©ABC 2013

Questions for discussion

Leadership Moves

1. Discuss the issues raised in the Leadership Moves story as a class.

2. In the BtN story what do they mean when they refer to the Prime Minister’s job as being risky?

3. Explain the difference between voting in America and Australia, do they vote for a party or a leader?

4. Who was Prime Minister before Julia Gillard?

a. Tony Abbott

b. Kevin Rudd

c. John Howard

5. What are the names of the two main political parties in Australia?

6. Who currently leads the Labor and Liberal parties?

7. How do opinion polls affect political parties and their leaders?

8. What qualities do you think a political leader should have?

9. Name three facts you learnt watching this story.

10. Do you think governments should be allowed to change leaders without an election? Explain your answer.

Test your knowledge in the Leadership Moves quiz. Go to the BtN website and follow the links.

Syria Kid

1. Discuss the Syria Kid story with another student.

2. What city does Ibrahim live in?

3. What has been happening in Syria recently?

4. How many brothers and sisters does Ibrahim have?

5. How does Ibrahim and his family survive without electricity?

6. In your own words describe the situation that Ibrahim is in.

7. What is Ibrahim’s dream?

8. How is Ibrahim’s education different to yours in Australia? Compare and contrast.

9. How does playing soccer help Ibrahim deal with living in a warzone?

10. How did this story make you feel?

Post a message on the comments page on the Behind the News Syria Kid story. Go to the BtN website and follow the links http://www.abc.net.au/btn/

Year 7

1. Discuss the issues raised in the Year 7 story and record the main points of discussion.

2. What year level does high school start where you live?

3. Complete this sentence. The government is currently writing a national c______________.

4. What is a national curriculum?

5. From 2015 which two Australian states will be sending kids to high school from Year 7?

6. What are the pros and cons for starting high school from Year 7?

7. How will this affect kids that live in regional areas that don’t have high schools nearby?

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8. What are some of the main differences between primary school and high school? Hold a class discussion about what to expect when transitioning from primary to high school.

9. Create a poster that helps kids with the transition from primary to high school.

10. What do you think about this topic? Post a message on the Year 7 comments page.

Is Year 7 the best time to start high school? Have your say on the BtN online poll. To vote head to the

BtN website http://abc.net.au/btn/polls.htm

Computer Code

1. What are the kids in the BtN story learning about?

2. What is the name of language used for computer coding?

a. Matrix code

b. Password code

c. Source code

3. Describe how source code works?

4. True or false? You need to be a genius to learn how to computer code.

5. How do the kids in the BtN story feel about learning computer coding?

6. Name a famous computer programmer.

7. Think of three adjectives to describe computer coding?

8. Do you think all primary school kids should learn about computer coding in school?

9. How has your thinking changed since watching the BtN Computer Code story?

10. Why do you think BtN reported on this story?

How would you get more people interested in computer coding? Share your ideas with other students.

Voice Artists

1. Briefly summarise the Voice Artists story in your own words.

2. What is a voice actor?

3. What animation does Tash practise her voice acting on?

a. Figaro Pho

b. Shrek

c. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

4. What is a scratch vocal track?

5. Complete this sentence. Voice acting is not as easy as it looks, you need to become the __________.

6. What are some of the skills that you need to be a good voice actor?

7. What sort of work do voice actors do?

8. Describe what it is like behind the scenes for a voice actor.

9. Illustrate an aspect of this story.

10. List three of your favourite animated characters. Find out who provided their voices.

Give voice acting a go in your classroom! Visit the Voice Artists story on the BtN website and download step-by-step instructions. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3720549.htm

©ABC 2013

Activity

Computer Code

Key Learning Students will gain a deeper understanding about computer coding and recognise the crucial role of computing in today’s world. Students will learn how to count using the binary number system and describe and create patterns with binary resulting from addition.

