Questions for discussion

Dual Citizenship1. Discuss the BTN Dual Citizenship story in pairs. What points were raised in the discussion?2. What is dual citizenship?3. What did Barnaby Joyce discover about his citizenship recently?4. What does Australia’s constitution say about politicians having dual citizenship?5. How long ago was the law created?6. Why was the law created?7. Why do some people say the rules should be changed?8. To change the constitution, a _____________________ has to be held.9. What questions do you have after watching this story?10. Do you think that the constitution should be changed to allow dual citizens to be federal

politicians?

Vote in the BTN Online Poll

Guam1. Where is Guam? Locate using Google Maps.2. What do the kids in the BTN story like about living on Guam?3. The island of Guam is a United States

a. Stateb. Territory c. Country

4. What is the name of the Indigenous people of Guam?5. Which group settled Guam in the 1600s?6. The Japanese briefly invaded Guam during which war?7. In which year did the US take back Guam?8. Why is Guam an important asset to the US?9. Which country is threatening to launch a nuclear attack on Guam?10. How do the kids on Guam feel about the threat of a nuclear attack?

Do the quiz on the BTN websiteCheck out the Guam Profile resource on the Teachers page

Burn off Season1. Explain the BTN Burn off Season story to another student. 2. What is a burn-off?3. Why do fire fighters conduct them?4. What three things make up the fire triangle?

©ABC 2017

Episode 2322nd August 2017

5. A burn-off removes which part of the fire triangle?6. In Indigenous culture, what is `caring for country’?7. Why did Indigenous people use fire-stick faming?8. After European settlement, Indigenous people were often _______________ from lighting

fires. 9. Why are Indigenous rangers now working with fire services?10. What did you learn watching the BTN story?

Check out the Backburning resource on the Teachers page

Moonhack Record1. Before you watch the BTN story, predict what you think it’s about. 2. What was the main point of the BTN story? 3. What world record are the students in the story trying to break?4. In your own words, describe what coding is.5. About how long have the kids in the story been coding?6. Moonhack is a national event. True or false?7. What is the theme for the games and stories created for Moonhack?8. How many students took part in Moonhack?9. What was surprising about this story?10. Do you think it is important to learn coding? Give reasons for your answer.

Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.

Guide Dog Training1. Briefly summarise the BTN Guide Dogs story.2. Explain what students from Hawkesbury High School are doing.3. What is the name of the program run by Guide Dogs NSW?4. What is the aim of the program?5. The breed of dogs used in the program are __________________ .6. Describe the training the students do with the dogs.7. Why do you think it is important to teach the dogs to remain calm?8. What are some of the challenges for the students training the guide dogs?9. What happens to the dogs after the Positive Paws program?10. What did you like about this story?

Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.

©ABC 2017

Teacher Resource

Guam Profile

1. Where is Guam? Locate using Google Maps.2. What do the kids in the BTN story like about living on Guam?3. The island of Guam is a United States

a. Stateb. Territory c. Country

4. What is the name of the Indigenous people of Guam?5. Which group settled Guam in the 1600s?6. The Japanese briefly invaded Guam during which war?7. In which year did the US take back Guam?8. Why is Guam an important asset to the US?9. Which country is threatening to launch a nuclear attack on Guam?10. How do the kids on Guam feel about the threat of a nuclear attack?

After watching the BtN Guam Profile story, ask students to finish one or more of the following incomplete sentences:

This story made me wonder why... It was interesting to learn that... This story made me feel...

Hold a class discussion about the information raised in the BTN story. What questions do students have (what are the gaps in their knowledge)? The following questions may help guide the discussion:

Where is Guam and why is it a US territory? What is life like on Guam? Why is North Korea threatening Guam?

Use the following KWLH organiser as a framework to consider what they would like to know and learn.

What do I know?

What do I want to know?

What have I learnt?

How will I find out?

©ABC 2017

Episode 2322nd August 2017

Students will develop a deeper understanding of Guam and create a profile of the place.

