitors to the Redwoods tree walk. The Redwood tree walk is well known because some of the scenes in the movie Fantastic Beasts was shot in their redwoods forest. Perhaps we can go dragon hunting? ;). The last place i’de take my visitors to is Kelly Tarltons. The spectacular views of the sea creatures  ought to bring a smile to their faces.

Bonus Activity

Take a picture of yourself standing beside a popular place in your community. It can be anywhere that’s pretty popular in your area (e.g. a store, a restaurant, a marae, etc). On your blog please tell us about the landmark. What is the name of it? Where is it? Who goes to it?

I don’t have  a photo but here’s a photo of a place I want to visit.

http://www.heartofthecity.co.nz/activities/entertainment-activities/sky-tower

Summer Learning Journey-Day 16-Week 4

Day 16 – National Celebrations

Today is a very special day in the country! It’s a major national holiday and everyone is celebrating! Scroll down to learn more about the national holiday in your country.

Canada – The national day in Canada is called ‘Canada Day.’ It is celebrated on 1 July every year. People in Canada like to celebrate the holiday by getting together with friends, having a meal and setting off fireworks. People usually eat food from the barbecue on Canada Day. Some of the most popular foods are hot dogs, hamburgers, poutine (fries with gravy and cheese), and nachos.  

http://www.familyfuncanada.com/calgary/canada-day-events-in-calgary/ [Canada] http://www.veteranstoday.com/author/rosenstein/page/2/ [Chile]

Chile – The national day in Chile is called the Fiestas Partrias of Chile. It is celebrated on two different days - 18 September and 19 September. The people of Chile love to celebrate their national days by going to watch Chilean rodeos, dancing the cueca (a traditional dance), watching parades and going to barbecues. Food is a very important part of the celebration. Chileans like to eat lots of meat. A popular dish is called pino (a mixture of beef and onion).

Germany – The national day in Germany is called The Day of German Unity. It is celebrated on 3 October each year. Everyone in Germany has the day off from school and work. They usually get together with friends and family to enjoy some delicious food. Some of their favourite foods are sausages, potato salad, and sauerkraut (sour cabbage).

https://thefunnyplace.org/tag/germany-national-day/

Malaysia – The national day in Malaysia is called Hari Merdeka or Independence Day. It is celebrated every year on 31 August. It is a public holiday and the people of Malaysia usually celebrate by having large parades, concerts and events. The military men and women in Malaysia usually participate in the parades. The children in Malaysia usually get dressed up in their best clothes and people eat very traditional Malaysian foods.

http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/borneo-christians-unite-in-prayer-for-malaysias-national-day/31425/5

United Kingdom – There is currently no official national day in the United Kingdom, however, there are many public holidays that people celebrate. They are usually called ‘bank holidays’ because the banks close on those days. The British people love to get together with family and friends on the bank holidays. They will often go to watch a horse racing or greyhound racing on a holiday. They may also get together at a local pub to watch a game of football (soccer) or rugby on the television. Common foods to eat on the bank holidays include English favourites such as fish and chips or pies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07gxm4c

Mexico – The national day in Mexico is celebrated over two days – 15 and 16 September. It is a very special time for the people of Mexico as it represents the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. The war started in 1810 and ended in 1821. Each year the current Mexican president re-enacts the ‘call for independence’ by ringing a bell. Everyone in Mexico has time off over this period and many spend time with their family and friends. They share special food together like enchiladas, cecinas, and bistec. Some Mexicans will participate in parades and engage in folklore dancing.

https://globein.com/blog/10-need-to-know-facts-about-mexican-independence-day/

South Africa – Freedom Day is celebrated on the 27th of April in South Africa. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first elections held in 1994 in South Africa where both white and black people were allowed to vote. Prior to 1994, only white people were allowed to vote. Black people had very limited voting rights. On Freedom Day, the people of South Africa celebrate by eating special dishes likes Vetkoek (Fried bread with filling), bobtie (spicy quiche), and peppermint crisp tarts.

http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/event/south-africa-celebrates-freedom-day-635060591

United Arab Emirates – The national day in the United Arab Emirates is celebrated every year on 2 December. It makes the day that the seven emirates (territories) came together in 1972. On UEA National Day people often dress up in green, white, black and red and attend car rallies and dance shows. They will also decorate their homes with banners and attend large firework shows and concerts. It is a huge day of celebration!

http://w.timeoutabudhabi.com/aroundtown/features/28491-uae-national-day

Japan – In Japan, the national day is celebrated on 11 February. It is called ‘National Foundation Day’ and it honours the original founding of Japan and the reign of the first emperor, Jimmu. On National Foundation Day, some people in Japan will gather together to celebrate, however they do not usually have large parties or celebrations. Most people will have the day off of work.

