summer blogging journey

Day 1 – Choosing a destination

The world is a very big and very cool place. There are currently 196 countries and approximately 7.1 billion people living on earth. For this project we are going to focus on just 10 countries across 6 continents – Canada (North America), Mexico (Central America), Chile (South America), England (Europe), Germany (Europe), South Africa (Africa), United Arab Emirates (Middle East), Japan (Asia), Malaysia (South-East Asia), and Australia (Australasia).

Please click on the ‘World Map’ tab on the main menu. It will bring you to a big map. One by one click on the names of the countries and ready the ‘Quick Facts’ about each place.

Activities

Activity 1

After you have read the quick facts about each place you must choose ONE country that you would like to ‘visit.’ On your blog post the name of the country and tell us why you have chosen to visit it. Please give, at least, two reasons for choosing the country.

Activity 2

On Google, research the country that you have chosen to visit and write, in your own words, three interesting facts about that country. They must be facts that weren’t already provided on the World Map.

Bonus Activity

Write a letter to a friend or family member to tell them that you are going to visit your country of choice. In your letter, please tell them where you are going, why you have decided to go to the particular country and how long you will be away. Feel free to invite them to join you, if you’d like!

Bonus Activity = 5 points

Day 2 – Learning the basics

Now that you have chosen your country, it is time to decide where, within your country, you would like to visit. Many tourists will choose to visit the capital city of a country. It is often quite large and full of interesting things to see and do.

Activity 1

Before you go overseas it will be important that you learn a bit about the capital city of your country. Hop online and find out about the capital city of your country. Use this information to complete the five sentences below:

1. The name of the capital city is  Bangkok
2. The population of the capital city is 5,900,000
3. In January, the weather in the capital city is usually

  27°C80°F

4. The capital city is located in the
5. eastern (northern, southern, middle) part of the country.
6. The languages most commonly spoken in the capital city are Thai

Activity 2

One of the most popular activities in Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is called ‘Bullfighting.’ It has been a part of Spanish culture for centuries. In bullfighting people called ‘toreros and ‘matadors’ fight with a live bull. The toreros do most of the fighting and, ultimately, capture the bull and tie it up. Once it has been caught, the matador joins the fight and kills the bull. Although most toreros and matadors are men, there are some women who also compete in the sport.

Not everyone supports bullfighting in Spain. In fact, about 30% of the population want it to be banned (stopped) completely. What do you think? On your blog tell us whether or not you think that bullfighting should be banned in Spain. Please provide, at least, two reasons to support your decision.

https://www.clearlyveg.com/blog/2015/11/01/eu-votes-cut-subsidies-bullfighting-spain

Bonus activity

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. Have you been to Wellington? If so, please tell us about two things that you did when you were in Wellington.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to go to Wellington, follow the link to learn more about this very cool city: Discover Wellington.

On your blog, tell us what two things you would like to do if you had the chance to visit Wellington. Would you go to the botanical gardens or visit the Beehive? Perhaps you would prefer to go shopping on Cuba Street or go out for dinner on Quay Street…

Bonus Activity = 8 points

Day 3 - Buying a ticket

Now that you have chosen your country it is time to start planning your trip. One of the first things you will need to do is to buy an airplane ticket. There are many, many airlines that fly around the world. Some of the most common are:

Air Canada Air New Zealand

                               

Emirates             Air Asia

                

When you get onto the airplane you will be asked to watch a short safety video that tells you how to stay safe when flying in a plane. Arguably, the best aiplane safety videos are produced by Air New Zealand.

Activity 1

Watch both of the current Air New Zealand safety videos. The first is a video that stars the All Blacks. The second is a video that stars Rhys Darby and Anna Faris (Hollywood actress).  Links for the videos are found below:

Air New Zealand ‘Men In Black’ video

Air New Zealand ‘Safety in Hollywood’ video

Once you have finished watching the videos, go to your blog and list three things that you need to do to stay safe on an airplane.

Activity 2

Imagine that you have been asked to create your very own airline. What would you call it? Design a simple logo for your airline and post it on your blog. You must include a short explanation of your logo below the picture.

