NiE Eng 2017 (Vol 454)

Vol 454

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Elementary More than a pretty face Intermediate Raising children BRATs Museum musings

Tel: 03 7967 1388 Fax: 03 7955 4039 thestar.com.my/education

The law of harmony >10

Supported by the Ministry of Education

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-NiE ,

18 January 2017

Elementary Fabulous me Note to the teacher

century learning skills

Our children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips.

Teachers have to equip their students with a new set of skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy.

The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with content to build this set of skills.

The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.

Getting to know you

NiE Activity

LOOK around you. Admire your friends’ faces. unless there is a pair of twins in your class, you will see that no two persons are alike. That’s how unique we all are.

Besides looking different, you would also have different likes and dislikes. Let’s prepare an inventory. What’s an inventory, you may ask?

Let’s say you have a shelf full of wonderful storybooks – 300 books to be exact! You decide to tap into your entrepreneurial skills and loan books to your friends for a fee. Before you can do that, however, you will need to make a list of all the books in your care. This helps you to keep track of your books.

This detailed list of all 300 books is an inventory. You may choose to have other details (besides the title of each book) in your inventory list.

Other details can include the name of the author, publication date or ISBN (International Standard Book Number).

Now, here’s how we are going to work on a personal inventory list all about you!

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Activities

1. I like

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5. I like

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2. I do not like

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6. I do not like

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3. I excel at

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7. I excel at

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4. I am not good at

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8. I am not good at

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Read the list below. Scan the pages of The Star to look for suitable words and pictures that describe what you like or don’t like.

When everyone has completed this inventory, pick one portion to share with your classmates.

Use the template below as a guide. Complete this assignment on a sheet of A3 paper.

Your teacher can select a few examples and pin them up on the notice board.

School subjects Critical thinking

Critical thinking

Creative thinking

Food

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9. I like to eat

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to eat 10. I do not like

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k 11. I like to drin

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to drink 12. I do not like

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recreation

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13. I enjoy .

14. I do not en

joy

15. I excel at th 16. I prefer to

:

is activity Relax alone O R

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with other pe ople.

(Pick one and find a suitable picture to show as an example.)

l Compromise l Attain goal nie editorial manager: ShARON OvINIS senior nie executive: ROWENA ChUA writer: S. SIvAM layout designer: ShOBA illustrator: hASSAN BAhRI To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; write to: Star-NiE, Star Media Group, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya or e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my

-NiE ,

Elementary Fabulous me

18 January 2017

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More than a pretty face YOU are unique and there’s no one quite like you in this world. But there may be someone you admire and wish to be like in life. It could be an athlete, a politician or a movie star. It’s possible that you admire these personalities for their talents, skills or charisma.

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Your teacher will pick an interesting story from The Star.

Listen carefully to the story as your teacher reads it aloud.

Circle words that you are unsure of. Discuss their meanings as a class. Next, read the story silently to yourself once again. As you read, make a list of things you

like about the main character in the story. Then, as a class, share one item on your list with everyone.

Your teacher will list the characteristics on the board. If you can, tell your friends which part of the story proves your point.

ExaMplE DESPITE going through a bad time when his Public Service Department scholarship came to an end, *Alex was determined to move on.

Upon returning home, the 21-year-old student applied for as many scholarships as he

could, but luck wasn’t on his side.

“I did not get any scholarship to pursue my A Levels. So, my father had to put our house on mortgage,” Alex said.

Alex’s father is a chef while his mother sells kuih at the market.

He came across the Star Education Fund after completing his A Levels and decided to give it a shot.

The Terengganu native is now pursuing his studies in Business and Finance at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.

From distributing flyers to promoting various drinks in supermarkets, Alex works part time to pay for his day-to-day expenses.

The Star, Oct 9, 2016

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The English language is a very descriptive and exciting language. Certain words known as idioms can be used to explain characteristics of people. Look at some interesting terms below. Pick one that describes who you are.

Then, look for three more characters from The Star that

you feel fit any of the descriptions. The comic pages in Star2 offer many varied choices. Cut out the pictures and paste them in the appropriate space.

