Questions for discussion

New migrants 1. Before you watch the BtN story, brainstorm some challenges you think

migrant families might face trying to settle into a new country. 2. Which country are the Williams family from? 3. How long did they spend in a refugee camp? 4. How does the Migrant Resource Centre help migrant families settle? 5. Why are interpreters needed for some migrants? 6. Give examples of things migrants are taught about living in Australia. 7. Think of three adjectives to describe how the Williams children are settling

into school. 8. Who have the kids been reunited with? 9. What do they like about living in Australia? 10. What impact has migration had on the Australia we live in today?

Research and create a timeline showing the history of migration in Australia since

1788.

Kids’ rights

1. Discuss the Kids’ rights story with another student. 2. What is your favourite thing about being a kid? Share your response with

other students. 3. What do you think is meant by a `right’? 4. Complete the following sentence: In Australia, most kids have the chance to… 5. Describe some of the things children in other countries are forced to do. 6. Which organisation set up the convention on the rights of a child? 7. Give an example of how the rights help to protect children. 8. Illustrate an aspect of the Kids’ rights story. 9. What do you understand more clearly since watching this story? 10. What do you think is the most important right for all children? Why? Post

your response on the story page of the BtN website.

Which article in the Convention on the Rights of a Child relates to Behind the News?

Write a brief description about how BtN meets this particular right.

Rugby TV rights

1. What were three points raised in the Rugby TV rights story? 2. Who won the Rugby World Cup? 3. Why do TV stations buy the rights to broadcast sporting events? 4. How have TV rights changed sport? 5. Why doesn’t the ABC bid for popular sports? 6. The ABC can show vision of most sports because there’s an exception to the rights

rule. What is it? 7. How many minutes of Rugby World Cup vision can the ABC show a day?

EPISODE 30

25TH

OCTOBER 2011

8. Why doesn’t BtN show any Rugby World Cup vision? 9. What rugby footage can BtN show? 10. Which other sporting events have the same strict rules about what can be shown

on TV?

Test your knowledge in the online Rugby quiz. Go to the BtN website and follow the links.

Solar cars

1. In which decade was the World Solar Challenge first held? 2. Where does the race start and finish? 3. What is the distance of the race? 4. Why are alternative energy sources for cars being explored? 5. Petrol is a renewable resource. True or false? 6. Describe how a solar panel works. 7. What are the benefits of a solar car? 8. What are some of the disadvantages? 9. How are solar car technologies being used in other aspects of car

engineering? 10. What do you think the future of solar cars is? Explain your answer.

What are some design features that could increase a car’s fuel efficiency? How could

aspects of the engine, body and other components of the care be modified to

minimise that amount of fuel the car requires?

Classroom drama

1. Discuss the main points raised in the Classroom drama story with another student.

2. What is the aim of the new drama program being taught in some schools? 3. Which theatre company do Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton work for? 4. Which well known film was Cate in? 5. How do kids benefit from working with professional actors? 6. Why do you think the students are `more engaged in learning’? 7. Which subjects could drama be used to teach? 8. Do you think it’s a good idea to use drama to teach other subjects? Explain

your answer. 9. Why do you like doing drama? 10. What was surprising about this story?

Post a message on the Behind the News Guestbook http://abc.net.au/btn/guestbook.html

Solar cars Focus Questions

1. In which decade was the World Solar Challenge first held? 2. Where does the race start and finish? 3. What is the distance of the race? 4. Why are alternative energy sources for cars being explored? 5. Petrol is a renewable resource. True or false? 6. Describe how a solar panel works. 7. What are the benefits of a solar car? 8. What are some of the disadvantages? 9. How are solar car technologies being used in other aspects of car

engineering? 10. What do you think the future of solar cars is? Explain your answer.

Cars of the future Students will investigate alternative energy sources used to power cars. The BtN

story looked at solar power being used to run a car but other sources of energy are

also being explored as potential cars of the future.

Ask students to discuss and make some predictions about the following:

How could cars be improved? Why?

Why are scientists and engineers researching ways to make cars better?

Will attitudes about the use of fossil fuels (petrol and natural gas) change

over the next 50 years? Why?

Why might we see changes to the way cars are powered?