Discussion Questions

1. What are the kids in the BtN story learning about?

2. What is the name of language used for computer coding?

a. Matrix code

b. Password code

c. Source code

3. Describe how source code works?

4. True or false? You need to be a genius to learn how to computer code.

5. How do the kids in the BtN story feel about learning computer coding?

6. Name a famous computer programmer.

7. Think of three adjectives to describe computer coding?

8. Do you think all primary school kids should learn about computer coding in school?

9. How has your thinking changed since watching the BtN Computer Code story?

10. Why do you think BtN reported on this story?

The Australian Curriculum

Information & communication technology Information & communication technology

Creating with ICT – Level 4 Generate ideas, plans and processes Use ICT effectively to record ideas, represent thinking and plan solutions. Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks Independently or collaboratively create and modify digital solutions, creative outputs or data representation/transformation for particular audiences and purposes.

Creating with ICT – Level 5 Generate ideas, plans and processes Use appropriate ICT to collaboratively generate ideas and develop plans. Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks Design and modify simple digital solutions, or multimodal creative outputs or data transformations for particular audiences and purposes following recognised conventions.

Mathematics / Number & Algebra / Patterns & algebra Mathematics / Number & Algebra / Patterns & algebra

Describe, continue, and create number patterns resulting from performing addition or subtraction(ACMNA060)

Describe, continue and create patterns with fractions, decimals and whole numbers resulting from addition and subtraction (ACMNA107)

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Activities

What is computer coding?

Facilitate a class discussion to encourage students to engage with the topic of computer coding. Here are

some questions starters:

What words do you associate with computer coding? Hold a class brainstorming session.

What is computer coding?

Do you know that everything that you see or hear on the computer is stored using computer coding?

List ways in which computing has impacted on your life.

Think of how your life would be different without computer programming.

Working with binary

Did you know that computers count using only zero and one? Everything that you see or hear on the

computer—words, pictures, numbers, movies and even sound is stored using just those two numbers!

Explain the principles of binary numbers to your students.

Make your own set of cards for this activity – you will need a set of five cards, as shown below, with

dots on one side and blank on the other.

When the card is face down, it is represented by a zero. When it is face up, it is represented by a one.

Add up the dots on the cards that are showing. The total number of dots showing represents the

decimal number. Below are some examples.

Example 1

Example 2

What does the 0 and 1 mean? When the card is face down, it is represented by a zero. When it is face up, it is represented by a one. This is the binary number system.

©ABC 2013

Discussion

What do you notice about the number of dots on the cards? Is there a pattern?

Use these cards to make numbers by turning some of them face down and adding up the dots that are

showing.

Ask students to make different decimal numbers.

Ask students to look closely at how the cards change to see if they can see a pattern in how the cards

flip.

Ask students to make a range of binary numbers using the cards. Also ask students to convert several

decimal numbers to binary numbers.

Extension activity

Illustrate the difference between binary and decimal number systems.

Refer to this website for more information on the binary number system:

http://csunplugged.org/binary-numbers

Count binary using your hands – comic strip

Download this fun comic strip for your

students.

Weblink >

http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F2O/D4

CI/O2WEP27RM3Z/F2OD4CIO2WEP27RM3Z.

pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=files

Ask students (in groups of 2-3) to practise

making binary numbers using their hands.

Ask students to conduct research into binary

numbers are how they are associated with

computers.

Research questions

Define the word binary?

Where does the term ‘binary’ come from?

Think about the origin of the word.

Why do computers use the binary number system?

What is a bit? How many bits form a byte?

Further Investigation

Try a trick based on an idea from computer science. This activity introduces

students to an error-checking mechanism that is the essence of a coin trick. Checking

mechanisms are used in information transfer, banking and other situations in which

accuracy and security are required. The activity makes links with these applications,

some of which are based on binary arithmetic.

http://www.csiro.au/helix/sciencemail/activities/errorcheck.html

©ABC 2013

Related Research Links

Code – Learn to code with HS

http://www.code.org/learn/codehs

Alice – An educational software the teaches students computer programming in a 3D environment

http://www.alice.org/index.php

Scratch – Create and share your own interactive stories, games, music and art

http://scratch.mit.edu/

Hackasaurus – Tools for teaching webmaking

http://hackasaurus.org/en-US/educators/

Thimble – Webmaking made easy

https://thimble.webmaker.org/en-US/

Hackety Hack – Programming from the ground up

http://hackety.com/

Computer Science Unplugged – Computer science...without a computer!

http://csunplugged.org/activities

Great Maths Games – What is binary?

http://greatmathsgames.com/number/item/47-homework-ideas/99-what-is-binary.html

©ABC 2013

Activity

Voice Artists

Key Learning Students will learn about the art of voice acting. Students will write a script for an animation and then practice voice acting exploring the effects of changing voice tone, volume, pitch and pace.