Finally, volunteer to share some of your findings as a class. You can work on this activity in pairs.

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Busybody A busybody is a person who constantly wants to know about the details of other people’s lives.

Cheapskate A cheapskate is a person who is stingy and hates spending money.

Couch potato A couch potato is a lazy person. He is inactive and spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, watching TV or playing video games.

Down-to-earth A person who is down-to-earth is practical, sensible and realistic.

Of the six idioms, discuss which ones are positive descriptions of a person and which ones are negative.

Why?

Go-getter A go-getter is a person who is active and has the initiative to pursue his goals.

Good egg A person who always acts good and sweet is a good egg. He never does anything bad and is humble.

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-NiE ,

18 January 2017

INTERMEDIATE Family matters

A positive family culture DOES your family practise a specific action or behaviour during a particular time of the year or during a special occasion? If so, then they are quite likely carrying out a family tradition that requires a purpose. When traditions are done right, they lend a certain quality to our lives.

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Read the following story that appeared in The Star. Then, answer the questions that follow. It is a true story about a person named Neha Gupta.

ONE day, a nine-year-old girl paid her grandparents a visit. It was a special day as someone in her family was celebrating a birthday.

As part of the family tradition, a special trip was planned. For you see, the family had a very special practice. Whenever anyone in the family celebrated his (or her) birthday, the family would visit the local orphanage and hold the birthday celebration there with the orphans.

On this said day, the little girl had lots of fun with her friends at the orphanage. When it was time to leave, the little girl felt really sad.

She realised that she would be going back to a home where she

1. Who was the nine-year-old child in this story? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ 2. How did you arrive at this conclusion? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ 3. What was the family tradition that was being practised in this family? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________

had a comfortable bed to sleep on, and a kitchen with plenty of food to eat. Most of all, she would be in a place where she was loved and cared for by her parents and grandparents.

Her friends, however, were not as fortunate. They did not go to school, they did not have enough food to eat, they suffered from various illnesses and they did not have parents to love and care for them.

This realisation shocked her, so she decided to do something about it. She went home and began selling her toys at a garage sale. It was a huge success. Many people came by to buy her toys. She made

4. Why was this considered a family tradition? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ 5. Based on the information contained in the text, give the year that this child began her venture to help children in the orphanage? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ 6. Deduce the meaning of the term entrepreneurship based on the context of the passage. _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________

lots of money!

This inspired the little girl. She began going door-to-door and reaching out to her friends. She collected many donated things.

She raised a lot of money doing this and saved every cent that she got from this effort.

The following year, the little girl returned to the orphanage. From the money she collected, she funded a library, clothes, blankets and food for the children there!

The little girl grew up to be a very enterprising young lady. When she turned 18 years old, she started a nonprofit organisation known as ‘Empower Orphans’. Today, her organisation has many teenage

volunteers who, like her, help raise funds for 25,000 children all over the world.

NEHA was born on May 23, 1996, in New Zealand to Indian parents. What turned out to be a family tradition for this family eventually led to a prestigious peace prize for Neha’s great entrepreneurship skills. Neha won the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2014, a year after Malala Yousafzai received the award for her push for girls’ education.

Today, Neha, 20, resides in Philadelphia, the United States. She became the first American to be awarded the Children’s International Peace Prize. She still runs Empower Orphans.

Here’s a short excerpt about why family traditions are important. Read this passage then complete this mind map.

The Star, July 14, 2016

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking

TRADITIONS are important to families. They can provide a source of identity. Traditions tell stories about families and shape identities of its members.

Children can see that they belong to something bigger and this builds confidence. Traditions also help families strengthen family bonds, as these become unique practices only to the families concerned.

Researchers have also found that traditions offer comfort and security to those who engage in them. So even if you have moved to a new school or state and you still practise pizza night every Wednesday, there is still some comfort in the familiar.

Finally, traditions create lasting memories. They give us things to talk about!

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Example

The importance of family traditions Create lasting memories

Look for the other three main points from the passage to complete this mind map. Then, look for activities that fit each point. The activities you find can be used to start up traditions that your family members would enjoy practising.

At least three activities you select must be taken from The Star. Use a good mix of pictures and words from The Star to craft an attractive montage.

