Week 2: I Have a Dream...
Politics and Activism
(Year 3-5)
Embedded Files
Kia ora and welcome to Week 2 of the Summer Learning Journey! If you have just joined us, it’s great to have you!
This week we are going to be learning about people who have changed the world through politics and activism. This is a small selection of people who made an impact on others though politics and protest.
On Day 5 you will get the chance to choose someone you are interested in and share what you learn about them on your blog.
Get ready to learn about some people who have fought hard for what they believe in!
Image Attribution: Obama standing with his arms folded and smiling, Pete Souza, Public Domain
DAY 1: Taking the Lead
DAY 1: Taking the Lead
Activity 1: Playing Favourites [4 points]
Barack Obama was the first African American President of the United States of America (USA).
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. He studied law at university.
Barack and his wife, Michelle, have spent a lot of time giving back to their community. Their favourite things are spending time with their family, playing with their dog, or going to the gym.
Create a list of your 3 favourite things to do and take a photo of yourself doing each of these things.
On your blog post both your list and your photos of your favourite things.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Image Attribution: Dr Jessica Rogers, Winston Churchill Trust. Image Source.
Activity 2: Rights and Wrongs [4 points]
Dr Jessa Rogers (Metuamate) is a Aborignal (indigenous) woman from Queensland, Australia. She is a leader in Aboriginal education.
Jessa had a baby when she was quite young but she did well at school and went to university.
In 2010 she won the NAIDOC Youth of the Year award for the work she was doing to make education better for Aboriginal students
Jessa was 25 when she won the NAIDOC Youth of the Year award. How many years until you are 25?
On your blog, write out the maths question and answer, and tell us how you worked it out.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Activity 3: ‘Dear Jacinda’ [6 points]
Jacinda Ardern is the Prime Minister of New Zealand (NZ). She is in the news a lot!
As Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern makes lots of important decisions. She meets with people to hear their ideas and see what they think before making a decision.
Please write a letter to Jacinda about something that is important to you. Tell her why it is important and what you would like her to do about it.
Here are some ideas you could write about (or choose your own!):
We should have more/less school
Kids should be able to eat ice cream whenever they want
Swimming lessons should be free
Kids should be able to be Prime Minister
On your blog, share your letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Remember, you never know who might read your blog!
Image Attribution: Nelson Mandela-2008, South Africa The Good News, CC BY 2.0
DAY 2: Taking Action
DAY 2: Taking Action
Activity 1: A Long Walk to Freedom [4 points]
Nelson Mandela was an activist and civil rights leader who lived in South Africa. For many years, South Africa had different rules for people who had white skin and those who didn’t. This was called ‘apartheid’.
Nelson Mandela felt that this was very wrong. He tried to change the law but he was sent to prison. After this, he became the President of South Africa and ended apartheid.
Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in Robben Island prison. Mandela had a tiny, damp, concrete cell, with only a straw mat to sleep on. It must have been very hard.
Imagine that you are Mr Mandela and you are in prison.
On your blog, write a diary entry pretending that you are Mr Mandela. Please write at least four sentences to describe what it might be like in the prison.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Activity 2: School Strike for Climate [4 points]
Climate change is when the temperature of our planet increases. A warmer planet means that there can be more floods, storms, droughts and hurricanes, the sea can rise, and some plants and animals won’t survive.
Greta Thunberg, a 16 year old Swedish girl is upset that adults are not doing enough about climate change. Every Friday she protests about climate change instead of going to school. She inspired the School Strike for Climate protests. Not everyone believes in climate change.
Have a look at the School Strike for Climate Australia website.
On your blog, list three things that you learned. Please also post a photograph of something that you are doing around home to help the environment.
Image Attribution: Rosa Parks with King 1955, Unknown, Public Domain
Activity 3: “I Have a Dream” [6 points]
Martin Luther King Jr was a civil rights activist in the United States of America (USA). USA had laws that kept black and white people separated. This was called ‘segregation.’ Martin Luther King Jr wanted everyone to be treated equally.
Rosa Parks was another American civil rights activist. She is most famous for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. You can read about this here and watch a video about Rosa Parks here.
Use the information and video to tell your readers about the problem Rosa Parks faced on the bus that day. What did she do about this problem?
On your blog, describe the problem Rosa Parks faced on the bus, and what she did about it.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Image Attribution: Kate Sheppard, William Sidney Smith, Public Domain
DAY 3: Women’s Rights
DAY 3: Women’s Rights
Activity 1: The Right to Vote [4 points]
Kate Sheppard was a very important New Zealander because she helped to get women the right to vote.
Women in NZ were first allowed to vote in 1893. This made NZ the first country in the world to give women the right to vote. We call this right ‘women’s suffrage’.
To remember Kate Sheppard’s role in giving women the vote, her image on our $10 note.
Imagine that the government has decided to create a new $10 bank note. They want to replace Kate with a picture of a different NZ woman.
On your blog, tell us who you think should be put on the new $10 note. Please provide us with a picture of this amazing woman and explain why you think she should be chosen.
*Remember to attribute any images that you borrow from the internet or from other people.