Divide the class into five teams. Each team will explore in depth one of the

alternative fuel sources to power cars in the future.

Solar

Hybrid

Biofuel (ethanol)

Hydrogen

Electric

Each group will need to investigate

The environmental impact of the energy source

The advantages and disadvantages

EPISODE 30

25TH

OCTOBER 2011

Learning Area

Science

Key learning

Students will investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using alternative energies to power the car of the future.

Challenges

Each team presents their research finding to the rest of the class. Students then think about which energy source seems most likely to be commonly used in the future. Why?

Students will need to provide a list of references they used in their presentations, including the web sites they referenced.

Further investigations

Some of the design features of the solar cars have be used by mainstream car

manufacturers to improve performance and fuel efficiency. These include low friction

tyres, aerodynamics and improved battery technology. Create a poster that illustrates

and explains these technologies.

How does a solar car work? Draw a diagram that includes the following information:

Solar energy becomes electricity

Power storage

Motor controller

The motor

What are some design features that could increase a car’s fuel efficiency? How could

aspects of the engine, body and other components of the care be modified to

minimise that amount of fuel the car requires?

Related Research Links

World Solar Challenge – Official website

http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/

Virtual World Solar Challenge

http://wsc.pv.unsw.edu.au/

Energy Quest – A student’s guide to alternative fuel vehicles

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/index.html

Green Zone Drive - Technologies

http://www.greenzonedrive.com.au/Adelaide2011/Technologies.html

Kids’ rights Focus Questions

1. Discuss the Kids’ rights story with another student. 2. What is your favourite thing about being a kid? Share your response with

other students. 3. What do you think is meant by a `right’? 4. Complete the following sentence: In Australia, most kids have the chance to… 5. Describe some of the things children in other countries are forced to do. 6. Which organisation set up the Convention on the Rights of a Child? 7. Give an example of how the rights help to protect children. 8. Illustrate an aspect of the Kids’ rights story. 9. What do you understand more clearly since watching this story? 10. What do you think is the most important right for all children? Why? Post

your response on the story page of the BtN website.

Kids’ rights Ask students what they think a `right’ is. Brainstorm a list of basic human rights for everyone. Are there any rights that are more important to children?

The UN Convention on the Rights of a Child can be viewed at the following website http://www.childrensweek.org.au/UN%20poster%20Jan%202008.pdf Here is a summary of the Convention on the Rights of a Child. Ask students to rank

them from most important to least important. Students briefly explain what was

the most important right to them and why.

Children have the right to be with their family or a family who will

care for them

Children have the right to an adequate standard of living

Children with a disability have the right to special care

Every child has the right to be alive

Children have the right to good quality education

Children must not be used as cheap workers or soldiers

Children have the right to say what they think and to meet

together to express their views

Every child has the right to a name and nationality

Children have the right to nutritious food and clean water

Children have the right to health care

Children have the right to play

Children have the right to be kept safe and not be hurt or neglected

Children have the right to practise their own language, religion and

culture

EPISODE 30

25TH

OCTOBER 2011

Learning Area

Society and Environment

Key learning

Students will develop a deeper understanding of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child.

Students can then choose one or more of the following activities:

Research the work that UNICEF does around the world. What do they do to make sure

that the rights of children around the world are protected? Present your research to

students in another class.

Which article in the Convention on the Rights of a Child relates to Behind the News?

Write a brief description about how BtN meets this particular right.

Choose one of the rights from the convention and draw a picture to illustrate it. Collate all students’ work to make a gallery of images.

Research what Australia’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of a Child is.

The following website is a good starting point for students’ research

http://www.unicef.org.au/Discover/What-We-Do.aspx

Related Research Links

Children’s Week - UN Convention on the Rights of a Child

http://www.childrensweek.org.au/UN%20poster%20Jan%202008.pdf

Children’s Week Council of Australia – Official website

http://www.childrensweek.org.au/

UNICEF – What we do

http://www.unicef.org.au/Discover/What-We-Do.aspx

Children’s BBC – What is the UN?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_1720000/newsid_1721800/1721851.

stm

UN Cyberschoolbus – Conventions on the Rights of a Child

http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/crc/about.html

BtN: Episode 30 Transcript

25/10/11

On this week's Behind the News.

