Teacher Zone
The Teacher Zone Features weekly updated resources for teachers of Upper Primary and Middle School Students.
On Holidays till 2009
Learning Tools View Docs
BTN Specials See Themes
Tuesday December 02 (episode 35)
India Attack »
More than a hundred people have been killed and many others hurt in terrorist attacks in India. It has sent shockwaves around the world and to Australia so Catherine thought she'd better check out why.
Ethiopia Famine »
Droughts are bad news anywhere but in some countries they are even more devastating. In a place like Ethiopia they can mean small children starve. The country is in the middle of a famine and an ABC foreign correspondent has travelled there to meet a 14 year old girl to see how she and her family are surviving. Sarah tells his story.
Bushfire Season »
Bushfires are frightening and dangerous and experts say families must have well organised plans to protect themselves and their homes this summer. Kids can play a vital role in those plans. Nick has some amazing stories from teenagers who have helped their families survive firestorms.
Flying Turtles »
Can turtles really fly? Well they can if they're in a plane! Two endangered baby turtles recently flew out of Sydney for Lord Howe Island. Rebecca was at the airport to see the pair off and to find out why they're racking up frequent flyer points.
Cricket Kids »
Imagine getting some tips from the Aussie cricket team! That's what happened for a group of boys and girls recently when they got the chance to watch the team practice and join in a question and answer session. Catherine also went along to try and improve her game!
2008 Review »
It is the end of another BTN year so Nathan thought he'd have a look back on the stories that changed our lives . Plus we also look at some of the less serious moments - Catherine working out she couldn't skate, Sarah auditioning for Pirates of the Carribean and Nathan proving that a farm boy can't ride everything!
Teacher Resources (Provided as Word Documents)
Multiple Intelligences
Educate your students about multiple intelligences so they can recognise their own strengths and accept and value different ways of learning.
Question Matrix
Use this matrix to help you and your students formulate questions about an issue or story presented on Behind the News that engages them.
Using BTN in your Classroom
Tips for including btn before, during and after viewing the show. Strategies for using BtN more effectively, Follow-Up Activities and more...
War & Conflict
Reports of war and conflict in the media can be frightening to children. Following are some tips to help deal with events (like the crisis in the Middle East) with upper primary and secondary students.
The thinking classroom
The Thinking Classroom, is all about the teaching of thinking. It is a place where critical and creative thinking count!
Thinking tools
Blooms, Williams, Gardner, H.O.M. Skills, Learning styles, Quality tools, DATT, De Bono and Graphic organisers
Resources for thinking
Lots of links categorised into: Why?, Culture, Questioning, Tools, Planning, Assessment and Professional Development
Text types
Interactive writing help with examples for how to write the most common text types - narratives, descriptions, reviews, reports, procedures, recounts, explanations, expositions, point of view, discussions and more...
Graphic organisers
58 graphic organizers as PDF files
categorised into: General, Sorting, Graphs & Charts, Sequencing
BTN Specials - We've grouped our stories into a range of themes
Dollar Sense (transcripts only from old stories)
We can't live without money and it seems everybody's talking about finance. In this Behind the News special on Dollar Sense we ask the question, "when is a dollar not worth a hundred cents?" We share a few facts about the sharemarket and look at a cash crop you'd never expect to find in the bush.
» Aussie Dollar: exchange rate, dollar, trade » Share Markets: Share Markets, Companies, business » Interest Rates: Interest Rates, Reserve Bank, borrowing, family pressures » Seaweed Harvest: Seaweed, farming, salinity, groundwater, science
Natural Disasters (transcripts only from old stories)
Planet Earth can be unpredictable and destructive and this Behind the News special looks at Natural Disasters – how and why they occur as well as what can be done to cope with some of the consequences. From the devastation of floods to the desperation of those caught up in the crippling drought – we also look further afield to the earthquakes of Indonesia and ask if Australia's at risk.
