CMIS Evaluation Primary Focus

Available through Heinemann, the recently published The global village series is an excellent addition to the Resources strand of Society and the Environment for upper primary and early secondary students.  This series of six books investigates and debates the effects of globalisation on the individual, governments, companies and the environment around the issues of natural resources, trade, food and farming, migrations and refugees, aid and development, and travel and tourism.  It addresses the loss of traditional skills, cultures and systems, examines the possibility of balance being restored and looks at what action is being taken to address these issues.  Each chapter features “Eyewitness”, “Focus on…” and “Have your say” boxes: The former quotes people with direct experience of the issue under discussion; the next focuses on specific questions or events; and the latter suggests topics for reflection, discussion and debate.  Each book concludes with a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the issue, and graphs of pertinent facts and figures.

Natural Resources introduces the complexities of the mining, harvesting, use and trade of the world’s natural resources. It explains what natural resources are, where they are found in the world, the mechanism of supply and demand, the concepts of exploitation and sustainability, and the contrasting opinions around this issue.

Food and Farming discusses the concept of, and the arguments for and against globalisation; the fairness of free trade in relation to food; plantation agriculture; multinational companies and their impact; biotechnology and organic farming.

Aid and Development argues that unequal distribution of wealth and exploitation of poorer or less developed peoples and countries have created dysfunction and alienation which governments and non-government agencies attempt to manipulate, or genuinely help, through disaster and humanitarian aid for development and relief.  It examines types of aid and development, examples of projects, and consequent positive and negative outcomes.

Migration and Refugees focuses on the reasons for migration, its economic and social effects and issues such as multiculturalism.

Trade first defines the concept of trade and gives a brief history of it, then  goes on to discuss issues surrounding global trade such as government subsidies, free trade, consumer power, privatisation, the WTO (World Trading Organisation),  the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, multinational companies (or transnational corporations), competition and fair trade.

Travel and Tourism examines tourism as an industry and its effects on local communities and culture, economies, working conditions, natural resources and the environment. It also discusses the preservation of significant sites, sustainable tourism and eco-tourism.

Ann and Johnny Baker’s Natural Maths Strategies series which were published last year, have recently had some supporting components added.  Each level of Stategic Maths: Number consists of a book and double CD package.  The book includes lesson plans, photocopiable activity sheets, hands-on strategy games, assessment rubrics and resource cards to support its targeted number concepts.  The Teacher Disc includes animated, interactive slides and problems for use with interactive whiteboards, mental routines, games, posters, parent information, print resources and links to supporting pages on the internet.  The interactive activities are replicated on the Student Disc and may be copied on to students’ USB sticks for use at home.  The purchasing school is also licensed to network the discs for access by any teacher/student in the school.  Levels currently available are Beginning, Lower Primary Books 1 and 2, and Middle Primary Book 1.

Students will be motivated by the engaging activities that cater for the different learning styles, and teachers will be confident that they are establishing good understanding and positive attitudes towards Maths through this developmental, strategic approach.  Those teachers, who do not feel confident teaching Maths, will feel supported and enthused.

Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins’ My Place has been republished to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this special title which encompasses so much that is innately Australian.

Covering a wide range of topics for use in the classroom, such as Place and Space, Social Justice, Culture and identity this much-loved book has been updated with a timeline that carries the history through to 2008. It can be used across the curriculum in all phases of development.

To complement the book Walker books has produced the Classroom Ideas PDF available from their website.

DET teachers could use this book in conjunction with the resources available through the K-10 Syllabus – The Northbridge History Project and Time Lines and Pathways to the Past: Find Yourself in History

	Sadako, only two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima to end World War II, was diagnosed with Leukaemia at age eleven in 1955. She was given a folded paper crane by her best friend. According to Japanese legend, a wish is granted to anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes.
Wishing for good health, Sadako began to fold paper cranes. She died at the age of twelve having completed 644 paper cranes; another 356 paper cranes folded by her friends were buried with her. In 1958 a monument of Sadako holding a paper crane was built in Hiroshima Peace Park. To express their hope for world peace, people fold paper cranes each year to place at the base of the monument.

Share Sadako’s story with students by reading them the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. In class, students can exchange knowledge on Japan and World War II. They can discuss war, conflict, loss, peace, similarities and differences between their culture and that of others.

How to Fold a Crane is listed on the Gander Academy Origami website under the heading Paperfolding Instructions Sites. Explore this website for photographs and illustrations of models, instructions, information and resources on origami.

CMIS Evaluation review of Gander Academy Origami web site