Hot Topics - Alphabetical Listing
Each TKI Hot Topic is a collection of web resources based around an interesting and topical subject, designed to help you to integrate ICT into your classroom. A new Hot Topic is published every fortnight on TKI.
Latest Hot Topic: Election - New Zealand 2008
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Agricultural Field Days
(Jun 2001)
Take a look at the agriculture industry in New Zealand, and read about the Mystery Creek field days.
Anzac Day
(Feb 2008)
On 25 April, thousands of New Zealanders will attend dawn services around the country to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) soldiers landing at Gallipoli in 1915.
Anzac Day
(Mar 2005)
This month’s Hot Topic on TKI features a number of sites about Anzac Day that will help your students understand why the commemorations are still relevant. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Anzacs landing at Gallipoli, making the sacrifices made by the New Zealander soldiers who served in that conflict particularly worthy of remembrance.
Anzac Day
(Mar 2003)
Learn about the history of Anzac Day and how the day is commemorated today.
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Bike Safety
(Mar 2002)
Cycling to school? Find out about how to stay safe on the road and learn about how bicycle mechanics. Curriculum activities on the topic of bicycles are also listed.
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Careers
(Sep 2002)
(September 2002) What do you want to do when you leave school? Start investigating the possibilities through the career planning and recruitment sites provided here. The websites listed range from career-specific to general, including sites on how to construct a CV and do your best in an interview.
Celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday
(Mar 2006)
It has been 250 years since Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. This Hot Topic contains resources that you can use with your classes to study the man, his music, and his lasting impact.
Celebrations, Festivals and Special Occasions
(Jan 2008)
This Hot Topic is a selection of resources providing information about the celebrations, festivals, and special occasions that take place at different times of the year by different groups of people around the world.
Children’s Day
(Oct 2002)
Children’s Day is held annually on the last Saturday of October. It is a chance for people to celebrate and cherish children. Learn about why Children’s Day was instituted, and start thinking about what you might do to celebrate it.
Christmas
(Dec 2006)
Wind-up the school year with your students, by exploring the plethora of Christmas-related sites available through Te Kete Ipurangi.
Clean Up New Zealand
(Sep 2001)
Clean Up New Zealand Week runs from 17 to 23 September. Learn more about recycling, waste, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Project Crimson, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Climate Change
(May 2007)
Climate change is a fact of life – the climate is continually changing and has brought both benefits and problems for people in the past. Major climatic changes have caused droughts, heatwaves and ice ages. But now the global climate appears to be changing more quickly than in the past – quickly enough to affect our lifestyles, our economies, and for some Pacific islands, their very existence.
Climate Change
(Feb 2002)
What is happening to Earth’s climate? Find out about the Greenhouse Effect, in light of New Zealand’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
Columbia Shuttle Tragedy
(Feb 2003)
Following the NASA space shuttle Columbia crash landing to Earth after its 16 day mission in February 2003, this TKI Hot Topic looks at the history of the orbitor or space shuttle programme, how shuttles work, and the men and women who choose the demanding and dangerous career of an astronaut. It includes a number of links to relevant websites.
Conservation Week: Oceans
(Aug 2001)
Celebrate Conservation week by increasing your knowledge of the ocean, biodiversity, conservation and resource use. Information on the Young Conservationist of the Year Award might be of interest to the particularly conservation-committed.
Cultural Diversity
(Dec 2002)
Immigration is a high-profile political issue in New Zealand. Investigate the different political opinions on immigration, look at population statistics, and use the questions provided as sparking points for further discussion.
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Election - New Zealand 2008
(Oct 2008)
The New Zealand general election will be held on Saturday 8th November 2008. This Hot Topic is a collection of resources and information about the elections. It also takes a look at the change from First Past the Post (FPP) to Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting.
Electricity and the Power Crisis
(Jun 2003)
New Zealand hyrdo-electric lake levels were at a record low during Autumn 2003, prompting a campaign for New Zealanders to reduce their power usage by 10 percent. This TKI Hot Topic looks at how power stations work and why the lake levels necessitated the electricity savings; as well as examining the issue of sustainable sources of power.
Extreme Sport
(Sep 2001)
Adventure races, also known as multisport events, combine many different sports – orienteering, kayaking, mountain running, mountain biking, road cycling, horse riding, rafting, abseiling, rollerblading, and camel-riding. Find out about the different types of extreme sports, where you can participate, and some of the major races taking place in New Zealand in 2001-2.
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Food Safety
(Aug 2002)
How safe is the food you prepare and eat? In light of reports that cases of campylobacter are on the rise, read the food safety measures and test your current practices to see if your household would pass the food safety test.
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Genetic Modification
(May 2001)
Read some of the arguments for and against the use of genetic modification technology in medicine, food production and scientific research.
