"The Supertastic Marvelistic Storiez and Poemz" 4 kidz by kidz! John, Tinei, Jaydn and Simone went to Auckland's North Shore to track down the authors of this book. This book is a collection of short stories and poems that have been written by students from Stanley Bay School. We had enjoyed hosting them at Pt England School last year when they came to learn about podcasting from our Year 6 students.
Their goal is to raise money for a local cancer charity, Kenzie's Gift. We read this book and chose our favourite stories before we set out to interview the authors of the stories. It was a treat to meet the students from the 2 classes involved in this project, to hear all about how they set about writing and publishing a book, and to make a podcast for KPE with them. This podcast is different from our usual format because we are actually interviewing the authors and we have a number of people contributing to it. We have really enjoyed making the podcast and we recommend this book as an excellent read. You should go to their website and order copies of the book for yourself (- or for your school library if you are an adult). Let us know what you think of this collaborative episode in the comments below....
"The Smallest Trolley Racer" by Phillip SimpsonLast year, Tom and Mikaere came last in the annual school trolley race. Not second, or third, or sixth but dead last! But this year, they've got a secret weapon.... John and Colin from Room 18 have been reading this book from the Kiwi Bites series and they let us know all about the story. You need to listen to this podcast because NEXT year Pt England School is entering a crew in the Soap Box Derby. This starts out as a local event in our neighbourhood, but if we get through to the finals we would end up in Akron, Ohio in the United States of America!! How cool is that? We love competition here at Pt England School so we will be looking forward to the challenge of getting our own trolley built and racing it. So Year 5 students, you need to get ready for this, and if you want to volunteer to be in the team, let us know in the comments.....
"Pandora's Box" by Pauline CartwrightThis book is reviewed by John from Room 18 and his classmate Ramona is his DJ for the podcast.If you know anything about myths and legends you might be thinking that this book is a retelling of the story of Pandora' Box. You would be wrong. It is about a boy called Aidan who lives alone with this father and they have some fun times together. They paint the words "Pandora's Box" on a shed outside because they keep bees in there. You could click this link if you are interested in finding out what that has to do with the old legend. You really should listen to this podcast to find out what happens in this book because it has a great plot and they recommend it highly. John tells us that besides writing a fun story the author is telling us that crime doesn't pay! Sounds like a good message.....
"Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi" by Melanie Drewery was podcast for KPE by Caprice and John.
This wonderful book was the winner of the Picture Book category in the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards.It’s the story of a boy who for his news item at school tells the class about coming across a kiwi caught in a possum trap, and how the kiwi lost his leg in the trap and had an artificial one made for it. Anyone who knows how to count in Maori will understand why the kiwi was named Tahi! If you don't know, click here for a clue....This book is based on the true story of the work by Weta Workshop, the Artificial Limb Centre and Wellington Zoo to save a kiwi that lost its leg. Weta Workshop recently created a special hand made cast for Tahi, a Kiwi who had lost his leg in a possum trap. You can read more about it here.
"Mouse Opera" by Richard and Pamela Wolfe
has been podcast for KPE by Jaydn and John from Room 18.
They tell us about this picture book where all the mice are preparing for a grand opera show. From conductor to cleaner, all are busy preparing as they count down to their opening night. It is a race to see if they can get everything done- from learning their lines to making sure the toilets are clean- before opening night."There's something quite exciting, Behind the walls you know.. Inside the cast are frantic, Preparing for a show."
During this podcast Jaydn and John tell us about their most recent experience of a school production and they show us some photos from "X-Stream", the Pt England School production.
Beyond the River by Joy Cowley.
This book is a collection of short stories for young people aged 10 - 14 years.
These stories for young people are set firmly in the South Pacific. Most of the stories are from Aotearoa/New Zealand and most are fantasy. All of them are water stories, according to John who has been reading it. Matthew is DJ for this episode and he interviews John who is his classmate in Room 15. Both boys are in Year 5. John tells us all about one of the stories in the book called the "Sea of Peace". This story is set on a farm in New Zealand and is about a boy called Brian who is having his 18th birthday. He is going through a hard time because he failed his end of year exams and can't get a job. The boys recommend this book and think that you would enjoy reading it too.
"The Tree Girl" by Pauline Cartwright is presented by John and Matthew from Room 15. Both of these boys are Year 5 students. The story includes themes of conservation and land ownership.John says " I think it was a pretty interesting book. Before I had read the book I had no idea that some progress and development companies can just steal land off other people..."Matthew comments "When I first read the script I thought it sounded pretty interesting.."Visit their class web pages here
"Wild Goat Hunt" by Frank Saxton
Coltrane is a Year 5 student from Room 16 and this is his first podcast. He asked John to be his DJ and together they tell a tale of Blair who goes goat hunting with his father. This is pretty unfamiliar territory for city boys from Auckland as the story takes place in Nelson in the South Island. The boys discuss goat hunting, guns laws and why adults call them kids on this podcast....
In this podcast they also mention the podcasters from Appleby School in Nelson.
We wonder if anyone from Nelson has heard this podcast and can tell us about goat hunting?
The Pt England Podcasters
KPE Episode 85 -"The Clay Boy" by Ron Bacon and Chris Gaskin
Jordan from Room 16 has been reading this book and John from Room 15 compares the show. This book is adapted from a legend about a boy who prefers drawing to the usual pass times of his village and becomes an outcast because of it.
Jordan and John are both Year 5 boys. Let them know what you think of this podcast.
"The Supertastic Marvelistic Storiez and Poemz" 4 kidz by kidz! John, Tinei, Jaydn and Simone went to Auckland's North Shore to track down the authors of this book. This book is a collection of short stories and poems that have been written by students from Stanley Bay School. We had enjoyed hosting them at Pt England School last year when they came to learn about podcasting from our Year 6 students.
