'Mateship' - An ANZAC chat with Tipperary Station

The commemorations for ANZAC Day on April 25th happen during our school holidays this year, so we are spending time this week thinking about it in class.

ANZAC means Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. 

While there is traditionally a friendly rivalry between the two countries, troops from both countries saw action together at Gallipoli in World War 1.  

Tipperary Station, a small Australian outback school of 6 pupils, asked if we would like to do a Skype to talk about the meaning of 'mateship'.

Only 6 pupils!

To kick off our thinking, both classes read

'Simpson and His Donkey' by Mark Greenwood
and Frane Lessac.

Both classes had the same book!

During our skype chat we decided that mateship meant taking care of each other, sticking up for each other, being a good friend and sticking together. 
Another word for mateship is friendship!

We looked more closely at two pictures from the book.

What might the soldiers in the boat be saying to give each other support?

How are the soldiers in this picture showing mateship towards each other?

Thank you to our new mates from Tipperary Station. 

We hope we get to learn with you again!

Read to Someone ... in Australia!

One of the choices we have each day in our reading programme is 'Read to Someone'.

It is always a popular choice.

Students usually sit side-by-side and can either take turns reading pages of the same book, or take turns to read pages from their own books.

At the end of each page they check for understanding - who the page was about and what happened.

Today Jack and Nikki read to Georgia and Tessa  - at 
Harston School in Victoria, Australia!

Now everyone else is looking forward to their turn!

How does reading to someone help us to become better readers?

What book are you reading at the moment?

http://mrsw.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/09/01/read-to-someone-skype/

Mystery Skype Call

What a great morning we had!
Last term Mrs McKenzie was inspired by a post by
 Mrs Yollis about a mystery Skype call, 
and was keen for the B4 children to do something similar.

During our Skype today, we had to find out what country the other class was in, and possibly whereabouts they are in 
that country, by 

asking CLOSED questions. 

The closed questions could only be answered by YES or NO.

We prepared some questions beforehand 
and thought about what the possibilities could be, depending on the YES or NO answers.

Every student had a job during the call.

Some were the SPEAKERS, and asked the questions.

Some were the CAMERA PEOPLE.

Some were NOTETAKERS and wrote YES or NO on the questions as they were answered.

Some were using the ATLASES and were eliminating or suggesting countries.

Others were the HELPERS and took the suggestions from the atlas people to the speakers.

After some great questions, they guessed first where we live.

Finally, we figured out that our mystery Skype callers were from Australia! 

Our callers were P-1-2 from Harston School!

Thanks P-1-2@Harston School, we had a great time talking to you.

What did you like about the Skype call?

What job did you do?

What job would you like next time?

A Parcel from Miss Esnouf

We received a lovely surprise parcel in the mail from Miss Esnouf, who worked in B4 

during Term 1.

Now she lives back in Australia.
We love all the special treats. Thank you Miss Esnouf.

Before she left, Miss Esnouf tried to convert the B4 children from supporting the 
New Zealand All Blacks rugby team 
to supporting the 
Australian Wallabies rugby team.

Sorry Miss Esnouf, we don't think it worked!

We will be cheering for the All Blacks 
in the Rugby World Cup 
which is being held in New Zealand from 
September 9-October 23.

Some New Visitors and Old Friends

Hello Mrs Lynch

Thanks for visiting us. You didn't leave a back link but I think you are from LLPS Middle unit. Let me know if that's not right.

We can find you at this link:

http://llpsmiddle.globalstudent.org.au/

We are really enjoying meeting other classes. Thanks to all the children from Mrs Watson's 123 class in Canada for all their great comments this week.