Questions for discussion
Uni school kids
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What was the main point of the BtN story?
What sorts of things do people study at university?
In your own words, explain what the government program is trying to do.
Who does the program focus on?
Describe what a group of kids did at Sydney University recently.
Which government minister visited as well and why do you think she came
along?
7. How is university different to school?
8. Why do you think some people decide not to go to university?
9. Apart from university, what other options are there for kids when they leave
school?
10. What else could be done to encourage kids from different backgrounds to
attend university?
Create a plus, minus and interesting chart about going to university.
Food bank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Briefly summarise the BtN Food bank story.
Why do some families rely on Food bank?
How many welfare organisations rely on the donated food?
What percentage of food is wasted in Australia?
Why is the food donated instead of being sold in supermarkets?
In your own words describe what `below the poverty line’ means.
How many kids are missing at least one meal a day?
How are farmers contributing to the scheme?
What items are most in need? Why?
What was surprising about this story?
Send a message or tell us what you think on the BtN Guestbook.
African school
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
© ABC 2009
Illustrate what you think the main point of the story was.
Describe Gemma’s life before she moved to Africa.
Why did she decide to set up a school in Tanzania?
Why are sponsors from Australia important to the school?
Why is it important that children get an education?
EPISODE 16
16TH JUNE 2009
How has Gemma made a difference to the student’s lives?
Think of three adjectives to describe how Gemma feels about the students at St
Jude’s.
8. How has the financial crisis impacted on the school?
9. What has Gemma done to try to solve the problem?
10. How did this story make you feel?
6.
7.
Test your knowledge in the online quiz.
Blood donors
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
In your own words, describe what blood donation is.
Why was blood needed after the Victorian bushfires?
Who receives the donated blood?
How much blood is used in Australia each week?
Who can give blood?
What was Sarah donating at the blood bank?
Why is it important to test the blood once it has been donated?
Why do they need to sort blood into `types’?
What do you think could be done to encourage more people to donate blood?
What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story about
blood donation?
`Should every adult have to be a blood donor?’ Vote in the online poll.
Penguins
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why are the penguins being kept at the Melbourne Aquarium?
Where do they normally live?
Give some examples of penguin behaviour.
Why is monitoring their behaviour important?
Describe three differences between penguins living in captivity and those
living in the wild.
6. What keeps the penguins waterproof?
7. Why do penguins need to eat a lot of food?
8. How do the keepers challenge and entertain the penguins? Why is it
important?
9. Do you think animal research is important? Why?
10. Has your thinking changed since watching the BtN story? Explain your
answer.
Draw a labelled diagram of an Antarctic penguin including information about how they
are able to survive in the Antarctic.
Penguins
© ABC 2009
A penguin breeding program at the Melbourne
Aquarium is helping us learn more about them in the
wild.
Focus Questions
EPISODE 16
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why are the penguins being kept at the Melbourne Aquarium?
Where do they normally live?
Give some examples of penguin behaviour.
Why is monitoring their behaviour important?
Describe three differences between penguins living in captivity and those
living in the wild.
6. What keeps the penguins waterproof?
7. Why do penguins need to eat a lot of food?
8. How do the keepers challenge and entertain the penguins? Why is it
important?
9. Do you think animal research is important? Why?
10. Has your thinking changed since watching the BtN story? Explain your
answer.
Penguins
Students will be investigating how Antarctic penguins have adapted to a life in the
ocean and write an information report using their research findings. Begin by
asking students to record key or unfamiliar words in the BtN story. They can do this
by watching the story again or printing out the transcript. The following structure
can be used to help students construct meaning.
Word/term
Student’s meaning
Website or
dictionary meaning
16TH JUNE 2009
Learning Area
Society and
Environment
Key learning
Students will
develop an
information report
about Antarctic
penguins including
how they have
adapted to life in
the ocean.
After discussion
Students will write an information report about penguins including how they have
adapted to life at sea. There are web links at the end of this activity to help students
with their research.
The following is a guide to information report writing:
Structure
Introduction - the opening statement explains the subject of the report – What is the
report about?
© ABC 2009
.
Description – the body of the report is a series of paragraphs giving information
about Antarctic penguins; physical features, habitat, food and behaviour. Students
should include information about how Antarctic penguins have adapted.
Conclusion – a summary of what has been said.
Language features - Present tense, technical or scientific words, written in the third
person.
Encourage students to include photographs, diagrams and maps in their report.