Geography – Year 6The geographical diversity of the Asia region and the location of its major countries in relation to Australia

Differences in the economic, demographic and social characteristics of countries across the world

Australia’s connections with other countries and how these change people and places

The world’s cultural diversity, including that of its indigenous peoples

HASS – Years 5 & 6Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, places, systems and challenges 

Sequence information about people’s lives, events, developments and phenomena using a variety of methods including timelines

Civics and Citizenship – Year 6The obligations citizens may consider they have beyond their own national borders as active and informed global citizens

Where is Guam?Students will investigate in more detail the location of Guam by answering the following questions:

In which hemisphere is Guam? What is the latitude and longitude of Guam? What is the closest country to Guam? How far is Guam from the United States? How far is it from Australia (in kilometres)? What is the time difference between where you live and Guam?

Profile of GuamStudents explore the territory of Guam in more depth and create a profile of Guam and its people. Include information in the table below.

Areas to Research Guam

Geography – capital city, physical features of the country, climate, environment. Include a map showing surrounding countries and relationship to Australia

People – population, Indigenous people, culture, customs, language, health, religion, beliefs and food

History – How did it become a US territory?Which countries have colonised Guam?

Economy – education and work, trade, industries and products

Inquiry questionso How would your life be similar and/or

different if you grew up in Guam?o Why is it important to learn about other

cultures?

References

©ABC 2017

Postcard writingStudents will imagine they are visiting Guam and write a postcard to a family member describing the place. They will use their research findings to support their writing. Include photographs, drawings and or maps to decorate the front of the postcard. Students can download this Write a Postcard template to help them with their design.

Create a QuizUse Kahoot! to test students’ knowledge about Guam. Quizzes can be created to recap learning or test personal knowledge. There is also the option to connect with classrooms around the world and play kahoot in real time.

BTN North Korea StoriesThese BTN stories provide background information about North Korea and their nuclear weapons testing.

North Korea Threats North Korea Tests

©ABC 2017

BTN – North Korea Testshttp://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4538779.htm

BTN - North Korea Testshttp://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4659774.htm

CBBC Newsround - Where is Guam and why is North Korea targeting it?http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/40891246

ABC News – Guam: America’s military base in the western Pacifichttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-09/where-is-guam-and-how-many-us-troops-are-there/8788566

©ABC 2017

Teacher Resource

Burn off Season

1. Explain the BTN Burn off Season story to another student. 2. What is a burn-off?3. Why do fire fighters conduct them?4. What three things make up the fire triangle?5. A burn-off removes which part of the fire triangle?6. In Indigenous culture, what is `caring for country’?7. Why did Indigenous people use fire-stick faming?8. After European settlement, Indigenous people were often

_______________ from lighting fires. 9. Why are Indigenous rangers now working with fire services?10. What did you learn watching the BTN story?

Class DiscussionAfter watching the BTN Burn off Season story, ask students to finish one or more of the following incomplete sentences:

A ‘burn-off’ is... Burn-offs are important because…. This story made me wonder...

Discuss the BTN Burn off Season story as a class. What questions were raised in the discussion (what are the gaps in their knowledge)? The following KWLH organiser provides students with a framework to explore their knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn.

What do I know?

What do I want to know?

What have I learnt?

How will I find out?

Students will develop their own question/s for inquiry. Students will collect and record information from a wide variety of sources (internet, books, newspaper and magazines) and present the information they find in an interesting way.

©ABC 2017

Episode 23 22nd August 2017

Students will learn about the science of fires, and find similarities and differences between a controlled ‘burn-off’ and a wild bushfire. Students will learn about Indigenous fire management.

Geography – Year 5The influence of people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, on the environmental characteristics of Australian places. 

The environmental and human influences on the location and characteristics of a place and the management of spaces within them. 

The impact of bushfires or floods on

environments and communities, and how people can respond.

Geography – Year 6Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, places, systems and challenges.

Interpret data and information displayed in a range of formats to identify, describe and compare

distributions, patterns and trends,

and to infer relationships.