One section of the spider map titled Creating lasting memories has been completed for you.

Share your mind map with your classmates and family members once you have completed the project. It’s never too late to start a family tradition!

-NiE ,

18 January 2017

Raising children

INTERMEDIATE Family matters

IN 1979, China started a policy to control its population and avoid high rates of poverty. This was known as China’s one-child policy. Around one-third of its population could only have one child. Just over half of the population could have a second child if the first child was a girl.

In 2015, the country reversed its policy to a two-child policy to boost China’s economy and stop China from becoming an ageing society.

NiE Activity

Read this article that appeared in The Star on Oct 24, 2016.

Second-child policy setback BEIJING: China’s latest family-planning policy, which allows all parents to have a second child, is facing a major setback and demographic change seems irreversible.

Most couples in China, especially in the cities, have decided not to raise a second child as a result of fast-rising family expenses. Many among the working class living in major Chinese cities cannot afford to have a second child.

There are also some families that have chosen to respect the wishes of their first child and not have a second child.

The release of the second-child policy was aimed at alleviating the problems of an ageing population and the gender imbalance in China, but policymakers are not satisfied on its progress so far.

Activity B

Activity A Critical thinking l Identify

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❏ Their feet

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Do you find babies delightful?

Or do you find them frightfully scary to be around? Work on this activity in pairs. Rank (from 1 to 8) what you love about babies the most:

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There are many things parents must think about in order to have a baby. What are some of these challenges? Work in pairs to complete this table. See if you can come up with one other issue – that has not been mentioned – in the list below.

❏ Their scent ❏ Their hiccups ❏ Their clothes

Consideration

❏ Their feeding time

1. Name

❏ Their playtime

2. Health

❏ Their laughter

3. School

❏ Their innocence

4. Sleep

Problem

5. Work 6. Food 7.

Activity C l Identify

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Due to population growth and environmental problems, should families have fewer kids?

What is your stance? Students who are for the motion should group themselves together under NATION A. Students who are against the motion will be known as NATION B. Each group has 20 minutes to come up with strong points to support their beliefs. Look for evidence and facts or stories from the newspapers to support your case.

Then, select three spokespeople to highlight your points. Each team may refute the other’s points after the presentation. Your teacher will be the judge and decide on the team that has presented its points with factual information.

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-NiE ,

18 January 2017

ADVANCED

Harmonious relationships

Harmony in nature YOU may have heard of the saying “No man is an island”.

This idiom holds true for all organisms on this planet.

We all don’t exist in our own little bubbles. There are symbiotic and parasitic relationships among species.

What is a symbiotic relationship? It is one where two different organisms live together and help each other survive. The heart of this mutualism is that two species

live together in harmony. Both species receive an advantage by working with the other. It helps both species survive.

On the other spectrum of a symbiotic relationship is a parasitic one where one organism benefits from the relationship while the other one is harmed. Which relationship would you rather be in?

Now that you understand what these terms mean, look at the following photographs taken from The Star. Read the captions carefully. Next, categorise them as: symbiotic or parasitic relationships. Write your explanations in the space provided. Then, team up in groups of four to share your answers.

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Waste and by-products – steam, ash and gypsum – from DONG energy power station are reused by other industries under the approach known as industrial symbiosis.

— Photos: Reuters

Relationship type:

1.

Most people with thin-looking hair have follimites.

These weaver ants are feeding on sugary fluid from the caterpillar’s body. They are not attacking the caterpillar.

2.

3.

Reason(s):

Malaysia faces a loss of its coral reef population if waters get warmer. Universiti Malaya coral reef ecologist Affendi Yang Amri said climate change coupled with a strong El Nino could threaten up to 90% of the country’s coral reefs.

How can we play a role in sustaining a harmonious relationship between man and nature?

Read the following quotes by this expert. Next, prepare a presentation with the pertinent points from the extract. Make your presentation look as interesting as possible with relevant pictures

and research from The Star or the Internet. Your teacher can choose to have a competition to select the best presentation in class.

Use a manila card and work in groups of four for this assignment.

Your presentation can be no longer than three minutes per group.