Further investigations
How are penguins different and similar to other birds? Use a graphic such as a Venn
diagram to represent the information.
Create a crossword or quiz about Antarctic penguins. Give it to another student to try.
What adaptations would need to occur if lions were to survive in the Antarctic?
 Related Research Links
Melbourne Aquarium – New penguins
http://www.melbourneaquarium.com.au/Worlds-and-Experiences/whatsNew/NewPenguins.aspx
Penguin World website – King penguins
http://www.penguinworld.com/types/king.html
Classroom Antarctica – Penguins
http://www.classroom.antarctica.gov.au/5-southern-life/5-3-size-and-behaviour-ofpenguins
Australian Antarctic Division – Penguins
http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=34831
Blood donors
© ABC 2009
Around the world millions of people roll up their
sleeves to donate blood to help sick and injured
people.
EPISODE 16
Focus Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
In your own words, describe what blood donation is.
Why was blood needed after the Victorian bushfires?
Who receives the donated blood?
How much blood is used in Australia each week?
Who can give blood?
What was Sarah donating at the blood bank?
Why is it important to test the blood once it has been donated?
Why do they need to sort blood into `types’?
What do you think could be done to encourage more people to donate blood?
What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story about
blood donation?
The precious red stuff
Begin with a class discussion about the key points in the BtN blood donation story.
Do they know anyone that has either donated blood or has received a blood
donation?
16TH JUNE 2009
Learning Area
Science
Key learning
Students will be
developing a
deeper
understanding of
blood and the
issues associated
with blood
donation.
Students will learn more about blood and blood donation through the following
activities. Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete.
Remember and understand

Create a facts sheet about blood donation. Include information about who
can give blood and what donated blood is used for.

Research the different parts of blood (red blood cells, plasma, platelets,
white cells) and what the function is of each. How is blood produced?

Create a true or false quiz about blood donation.
Apply and Analyse

Investigate what else can be donated apart from blood, for example bone
marrow. What is it and why do people donate it? Present your research
findings to a small group of students.

Respond to the following statement: `Most people say that blood donation
is a good thing but fewer people actually do it.’

Research and explain some possible consequences of a person not having
any white blood cells.
© ABC 2009
.
Evaluate and create

Should people be paid for their blood? List the pros and cons. Develop a
short argument or hold a mini debate with other students.

Design a public education/awareness campaign that encourages people to
donate blood. Students need to think of a creative way to increase the
number of people donating blood. Present the information as a poster,
community service announcement, song or PowerPoint presentation.

The answer is blood. What are five questions?
Reflection
What do you understand more clearly about blood and blood donation?
What things would you do the same and what might you do differently next time?
 Related Research Links
ABC News – Blood donors keen to help bushfire victims
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/11/2488307.htm
ABC News – Dengue outbreak impacts blood donations
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/14/2542188.htm
Australian Red Cross – Australia to host World Blood Donor Day 2009
http://www.donateblood.com.au/page.aspx?IDDataTreeMenu=54
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne – Blood transfusions
http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/factsheets.cfm?doc_id=9541
Child and Youth Health – Information about blood
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=152&
id=2250
Kids Health website – Information about blood types
http://kidshealth.org/kid/word/b/word_bloodtype.html
Learning for Kids – Blood animation
http://www.elearningforkids.org/Courses/Liquid_Animation/Body_Parts/Blood/index.html
BtN: Episode 16 Transcripts
On this week's Behind the News:
© ABC 2009
16/06/09
 How the economic crisis could affect kids in Africa
 What is a food bank
 And giving blood to help others.
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley welcome to Behind the News.
Also on the show today – why penguins were pecking a pesky reporter
- wow that was a tongue twister.
We’ll see all that later, but first to our top story.
Flu Update
Reporter: Catherine Ellis
INTRO: The swine flu we've told you about over the past few weeks
has continued to spread.
There are a lot more cases and some people have even been put in
hospital.
Medical experts say it's infected around 30,000 people worldwide
and it's now officially been labelled a pandemic.
It's the first time in 40 years that has happened. But what does that
mean? Catherine will explain.
CATHERINE ELLIS, REPORTER: Over 15 hundred Australians have
now caught swine flu and the virus caused serious disruption in the
NRL.
The Brisbane Broncos spent last week in isolation after star player
Karmichael Hunt tested positive.
At one stage the team didn't want to play on the weekend because
they hadn't been able to train but eventually they did -and lost.
© ABC 2009
The Under 21 national lacrosse team has been quarantined in South
Korea.