See some discussion starters below: Ask students what they already know about burn-offs? Why are burn-offs important? Record

student’s responses on the whiteboard. Fire management is part of how Aboriginal people look after country. What does this mean? What causes bushfires? What are the risk factors? Think about fuel, weather and geographical

features. Before watching the story develop a mind map with ‘fire’ in the middle. After watching the story and

learning more about Aboriginal fire management, add words and concepts to your class mind map, but this time using a different coloured pencil. How has your thinking changed?

GlossaryDevelop a glossary of words and terms that relate to the story. Below are some words to get students started. Add words and meanings to the glossary as you come across unfamiliar words throughout your research. Consider using pictures and diagrams to illustrate meanings.

Burn-off Bushfire season Controlled fire Oxygen

Fuel Fire triangle Vegetation Caring for country

Challenge students by asking them to use words from their class glossary to write their own sentences. Alternatively, students can make their own crossword puzzle, word find or fill in the gaps activity (see example below). Fill in the gaps (words: Burn-off, controlled, heat, oxygen, fuel, triangle, bushfires)

A _________ is when grass, weeds, branches and leaves are burnt using a

____________ fire to reduce the likelihood of bigger and hotter fires. The three

elements you need to create a fire are ______, _________ and ______. This is

called a fire ___________. Burn-offs are something that Australia's Indigenous

people have been doing for thousands of years. Burning practices like these are

used to prevent _________ and is part of something called caring for country.

Fire scienceThere are three basic elements that a fire needs to start and continue burning: fuel, oxygen and heat.

Ask students to predict what these three elements might be. Students will draw and label the fire triangle and then explain how fuel,

oxygen and heat might affect a fire. Explain to students that a fire will not burn if one of these components is

removed. Ask students to predict what might happen if one of these components was removed.

Use this bushfire education resource to learn more about the fire triangle and what a fire needs to start, continue burning and be put out.

©ABC 2017

Visual literacyThis photograph shows an Australian habitat that has been fire-managed. Observe, analyse and query the image and respond to the following questions.

Observe What do you see in this image? Describe the environment. Describe the vegetation and other features. Are there details you can’t identify?

Analyse Notice the lack of tall grass or thick bushes. How would the lack of tall grass or thick bushes help

prevent bushfires? Think about fuels that increase the likelihood of a bushfire. This landscape is referred to as ‘fire-managed country’. What does this mean?

Query What is a cool burn-off? Investigate why night time or early mornings are ideal for cool fires.

In this video, Dean Yibarbuk, a Gurr-goni man, talks about fire management in western Arnhem Land, NT. In the video he says ”Being the boss of fire was always the way. Not fire being the boss of us. That is the lesson from the old people”. What does this mean?

Students will respond to the following questions before, during and after watching this ABC Splash video about Aboriginal fire knowledge. Come on an eye-opening trip to western Arnhem Land in northern Australia to find out how Aboriginal fire-control techniques are used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of tonnes.

Before viewing What do you know about Aboriginal

fire-control techniques? How are firebreaks used to control

wildfires?As you view

©ABC 2017

Notice what an early dry season burn is like.After viewing

What Aboriginal knowledge is being applied in current fire-control techniques? Why would less greenhouse gases be emitted by early dry season burns than late ones?

Visual literacy – compare and contrastBelow are two photographs, one showing a cool burn-off the other showing a bushfire. Students will compare and contrast what they see in these images and respond to the following questions.

Example of a cool burn-off

Source – ABC News

Example of a bushfire

Source – ABC News

What three words would you use to describe this image?

Describe the fire (the flames, size).

At what time of year would this fire normally occur?

How do you think this fire started?

How would animals and plants be affected by this fire?

Imagine and describe what you think the habitat will look like once the fire has been put out.

ABC News – Cultural burning being revived by aboriginal peoplehttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-19/cultural-burning-being-revived-by-aboriginal-people/8630038

BTN – Fire Preparationshttp://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4331558.htm

Creative Spirits – Aboriginal fire managementhttps://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/land/aboriginal-fire-management#axzz4pmodTVUd

Government of WA – Traditional aboriginal burninghttps://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning

©ABC 2017

NT Government – Firehttp://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/culture/fire.shtml

Cool Australia – Indigenous Australians and land managementhttps://www.coolaustralia.org/activity/cool-burning-the-history-of-indigenous-fire-management-year-7/

BTN: Episode 23 Transcript 22/08/17

Hi, I'm Nathan Bazley, thanks for joining me for BTN!