» Floods: flood, storm, water, disaster » Storm Recovery: storm, flood, Newcastle, recovery, kids » Drought: Drought, debt, farmers » Earthquakes: earthquakes, Indonesia
Story Archives: 2008
Tuesday 2 December 2008 (episode 35) » India Attack: India, terrorist, Mumbai» Ethiopia Famine: Ethiopia, Famine, Drought» Bushfire Season: Bushfire Season, fire storms, fire, preparation» Flying Turtles: Flying, Turtles, Lord Howe Island, Airport» Cricket Kids: Cricket, Practice, Fans» 2008 Review: Review, 2008
Tuesday 25 November 2008 (episode 34) » Insurance: Insurance» Congestion Tax: tax, toll, roads, congestion, peak, traffic» Cloud Seeding: weather, cloud, seeding, tasmania» Ladybirds: ladybirds» Big Brother: migrant, program, early settlers, big brother
Tuesday 18 November 2008 (episode 33) » Economic Forecasts: Economics, Forecast, spending» Teen Courts: Court, teenagers, judge, jury, trials» Handwashing: hygiene, hand washing, germs, spread» Feral Cats: Feral Cats, environment, wildlife, desexing» Rocking Harpist: harp, instrument making, performance
Tuesday 11 November 2008 (episode 32) » President Obama: Barack Obama, United States, President, biography» Victoria Cross: Remembrance Day, Victoria Cross, bravery, military» Congo Crisis: Democratic Republic of Congo, refugee, conflict» Stock Routes: Stock Routes, history, conservation» Ballroom Blitz: Ballroom, Dancing, Competitive
Tuesday 4 November 2008 (episode 31) » US President: United States, President, Candidates, Barack Obama, John McCain» Phone Fears: mobile phone, radio waves, safety, kids» Apprentice Jockeys: apprenticeships, jockey, melbourne cup, horses» Pygmy Crocs: Pygmy, Crocodile, Cane Toad» Facebook Campaign: Nathan Cawley, Facebook, peripheral neuropathy, Paralympics
Tuesday 28 October 2008 (episode 30) » Death Penalty: death penalty, bali bombing, execution» Airport Scanners: airport, security, privacy, x-ray, scanners» Bottled Water: water, bottled, farming, campaign» Paper Planes: paper planes, world championship, aviation» Virtual Island: virtual, island, economy
Tuesday 21 October 2008 (episode 29) » Superannuation: superannuation, retire» Subliminal Ads: subliminal, advertising, illegal» Cervical Cancer Vaccine: cervical, cancer, vaccine» Ice Factor Spectacular!: Ice Factor, modelling, at risk» Animal ID: species, identification, software
Tuesday 14 October 2008 (episode 28) » Credit Crisis: sub-prime loans, US Economy, fiance, home loans» Gassed Suburb: landfill, methane, Cranbourne» Complementary Medicine: Complementary, Medicine, regulation,» Kid Architects: Architects, occupation, Architectural Festival» White Cane Day: White Cane Day, Blindness, Vision Impaired
Tuesday 23 September 2008 (episode 27) » Welfare State: Welfare, pension, cost of living» Food Colouring: food colouring, ban, ADHD, Hyperactive» Space Kids: International Space Station, space, astronauts, seed experiment» Underwater Movies: Deep Sea, sea creatures, exploration» Footy School: Football, School, Lesson, Indigenous Education
Tuesday 16 September 2008 (episode 26) » Balance of Power: Parliament, Senate, Balance, democracy» Copyright Crackdown: Copyright, industry, protection, police, privacy» Hoodies Ban: Hoodies, Dress Codes, Ban, Shopping Centre, Discrimination,» Weird Fossils: Fossils, pre-historic, Cambrian period» Steam Train Tourism: Steam Train, Tourism