Here’s the catch, you must use these three terms during the course of your presentation: ● Symbiotic ● Parasitic ● Harmonious

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The Star, March 4, 2016 Affendi said very little can be done at the moment to reduce the global stress on corals by El Nino and climate change, but steps can be taken to minimise local stress to give the corals a better chance of survival.

Local stresses include water pollution, plastic trash, coastal developments, sedimentation, sewage water, long fishing nets, fish bombing, physical contact from snorkellers, divers, etc.

“Zones with diverse and rare corals need to be prioritised as you want to minimise human contact in those areas,” said Affendi. “Those who take tourists diving or snorkelling must also remind them not to touch or kick the corals.

“When you know that warmer waters are about to hit, there should be no boats passing through those areas, no divers and snorkellers for a few weeks until the warm period passes.” But Affendi stressed that everything cannot be closed as that would jeopardise the livelihood of people like fishermen.

He also added that island resorts needed to step up on their sewage treatment systems as these were poor or non-existent and most of the sewage ended up in the ocean, damaging the corals.

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-NiE ,

ADVANCED

Harmonious relationships

18 January 2017

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A symbiotic relationship NOW that you have learnt about such relationships in nature, can you identify and apply harmonious living in your home and community?

When there is discord, unkindness and selfishness

NiE Activity

Creative thinking

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STEP 1: Sit in groups of four. Study the following 12 items in this list titled “How I should be treated”:

Treat me with respect

Need me

Support me

Treat me as an equal

Encourage me

Trust me

Be trustworthy

Treat me fairly

Be honest with me

Make me laugh

Protect me

Love me

within a family or in a relationship, individual members are harmed. Living with continual conflict within a relationship like this is considered parasitic, detrimental and unhealthy.

Problem solving l Question l Research

Collaborating

Communicating

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STEP 2: Next, read each extract that has been taken from The Star. Pick one story your group feels strongly about. Then, choose three ways that you would want to be treated if you were the protagonist in the story. (Pick these three ways from the list titled “How I should be treated”.)

Story 1: Stepdad held for attempted rape A STEPFATHER fondled his 20-year-old stepdaughter’s breasts before dragging her to a bedroom to try to rape her when her mother was away. Apparently, this was not the first time this has happened to the girl.

In the previous incidents, the victim’s mother opted not to lodge police reports because she reasoned that her husband had not raped the girl.

She felt that stern warnings to her husband were enough that he would not repeat his actions. In the latest incident, the girl ran to a relative’s house nearby for help.

The Star, Oct 28, 2016

Story 2: Kids starve as dad gets high at home THREE children went hungry at home while their father got high on ganja.

The children, aged between two and six, were found crying from hunger when the Selangor National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) raided an apartment unit in Lembah Subang.

They were dirty and unkempt, and the two younger ones only wore disposable diapers. When questioned, the father had the audacity to say that his children had already had lunch.

The Star, Oct 26, 2016

STEP 3: Based on the story you have picked, hold a group discussion and pen your answers in the space provided. Finally, share your ideas as a class.

1. List three things you might say or do if a friend told you that he or she was feeling scared of the antagonist in the scenario you have picked.

3. Which qualities listed in the “How I should be treated” table are most important in a romantic relationship? Arrive at a consensus and pick the top three in random order.

__________________________________________________

A. _____________________ B. _____________________

__________________________________________________

C. _____________________

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

2. Each member will now briefly describe why he or she has chosen one of the three qualities from the “How I should be treated” table.

4. Are there other qualities you think are important that are not listed here?

What are they?

A. _____________________

B. _____________________

5. What is one piece of advice you would give someone about how to have a happy and healthy relationship?

Member 1:

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Member 2: __________________________________________________ Member 3: __________________________________________________ Member 4: __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

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-NiE ,

18 January 2017

Unscramble the words to find the idioms:

by John & Ching Yee Smithback

● Picture: we ticking/working someone’s mind almost can see/hear looking at someone in deep concentration, we might think we can see/hear them thinking

● Across: mind to my according to me or to my way of thinking

● Down: One’s of mind/wits out frightened so scared that he or she doesn’t know what to do

When we say that something is for the books, we are saying that an act or event is very unusual or amazing. Humorously, some might say it could be noted down in a book of great achievements! ● “The speed with which the students completed their assignments is something for the books!” the teacher exclaimed. ● “Singapore’s subway system is something for the books; it’s so fast, efficient and tidy.”