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Hillary, Tenzing, and Everest
(May 2003)
2003 marks the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s and Tenzing Norgay’s climbing of Mt Everest. This TKI Hot Topic provides links about the actual expedition, facts about the mountain, and biographies of the two famous mountaineers.
Holidays Around the World
(Nov 2005)
While New Zealand gets ready for Christmas, this Hot Topic takes a look at some of the other important holidays around the world like Diwali, Ramadhan and Hanukkah.
How Paper is Made
(Apr 2002)
Most of us use paper in a number of different forms every day – but have you ever wondered how it is made? The processes of handmade and industrial paper making are explained, and links to sites that give students step-by-step instructions on how to make their own paper are also provided.
Hurricane Katrina
(Sep 2005)
Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, flooding the city of New Orleans on 29 August 2005. This hot topic provides resources on hurricanes and other natural disasters, which will give your students a greater understanding of what happened.
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International Languages Week
(Jul 2003)
International Languages Week 2003 runs from 10-16 August. This Hot Topic features information about the week, and links to a number of online interactives and websites designed to help you learn a new language.
International Year of Freshwater
(Mar 2003)
This Hot Topic provides a number of resources related to the International Year of Freshwater. The purpose of the year is to draw world attention to the dwindling reserves of fresh water - what many species, including humans, need to survive - through pollution, farming, industry, and dams. Read more about the social and environmental costs, and what you can do to help reduce them. Activities include water testing, conservation tasks, and participating in awareness campaigns.
International Year of Mountains
(Apr 2002)
2002 was the United Nations International Year of Mountains. Information and links on the major themes of the Year are provided (the role of mountains in the climate of the planet, the mountain environment and mountain people), in addition to EOTC activities in the mountains.
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Kapa Haka
(Jun 2001)
Follow the fortunes of the Whangara-mai-tawhiti kapa haka roopu at the 2001 National Kapa Haka Festival. It includes a collection of links to Māori performing arts websites.
Kidsafe Week
(Sep 2001)
Kidsafe week is all about staying safe. Visit links to websites on health and safety education, including safety in the outdoors, injury prevention, safe schools, and bullying.
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Labour Day
(Oct 2006)
This Hot Topic provides students with an opportunity to investigate why it is that there is a public hoilday on the fourth Monday of every October. Learn about the workers’ union movement, Samuel Parnell, and the eight-hour working day.
Labour Day
(Oct 2003)
Explore the history of the Labour Day holiday.
Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King
(Nov 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic celebrates the release of the final instalment of the film version of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King. It links to sites about Tolkien and the making of the films, and collects websites on their impact upon New Zealand tourism. Included is a link to the live webcam of the premiere on 1 December 2003.
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Matariki
(May 2008)
Matariki, or the Māori New Year, heralds the arrival of the first new moon after the rising of the star cluster Pleiades in the eastern sky at dawn. It marks the end of the traditional harvest and the beginning of the ‘new year’ planting season. It is a time of feasting, fun, and festivity.
Matariki
(Jun 2006)
In early June, the constellation of stars known as Matariki rises approximately half an hour before the sun. Approaching the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, Matariki marks the time when the sun, drifting north, turns around when it reaches Matariki and starts moving south again. This Hot Topic provides material to support the teaching of Matariki in your classroom.
Matariki
(Jun 2003)
This Hot Topic celebrates Matariki – the Māori New Year – and Māori Language Week 2003. The Hot Topic includes a collection of websites on astronomy and Matariki (also known as the Seven Sisters constellation or Pleides), events to celebrate Matariki, and a number of te reo Māori resources.
Maths Week
(Aug 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic celebrates Maths Week. It features ideas to support the 2003 Maths Week theme “maths and work” and links to a number of maths interactives.
Maths Week
(Jul 2001)
Have a go at some maths interactives and other student activities along with some maths history to celebrate Maths Week.
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National Nutrition Week
(Oct 2001)
Focus on food, healthy eating and nutrition through links to useful sites, references to relevant books and videos on healthy eating and the food pyramid.
New Zealand Disasters
(Jun 2002)
New Zealand has experienced several tragedies in its short history. Learn about some of the worst disasters, including the sinking of the ferry Wahine, the Tangiwai disaster and the Ballantynes department store fire.
New Zealand Fashion Design
(Sep 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic celebrates New Zealand’s reputation for innovation in fashion design, and looks at the Wearable Arts Awards and New Zealand Fashion Week. It includes links to the websites of some of New Zealand’s premier designers, and also features links to websites on textiles and fashion through the ages to provide inspiration to budding designers.