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/02/11/happy-national-foundation-day/

Australia – The National Day of Australia, or Australia Day, is held every year on 26 January. It is a huge event in Australia with most people attending local community festivals, concerts or parties. New Australian citizens are sworn in on the 26th of January and everyone has the day off of work. It is common for people to get together with friends to have a barbecue. Steak and chips are often on the menu!

http://sa.australiaday.org.au/

Day 16 – National Celebrations

Activity 1

Imagine that you are visiting on the national holiday of your chosen country. On your blog tell us what you would eat, see and do on that day.

My country is Germany. I'd love to eat some potato salad, and sauerkraut. I love my mum’s potato salads, and I would love to eat some German made potato salad. I would have a barbecue with my friends and family and try some German games, activities.

Activity 2

Create a brand new public holiday for the country.  Use your creativity to come up with a name for the holiday and a short description of how people in the country celebrate the holiday. Do they all get the day off? Do they eat special foods or go to special events to mark the day?

Germany Compliment Day

On the 1st of March, everyone have to spread joy and positivity. Greetings and compliments must be heard. Gifts, hugs, kisses, feeds must be seen around Germany. Another way to celebrate is just appreciating those who work hard and have been there in your life.

I think the unofficial holiday should become official :)

Bonus Activity

In New Zealand our national holiday is on 6 February. It is called Waitangi Day. What do you do to celebrate Waitangi Day? Do you go somewhere special? On your blog tell us what you do on that day.

On Waitangi day, my family and I just spend time together. With my dad taking the day off from work, we make the most of his presence in the house. Watching movies, feed, outdoor activities and sleep.

Summer Learning Journey-Day 15-Week 3

Day 15 – Art History

It’s the final day of Week 3 and you are feeling more and more comfortable in the country. You decide that you would now like to learn a bit more about the people and the history of your country so you spend the day exploring the art galleries and museums. There are so many different options to choose from! You decide to start with the local art gallery before moving on to see the national history museum.

Activity 1

When you walk into the local gallery, the first piece of artwork that you see is a painting by Wassily Kandinsky called ‘Swinging.’

http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/work-251.php

While you are looking at it, a staff member at the gallery comes up to you and asks you for your opinion of the painting. What do you think of it?

On your blog please tell us:

1. What do you think of this painting? Do you like it?

I love this painting and I love abstract art. I think that it’s quite hard to figure out what the painter is disguising. The shapes and colours are magnificent.

2. If you could buy it and give it to someone, who would you choose?

I would keep it. A great piece of art like this would look amazing on my bedroom wall ;).

If it was me, I would give it to my sister because she really likes bright, bold colours and abstract pictures.

Activity 2

After exploring the gallery you decide to walk across the street to the national museum. It is an amazing place! There is so much information about the history of the country in this museum. It’s hard to know where to start!

After walking for a little while you come across a display with pictures of children that were taken in 1901 (over 100 years ago)! In this picture, the children are working on a local farm, milking cows. They are not going to school. Back in those days, children usually went to school until they reached the age of 12 or 13. They then left school and went to work. Imagine that you were alive 100 years ago. How would you feel if you had to leave school at the age of 12? Would you be happy or sad? On your blog, tell us how you would feel.

I would feel quite happy but empty. I wouldn’t have as much stress on my shoulders than usual. But I would miss the encouraging vibes from my peers and teachers. But if I stopped going school I wouldn’t be as energetic, happy and full of life. Though 100 years ago, there was a low amount of people working.

Bonus Activity

In New Zealand we have many museum and galleries. One of the largest is called the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa or ‘Te Papa’ for short. Inside Te Papa there is a huge exhibition called ‘Gallipoli - The Scale of our War.’ It has information about a special battle, the Battle of Gallipoli, that took place during World War I. Many New Zealanders took part and many lost their lives.

The battle started on 25 April 1915. We commemorate this battle every year by celebrating Anzac Day on 25 April. Visit the Gallipoli website. It will give you lots of information about this famous battle. On your blog, tell us three things that you learned about the battle.

• White flags were used to divide the No man's land. They dried to bury their dead men on the side of it but the decomposing bodies fell apart
• There were protests like Barrism and the Great Depression
• More than 850 men died in the battle for Chanuk Bair, and only eight bodies were identified

Summer Learning Journey- Day 14- Week 3

Day 14 – Powerful People

You are now fully recharged having spent the last few days watching TV and listening to music in your hotel room. You decide to go for a walk. As soon as you step outside you see a big bus drive past. On the side of the bus is a huge picture of the leader, the president/prime minister, of the country. They are the most powerful person in the whole country.

Scroll down to learn more about the prime minister and/or president for your chosen country.