In fact the rise in the cases in Australia is partly why swine flu has
now been declared a pandemic.
That decision was made by WHO - The World Health Organisation which is in charge of overseeing all the big health issues around the
world.
Pandemic is the official name for when a virus gets out of control and
infects a lot of people. It's the first time in 40 years that has
happened.
But you shouldn't get too worried.
Experts say pandemic just refers to the number of cases, not how
dangerous a disease is.
They say so far swine flu doesn't seem much worse than normal flu
Presenter
And we'll of course keep you updated as the story progresses.
Rudd Slang
Now another big story last week was the Prime Minister getting into
trouble over his language .. and this is why!
KEVIN RUDD: Fair shake of the sauce bottle.
© ABC 2009
He said it a few times in an interview and it caused a storm! Some
people say he got it wrong because it should have been "Fair suck of
the sauce bottle" - which is old Aussie slang.
It means give me a fair go and Mr Rudd said he got it right.
But other people reckon Mr Rudd is using too many slang words and
is just using them to try to sound cool...
KEVIN RUDD: Zip, zero and none.
PRESENTER: So what do you think? Is it time for the PM to go back
to English class? Let us know in our guest book and we’ll tell you the
results next week.
Uni School Kids
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: Not many primary school kids get to hang out at university,
but Sarah found a group that is doing just that.
They're not super-geniuses, they're ordinary kids getting a taste of
what uni life might be like.
It's part of a program aimed at getting more kids from all sorts of
backgrounds thinking about uni.
Here's Sarah with more.
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: What you want to be when you grow
up?
KID 1: I want to be a dentist, yep.
KID 2: Probably be a graphic designer
© ABC 2009
KID 3: Scaffolding, or play football.
KID 4: I'd like to be a detective. Yeah I think that would be really cool.
Depending on what your dream job is, you'll have to make a big
decision when you leave school. Do you do on-the-job training, a tafe
course, or get a university degree?
There's a whole bunch of jobs that you use a degree for; doctors,
scientists, engineers, even journalists went to uni.
REPORTER: This is uni! It’s a whole different world to school. There's
no bells to tell you to go to class, you don't have teachers looking over
your shoulder all the time. You have to manage most of your study
yourself. If your parents and friends didn't go to uni it can be a bit
daunting.
That's why these kids are here at Sydney University, getting lessons in
everything from dentistry to history.
KIDS: Ave Caesar!
Some of these kids are from families where no-one's ever been to uni
and until now they hadn't thought of studying in a place like this.
KID 1: You say university and it's like "what's that?" and people say
I'm not going to go there.
KID 2: I didn't know it was going to be like this - buildings and castles
and that.
The Education Minister came along too.
JULIA GILLARD, EDUCATION MINISTER: Hello
KID: I saw you on TV!
© ABC 2009
JULIA GILLARD, EDUCATION MINISTER: Did you ? Was I
behaving myself?
KID: No.
There was a good reason for her visit.
The government has done studies and found some groups of kids
aren't going to uni as much as others. They might be kids whose
parents don't earn very much, kids who live a long way from the city,
or indigenous kids. The government wants all kids to think of uni as
an option so it’s encouraging programs like this.
KID: I though uni it was like boring it was all work and stuff but then
when I came here I found it was more than just work . It's fun. It is
hard work as well.
But hard work isn't putting off these guys.
KID: I think if you put your mind to it you sort of get there in the end.
You have to have a lot of courage.
KID: I'm hoping to come here one day and get better at my work.
Of course, uni isn't the only option. There are plenty of important jobs
out there that you don't need a degree for, but it’s all about making
kids aware of all the possibilities so they can be anything they want to
be.
Quiz
Let's take a look at what they could be studying in our first quiz.
What does a doctor study?
© ABC 2009
1. Medicine
2. Music
3. Philosophy
Answer: All three!
Doctor is actually the name given to someone who has studied at
university for a long time and achieved what's called a doctorate. So
as well as doctors of medicine you can have doctors of music and
philosophy - just don't let those last two operate on you!
Food Bank
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: Now let’s look at the global economic crisis.
We've already told you how it's having a big effect on businesses and
people all around the world , but one group you might not have
thought of is charities.
They can really feel the pinch as well so today we're going to have a
special look at how two charities are being affected and the first is
something called Food Bank.
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: It's late at night in a car park in the
middle of Brisbane, but you could be forgiven for thinking these
people were doing their grocery shopping.