Answer: Picture: we can almost see/hear someone’s mind ticking/working Across: to my mind Down: frightened out of one’s mind/wits Fill in: 1) c 2) a 3) b

Introduction & Characters

By: Dean Pitchford Newt Newman

Ten-year-old Newt lives with his parents and football star big brother, Chris, whom he shares a close bond with. Newt admires and loves Chris and doesn’t really mind the fact that the attention always seems to be on his older brother. Quiet and unassuming, Newt is a creative and talented artist. He sketches in his secret superhero sketchbook. Newt is also responsible, careful and very used to taking care of himself and helping his absent-minded mother find items she often misplaces. Newt, however, is often ignored by others. He also has a fear of heights but when he assumes the identity of Captain Nobody, he becomes confident and bold enough to assert himself in many situations.

Chris Newman

Chris is Newt’s tall and athletic older brother who is the star of the Fillmore High School American team. He has a close bond with his brother Newt and enjoys laughing and sharing jokes with him. He is determined and able to perform under pressure.

1) I was _______ watching my friend cross the busy road.

2) _______, it’s a difficult thing to give a speech in front of strangers.

3) “Melissa is so thoughtful when she’s playing the piano. I often think ________.” a) To my mind b) I can almost see her mind ticking c) frightened out of my mind

SOMETHING FOR THE BOOKS

Ten-year-old Newton Newman (or Newt) has never thought of himself as particularly special, let alone a hero, unlike his much-admired older brother, Chris, who is a football star.

In fact, even his family rarely notices Newt. When Chris falls into a coma during a major football game, Newt’s friends, JJ and Cecil, decide that taking him out for Halloween would help Newt get his mind off his brother’s condition.

Together they help him create a unique Halloween costume from some of Chris’s old clothes.

The costume gives Newt a new identity – Captain Nobody. Dressed like this, Newt feels strong and confident. He keeps wearing the costume even after Halloween is over.

Newt as Captain Nobody soon begins to perform real heroic deeds like helping a confused old man to find his way home, foiling a jewellery store robbery and clearing a landing path for a plane in distress.

The heroic act that matters most to him, however, is helping his brother regain consciousness. Will Captain Nobody be able to perform this most vital task?

Fill in the correct one from the list below:

Mr Newman

Cecil Butterworth

Cecil is Newt’s classmate and one of his oldest friends.

He is the only one in Newt’s class who is shorter and skinnier than Newt. Like Newt, he is also often ignored by the other kids in school. Cecil has a loud voice and is a great talker with a tendency to be outspoken at times. He has the unusual talent of being able to make drum music using his bare hands and mouth.

Cecil is also very witty. He has many ideas but has a tendency to be impulsive. He is genuinely concerned about Newt and tries hard to encourage and help him through the trying period when Chris lies in a coma in hospital.

Newt’s father is Mr Newman. As a supervisor of a construction company, he is always busy and often on the phone discussing the building of houses and apartments. He cares for his family and is one of Chris’s biggest fans. When Chris is hospitalised, he keeps Newt away because he does not want to upset him.

Mrs Newman

Newt’s mother is a real estate agent.

She is often absent-minded and relies on Newt to remember the things she forgets. She is also always busy with her job and constantly on her phone. When Chris is injured, she is also extremely anxious and spends many nights in the hospital looking after him.

Juanita Josephina Gonzalez (JJ)

Juanita is another classmate of Newt’s. She is also one of his oldest friends. Described as a “walking dictionary”, she is very concerned about the rules of grammar and spelling. She is a voracious reader with an amazing range of vocabulary.

Although JJ is the tallest girl in the fourth grade, she is also not often noticed by the other children in school. Like Newt and Cecil, JJ is also creative and intelligent.

She is also observant, thoughtful and sensitive.

She is the one who defines Captain Nobody’s role as The Champion of the Downtrodden.