Discussion Questions

1. Briefly summarise the Voice Artists story in your own words.

2. What is a voice actor?

3. What animation does Tash practise her voice acting on?

a. Figaro Pho

b. Shrek

c. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

4. What is a scratch vocal track?

5. Complete this sentence. Voice acting is not as easy as it looks, you need to become the ___________

6. What are some of the skills that you need to be a good voice actor?

7. What sort of work do voice actors do?

8. Describe what it is like behind the scenes for a voice actor.

9. Illustrate an aspect of this story.

10. List three of your favourite animated characters. Find out who provided their voices.

The Australian Curriculum

English / Literacy / Interacting with others English / Literacy / Creating texts

Use interaction skills such as acknowledging another’s point of view and linking students’ response to the topic, using familiar and new vocabulary and a range of vocal effects such as tone, pace, pitch and volume to speak clearly and coherently (ACELY1688)

Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts containing key information and supporting details for a widening range of audiences, demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language features (ACELY1694)

Use interaction skills, for example paraphrasing, questioning and interpreting non-verbal cues and choose vocabulary and vocal effects appropriate for different audiences and purposes (ACELY1796)

Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1704)

Use interaction skills, varying conventions of spoken interactions such as voice volume, tone, pitch and pace, according to group size, formality of interaction and needs and expertise of the audience(ACELY1816)

Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1714)

Use interaction skills when discussing and presenting ideas and information, selecting body language, voice qualities and other elements, (for example music and sound) to add interest and meaning (ACELY1804)

Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, selecting aspects of subject matter and particular language, visual, and audio features to convey information and ideas (ACELY1725)

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Activities

Practice voice acting: Figaro Pho

After watching the BtN Voice Artists story, provide students with the opportunity to practice voice acting.

1. As a class watch the Figaro Pho animation used by Tash in the BtN story. Go to the Voice Artists

story on the BtN website to watch the animation. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3720549.htm

2. In groups of 3 or 4, ask students to practice voice acting using the animation. Ask students to

consider – voice pitch, tone and volume.

Investigate other animations

Pick out excerpts from your student’s favourite animations, for example Shrek or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and

watch as a class. Ask students to think about the process of voice acting as they watch the animations.

Can you guess who the voice actors are in the animation?

How have they used their voice to represent the character’s feelings?

Develop and write a script

Students will develop and write their own scripts for an animation (animation provided on the BtN Voice

Artists page http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3720549.htm).

1. As a class watch the animation without sound.

2. Ask students to describe the animation, including the characters, action and scenery. As students

describe the animation write their responses on the interactive whiteboard. Ask clarifying questions if

student’s responses are not clear. Repeat this process to gain a more comprehensive description.

3. Working in groups of 2-4, students will work collaboratively to write their own scripts for the

animation. Students will practice voice acting using their scripts and then produce their own

soundtrack including their voices and sound effects.

4. What is the story about? Ask students to talk about how the story is structured (setting the scene,

problem or issue, then resolving or addressing the issue). Below are some discussion starters for

your students.

Tips on voice acting Keep the character ‘active’ – think about what the character is doing or feeling in this moment.

Exaggerate and animate your voice – project a larger than life image with your voice.

Expression and imagination – connect your body and energy to the voice. Show how the

character is feeling by showing expression as you voice act. For example, if the character is

angry show an angry face. Use your imagination!

Practice – getting the right voice may not come in one shot.

Articulation – is your voice clear and easy to understand?

©ABC 2013

5. How to write a script. Once students have discussed the structure of their script they will then need

to write the script. Below are some steps on how to write a script.