Tuesday 9 September 2008 (episode 25) » US Election: Elections, US, President» Governor-General: Governor-General, Quentin Bryce» Arctic Melt: Antarctica, Arctic, Melting, Polar Caps» Energy Drinks: Energy Drinks, banned, Sport, Health» Cheerleaders: Cheerleaders, Canberra City Mayhem
Tuesday 2 September 2008 (episode 24) » Disappearing Lakes: River Murray, health» Turtle Rescue Squad: Turtles, Rescue» Sneaky Ads: Advertising, Product Placement» Paralympics: Paralympics, Matt Cowdrey, swimming» Snake Boy: Snakes, pet, python, Cambodia
Tuesday 26 August 2008 (episode 23) » Pakistan: pakistan, cricket, security, terrorism» Obesity Action: obesity, Westmead Childrens' Hospital, surgery» Labour Shortage: Labour, farming, migration, immigrants» Mobile Shock: Mobile phone, bill, data, payments» Golden Shears: shearing, sheep, championship, Norway
Tuesday 19 August 2008 (episode 22) » Olympic Future: Olympics, AIS, training» South Ossetia: Russia, Georgia, South Ossetia, War» Recession: recession, discretionary spending» SES SOS: SES, volunteers, cadets» Outback Science: Rural, Science, Education, The Flying Scientist
Tuesday 12 August 2008 (episode 21) » China's Olympics: Olympic Games, China, International Relations» Livestock Transport: Livestock, Transport, Welfare, Law» Paparazzi: Paparazzi, Privacy, Law» Super Cats: Savanah Cat, condervation, predator, import» Refugee Soccer Star: Refugee, Soccer, Million
Tuesday 5 August 2008 (episode 20) » Midair Emergency: Qantas, decompression, aeroplanes» Olympic Science: Olympic Games, Science, performance, drugs» Contract Capers: Contracts, Sonny Bill Williams» Recycling: Recycling, refund, South Australia» Rodeo Kids: Rodeo, School
Tuesday 29 July 2008 (episode 19) » Mammal Extinction: Mammal, Extinction, climate change, wallabies» Ice Factor: ice hockey, youth, life skills» Malware: Malware, hackers, worms, trojan horses» Bionic Eyes: implant, eye, blindness, cochlear» Judo Stars: judo, olympics
Tuesday 22 July 2008 (episode 18) » Youth Day Celebrations: world youth day, youth, religion, festival» Carbon Reports: carbon trading, green paper, government» Powderfinger: Powderfinger, reconciliation, tour» Dung Beetles: Dung Beetles, environment» Cats Close-up: Geelong, AFL, players
Tuesday 24 June 2008 (episode 17) » Strikes: strike, industrial action, teachers» Tourism Industry: Tourism Board, Australia, Movie, Baz Luhrmann» Outback Jobs: Outback, employment, cattle station» Hip Hop Stories: hip hop, indigenous, language, story telling» Olympic Diving: Olympic Games, Diving, vertigo
Tuesday 17 June 2008 (episode 16) » Hybrid Cars: hybrid, cars, transport» Mulesing: sheep, mulesing» Headphones Hazard: headphones, music, hearing, damage» Volcanoes: volcanos, Chaiten, Chile» Field of Dreams: AFL, outback, opportunity» AFL Girls: AFL, girls, equal, sexism
Tuesday 10 June 2008 (episode 15) » Troops Return: war, army, troops, duty, Iraq» Fromelles Graves: War, Fromelles, graves, archaeologists, France» Fuel Watch: fuel, price, government» Fashion Gurus: fashion, paris, Yves Saint Laurent» Gymnastic Girls: gymnastics, olympics, australia
Tuesday 3 June 2008 (episode 14) » Grocery Inquiry: food, cost, Government Inquiry» Mars Probe: mars, life, living, Phoenix» Aerosol Art: graffiti, art» Brain Bee: Quinn McGennisken, neuroscience, International Brain Bee,» Ned Kelly: Ned Kelly, Archaeology