CHARITY WORKER: Have you got banana?
MAN: Yes thank you.
CHARITY WORKER: Tomato.
MAN: No it's alright, I'm fine thanks, that's all.
© ABC 2009
You might also notice they're not handing over any money.
This is a food charity, where people can turn up and take whatever
they need to feed themselves and their families.
More people are turning up here every day, many falling on tough
times because of the economic crisis.
But you might be wondering where all this food has come from.
Well everything here is a withdrawal from a very special type of bank the food bank!
This is their headquarters, but you won’t see any tellers or cash here.
It is one big warehouse, where food comes in and then goes straight
back out again to charity groups, who can pass it on to those that
really need it.
About 2500 welfare organisations rely on this tucker - now that's a lot
of food!
So where does it all come from?
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: Food Bank says 20% of all food
produced in Australia is wasted. Some of it might just be a bit small,
odd-shaped, or dinted; but would otherwise be completely fine to eat.
Usually that food would just be thrown out, because shops don't like
stocking it on their shelves and customers can be very picky.
So Food Bank takes this unwanted food and gives it to those in need!
That way it not only benefits some very hungry people, but also the
producers, because they'd usually be charged to dump this stilldelicious food!
© ABC 2009
Each year around 16 million kilograms of food passes through here,
but there is certainly none going to waste.
NATHAN: Food Bank says ten percent of all Australians live below
the poverty line and with the economic crisis hitting home that
number is sure to rise. But the most surprising statistic is that half of
them are children. That's around 1 million kids missing at least one
meal every day.
And that's why so many people have gotten behind the food bank
idea!
The biggest items in need here are fruit and veges because they are so
nutritious, so many farmers out on the land have answered the call
directly.
ANTHONY STAATZ, VEGETABLE GROWER: There's a need there
and it's a shame to see the product go to waste. We'd prefer to see
people in need to get it than to feed it to the cows or see it rot.
Even truck drivers offered to transport the food for free.
And back in the car park in Brisbane, you can tell they appreciate
every bit of the support!
JOHN DOWELL: There are a lot of farmers support Foodbank.
You've seen the produce that's been there tonight and to those guys,
well I give a heartfelt thanks, yeah.
African School
Reporter: Catherine Ellis
INTRO: OK now another way charities are being affected is their
donations.
© ABC 2009
Charity organisations who rely on cash donations to survive, have
been hit hard because some people can no longer afford to support
them.
An Aussie woman who set up a school for poor kids in Africa says
this has been happening to her because sponsors of the kids have
been pulling out.
Here's Catherine.
CATHERINE ELLIS, REPORTER: Gemma was an Aussie farm girl
who grew up in northern New South Wales.
Being the only girl of seven brothers - she became pretty tough and
fearless!
CATHERINE: And this may be what helped her to achieve what she
has today. She's set up a school for some of the poorest children in
Africa where 12- hundred kids are now getting an education.
And here's how it happened.
Several years ago she visited Africa to help out in a small school in
Uganda.
But during that time she met Richard, fell in love and decided to stay.
Richard's father noticed the good work she was doing in Uganda and
offered her a small piece of land in Tanzania to build a school for the
poor children there - it's one of the poorest countries in the world.
GEMMA: And I went "oh wow" I'd love to build a school thinking it
would be really easy!
In 2002 Gemma set up her school. St. Judes had three kids, one
teacher and one computer.
© ABC 2009
But it grew. In 2004 there were 500 kids and it kept growing.
Eventually they had too many students and not enough land so
Gemma found a farm nearby and after lots of fundraising, built
another school.
GEMMA: It opened last year 2008 and this year we have 650 children
getting an education in our new primary school behind.
Every year they get thousands of children desperate to learn. And
thanks to sponsors from Australia and other parts of the world,
they're able to build more classrooms and take on more students.
It's hugely important because with an education they can become
doctors and engineers and help the country grow.
Back in Australia, Gemma's mum missed her, but she visited Africa
and realised the amazing work she was doing.
GEMMA: So everyone this is my family. Are you going to say hello?
KIDS: Hello.
GEMMA: And this is my mother.
She was given a big welcome party and the entire parent population
came to the school assembly. They wanted to thank her for giving
them Gemma.
GEMMA: It was like 1500 of them because they wanted to say thank
you to her basically allowing me to move to Africa and set up the
school so that their kids could get an education.
But things are now getting tougher for St. Judes because of the global
economic crisis.
