Paying It Forward

In the mid-1930's, things began to change for the better in New Zealand. More people were able to find work and receive a steady paycheck. They were still careful, however, with their money and rarely, if ever, brought treats or gifts for one another. For this task we have to imagine that we are able to travel back in time to visit a family in the 1930's and give them gifts. I personally would take the Harry Potter books back because I believe that reading is important and these books are interesting to almost everyone. I would also like to take back some Cadbury chocolates like Boost and Crunchie bars.

Offering a Helping Hand

During this period, people struggled to find work both here at home and overseas. It was a really tough time for people living in the great plains of the United States because they were hit with a huge drought that lasted for most of the decade. Many of the crops were damaged an farmers were not able to make enough money to feed their families. For this activity we have to imagine we are there and have think up three ways to help make money for our family's. 

1. In summer grooming all the cats around the town.

2. Find and remove fleas in homes.

3. Go hunting with family and sell some of the meat.

Dealing with Stress

In New Zealand, many people lost their jobs during this decade. Experts predict that as much as 30% of the population was unemployed. It was a very stressful time for families. For this task we have to write about how we deal with stress. When I am stressed I like to read, or maybe watch a YouTube video, or possibly draw. When I am working on something at home to help me work I like to listen to some music, to help keep me calm and on task.

Crossing the Tasmen

In 1928, a crew of four men flew, for the first time, across the Tasmen from Australia to New Zealand. One of the men on board the Southern Cross airplane was a New Zealander named T.H. McWilliams. His job was to operate the radio in the airplane. Unfortunately, the radio stopped working shortly after take-off and the rain and ice were so heavy that the pilot, Kingford Smith, couldn't see out of his front windscreen! For this task we had to imagine if we were part of the crew, and to write a poem about how we would have felt when they landed safely in Christchurch after the long trip. I chose to write a Limerick, here it is.

Oh sunshine, oh beautiful sunshine.

Finally outside, trees twine.

Flowers everywhere are blooming.

Bees are always zooming.

Oh sunshine, oh beautiful sunshine.

Art Deco

In the 1920's a new artistic movement emerged in New Zealand (and around the world). It was called the 'Art Deco'. For this activity we have to rate a painting in this style out of five. (1 star= terrible painting 2 stars= pretty bad painting 3 stars= okay painting 4 stars= good painting 5 stars= amazing painting). I personally give it five out of five I love this painting, it is very detailed and look very realistic. The shading is awesome too. Here is a photo of the painting, this is Self Portrait by Tamara de Lempicka.

The Silent Movie

The 1920's saw a massive surge in the number of people going to movies. Huge new cinemas were built in both Auckland (The Civic Theatre) and Dunedin (Empire De Luxe). The most popular type of movies showing at New Zealand cinemas were 'silent' films. For this task we have to try and figure out what the movie is about and do you think you would enjoy watching a silent film. For this I am doing it on the Lion Cage, this clip I got to watch was hilarious. It is about a man who is being chased by a donkey into a lion's cage, and accidentally locks himself into the cage with the lion. Lucky the lion is asleep on the floor. Here is the clip if you want to watch it.

In Flanders Fields

As the new century dawned, New Zealand settled into a period of relative calm. The calm lasted for about 15 years but came to a sudden end in 1914 when World War 1 erupted in Europe. The war lasted almost five years and claimed the lives of 18,000 New Zealanders. It also claimed the lives of thousands of men and women from countries around the world. Ever year, we remember these brave men and women on A.N.Z.A.C. day. There is one important poem that is read out called 'In Flanders Fields', it's written by John McCrae. For this task we had to read this poem and think do we like it? How does it make you feel? I love this poem, it tells the horrors of the war and how we are so lucky that we do not have to go through that violence, and uncertainty of whether we are going to make into tomorrow! I myself do not know how I would feel having that going around me, it's terrifying because of how easily war could break out!