Tuesday 27 May 2008 (episode 13) » Medicare: medicare, hospital cover, private health care» Tassie Tiger: Tasmanian Tiger, DNA» Cow Class: cows, classroom, school, agriculture» Junk Energy: bioreactor, energy» Sea Spectacular: squid, cuttlefish, mating, colour, ocean
Tuesday 20 May 2008 (episode 12) » China Quake: china, earthquake» Bank Merger: bank, merger, st george, westpac» Family Carers: family, disability care, welfare» Shark Fins: sharks, extinction, rob stewart» Sports Science: sport, science, fair
Tuesday 13 May 2008 (episode 11) » Budget Time: budget, government, spending» Burma Cyclone: cyclone, burma, foreign aid» Youth Day: world youth day, youth, religion, festival» Zoo Theme Park: Zoo, Theme Park, Werribee» Lauren Jackson: Lauren Jackson, basketball
Tuesday 6 May 2008 (episode 10) » Solar Subsidies: solar, power, subsidies» Internet Censorship: internet, censorship, government» Women Truckies: truckies, women, careers» Seal Tracking: Weddell seals, tracking, satellite» Olympic BMX: Olympics, BMX
Tuesday 29 April 2008 (episode 9) » Food Crisis: food, crisis, riots» Plastic Bags: plastic bags, ban» Expanding Oz: australia, expanding, borders» School ID: school, identification, privacy, control» Aston Vass: aston vass, recovery» Anzac Kids: ANZAC, kids
Tuesday 22 April 2008 (episode 8) » 2020 Summit: 2020 summit» Olympic Torch: olympic torch» Landmines: landmines» Sydney DNA: HMAS Sydney, wreck, tooth» Lone Scouts: Scouts, Rural
Tuesday 1 April 2008 (episode 7) » Murray Darling: Murray River, Darling River, Murray-Darling Basin» Kangaroo Cull: Kangaroo, Culling» Price Fixing: Price Fixing, Competition» Frog Future: Frogs, conservation» Sniffer Dogs: Sniffer dogs, army, military
Tuesday 25 March 2008 (episode 6) » HMAS Sydney: HMAS Sydney, wreck» Tibet: Tibet, protest» Gymnast Reborn: Gymnastics, Olympics» Baby Tuna: Tuna, Southern Bluefin, farming» Video Games: Video games, computer games
Tuesday 18 March 2008 (episode 5) » Discrimination: Discrimination, Aboriginal» Islamic School: Islam, Protest» Binge Drinking: Alcohol, binge, youth, clubs» Formula One: Formula One» Les Kids: Les Miserables, kids
Tuesday 11 March 2008 (episode 4) » Rental Squeeze: Rent, accommodation» Farm Uni: University, Agriculture, Placements» Kokoda Track: Kokoda Trail, Mining» Romanian Bears: Brasov Bears, Romania, Captivity» Perfect Wave: waves, tides, sea
Tuesday 4 March 2008 (episode 3) » Prince Harry: Prince Harry, Media Blackout, Afghanistan, British Army» Water Licences: Water, Licence, Murray, Darling» Language Teaching: Language, Education, Global Market» Elephant Cull: Elephant, Cull, Conservation» Underwater Volcanoes: Oceans, Volcanoes
Tuesday 26 February 2008 (episode 2) » Inflation: Inflation» Kid Repellent: sound, mosquito, pitch, barry manilow» Football Fracas: football, AFL, Rugby League» Blind Climbers: blind, blue mountains, climb» Young Racers: motor racing, youth
Tuesday 19 February 2008 (episode 1) » Stolen Generations: Stolen Generations, Indigenous» Government Apology: Sorry Day, Indigenous, Stolen Generations» East Timor: East Timor, Coup» Organ Donor Week: Organ Donation» Surfing Battler: surfer, surfing
Story Archives: 2007
Story Archives: 2006
Story Archives: 2005
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Term 1: 19th February to 1st April
Term 2: 22nd April – 24th June
Term 3: 22nd July – 23rd September
Term 4: 14th October – 2nd December
Final Episode: Week 49 (2 Dec)
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