We go behind the asylum seekers debate and spend time with a

family of refugees as they settle into Australia.

Cars powered by the sun, they look futuristic but will they ever

catch on?

And drama in the classroom how acting can help kids to learn

other subjects.

Hi I'm Nathan Bazley. Welcome to Behind the News. Also on the

show today, we'll bring you a story about the Rugby World Cup but

with a bit of a twist. But before all that, there's been some really big

news stories this week so let's jump straight into our news round-up.

Here's Tash with the Wire.

The Wire

First to Libya where celebrations are continuing following the killing

of former leader Moamar Gaddafi last week. Libya had been ruled by

the dictator Gaddafi for forty two years. But after months of fighting

between rebels and Gaddafi supporters, he was killed as he tried to

escape an attack on his compound. Libya is expected to form a new

government within a month.

****

To Turkey now and a 7.3 magnitude earthquake has hit the east of the

country leaving hundreds dead. Many more are injured or still

missing. Around fifty buildings have collapsed and the region has

been hit by a series of aftershocks.

****

And back home, the Queen has been taking a tour of Australia. She

started her trip in Canberra last week where she was welcomed by

Prime Minister Julia Gillard before taking a boat trip to meet some

locals at a flower show. She then visited soldiers at the royal military

college and had a fancy dinner with special guests before heading to

Brisbane to visit some areas that were affected by the floods in

January.

Online Poll

OK a lot of people seem happy to see the Queen.

So let's make that our poll this week.

The question: Is the Queen's visit to Australia important to you?

To vote just head to our website. And in last week's poll we asked you

if workers should be allowed to strike. 85% said yes. And only 15%

said no, they shouldn't be allowed to strike. Thanks for taking part.

New Migrants

Reporter: Alfie Tieu

INTRO: Well also in the news lately we've been hearing a lot from

politicians about the best way to deal with asylum seekers. But

amongst all the arguing it's easy to forget that we're actually talking

about real people. We caught up with a family of refugees as they

arrived in Australia for the first time. And as Alfie reports settling

into a new life here can take a lot of organisation.

ALFIE TIEU, REPORTER: The Williams family are refugees, and they've just arrived in Australia to start a new life. Their surname might sound Aussie but they're actually from a very different place.

With their mum and dad, the 5 kids fled poverty and violence in a country called Liberia, in Africa. So far they've had to spend more than a year living in a refugee camp.

Now they're here, it's all about settling in to a new country. And for that they get some help.

GEORGE FOMBA, CASE WORKER: Hello everyone. Ok. My name is George Fomba.

An organisation called the Migrant Resource Centre assigns a person to look after each family.

NADIA MAKDADI, ORIENTATION PRESENTER: Good morning everyone, my name is Nadia.

Today, they're attending an orientation, with other groups of new arrivals.

NADIA MAKDADI, ORIENTATION PRESENTER: As soon as you arrived to Australia, and as permanent residents, you have to forget your fears. You have to forget everything bad that happened to you before. Now you are in a safe country, you are starting a new life. So forget your fears because you are the new Australians.

The groups taught all about our society, even things we might take for granted, like how traffic lights work! Next up, George talks to the Williams about getting involved in Australian life. He's even signed up the youngest to play soccer!

GEORGE FOMBA, CASE WORKER: We sign them up to register them with Centrelink, take them to the bank to open an account for them, register them with Medicare, and also take them to buy bus tickets.

A volunteer takes them to the library to explain how to borrow books. It might sound obvious to us, but this is one of many privileges they're not used to.

Fast forward three weeks and the kids are all attending school!

REPORTER: What's your favourite subject?

LOVE WILLIAMS: Spelling!

REPORTER: Spelling is your favourite? And what are you doing today?

LOVE WILLIAMS: I'm playing soccer!

TODD MICKEY, TEACHER, ADELAIDE SECONARY SCHOOL OF ENGLISH: She's doing really well actually, in class she's beginning to open up a bit more, and is using the English she knows to interact with the class a bit more.

Back home, things are going well too.

The kids have been reunited with their eldest brother, who made the journey to Australia five years ago.