Coming up today:

We visit the small island that's been threatened by North Korea - and meet some of the kids that call it home.

See how tens of thousands of Aussie kids set a world record last week.

And find out how these students become teachers to guide dog puppies.

It’s pretty cute, so stay with us.

Dual CitizenshipReporter: Jack Evans

INTRO: But first today. A little-known constitutional requirement is causing big problems in Australia's federal parliament. Federal parliamentarians cannot be dual citizens yet quite a few have now turned out to be just that. And one of the victims is one of the biggest names in the House of Representatives - Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.We'll take a look at the issue and find out why the constitution would have included this rule in the first place.

VO: And now it's time for everyone's favourite game show, what's my citizenship. With everyone's favourite host this guy!

JACK: Now who's ready to play!? Say hello to tonight's contestant, Kayla!

KAYLA: Hi mum!

JACK: Now Kayla, your first question: Are you a citizen of a) Australia b) New Zealand c) Canada or d) I don't know?

Kayla: a) Australia?

JACK: Well you're half right. That's right Kayla you are an Aussie but you're also Canadian.

Kayla: Oh cool. I didn't know that!

©ABC 2017

JACK: Yes, turns out your father was born in Canada! Which means you are automatically a Canadian citizen!

Yes, just like Kayla here it's not unusual to be born overseas or have a parent who was. And for the most part it doesn't cause any problems. Oh unless of course you want to work here. Over the past few weeks quite a few politicians have found out that they're dual citizens. That means they're a citizen of two countries at the same time. One of them is the man 2nd in charge, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Mr Joyce is an Aussie but it turns out his dad was born in New Zealand which means he's automatically a Kiwi too! A fact he says he had no idea about until recently. The rules on citizenship vary around the world. Some countries give them out automatically in certain situations. Others, like the US, ask you to apply. So, it can be difficult to know where you stand.

KAYLA: So, I'm a dual citizen then? What does that mean?

JACK: Well technically you got the question wrong, but I'm in a good mood so let's take a look at the prizes you're entitled to with your dual citizenship!

Well, our lucky winner won't need to worry about a visa on their next trip to Canada because they'll be taking home two passports. And while they're there they can vote, go to school, work and much, much more!

KAYLA: Wow, fantastic!

JACK: Yes, yes. But to take this prize home you'll have to give up your dream to become an Aussie politician.

KAYLA: Oh really? But why?

Well it's all because of Australia's constitution, or section 44 to be precise. It says that you can't be elected as a politician if you have another citizenship. And if you do you have to make sure you've given it up before being elected. The law was created more than 100 years ago to make sure Aussie MP's aren't able to be influenced by other governments.

JACK: Kayla the clock is ticking, we need an answer.

KAYLA: Wait a sec! Shouldn't we just change the laws?

JACK: Well it's not that easy.

Some people say the rules are outdated and that it might be time to change the constitution to allow dual citizens to be elected. But changing the constitution isn't easy. There would have to be a big national vote called a referendum. That's really expensive and they are rarely successful.

JACK: So, what's it going to be Kayla? A career in politics or your dual citizenship?

KAYLA: I can't have both?

JACK: No.

©ABC 2017

All of the pollies caught out say they didn't realise they had another citizenship and while some have stepped down, others including Mr Joyce say they'll stay in their job while the High Court decides whether or not they have to quit.

KAYLA: Ok I've made my decision. I'm going to think about it!JACK: Seriously? Well that's all we have time for. Join us next week when we meet a contestant with not 1, not 2, but 3 citizenships! bye for now!

Poll

So, after watching that, do you think the rule should be changed to allow dual citizens to be federal politicians?

Let us know in our online poll.

And here's the results of last week's poll.

GuamReporter: Ruby Cornish

INTRO: Next up today recently North Korea threatened to hit the island of Guam with a nuclear weapon. It's a tiny island in the pacific with a population of 160,000. So why target this nation, out of all others on earth? Let's find out and meet some of the kids that live there.