Image Attribution: Malala Yousafzai, 内閣官房内閣広報室, CC BY 4.0
Activity 2: The Right to an Education [4 points]
Malala Yousafzai is from Pakistan. In 2012, she was shot at when traveling home from school. Back then, girls living in Pakistan were not allowed to go to school. Many people believe that Malala was attacked because she did not agree with this idea.
Once Malala got better, she fought for the rights of all women and girls to be able to go to school. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize - the youngest person to ever receive this prize. You can read more of her story here.
Malala has written books about her own life. She has also written a book for children called Malala’s Magic Pencil.
Please write a short story. The story can be about anything that you wish!
On your blog, share your short story. We can’t wait to read it!
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Image Attribution: Emma Watson Cannes 2013, Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0
Activity 3: Belle of the Ball [6 points]
Emma Watson is an actor. She was Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films and ‘Belle’ in Beauty and the Beast.
Emma also spends a lot of time giving speeches about the rights of women and girls. She thinks that males (men/boys) and females (women/girls) should have the same (equal) rights and opportunities.
Emma loves reading and she started her own book club!
Imagine that Emma has just emailed you. She needs you to recommend a book that you like for her book club and write a review of it.
On your blog, share your book review with a photo or illustration (drawing) of the book. Tell us what the book is about and why you chose it.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Image Attribution: Portrait of Hone Heke, William Duke, Public Domain
DAY 4: Indigenous Rights
DAY 4: Indigenous Rights
Activity 1: Guiding Principles [4 points]
Hōne Heke was a rangatira (chief). He was a strong, fearless warrior, and an intelligent leader. Hōne Heke was the first rangatira to sign Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) in 1840.
However he got frustrated and angry at how the British were treating the Māori. To protest, he cut down the flagpole that flew the British flag.
Sometimes when we feel strongly (frustrated, angry, happy, excited…) it is hard to put our feelings into words. We can use sayings to help explain our feelings. In Te Reo Māori, some people may use a whakataukī.
Look at the whakataukī in this document and choose one that you like. Create a poster to share the whakataukī. Include at least one image (a drawing or photograph) on the poster.
On your blog, share your poster of your whakataukī.
*Remember to attribute any images that you borrow from the internet or from other people.
Image Attribution: 2019 NAIDOC Poster by Charmaine Mumbulla is licensed under CC BY-NC-N4 4.0
Activity 2: Celebrating Diversity [4 points]
There are between 370 and 500 million Indigenous Peoples living in the world. They represent over 5000 different cultures and speak 4000 different languages. Amazing!
Indigenous Peoples is the term used to describe the people who were the first inhabitants of a land. In Aotearoa, Māori are Indigenous. Indigenous people have rich and vibrant cultures that make the world a fascinating and varied place to live.
Please click on the links below to learn more about these fascinating groups.
On your blog tell us the names of the two groups that interest you and then tell us at least two facts about each group.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Activity 3: Wise Words [4 points]
Sir Āpirana Ngata was a lawyer and politician. He worked hard for many years to improve life for Māori people.
Dame Whina Cooper worked on improving health, education, housing and welfare for Māori women. She led the Māori land hikoi (march) from Northland to Wellington to protest against the loss of Māori land.
Both of these people are examples of wise, inspiring leaders and role models.
Please think of someone in your life who is a role model to you. This could be a parent, grandparent, neighbour, minister, imam, rabbi etc. Please ask them to share one piece of wisdom (advice) with you.
On your blog, share this wisdom with your readers. Please tell us who you heard it from.
*Remember to use speech marks (“...”) if you are writing down exactly what they said.
DAY 5: Humanitarian Heroes
DAY 5: Humanitarian Heroes
Activity 1: Everyday Heroes [4 points]
Every day, the men and women in the Emergency Services help people in New Zealand and around the world. Sometimes they have to risk their lives to help others.
Some of the NZ Emergency Services are:
In Australia, Fire Services are currently fighting more than 150 wildfires burning in New South Wales. It is a very dangerous time for the men and women fighting these fires in Australia and a very scary time for the people who live close to the fires.
Please brainstorm five ways we could help the people who are affected by the fires in New South Wales. You could think of ways to raise money, things to send them, or ways to keep them feeling positive.
On your blog, share your brainstorm of ideas and create a video or audio recording of yourself explaining each idea.
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Image Attribution: Diana, Princess of Wales 1997, John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Activity 2: Leading by Example [4 points]
Mother Teresa was born in Eastern Europe. When she was young, she decided that she wanted to be a missionary. She moved to India where she worked hard and cared for those who needed her the most.
Diana was a real-life princess. As she travelled the world, she helped everyone to see that all people, including those affected by illness and disease, needed love and respect.
Princess Diana and Mother Teresa both led by example with acts of kindness towards others.
We would like you to follow in their footsteps and perform a random act of kindness.
On your blog, describe your random act of kindness. What did you do? How did it make you feel? How did the other person feel?
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
Image Attribution: Question Marks Cartoon #2002177
Activity 3: Own Choice [6 points]
You have made it to the end of Week 2! Congratulations!
Here is your chance to choose your own politician or activist who you think has changed the world. It could be someone you know, or here are some suggestions in case you get stuck:
For this activity, choose one person and read about them.
On your blog, please tell us:
The name of the person
A sentence about the work they do/have done
A sentence about how they/their work has had an impact on the lives of others
*Please check out the Eye-Catching Blog Posts page for ideas!
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