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World flag families

The New Zealand and Australian flags are so similar because they belong to the same flag family. Countries that are close together in distance and history can show this relationship in their flags.

Wiki has been surfing the net and found eight different flag families from around the world. Help her to complete the activity.

1. Open 'World Flag Families' (Word, 47KB).
2. Now open 'Country at a glance' to find flags from around the world.
3. Click on any part of the map. A new information page will pop up. Now click on the flag at the top left to make it bigger.

Email your answers to ed@tki.org.nz

Explorers' flags

Famous explorers used their country's flag to show they were the first people to discover a different part of the world. When Sir Edmond Hillary climbed Mt Everest he used the Union Jack because he was part of a British climbing team.

1. Who do you think is the Greatest Explorer of the last 1000 years?
2. Open 'Explorers' Flags' (Word, 41KB).
3. Use these websites to find out which country each explorer is from, what they are famous for and the flag they would have used.
   • 'Zoom Explorers'
   • Use this site to find the flag of the country

Email your answers to ed@tki.org.nz

Union Jack patterns

Extra for experts. If you look closely at a design like the Union Jack you can often work out how it has been made.

1. Look at this picture of the 'Union Jack'
   • The flags have been laid one on top of each other. Which flag goes on top, the middle, and the bottom? How can you tell?
   • Find the angle of each cross using this rule.
2. Look at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games logo. (It is the picture near the top left).
   • How many 'NZ' letters can you see in the logo?
   • Which of the following mathematical ideas has been used to make the logo?
   • 'Symmetry'
   • 'Enlargements'
   • 'Straight Line Graphs'
3. Open the Commonwealth Games website timeline to find four other logos (pictures) that have changed the Union Jack in some way.
   • Point, scroll, and click on the year to see different logos.
   • Which of the following mathematical ideas has been used to make the logo?
   • 'Symmetry'
   • 'Enlargements'
   • 'Straight Line Graphs'
   • Cut and paste the images on to a word document.
   • Give your word document a title.
   • Give a reason why you think they used this design.

Email your answers to ed@tki.org.nz

Commonwealth Games quiz

Ed has been researching the Commonwealth Games. He has made a quiz to test your knowledge.

1. Open up the 'Commonwealth Games quiz' (Word, 26KB).
2. Use these links to help find the answers.
   • The story of the Commonwealth Games
   • The growth of the Commonwealth Games
   • 2006 Commonwealth Games
   • Commonwealth Games Federation

Email your answers to ed@tki.org.nz

Flying a flag

Ed needs your help to find the right answer to these statements about flags.

1. Open 'Flying a flag' (Word, 39KB). Read the statements.
2. Use these websites to find out if the statements are true or false.
   • 'Flying the Flag'
   • 'Flag Protocol'
3. Record your answers on the 'Flying a flag' chart.

Email your answers to ed@tki.org.nz

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