EZRA, JIA & TOBIAS: Hafa Adai. I'm Ezra, I'm Jia, and I'm Tobias, and we're from Guam!

Hafa Adai means hello in Chamorro, the native language of Guam.

JIA: It's mostly hot but the weather changes every 5 minutes. I like the beaches a lot.

EZRA: I play basketball, I like to go swimming and I like to play video games.

TOBIAS: I play soccer, I also do golf for fun at the driving range.

TOBIAS & FRIEND: Here we are at the high school, we're upstairs. Our school has a beautiful view of the Tumon, the tourist district.But whereabouts is this tucked-away, tropical territory that Ezra, Jia and Tobias call home?

EZRA: Guam is in the Pacific Ocean and it's near Japan and North Korea.

It's this island right here.

We may have to zoom in a bit, a bit further. Aha, there it is!

But there's something makes Guam very different to most other islands in the area.

It's a long way away from the United States, but it's actually a US territory.

©ABC 2017

Its first inhabitants were the Chamorro people who're still the largest cultural group in Guam.

But back in the 1600s, Guam was settled by the Spanish. Then in the 1898 Spanish-American War, it was taken over by the United States.The Japanese invaded Guam briefly during World War II.

But the US took it back in 1944, and it's been under their control ever since.

Guam is a really important asset to America because it's much closer to Asia than the US is.

So, the Defence Force use it a lot.

In fact, nearly a third of the island is made up of military bases!It's got an airbase, submarines and seven thousand members of the United States armed forces are stationed here.

And that's one of the reasons why everyone's been making such a big deal about this little island lately.

You see, about 3 and a half thousand kilometres northwest of Guam, is North Korea.

The United States and North Korea aren't on very good terms.

So recently, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un warned he might launch a nuclear attack against Guam because his weapons can't reach the US yet.

Experts say at this stage it probably won't happen.

But for Tobias, Jia and Ezra living on Guam it's hard not to think about it.

TOBIAS: It makes me feel scared, a little tiny scared but I feel like they're not going to bomb us.

JIA: We're making emergency kits just in case it really does happen and we're, the teachers and staff are planning where every class is going to go in a special room.

EZRA: Everybody has to bring emergency kits with food and water and towels.

Last week, residents of Guam tooks to the streets to say they want peaceful end to all of the threats.

PROTESTER: If they can think of war, why not think of peace?

But officials say the island is prepared for anything, so they're trying not worry.

And in the meantime, life on this little island paradise kicks on!

©ABC 2017

Ask A Reporter

Have you got a question about Guam? Ask me live on Friday during Ask a Reporter!

Head to our website for all the details.This Week in News

To this week's other big headlines now and Aussie politician Pauline Hanson has caused controversy by wearing a burka in the senate.

A burka is a traditional veil worn by some Muslim women and senator Hanson wants them banned because she says they're a security threat.

She says she wore one into the Senate to make a point.

But a lot of politicians have criticised her saying it was disrespectful and didn't cause any security problems either.

The Yarra City Council in Melbourne has voted to change the way it marks the 26th of January.

It says it's now going to stop referring to the day as Australia Day.

For many Indigenous Australians January 26th isn't a date to celebrate because it marks the arrival of the First Fleet and the start of British colonisation.

So instead of Australia Day festivities the council will hold an Indigenous cultural event instead.

But some people, including the PM Malcolm Turnbull, spoke out against the decision saying the day shouldn't change.

Some two-thousand-year-old tombs have been uncovered in Egypt.

Archaeologists found three tombs filled with sarcophagi, which are stone coffins

They think the space might be part of a bigger cemetery dating back to around 500 BCE!

And the best Aussie kids’ books of 2017 have been announced!

Rockhopping by Trace Balla won best young reader book, while One Would Think the Deep won the older readers award and 'Home in the Rain' won picture book of the year.

©ABC 2017

The awards are given out by the Children's Book Council of Australia.