For a more detailed look at how to write a script visit this website:

http://www.creative-writing-now.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay.html

Producing a soundtrack

1. Ask students to practice their voice acting using their own scripts. Students will need to consider

timing and the skills required when voice acting. Refer students to the voice acting tips at the

beginning of this activity.

2. Students will record their voices. Below are some steps on how to create a sound recording.

Steps to create a sound recording Make sure you have the required hardware and software – you will need a computer or

Smartphone with a microphone and software such as the free Audacity (PC or Mac)

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. Some Mac’s come with GarageBand

http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/

Rehearse the content of your script. Make sure you choose a quiet place to record your voice.

Learn how to project into a microphone – try not to speak too closely to the microphone

otherwise your voice may become distorted.

Record your voice. Create and save an audio file, usually in mp3 format.

How to write a script Use dot points to start writing your script. Each dot point could explain each scene in the

animation.

Add detail to your script by adding the dialogue (your voice) and sound effects.

It is important that you use screenplay conventions when writing your script. Microsoft Office

Word has a screenplay template you can use. http://office.microsoft.com/en-

us/templates/results.aspx?qu=screenplay&ex=1&origin=EC010141330#ai:TC102805802

Ask your teacher or another student to read your draft script to check that it reads

clearly/makes sense and that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes.

Make any amendments or corrections to your script.

What is the story about? What is your story going to be about?

Is there a hero or heroine? Who are the other characters? It may be helpful to write a

character profile for each of the characters in the animation. Use the student activity sheet

(which can be found either at the end of this document or on the BtN website

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3720549.htm) to help write your character profiles.

Is there a disaster happening in the story? Do any of the characters face any problems or

conflict? Think about giving your hero/heroine a problem to solve.

What is your story climax? This is the high point of the film and addresses the conflict or

problem.

©ABC 2013

3. If your student’s scripts contain sound effects encourage them to make their own and then record using the Steps to create a sound recording as per the above.

Refer students to the following website for free sound samples

http://generator.acmi.net.au/library/category/sounds

Refer students to the following websites for tips on sound effects:

http://www.abc.net.au/rollercoaster/rollermache/sound.htm

http://www.songroomlive.com.au/explore/making-media-easy/add-sound-to-your-animation

Send your audio recording to BtN

Send your completed voice recordings into BtN so that it can be uploaded on to the BtN website. Email your

audio mp3 files to btn-education@abc.net.au.

Further Investigation

Make your own cartoon! Jeff Kinney, illustrator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid,

shows in this video how to draw the character of Greg Heffley.

http://www.wimpykid.com/videos/

Practise vocal projection with the Shakespeare insult generator.

http://www.weheartdrama.com/394/practise-vocal-projection-with-the-shakespeare-

insult-generator/. Take this activity further using BtN’s Shakespeare in School activity.

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3707999.htm

Related Research Links

ABC3 Figaro Pho – Figaro Pho

http://www.abc.net.au/abc3/adventuresoffigaropho/

Creative writing Now – How to write a screenplay

http://www.creative-writing-now.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay.html

We Heart Drama – Practise Vocal Projection with the Shakespeare Insult Generator

http://www.weheartdrama.com/394/practise-vocal-projection-with-the-shakespeare-insult-generator/

Raise your voice acting – What is the history of voice over?

http://raiseyourvoiceacting.com/2012/04/09/what-is-the-history-of-voice-over/

OZ Comic Con – OZ Comic Con

http://www.ozcomiccon.com/

©ABC 2013

©ABC 2013

BtN: Episode 8 Transcript 26/3/13 On this week's Behind the News

We find out what it's like for a kid living in the middle of a warzone.

Going from primary to high school but what is the best age to make the move?

And learning the language of computers why some kids are being taught to write code.

Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News. Also on the show today we meet the talented voice actors behind some well-known animated characters. But first to the big news of the week the challenge to the Prime Minister from inside her own party. Here's Sarah with the Wire.