New Zealand Heritage Sites
(Aug 2002)
Springboarding off media attention on Young Nick’s Head, near Gisborne, this Hot Topic provides links to help you find out about New Zealand, and encourages you to record your findings through sites such as Living Heritage.. Where is Young Nick’s Head? How did it get its name? What other heritage sites might you live around the corner from, but don’t know about?
New Zealand Music Month
(May 2005)
In honour of the fifth annual music month, this hot topic takes a stroll through the history of popular music in New Zealand.
New Zealand Music Month
(May 2001)
New Zealand Music is finally gaining recognition both within New Zealand and overseas. To help mark New Zealand Music Month, classroom activities and questions, curriculum links, and website links focus on music teaching and New Zealand music are featured.
New Zealand Music Videos
(Sep 2004)
Read an interview with James Barr – a film director who makes music videos. It provides first-hand information on the New Zealand music industry, how videos are made, and how to get started in the industry. Links to career resources and a website about making videos are included.
New Zealand Women Writers
(Jun 2001)
Enjoy a collection of websites about Zealand women writers and authors, including Janet Frame, Katherine Mansfield, Margaret Mahy, Joy Cowley and those with a Māori perspective, such as Keri Hulme and Patricia Grace. Suggestions for creative writing are also included.
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Olympics Beijing 2008
(Jul 2008)
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, beginning on 8th August, provides a unique opportunity for teachers to engage students in learning about one of the world’s most dynamic countries and cultures, as well as celebrating this important global event.
Our Currency
(Jul 2006)
From 31 July 2006 the current 50, 20, and 10 cent coins will be replaced with smaller and lighter coins, and the 5 cent coin will begin to be phased out. Now might be a good time to get your students learning about currency, the many forms it takes, and how money is designed.
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Pasifika
(Oct 2001)
Learn more about nations such as Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Micronesia, the Cook Islands, Rotuma, Guam, West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue.
Patterns and textiles
(Nov 2001)
The world is full of patterns, shapes and textures, both natural and man-made. Focus on textiles in the context of design.
Paua Pearls
(Dec 2004)
TKI interviews entrepreneur and paua pearl farmer Mick Norton about setting up his business, the paua pearl industry, and how paua pearls are made. Pictures of paua pearls and seeded shells are included, along with links to websites on paua pearls and an article on opportunities in marine farming in New Zealand.
Peace
(Aug 2007)
The past century has seen more death from war, famine, and other preventable causes than any other time span in history. Peace involves us all, whether as individuals or as members of groups. Peace Week is an opportunity for schools throughout New Zealand to organise fun and informative peace activities and events based around a broad range of peace-related topics.
Peace Week
(Jul 2006)
Peace Week is an opportunity for schools throughout New Zealand to organise fun and informative peace activities and events based around a broad range of peace-related topics. This Hot Topic suggests ways for your school to participate, and provides links to get you started.
Peace Week
(Jul 2001)
Learn about Peace Week and try out activities the Peace Foundation has suggested to celebrate it.
Protest and Globalisation
(Aug 2001)
Protests can be powerful agents of change. This Hot Topic highlights the anti-globalisation protests at the Group of Eight meeting in Genoa, on the 20th anniversary of the Springbok tour protests in New Zealand.
Public Safety Campaigns
(Oct 2005)
This Hot Topic lists resources on TKI that can be used in a study of public safety campaigns. With younger classes, you could study the messages of various campaigns, while more advanced classes may wish to examine how campaigns are created and what methods they use to get their messages across.
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Queen and Commonwealth
(Feb 2002)
Discover the history of the British monarchy and the Commonwealth.
Queen Elizabeth II
(Apr 2006)
With the recent celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday, and with the official Queen’s Birthday Weekend approaching, now might be an ideal time to reflect on New Zealand’s status as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.
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Reading and Creative Writing
(Mar 2002)
You can use the Internet to encourage students to read and write. Online pick-a-path stories, book backchats and submitting work for publication are among the suggested interactive activities.
Recycling
(Jul 2001)
Learn how recycling can help reduce New Zealand’s waste mountain.
Rugby World Cup 2003
(Oct 2003)
Held every four years, the Rugby World Cup brings together the best 20 teams in the world to decide who are the world champions. This TKI Hot Topic, written to coincide with the 2003 World Cup, looks at how the game of rugby has changed, and the advances in training, nutrition, and equipment that have equipped players for the demands of the modern game.
Rugby World Cup 2007
(Oct 2007)
The top 20 rugby teams in the world come together in October with the hope of winning the Webb Ellis Cup – and with it the title of world champions. This TKI Hot Topic looks at New Zealand’s build-up to the Rugby World Cup, and the role of science and technology in preparing the teams to put their best boots forward on the field.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/hot_topics/rugby-world-cup-2007_e.php
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School Camps
(Feb 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic links to resources to help you plan and prepare for a school camp. EOTC safety practices, ideas for camp-related activities, and possible camping locations are amongst the topics covered.