Burn off SeasonReporter: Jack Evans

INTRO: NSW's Rural Fire Service has now started preparing for bushfire season with burn-off's in the southern Highlands. Burn-offs are designed to help prevent serious fires during summer. But did you know it's something that Australia's Indigenous people have done for thousands of years. Take a look.

Ah sun, sand, slushies. If you're like me you'll be counting down the days till summer. But with about 100 days to go there isn't much I can do except wait it out. While I'm making the most of the colder months though. Fire fighters around the country are busy preparing for the hotter ones.

If you live in Sydney you might have noticed a smoky haze covering the sky last week. That was because fire fighters like these guys were doing something called a burn-off. That's when grass, weeds, branches and leaves are burnt using a controlled fire in the cooler months. To reduce the likelihood of bigger uncontrolled fires during summer. You see there are three elements you need to create fire: heat, oxygen and fuel. This is called the fire triangle. For bushfires, all this vegetation lying around is ready-made fuel. So, if it's burnt now in the cooler months it can't burn again during summer.

But the idea of holding a burn-off to protect against bushfires isn't a new one. It's actually something that Australia's Indigenous people have done for thousands of years. It's called 'caring for country' and it's a set of practices that Indigenous people use to protect and maintain the land. A big part of that is fire-stick farming. Fire-stick farming is when large sections of land are burnt on purpose. But it wasn't just to avoid bushfires. By clearing the long grass, it made it easier for Indigenous people to spot animal tracks while hunting. It also protected tree canopies from bushfires which some consider to be sacred and helped to spread seeds and grow new vegetation.

But after European settlement Indigenous people were often banned from lighting these fires and in the years after bigger and more intense bushfires were recorded by the settlers. That's one of the reasons why in some areas Indigenous rangers are now working with fire services to keep these traditions alive.

UNCLE VIC SHARMEN: That's really important that we share that knowledge with those who are going to be charged with the responsibility of caring for country further down the track.

NOEL WEBSTER: Introducing fire back in the country you know, we're trying to use it to bring back the health, bring it back to life and use it as a tool so it's not just walk in walk out, it's a long-term commitment.

©ABC 2017

These guys say backburning is a really important practice. So, we can continue to protect the land and also protect us from danger this summer.

Quiz

Now for a quiz.

What temperature is the average bushfire?

280

400

820 degrees Celsius

Answer: 820 degrees but they can peak at 1300!

Moonhack RecordReporter: Ruby Cornish

INTRO: Now as most of you would know, Science Week was held in Australia last week and one of the activities on offer was Moonhack, a world record coding attempt for kids. We visited one school that took part to see what was involved.

I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to break a world record. Like, blowing the biggest bubble gum bubble ever blown, which is 58 centimetres. Or longest time spent on a roller coaster, which is 405 hours. So far, I haven't had much luck. But today I get to meet some students who were part of a record attempt for the most kids coding at the same time for an event called Moonhack. So, did they break the record? Let's find out!

Most of the coders at this school who took part in Moonhack have a bit of experience up their sleeves.

How long have you been coding for?

STUDENT: Two years.

Two years! So, you've been coding since you were in year two?

STUDENT: Yes.

STUDENT: I've been coding ever since I started school probably.

And they're pretty excited about the prospect of setting a new record!

©ABC 2017

STUDENT: Since I was really little I've always wanted to be part of a world record so I'm really excited about it.

STUDENT: I have never done a world record before and I feel like it would be really good to get a record and show my parents and family how proud I am.

Moonhack started in Australia last year, and this year, it went global!From South Korea to South Africa to New Zealand, nearly 30 thousand kids took part in the 24-hour event.

Creating games and stories all with a similar theme: The moon.

STUDENT: If it touches the planets, you reset it, but you have to use the green panel to keep it up.

STUDENT: In this game, you have to press the left and right arrow keys to move the bowl of chips to catch all these characters.

STUDENT: I also had to make Mars and the moon because they didn't have those sprites so I had to use a red ball and like draw orange lines on it to make Mars.

But coding is about more than just fun and games, it's the language of our digital world!

And as time goes on, good coders will be in high demand.

STUDENT: You have to know it, like most jobs in the future will probably be about coding because there will be so much new technology and that.