The Wire The Prime Minister has survived another attempt by her own party to ditch her from the top job. On Thursday the Federal Arts Minister, Simon Crean, told the media he wanted Julia Gillard to call a spill. That's when federal Labor party politicians get to vote on who they want to be leader. And Crean said they should vote for Kevin Rudd. SIMON CREAN: “We need to settle this, move forward. As for the position of, the positions being declared open. Kevin Rudd has no alternative but to stand for the leadership.” But Rudd didn't stand for the leadership. The Prime Minister agreed to the vote but no-one stood against her. Simon Crean was sacked for being disloyal and seven other Rudd supporters quit their positions in the government. Yesterday Julia Gillard announced their replacements. ***** The leadership challenge overshadowed what should have been a big story. On Thursday the government officially apologised to victims of forced adoption. Between the 1950s and 70s hundreds of thousands of mothers were forced to give up their babies. Sometimes it was because they weren't married or because they were thought to be too young to raise a child. But it had a terrible effect on many parents and children. More than 800 people came to hear the apology in Parliament House. ***** There's been some pretty wild weather across the country. In Brisbane there were severe thunderstorms on the weekend which damaged homes and left two people injured.

©ABC 2013

And on Thursday, a tornado ripped through several towns in north-east Victoria, destroying homes and injuring around 20 people.

Leadership Challenge Reporter: Nathan Bazley INTRO: Well as you just heard there was another attempt to topple the Prime Minister. She survived again. But it showed just how vulnerable it can be when you're in the top job. Let's take a look at why. NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: This is a risky job. And this is a risky job. But this has to be the riskiest of all. Sure, Prime Ministers don't jump through space with just a parachute to stop them. And they don't walk a tiny rope, when there is a perfectly good road below. But by now, you might be starting to realise that daredevils seem to last a bit longer in their jobs than political leaders do. So why is the top job so dangerous? Reason 1 - We vote for the party, not the leader. Here is the president of the United States, Barack Obama. BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: Hello I'm Barack Obama. Yes, we just said that. Shoosh you. Now say Obama passed a law banning cupcakes and sunshine. Clearly he'd be unpopular. But no matter how unpopular he could get, his job is safe. No one can throw him out until the next election. Now imagine if cupcakes and sunshine were banned here. The PM responsible would be out in an hour! The difference is what each country votes for. Over there, they vote for the president. But here, we vote for a party and put our trust in them to choose a leader. Most of the time, they've already selected a leader when we vote. So it can feel like that's who we're voting for. But if the party changes its mind, they can ditch the PM without us having any say in it at all! That brings us to the other reason why being a government leader is such risky occupation. Reason 2 – Replacing leaders isn’t unusual. Pollies really seem to be getting into the habit lately of knocking their leaders down. Let's run through the casualties. We all know the story of Kevin Rudd getting knocked over by Julia. But since then, the leader of South Australia has been booted by his own party. The leader of Victoria was ditched too. And the leader of the Northern Territory got tapped.

©ABC 2013

But don't go thinking it's just a government thing. The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, toppled someone else to lead his party, too. Now this toppling and tapping and ditching and booting has always happened of course. But now, with opinion polls being done nearly every other day and 24 hour news broadcasts analysing our leaders' every move, it's easier to know when they're unpopular. And therefore, easier to come up with reasons to show them the door. So what does all this teach us? Well politics is a funny job. One day you can be the most powerful person in Australia, the next you can be sitting on the backbench, dreaming about what could have been. Makes you wonder; considering all that, who would actually want to be the Prime Minister? VOX POP 1: I think that would be really cool, like you're powerful. I really don't, I'd hate people hating on me. VOX POP 2: I wouldn't want to be Prime Minister because if you've done so much hard work to become Prime Minister, and then if someone else tries to overtake you, then there was no point in it. Yeah exactly. VOX POP 3: I would, just ask a lot of questions. Like why am I fired? VOX POP 4: What if it was your friend that you knew? And they went against you and you were fired? That would hurt me! I'd be heartbroken!