Country + Title	Name	Information	Picture
Prime Minister of Canada	Mr. Justin Pierre James Trudeau	Justin Trudeau is the current Prime Minister of Canada. He became prime minister on 4 November 2015.  His dad, Pierre, was the prime minister of Canada in the 1970s. Before Justin became the prime minister he worked as a teacher.
President of Chile	Ms. (Veronica) Michelle Bachelet	The current President of the Republic of Chile is Michelle Bachelet. She was first became president in 2006 and is the first woman in the history of Chile to be the president. She speaks five languages - Spanish, English, German, Portuguese and French.
President of Chile	Mr. Joachim Gauck	The current president of Germany is Mr. Joachim Gauck. He became president in March 2012. Before he became the president, he was a minister. He is married and has four children – Christian, Martin, Gesine and Katharina.
Malaysian Prime Minister	Mr. Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak	The current Prime Minister of Malaysia is Mr. Najib Razak. He is the 6th prime minister of the country. He became the prime minister in April 2009. He is married to his wife, Rosmah, and together they have five children.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom	Mrs. Theresa Mary May	Mrs. May became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 13 July 2016. She is the leader of the conservative party and only the second woman to ever become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Mrs. May has been married to her husband, Philip, for 36 years. They do not have any children.
President of the United Mexican States (Mexico)	Mr. Enrique Pena Nieto	Mr. Nieto is the 57th President of Mexico. He was elected on 1 July 2012 and took office on 1 December 2012. He was originally educated as a lawyer and had been the governor of Mexico prior to becoming president. Mr. Pena Nieto is currently married to a soap opera actress, Angelica Rivera. He has four children.
President of the Republic of South Africa	Mr. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma	Mr. Zuma was elected as president in 2009 and re-elected in 2014. He is also the President of the African National Congress (ANC). Mr. Zuma is currently married to four women and has approximately 20 children.
President of the United Arab Emirates	Mr. Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan	Mr. (Sheikh) Khalifa became the president on 3 November 2004 after his father, the former president, passed away. He is the head of the government, the army and the supreme council for the UAE. His family is worth approximately $150 billion dollars. Sheikh Khalifa is married to Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouri. He has no children.
Prime Minister of Japan	Mr. Shinzo Abe	Mr. Abe is the prime minister and the president of the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan. He was first elected as prime minister in 2006 but had to resign in 2007 for health reasons. He recovered and was re-elected as prime minister in 2012. He and his wife, Akie Matsuzaki, have no children.
Prime Minister of Australia	Mr. Malcolm Turnbull	Mr. Turnbull became the prime minister on 15 September 2015. He was not elected by the people of Australia but, instead, by members of his own party, the Liberal Party. They had a special vote because they were not happy with the work that the current prime minister, Tony Abbott, was doing. Mr. Turnbull was then elected by the people of Australia in the 2016 election. He is married to his wife Lucy and they have two children.

Canadian Prime Minister: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Canada;

President of Chile: http://www.wikiwand.com/lb/Michelle_Bachelet;

President of Germany: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Germany;

Malaysian Prime Minister: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Malaysia;

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_May;

President of Mexico: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Pe%C3%B1a_Nieto;

President of South Africa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma;

President of the United Arab Emirates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalifa_bin_Zayed_Al_Nahyan;

Prime Minister of Japan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinz%C5%8D_Abe;

Prime Minister of Australia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Turnbull

Activity 1

Here in New Zealand, the prime minister of the country is the Honourable John Key. Imagine that you are Mr. Key and you have the power to create laws (rules) that all people in New Zealand would have to follow. If I (Rachel) were the prime minister I would make a rule that everyone should eat lollies for breakfast. What three (3) rules would you make up if you were the prime minister? On your blog tell us what your three rules would be.

Rule No.1- Everyone lives in a house, with or without money

Rule No.2- Every Saturday is Pizza Saturday.

Rule No.3- Every child has limited time on devices

Activity 2

Some people say that the most powerful person in the world is the president of the United States. His name is Donald Trump and he became the president this past November when he beat out his competitor, a woman named Hillary Clinton. Google ‘Hillary Clinton’ to find out a little bit more about her. On your blog, post three interesting facts about Hillary.

No.1 -Hillary Clinton has two brothers, Hugh (1950) and Anthony (1957).

No.2-When she was a teenager, Hillary Clinton organized a baby-sitting group to look after the children of migrant Mexican workers in rural Illinois.

No.3-Hillary Clinton, who is a Methodist, and Bill Clinton, who is a Southern Baptist, were married in a Methodist ceremony in their living room on October 11, 1975.

https://www.factretriever.com/hillary-clinton-facts

Bonus Activity

Being the prime minister of a country is a big responsibility. Would you like to be the prime minister of New Zealand one day? On your blog tell us what you think. Would you like to be the prime minister?  Why or why not?

I wouldn’t want to be the prime minister of New Zealand. There would be too much work to do such as meeting up with other prime ministers(Presidents, monarchs), paperwork, political meetings. I guess you got the idea. I’m all for the being in charge, rulemaking, looking after the country part. But being prime minister requires a lot of commitment. Who knows? I might have a change of mind.