School Productions
(Apr 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic contains links to online resources that will help you stage a production. Learn more about makeup techniques, set and costume design, puppetry, and how to improve your acting.
Science Interactives
(May 2002)
Experiment online with a selection of interactive science websites. The sites are grouped into general science, chemistry, biology, geology, and astronomy.
Sir Edmund Hillary Remembered
(Jan 2008)
We dedicate this hot topic to New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary who died in Auckland on Friday 11 January 2008 aged 88. He is famous not only for his international climbing and exploring feats but for his generosity, humility, and his lifetime dedication to humanitarian work. Here is a collection of resources capturing his extraordinary life and achievements.
Staying Safe Around Dogs
(Feb 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic provides a number of resources detailing how to behave around dogs in order to minimise the chances of being bitten. Understanding what factors make a dog feel threatened and giving a dog proper training and socialisation will help to ensure that experiences with “man’s best friend” are positive ones.
Sun, Surf, and Safety
(Jan 2003)
This TKI Hot Topic highlights the dangers of the hole in the ozone layer, and links to websites on sun and water safety.
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Te Reo Māori
(Nov 2006)
This Hot Topic outlines the numerous resources available on Te Kete Ipurangi, that support the teaching and learning of te reo Māori in New Zealand classrooms.
The 2005 General Election
(Aug 2005)
This Hot Topic takes a look at the change from First Past the Post to Mixed Member Proportional voting, and gives details about a competition launched by the Electoral Commission to promote understanding of the democratic system.
The Commonwealth Games
(Feb 2006)
The Australian city of Melbourne will host the Commonwealth Games between the 15 and 26 March 2006. This Hot Topic provides some starting points and information on the Games, and some resources for further study.
The Election
(Jul 2002)
The last New Zealand General Election was in 2002. The voting process is featured, along with suggested election-related activities that encourage critical analysis of both messages and media.
The Media and a Moment in History
(Sep 2001)
September 11 2001 is a date that will hold a significant place in world history. Read about the events that took place when four aeroplanes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre. A collection of links to major news sites, media analysis, and education resources are included.
The Orchestra
(Jun 2002)
Learn about the orchestra. Included is information about the history of the orchestra, as well as interactive sites that ‘tour’ the orchestra and play samples of each instrument. The role of the conductor is also discussed.
Treaty of Waitangi
(Jan 2004)
This TKI Hot Topic provides resources on the Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day.
Treaty of Waitangi
(Jan 2001)
The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand, and its signing on 6 February 1840 is commemorated each year on Waitangi Day. Learn about the different approaches to the history, meaning and application of the Treaty and the celebration of Waitangi Day.
Tsunami in Asia
(Jan 2005)
A tsunami struck several countries in Asia on 26 December 2004. This TKI Hot Topic lists a number of lesson ideas and websites giving information about the tsunami and the extensive media coverage of the event. Many of the lesson ideas examine the co-ordination and delivery of emergency aid.
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Waitangi Day
(Feb 2008)
The Internet provides many different perspectives and up-to-date information on the Treaty. This Hot Topic provides a starting point for further exploration.
Waka
(Feb 2007)
Explore the significance of waka (canoes) to Māori and Polynesian peoples. Resources are provided on navigation and wayfinding, migration, cultural traditions, legends, iwi waka, construction, and waka safety.
Wearable Art, Fashion, and Fabric
(Sep 2001)
Prepare for the Wearable Arts Awards! Read a brief history of the awards, and visit websites on design, fabric, textile technology, costume design, fashion, and tourism.
When I’m 64: Our Ageing Society
(Aug 2001)
Census figures indicate that the population of New Zealand is getting older. Explore our ageing society and visit a collection of websites on age-related issues.
Whetu O Te Tau – Aotearoa/Pacific New Year
(May 2001)
The next full moon after the rise of Matariki signals Whetu o Te Tau, the Māori New Year. Written in reo Māori (available separately in English), this Hot Topic includes a collection of web sites on astronomy and Matariki (also known as the Seven Sisters constellation or Pleides), events to celebrate the Māori and Pacific new year, curriculum links, and suggested classroom questions.
Women’s Suffrage Day
(Aug 2001)
Kate Sheppard and the New Zealand suffragists fought hard to attain the right for women to vote. Read about their efforts through a number of related websites.
World Environment Day
(May 2008)
The Ministry of Education is encouraging every school, whare kura, kura, kōhanga reo, and early childhood centre to do something on 5 June to mark World Environment Day, and to share their plans to contribute to a sustainable future.
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Year of the Volunteer
(Jul 2001)
Volunteers do a lot of valuable work in today’s society. Visit links to volunteer organisations and learn how volunteer work contributes to our society and economy.