Syria Kid Reporter: Natasha Thiele INTRO: Syria is a country where there's been a lot of fighting recently and many lives have been lost. But can you imagine what it would be like to be a kid living in the middle of a warzone? We followed 11-year old Ibrahim as he showed us what life's like there at the moment. Here's Tash. NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: Ibrahim loves to play soccer. He also enjoys going to school. But he lives in constant fear for his life. Ibrahim lives in Aleppo, a city in the Middle Eastern country of Syria. There's a war going on and bombs and missiles fall here a lot, but he and his family try to live a normal life. Ibrahim, his five brothers and sisters and his mum and dad all live here. They sleep together in one room because it's safer. This is their only TV. It works with the help of an outside power generator, because electricity is no longer available in the home. To cook food and to keep warm, wood needs to be collected for a bonfire. It's Ibrahim's job to find wood for the fire and bring it back home.

©ABC 2013

Ibrahim's dream is to become a doctor. But getting the education he needs to do that isn't easy. Many schools have been bombed or abandoned, including Ibrahim's. IBRAHIM: I have already lost two years of study. I hope I don't lose this year as well. There's a lack of teachers in Aleppo. Afif is one of the few still working here. He risked his life to smuggle these school books from government controlled areas. Ibrahim goes to a temporary school near his home. But walking there can be dangerous. He never knows when a bomb will go off. And today one landed just around the corner from the school. WOMAN: Come here, it's a strong one! On another day, a lesson in modern Arabic was going well until this happened. Life hasn't always been like this. Ibrahim and his family used to have plenty of food and clothes. They also didn't think twice about walking the streets. IBRAHIM: We had no problems at all. We were living comfortably. We had work, thank God. We could buy petrol, food and gas. It's tough for kids like Ibrahim who are living in a warzone. But one way he deals with it is by playing soccer with his mates. IBRAHIM: It helps me forget the injured people. It helps me forget the blood, the shelling, all of it. When the sun is out, we're all afraid. We go into our homes and stay inside. When the sky is clear, the planes come. If it's cloudy, the planes don't come at all. His parents hope he gets the education he needs to become a doctor, as well as the chance to travel overseas. But for now, even as the bombs continue to fall, Ibrahim and his friends won't let it stop them from being kids and enjoying a life that's as normal as it can be.

Year 7 Reporter: Sarah Larsen INTRO: If you ever feel upset by any of the stories on BtN there are links on our website to help. Now, making the move from primary school to high school is a big step. In some states you start high school in Year 7, while in others it's a year later when you're in Year 8. But that's changing in some states and it's causing a lot of debate. Sarah looks into it. Making the transition from Primary school to high school is a big step for kids. So what age is the best to do it at? Well there's disagreement about that. In some states you start high school in Year 7 when you're about 12 but in others it's a year later when you're in Year 8. But that's changing. The governments in two states are starting high school a year earlier and that's causing a lot of debate as Sarah reports. Year seven. The year when you leave primary school behind and head for high school.

©ABC 2013

When you get new classes and new teachers. And you go from being the biggest in the school to the smallest. Or, at least, that's how it works in most states. In New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the territories, high school starts in Year 7. But in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia it doesn't start until Year 8. There's no particular reason for that. It's just that it's always been up to the states to decide how kids should be taught and some decided to do it a bit differently. But now that's changing. As you might already know, the government is writing a national curriculum. They want kids to be learning the same things at the same age and that's tricky when some are in primary and some are in high school. High schools have specialist teachers who know a lot about their particular subject. They also have specialist classrooms like laboratories and workshops which let you do more hands on lessons. And some reckon that's what year 7s need to learn properly. So, from 2015, Queensland and Western Australia will be sending kids to high school a year earlier. Some Queensland kids are already trying it out, like twins Luke and Abbey who started Year 7 in high school last year. LUKE, STUDENT: Very different because we feel more grown up. Like it's like mini adult training. Smile. ABBEY, STUDENT: I love the sport the best. 'cause our sport teachers are really supportive and they give us opportunities in all different sports. But while swapping schools isn't such a big deal in the city, in the country it can be life changing. Here in Beacon in country Western Australia there are no high schools. So when primary's over it's off to boarding school for many kids. That used to happen in Year 8 when they were about 13, now it's going to happen a year earlier and it's made some families really sad. JEAN CASHMORE, MOTHER: One night I mentioned it to them how would you feel about going to boarding school. That would be great I'm really excited I would love to go to boarding school in Year 8 and I said, Year 7 and they said "ooh oh I 'm not sure about that". Not everyone's convinced that year sevens are better off in high school. After all, kids that age come in all shapes and sizes and while some are getting pretty big for primary, others are still a lot smaller than high school kids. And the changes will cost money. To cope with the extra students high schools might need more teachers, maybe even more classrooms. Some would prefer to have a national curriculum which is flexible and makes it easier for year sevens in primary school to learn the same stuff as year 7s in high school.