SOLOMON WILLIAMS JNR: The kids are loving it; they're loving everything, after school they tell me they love everything, the parks, the life here you know. It's just great; they're making friends and everything.

TITUS WILLIAMS: Yeah! Many, many friends in my school!

ANTHONY WILLIAMS: Yeah many, many friends, TWO!

GEORGE FOMBA, CASE WORKER: So being in Australia having this free health care system, getting those abundant opportunities, to them they get excited, and sometimes feel like "What's happening in my life, is this all mine? Am I gonna make use of all of this?"

SOLOMON WILLIAMS SNR: Very, very happy. Even I am their father and very, very happy, so thank god for everything.

While we say goodbye to them now, their journey has only just begun.

Looks like they’re settling in well.

Kids’ Rights

Reporter: Nathan Bazley

INTRO: As we just saw not everyone gets to experience being a kid

in the same way. Some kids around the world don't get clothed or fed

don't get to go to school are forced to work or are forced to fight.

Basically they never get the chance to just be a kid. But that right is

one every young person around the world has and it's being

celebrated this week during National Children's week. Let's see what

it's about.

KIDS RESPONSES: My favourite thing about being a kid is that I

don't have to work around the house. My favourite thing about being

a kid is being able to long board every day. You can be whoever you

want to be and get friends for life. Probably because you get to have

more fun, whereas when you're an adult you have to be more

responsible for stuff. My favourite thing about being a kid is you get

so many wonderful opportunities.

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: There's a lot of good points to being

a kid here in Australia. Here, most kids are given the chance to have

fun, to learn, to eat and drink when they need and to be safe. That's

not an accident though. They are rights that you have been given

specially. And they are rights that kids in some other parts of the

world only dream of having.

If you grew up in the Uganda, there is a chance you could have been

forced to fight in brutal wars. If you grew up in China, there is a

chance you would have been forced to work in dangerous jobs. If you

grew up in Ethiopia, there is a chance you would be forced to go

without meals or proper clothing. If you grew up in Haiti, there is a

chance you would never have the opportunity to go to school. And

even some kids in Australia miss out, or are mistreated.

But these situations are against what most people believe being a kid

is all about. So much so, that the United Nations, the most powerful

group of countries in the world, has set up a rule book of what being a

kid should be like.

NATHAN: It's called "The Convention on the Rights of the Child" and

it lists everything you, as a kid, deserve no matter what.

First up, let's see what's NOT in there.

Is there anything in there on every kid getting a play station?

Unlucky!

What about every kid being allowed to eat ice cream for tea?

Not so much.

What about kids being able to ditch their homework whenever they

like?

Nope! Unfortunately, the Rights of the Child don't give you perks.

But trust me, they're pretty powerful. And if you didn't have the rights

listed, you'd swap them for a play station or ice-cream any day. Here

are a selection of the best.

Looking for collection of all your favourite rights in one place? Well

get yourself 100% Rights Volume 1! Featuring the hit single "You

have a right to play" and everyone's favourite "You have the right to

be heard." Then there is the classic "Right to food, clothes and

shelter" and who could forget the inspirational ballad "you have the

right to be protected from war." This album has rights for every

occasion. Rights for work, rights for home, rights for school and rights

for help. All up there are 42 rights, just ready to be used! And best of

all, we're giving every child in the world 100% Rights Volume 1

absolutely free!

Ok, so the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a bit more serious

than that, especially for all the kids out there that don't have them.

And they're pretty special, because you are the only people who get

them. So what is the best thing about being a kid? Maybe if you really

think about it, it'd actually be the rights that only kids have.

Rugby TV Rights

Reporter: Sarah Larsen

INTRO: If you're a Rugby Union fan you'll know that the World Cup

final was on the weekend. And the All Blacks lifted the trophy after

beating France. But if you've been tuning in to BTN over the past

month you might have noticed that we haven't said much about the

World Cup as the tournament's gone on. That might seem pretty

strange after all, it IS big news. But as Sarah found out with every

big sporting event comes a big set of rules about who can use the

pictures.

SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: A massive weekend in sport! New Zealanders are celebrating the All Blacks second ever win in the Rugby Union World Cup Grand Final and we have all the highlights for you here on BtN!