© ABC 2009
When money is tight people often have to stop donating to charities
and Gemma is receiving letters from people unable to sponsor their
child. That means the school might have to stop taking in as many
kids.
So Gemma has just spent six weeks criss-crossing Australia seeking
funds.
GEMMA: Ten dollars will help buy ten buckets of carrots, a hundred
dollars will help buy seven maths text books for one of our new
classes.
It's a huge job, but one Gemma knows she must do.
PRESENTER: And if you want to know more info about those
charities check out our website.
Quiz 2
Now let’s do a quiz.
How much blood does an average adult have?
1. 3 litres
2. 5 litres
3. 9 litres
Answer: 5 litres
Although the average 12 year old kid has more like half that amount.
© ABC 2009
Blood Donors
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: Meanwhile, did you know that more than half a million
people in this country regularly give up some of that red stuff to help
sick and injured people??
Earlier this year during the Victorian bushfires, the importance of
blood donation became clear, with hundreds turning up at centres
around the country to give blood to burn victims.
Last Sunday was World Blood Donor Day, so Sarah and I decided
we should book ourselves in to find out more about it.
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: Blood donations have saved millions
of lives since they were first thought up about a hundred years ago.
The concept's pretty simple. Blood is taken out of a healthy person,
then put into someone who's been injured and lost blood, like those
burnt during the fires.
But it's not just used during disasters. Most goes to people suffering
cancer and diseases. People having surgery, people who've broken
bones, mums and their newborn babies, and car crash victims also
use it.
So really there are lots of reasons you might end up needing some
blood!
NATHAN: And that's why Sarah and I have come here today. More
than 10,000 litres of blood are used in Australia each week, and it
can't be stored for much more than a month.
They rely on people to roll up their sleeves and donate, so that's what
we're going to do!
© ABC 2009
This is a Red Cross blood donation centre and there are heaps of these
all over Australia.
First thing you have do is fill in some information and have a chat to
one of the staff here, because not just everyone can give blood!
You have to be at least 16, so you guys are probably a little way off just
yet.
You also have to answer questions about your health and history, to
make sure you don't have any diseases that could be spread to
someone else through your blood.
Anyway, enough putting it off. It's time for the needle!
NATHAN: Exciting! So how much blood am I giving today?
NURSE: 470mls then 30mls of sample.
Annika was giving blood in the seat right across from mine. She
decided to give the first time for an important reason.
ANNIKA: It was just after the Victorian bushfires, and I thought I
might as well. Now or never really.
PAT: Our class was coming in for an excursion and I thought it was a
good thing to do because my family donates a lot.
Back in the chair, and I'm all done!
NATHAN: It's very funny to think all that was just inside me before!
Yep look at that. Top shelf blood!
Meanwhile let's see how Sarah's doing.
SARAH: You finished?!
© ABC 2009
NATHAN: Easy! 6 mins 24.
SARAH: That's only because you had a head start, it's unfair!
SARAH: I'm hooked up to a slightly different machine to Nathan,
cause they're taking out the plasma, and putting the red blood cells
back in.
Plasma and platelets are two parts of blood that can be taken out
separately to help different conditions.
SARAH: No worries! Let's go show Catherine how tough we were!
From here our blood will be tested many times to make sure it's safe,
then sorted into its types, because not all blood is the same!
These are the 8 different types and how rare they are.
Sarah and I are A+, which is pretty common.
This is important for the blood service to know, because only certain
types can be given to certain people.
Once the blood is sorted, tested and prepared it'll go straight to where
it's needed most and often, that's kids.
It might be only a quick donation for us, but for some kids, it means a
lifetime.
Presenter: And we talked about plasma and platelets in that story you might be wondering what they are?
Well there's a web extra on our site telling you all about them, along
with heaps more out takes of Sarah and I donating . When you see
© ABC 2009
this symbol flashing in the show that means we've got special extra
info or deleted scenes on our website.
Poll
Now there's often a shortage of blood donors so we'll make that our
online poll.
The question is: Should every adult have to be a blood donor?
If you want to vote go to our website!
And write into our guestbook telling us if you're keen to give blood as
soon as you're old enough.
The Score
Sarah has some sports news now.
James O'Connor has had an amazing start to his international rugby
career scoring three tries in his first match for Australia.
The Wallabies beat Italy 31 points to 8.
*******
In League you might have been confused about which team was what
on the weekend.
Penrith took to the pitch in pink and their opposition also had pink
beards.
© ABC 2009
The games was a fund raiser for breast cancer
*******
And Pollies and footy stars have launched Australia's bid to host the
Soccer World Cup.
