Reading Responses

Week One Term 2
We are often very far away from disasters in NZ. When the Rena had an oil spill off the coast of Tauranga we were all effected. This image shows how dense the oil was and how badly it effected our bird and sea life.
1) How do you feel when you look at this image? Don't use boring snoring words!
2) How long do you think it would take to clean up a disaster like this?
3) What are some of the flow on effects of this disaster? (this means what things would this disaster impact)

 

Catriona Williams

Catriona Williams’ illustrious equestrian career saw her reach the pinnacle of the show jumping and three-day event world. She represented New Zealand on the international stage at Badminton and the Open European Championships with the key target being the 2004 Athens Olympics. After a devastating horse-riding accident in November 2002, Catriona was left a C6/C7 tetraplegic.

Since that life changing moment, Catriona has completed the New York City Marathon, climbed to Everest Base Camp and most recently been named as a finalist in the 2014 KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year.

1. What would be a challenge for Catriona?
2. What qualities does Catriona show?
3. What does tetraplegic mean?
4. What would you miss if you became tetraplegic?

Kiwikids news article week 3 term 1:

Nine Orca found dead in Southland

This is only the third time in New Zealand a stranding of orca has occurred.

Included in the nine dead were a calf, its mother and at least one adult male.

At this stage it is not known why the orca stranded themselves but experts are on their way to the scene to determine the cause.

The Department of Conservation described the latest stranding as a blow to New Zealand’s small orca population.

There are only 200 orca in New Zealand and to lose nine is a crucial blow to the population levels.

1) What do you think this means for the Orca population?

2) Why do you think the Orca stranded themselves on the beach?

3) Why should we care that Orca washed up on the beach?

4) What would be a way that we could prevent this happening again?

Kiwikidsnews article week 2 term 1:

"Man claims to have spent 13 months adrift at sea

 

 

A Mexican man named Jose Salvador Alvarenga claims to have been lost at sea for 13 months.
He claims that he was lost at sea after a day’s fishing trip went horribly wrong.
He says he survived by eating fish, birds and turtles that he caught with his bare hands.
Early this week  he washed up alone in ragged underpants and a bushy beard, 8,000 miles from home on a tiny Pacific island called Ebon. This island is part of the Marshall Islands.
Jose claims to have survived by drinking turtle blood and rainwater and eating birds and fish which he caught.
Jose and a companion set sail from Mexico in 2012 and it is believed that his friend died at sea several months before Jose was found." By editor.  www.kiwikidsnews.co.nz

Questions:
1. Do you believe that this man spent 13 months adrift? Why or why not? Support your argument.
2. Describe how he would feel returning to land.
3. What qualities would someone need to have to survive such an experience?
4. What would have been some of the biggest challenges he faced while he was adrift?