The All Blacks looked confident as they went into the final against France, performing the Haka in front of a packed stadium. Veteran prop Tony Woodcock scored the Kiwi's first and only try. The French tried to fight back but their offence wasn't enough.

KIDS: This isn't going to work! I don't know how to play!

REPORTER: Just keep playing! Sorry folks, we seem to be having some, ah, technical difficulties.

I know, I know. These guys are the best players in the world and they're pretty hard to imitate. But I can't just take a camera to the World Cup and start recording. To play the real thing on TV you have to buy the rights. Lots of sports make TV stations pay before they can show competitions. Networks often compete with each other for the rights, offering tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to sports organisations and it's not hard to see why. If you're the only station playing the big game you're going to get lots of viewers and lots of advertising dollars. The ABC doesn't make money from ads so it can't afford to bid for a lot of popular sports.

REPORTER: Now, I know what you're thinking. I've just shown you loads of sports vision. The ABC doesn't have rights to AFL or NRL or cricket tests so why can we show them, and not Rugby Union?

Well there is an exception to the rights rule. You're allowed to show vision if it's being used for news. BtN is a news show, so it's allowed to show you stories about AFL or A-League or Cricket. But for the Rugby Union World cup the rules are even tighter. Pretend this is the real world cup: Well, the ABC can show 3 minutes worth of vision and it's only allowed to do it three times a day. That's the morning news, the midday news and the nightly news and BtN is left with your imagination. We can still show players training or fans outside of the stadium, or amateur union games, but nothing from the World Cup.

The same rules apply to some other big, expensive comps, like the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games. The rules can be controversial. This year some media outlets complained because they couldn't show world cup vision on their websites. Some people reckon sport should be available to everyone for free, because some comps are a part of our culture. But they're also a business and officials say they're just doing what they need to stay in the game.

Quiz 1

OK, let's test your rugby knowledge next with a quiz.

The question is: In what year was the first Rugby World Cup held?

1887

1907

1987

Answer: 1987

Yep, it wasn't that long ago that everyone agreed it would be a good

idea to have a World Cup. It takes place every four years so New

Zealand's win was only the 7th time that someone has lifted the

trophy.

Solar Car

Reporter: Alfie Tieu

INTRO: Let's shift focus now to an amazing car race which came to

a finish a few days ago. What made it so amazing was that none of

the cars ran on petrol. Instead, they were all powered by the sun! So

if people are able to make cars to travel great distances that don't

need petrol why don't we see them on our roads? Alfie finds out.

ALFIE TIEU, REPORTER: It's a race that's been the topic of a Hollywood film, where a group of high school kids get the chance to

compete at one of the world's biggest solar car races. And it all happens right here!

The World Solar Challenge might sound like a bit of a futuristic idea, but the first one was actually right back in the 1980s. It's a really long drive about 3 000 kays from Darwin to Adelaide. And while this long stretch of outback road looks nothing like a science lab, it's exactly that! Some competitors are in it to win it, but others are just here in the name of science.

You see, at the moment the vast majority of cars still use petrol. It's expensive, it pollutes our cities and one day it will run out. So the big idea here is to think of ways we can use a free energy source, the sun, to power our cars instead.

The cars use solar panels, a bit like you might see on the roofs of houses. They work by converting sunlight into electricity. The panels are made up of wafer thin layers of silicon. When sunlight hits the panel, electrons in the silicon move to create an electric current. But it's not all that powerful, so lots of solar cells have to be linked together to get enough electricity to run a car. And that can make these cars a bit impractical.

REPORTER: The panel on this car can make about 1320 watts. That's only the amount of electricity some hair dryers use! So to be able to drive at normal speed on a highway, the cars have to be as small and as light as possible. And as you can see, it doesn't leave much space for your school bag let alone any passengers.

And then there's the weather. You don't have to be a genius to work out that on a day like this the solar panel isn't going to be working all that well.

TOKAI TEAM MEMBER: As of yesterday we knew that the weather was going to be bad and that's why we saved energy in the battery.

But with no sun, their battery lasts less than four hours. Installing more of them, would make the car too heavy.