©ABC 2013

At the moment South Australia has no plans to change, so in two years time these guys could be the only year sevens still in primary school. REPORTER: So what do you reckon guys would you be happy to go to high school in two years time? YEAR 5 STUDENT: Well in some aspects I believe it would be quite good because you're going to be there for a while so it's better to get used to it. YEAR 5 STUDENT: Well in Year 7 science curriculum you have to use like Bunsen burners and scalpels and stuff and in primary school you don't have that kind of stuff. YEAR 5 STUDENT: I think we should go to high school in Year 8 because if you go to high school in Year 7 you won't know as much as if you go in Year 8. YEAR 5 STUDENT: I think that you should go to high school in Year 8 because you can spend another year with your primary school friends YEAR 5 STUDENT: It just seems right to go when you're a bit older. PRESENTER: OK let's make that our poll this week.

Online Poll The question is: Is Year 7 the best time to start high school? To vote, just head to our website. Last week we asked if people should be allowed to promote gambling during sports broadcasts. 18% of you said yes. 82% said no. What are the odds on that!

Computer Code Reporter: Sarah Larsen INTRO: Lots of us use computers but not many of us actually know how they work. Some computer programmers have launched a campaign to encourage schools to teach computer coding. They reckon it's a really important skill for kids in the 21st century. Here's Sarah.

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Imagine if the stuff you used every day was written in a language you didn't understand. Well, that's kind of what computers are like for most people. Behind the programs that we use all the time is a language that many aren't familiar with called source code. Source code is basically computer instructions used by programmers to tell computers what to do. By understanding how to use it you can get computers to do all sorts of things, whether it's creating video games or communicating with a far-away friend. Or just maybe creating programs which change the world. CODE.ORG VIDEO: I was 13 when I first got access to a computer. My parents bought me a Macintosh in 1984. I was in sixth grade. You might recognise some of these guys. Some of the most successful and famous faces around recently came together for a campaign that's trying to encourage more kids to learn the language of computers. CODE.ORG VIDEO: Here we are, 2013, we all depend on technology to communicate, to bank, information and none of us know how to read and write code. They say a lot of people think that learning code is difficult and complicated, but that's really not the case. CODE.ORG VIDEO: you don't need to be a genius to know how to code you need to be determined. Addition, subtraction that's about it you should probably know your multiplication tables. You don't have to be a genius to know how to code do you need to be a genius to know how to read? And you can start in primary school. These year fives are getting a lesson in programming with the help of some university students and some software that's been specially created to teach kids about coding. KID: It's a basic programmer for younger kids so it's basic and if you want to go to uni and you want to get into uni and do programming and stuff and you've never done it before it's good program to start it off. It's basic but you can go complicated if you want to. They're making animated movies, using specific instructions to move objects and characters around the screen. KID: If you want it to move its legs or walk forward you can program it to move one foot forward like half a metre then the other foot like you have to put every little detail. CHLOE PAN, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY: Our original plan was just to teach them some basic programming knowledge but after the first several classes we found they were actually exploring the software by themselves and they were really curious and really interested in it so we decided to teach them more. They are really fast learners. They say the best thing about programming is that it lets you create something from scratch then share it with others. KID: It's kind of like with our whole group we've actually made this all together like it's amazing really.