Bonus Activity - Airplane tickets can be very expensive. The table below lists the cost of one return ticket for one person from Auckland, New Zealand to the capital city of each country included in the Summer Learning Journey programme. The costs are listed in the local currency (money) of the country and not in New Zealand dollars.

Name of City	Cost of Return Flight
Canberra, Australia	826            AUD              Australian Dollars
Tokyo, Japan	147172      JPY                Japanese Yen
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	7182          MYR             Malaysian Ringgit
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	7219           AED             United Arab Emirates Dirham
Cape Town, South Africa	27296          ZAR             South African Rand
Berlin, Germany	2182            EUR             Euros
London, England	1442            GBP             Great British Pounds
Santiago, Chile	1 582 030    CLP              Chilean Peso
Mexico City, Mexico	90 664         MXN            Mexican Peso
Ottawa, Canada	2064            CAD             Canadian Dollar

Use the XE currency converter website [http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/] to find out how much each ticket would cost in New Zealand dollars [NZD $$]. On your blog, tell us:

1. How much it would cost in New Zealand dollars to fly to each country.
2. Which country is the most expensive country to visit
3. Which country is the least expensive country to visit

To use the XE site you have to complete these four steps:

Step 1 – Enter the price of the airline ticket in the far left box.

Step 2 – Select the currency you want from the drop down menu in the second box.

Step 3 – Select ‘NZD – New Zealand Dollar’ as the currency in the third box.

Step 4 – Click on the blue button with the white arrow. It will take you to a second page that tells you how the ticket will cost in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).

Bonus Activity = 10 points

Day 4 – Packing Up

http://www.chicagonow.com/life-one-post-at-a-time/2015/06/project-me-foster-children-a-simple-wish-a-simple-bag/

It’s official! You’ve chosen your country and bought your ticket. Now it’s time to pack for the big adventure! Think about where you are going and what the weather is going to be like when you arrive next week.

Activity 1

To find out more about the weather in your chosen country log onto the Accu Weather website [http://www.accuweather.com]. Type the name of the capital city of your country into the search bar. It will tell you what the weather is going to be like in your country of choice. On your blog, provide a five day forecast for the weather in the capital city of your chosen country.

Activity 2

Before you start packing your suitcase you will want to create a list of everything that you will need to bring with you. Most airlines let you bring one big suitcase with you so you’ll have to think carefully about what you want to bring…

On your blog site, post a list of everything that you need to pack for your trip. Put a star (*) beside the 5 items that you think are the most important.

Bonus Activity

Make a word poem called a ‘wordle’ using your packing list (i.e. the list of of things you are taking with you on your trip). To make a wordle you need to go to the Wordle website [http://www.wordle.net/create]. Enter the words for all of your items into the box provided and click ‘Go.’ The website will create a wordle for you. Save the wordle and then post it on your blog.

Bonus Blog = 4 points

Example of a Wordle

Day 5 – Boarding the Plane

It’s the big day! You’re about to hop on an airplane and travel to a new country. Curious Kiwi will keep you company on the journey. Unfortunately, Curious Kiwi forgot his book and he is worried that he’ll get bored on the long flight without anything to read. He asks you for some help…

Activity 1

Think about all of the books that you have read this year and recommend one for Curious Kiwi to read. On your blog list the title and author of the book and then provide a short description of it. What is the book about?

Activity 2

Read the following three reviews of books that are really popular right now in Canada. If you had to choose one for Curious Kiwi to read on the plane, which one would you choose? Post the name of the book that you would chose on your blog. Below the title explain why you would choose that book.

Book 1: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create. Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

Book 2: Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

Book 3: Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Ugly Truth

Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it’s cracked up to be? Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older—all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the “ugly truth.”

Bonus Activity

It’s time to use your imagination to write a short story. I’ve provided you with three different beginnings for a story. Choose your favourite beginning and finish the story. What happens next? You can use your imagination and create any ending that you want. To earn full points, you must post, at least 8-10 sentences, on your blog.

1. I looked around the room. Nothing seemed unusual, but then…

2. I knew it was going to be an unusual day when my mom came into my bedroom and said...

3. The spaceship was out of control and only one person could save us....

Bonus Activity = 10 points

Please make time to comment on other student’s blogs. Commenting is a great way to share your learning with others and to show your support!