All of this science comes at a price too. The cars in this race cost a lot to build. 150-thousand dollars at the cheap end, rising up to a staggering two million dollars for the most expensive! But even though we aren't likely to see these solar cars being sold at dealerships, these teams aren't wasting their time and effort. Some of their innovations have already made a difference. For example, these special tyres, which are designed to help the car use less fuel, were created for solar car racing, but are now stocked in shops.

So these guys might look like they're just having a bit of fun, but with the adventure is some serious science and that's worth celebrating.

Quiz 2

OK, let's have a quiz about electricity. Which of these items uses the

most electricity when turned on?

Kettle

Plasma TV

Computer

Answer: Kettle

That's why it's important only to put the amount of water you need

into the kettle when boiling it. OK let's move onto sport now here's all

the latest action in the Score.

The Score

To the Rugby Union world cup first and as we mentioned earlier, New

Zealand are celebrating after their team won the final. The All Blacks

defeated the French 8 - 7 to take the title breaking a 24 year drought

of world cup glory. Many Kiwis partied long and hard after the result.

Earlier in the weekend, the Aussie team won the consolation prize of

third place by beating Wales 21-18 in their play-off.

*****

And in the English Premier League last year's title holders

Manchester United have been embarrassed in their local derby clash

against Manchester City. City managed to put a massive 6 goals into

United's net with the red devils only managing one in reply. The loss

is United’s biggest at home for more than 50 years.

Classroom Drama

Reporter: Sarah Larsen

INTRO: What's your favourite lesson at school? One of my

favourites was drama and I reckon a lot of kids feel the same. Well

now some education experts are trying to get other lessons to be

more like drama. They've even brought actors in to change the way

some subjects are taught. And so far the results have been well

dramatic. Here's Sarah.

School drama can be a lot of fun. You get to be someone else, express

yourself, be loud, perform. But what if more classes could be like this?

What if you could use drama to teach history?

KIDS: You're under arrest Ned Kelly!

Or science?

KIDS: Hydrogen atoms, oxygen atoms: Make water!

Or English?

This might look pretty crazy, but believe it or not, it's an English class!

The kids are acting out characters they've made up based on the book

they're studying. They're taking part in a new program being tried in

some Sydney schools; using drama to make other lessons more

exciting and it's got some pretty famous supporters.

Recognise her? How about like this:

CATE BLANCHETT: Lord of the Rings; The Fellowship of the Ring

excerpt.

Cate Blanchett has been in some massive movies but instead of

hanging around in Hollywood, she here at Haberfield primary

because she and her husband, who runs the Sydney Theatre

Company, really believe that brining drama into other lessons can

help kids to learn. The Theatre Company is working with education

experts on the program and sends actors like Ben to schools to teach

teachers about acting. He's been in TV shows and ads, and has some

tricks to pass on to kids.

BEN WOOD: The first week or two, they don't really know what to do.

They kind of sit here and watch you. But there are great moments

when they jump in and take over and you get a lot of satisfaction out

of that.

Well, it all looks like a lot of fun, but are they actually learning

anything? Well, teachers and students say, 'yes'.

VIVECA TANG, Student: After the drama lessons, I'm thinking more

about the books and the story and the characters.

KATIE MCLENNAN, teacher: Because they're connecting the literacy

with the fun of drama activity that they've just had, they're more

engaged in learning.

REPORTER: It makes sense when you think about it. Books are all

sorts of fascinating characters and situations; it's just that usually it

plays out in your head. Drama brings the characters to life.

Kid in drama class: I like doing drama because it's fun, it gets you

moving.

Kid in drama class: I think you can play games but also be learning at

the same time.

Kid in drama class: If you played out the book you'd learn more about

it because you’re actually doing it and you're getting their point of

view.

Kid in drama class: It's like you're actually interacting so you can like

work with other people to learn and stuff.

The organisers of the Sydney program reckon it could go beyond

English and that the same sorts of techniques could be used to teach

all sorts of lessons, from geography to maths and science. And they

want to see it introduced into schools around Australia, so hold on to

your textbooks because you never know when your lessons will get

more dramatic!

Closer

And that's it for the show. You can jump onto our website if you want

to get more info on any of the stories. You can send us your comments

and don't forget to vote in this week's poll. And I'll see you next time.