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MAYURESH KULKARNI, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY: Programming makes you rule the world it makes you have the world at your tips you can do anything and you can instruct the computer to do anything for you. Whether these guys go on to be the superstar programmers of the future or whether their careers go in a totally different direction, they're getting an insight into a world that not too many people understand and learning skills that will help them succeed in a digital future.

Quiz 1 OK let's have a quiz about computer code. The question is: A computer code full of the numbers 1 and 0 is known as what? Binary Matrix Decimal Answer: Binary OK let's get some sports news now. Here's James with the Score.

The Score Australia's problems on the cricket field are continuing. They lost every test in their 4 test series against India. The final one was a straight forward 6 wicket win for India. It's been 43 years since Australia last lost a series 4-0! **** There was huge controversy at the Formula One in Malaysia. Aussie Mark Webber was set to win the Grand Prix, ahead of his team mate Sebastian Vettel in 2nd place. The Red Bull team bosses had told them to drive carefully and stay in the same order. But at the end, Vettel ignored those instructions and overtook Webber. Webber was furious as you could guess from the body language on the podium. **** And the AFL got underway this weekend. In the first game of the season the Adelaide Crows hosted the Essendon Bombers. The Crows started well but the bombers were dominant for most of the game. The Bombers won the season opener 117 to 82.

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Quiz 2 We're going to have a story about voice acting next. But first let's have a quiz. The question is: Which actor provided the voice for Shrek? Tom Hanks Billy Connolly Mike Myers Answer: Mike Myers

Voice Artists Reporter: Natasha Thiele INTRO: The next people we're going to meet are really famous but if you saw them you probably wouldn't know who they were. Until, that is they opened their mouths to talk. Tash went along to a voice acting workshop to meet some of the voices behind some well known animated characters. NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: You might recognise this show. But, what about the voices behind the characters? This is Luke Jurevicius. He's the voice behind Figaro Pho. LUKE JUREVICIUS, VOICE ACTOR: I didn't go to any voice acting school or anything like that. I was just a clown as a kid. Voice actors provide the voices and sounds for animated characters in cartoons, movies, TV or even video games. LUKE: This is where all the magic does happen. REPORTER: Cool, well can you show me how to voice an animation? LUKE: I would love to, come on! LUKE: You just do the voice and then you've gotta look at the picture, you've gotta watch what's happening on screen, and you have to sort of re-create what you think that chicken is saying and then you need to edit it all together like what I've done and sync it up to the picture, slide these around so it matches your picture and there you got a voice for a character.

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REPORTER: Can I have a go? LUKE: Can you have a go? Yes of course, let's go. Okay, so what we're going to be is we're going to be a chicken, because see Figaro pretends that he's a chicken. After a bit of warming up, I was ready to record my voice. LUKE: Are you are ready? REPORTER: Yep! From here, my voice can be added to the animation. LUKE: That looks about right there. Let's see how it sounds. These guys are getting a lesson in voice acting from a couple of famous voices. CHRIS: Everything you had to do was way back here and it doesn't sound very hard, but then you flex this muscle in your neck here for long enough, it begins to really hurt. Chris Sabat is known for this work on Dragon Ball Z and Paul Eiding plays Grandpa Max in Ben 10. They say there are a couple of important skills you need, to be a voice actor. CHRIS: The cool thing about being a voice actor and I think that's what makes voice actors hireable is their ability to just jump into it without fear to just 'alright, here we go, I'm gonna do it'. PAUL: I'll tell you one thing that's really important is to be able to read, read really well and to be able to scan quickly because a lot of the time you don't have a lot of time beforehand and they'll give you a script, sometimes you'll get to ready it before you start recording, sometimes you don't. KID 1: Voice acting seems really cool, I really liked the voices that the guys did. KID 2: I learned how to warm up, like just talking. KID 3: I learnt quite a bit about, like about how you flex some of the muscles to create different voices. Next time you're watching a movie or playing a video game, remember there are people working behind the scenes bringing characters to life!

Closer If you want to have a go at voice acting then head to the BtN website. We've got a great animation that you can put your voice to. That's it for the show. I'll see you next time.