Millions of dollars are being spent to try and win the championships
in 2018 or 2022
Metro Penguins
Reporter: Catherine Ellis
INTRO: Did you know some penguins can outrun humans on land?
Well Catherine found that out the hard way in the next story!
She's been visiting a place that's set up a little piece of the Antarctic
right here in Australia!
It's home to a very cute group of penguins who are part of a
breeding program, but one or two of them didn't seem to like
Catherine's nosy questions.
CATHERINE ELLIS, REPORTER: It's a new day on the ice in the city
of Melbourne!
These guys are 6000 k’s from their natural home at the South Pole.
They're King penguins - the second largest penguin in the world!
© ABC 2009
And the little ones are Gentoos. They're the fastest swimming bird
and can reach speeds of 36 k’s an hour!
Dr ROB, PENGUIN VET: They'll jump in the pool, they'll play chasey,
they'll run around after each other on the snow and the ice and there's
a couple that will come up and say hello and are very inquisitive and
will peck at your arms.
Well let's go and meet them! First you have to put protective clothes
on so you don't bring germs in.
Well hello. This is....
CATHERINE: OW!
Meet Barney. He's taken a liking to biting people and our camera. K.T
prefers knee caps.
Gotcha!
But not everyone is feisty. Gus and Sheep are apparently in a
relationship!
KASEY, PENGUIN KEEPER: They're in love and have been bonding,
which involves a lot of bowing.
CATHERINE: And is it true that they sing?
KASEY: Yes they do sing. They make sort of a trumpeting noise - a
very loud trumpeting noise. The kings often sing in the afternoon
after they've eaten and feel nice and full and satisfied.
And there's Mawson right on cue!
Monitoring the penguins’ behaviour in captivity is helping the keepers
learn more about them in the wild.
© ABC 2009
Of course life's a lot easier in here, with no predators or unpredictable
weather.
It's a constant zero degrees and they have thick feathers to keep
warm.
KASEY: They have an oil gland at the base of their tail which when
they preen themselves they spread that oil around in their feathers
and that keeps them nice and waterproof.
Their nails don't wear down enough in here so they have penguin
pedicures! But no polish.
KASEY: Probably they'd start pecking at their toe nails if you painted
them.
As for food, it's caught for them. And on the menu today, salmon and
herring.
OLIVIA, PENGUIN KEEPER: You need to eat a lot of food if you're a
penguin because it's obviously a very cold environment and they're
losing energy just by standing still trying to keep their bodies warm.
The keepers also put fish in the pool so the penguins feel like they're
hunting.
You see because enclosure life's so cruisy, the keepers come up with
games to challenge, and entertain them.
SUSANNAH, PENGUIN KEEPER: We've got some sprinklers which
we can put in the exhibit, we've got some bubbles which we can blow
for them and different sorts of toys that we can throw in the pool as
well.
And because there are no outdoor sounds, the keepers play music.
© ABC 2009
SUSANNAH: They did particularly like Coldplay and Radiohead when those songs came on the penguins starting honking and singing.
It's a huge job taking care of them.
And life's only going to get busier - 16 more penguins have recently
arrived to take part in a breeding program.
Meeting the penguins was awesome, but before I go, I have to show
you what KT did!
CATHERINE: Check this out.
PRESENTER: That’s only half the stuff those birds got up to – we’ve
stuck her camera tapes on the web if you want some more laughs.
Closer
That's only half the stuff those birds got up to - we've stuck her
camera tapes on the web if you want some more laughs.
Before we go, a girl in the United States has come up with the best
ever excuse for missing class -she had a note from the most powerful
man in the world!
The girl's dad took her to hear President Obama make a speech and
this is what happened.
GIRL’S DAD: "I am fortunate enough to be here with my 10-year-old
daughter, who is missing her last day of school for this. I hope she
doesn't get in trouble."
PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Oh, no." "Do you need me to write a note?"
GIRL’S DAD: "I'll take you up on that, actually, Mr President."
© ABC 2009
PRESIDENT OBAMA: "All right. Go ahead. I'll start writing it now."
"What's her name?"
GIRL’S DAD: "John Corpus."
PRESIDENT OBAMA; "No, her."
GIRL : To Kennedy’s teacher: Please excuse Kennedy’s absence – she
is with me, Barack Obama.
I wonder whether he'd write me one to get out of our next show?
Probably not. Well in that case I'll see you next week!
© ABC 2009