STUDENT: Even now you need a lot of coding for everything we do, like iPhones and computers but in the future, I think we'll need a lot more.

Especially since most grown-ups have no idea how to do it!

ISABELLE ROBERTS: Adults are a bit more hesitant and they'll go hmm, should I have a go? Kids love it, they'll change and try it and they'll teach us things. That's the beauty of it, we're learning from them as much as they're learning from us. It's no longer the teacher at the front of the class. It's collaboration at the best.

So, with almost 30 thousand students taking part, the big question is - Did they break the world record?

CLASS: Yeah!

Yep, and they're over the moon about it!

STUDENT: I like coding because it's a fun way to express your ideas and your creativity.

STUDENT: At Moonhack it was so cool because I knew that like 3 thousand kids were coding next to me or at the same time. It was awesome knowing that and it was a great thing to be a part of.

©ABC 2017

Quiz

Now to a quiz.

Roughly how big is the moon compared to Earth?

A quarter

Half

A tenth of the size

The answer: A quarter

Sport

To Basketball first and the Boomers have won the Asia Cup!

They beat Iran in the final on the weekend 79 to 56.

The team now has a bit of a break until the World Cup qualifiers in November.

Moving to tennis and Nick Kyrgios has lost the final of the Cincinnati Masters.

He went down to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets but he beat some big names to get there, like world number one Rafael Nadal

Kyrgios says it's all been good prep for the US Open which starts next week.

In rugby, the Wallabies have been thrashed by the All Blacks in the series opener of the Bledisloe Cup.

They lost 54-34 and while it's not the start they wanted.

They're hoping for a better showing when the two sides meet again next Saturday.

Meanwhile, check out these very impressive skippers.

The Aussie trio have already won heaps of gold medals at the skipping world champs and now they've got their sights set on a world record.

©ABC 2017

They're heading to China next month to attempt to break the 30-second speed double-dutch world record.

LILLY BARKER: The stakes are really high, they're expecting a lot from us so I think it should be good to live up to the expectations.

Guide Dog Training

Reporter: Natasha Thiele

INTRO: Okay finally today, get ready for some cute puppies. Students in New South Wales are taking part in what could be one of the best school activities ever. Their job is to teach Labrador puppies some important skills before they go off for Guide Dog training.

In this class, pencils have been replaced with coloured balls and books with wooden obstacles. Plus, the students are a bit furrier than usual. Okay, so teaching puppies might not look that serious but what they're learning is actually really important!

These students from Hawkesbury High School are teaching their furry little friends the social skills they need to start their official guide dog training with a family. It's all part of an eight-week Positive Paws Program run by Guide Dogs NSW.

KID 1: The program sort of aims to develop confidence in the little puppies and get them used to socialising with people.

KID 2: It's to interact with the puppies so that when they go to homes, they're a lot more familiar with people, it's a lot easier to handle them.

Each week, they spend two hours taking these Labrador puppies through a bunch of different obstacles to get them used to all kinds of environments and to help build their confidence.

For example, they teach them how to climb stairs and how to get out of a ball pit.

KID 3: We teach them how to respond to calls, how to be handled like for say being handled at the vet, how to be handled at the groomers and just being comfortable with everything.

KID 4: Getting them to sit, drop, putting their collars on, we did leads, we weighed them and we just gave them treats whenever they did something right.

They even teach the pups how to remain calm.

KID 5: If they get scared or in a frightful situation or if they're overwhelmed, you work with those areas particularly around their ears. You can also work their little paws as well, that seems to calm them down.

These guys say that training their four-legged friends has definitely been fun, but it can also be quite challenging.

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KID 6: Getting them to drop because they don't like dropping, they all just sit and walk away.KID 2: They tend to bite or mouth a bit, they have really sharp needle teeth.

KID 4: The puppies all have really short attention span so it's really difficult to get them to concentrate and get them to focus on what you're doing with them.

From here, the pups will move in with their puppy raising families for a year of serious guide dog training. And while it'll be hard for these guys to say goodbye to their little friends, they know they'll go on to make a huge difference to the lives of others!

KID 4: It's good to know that we've done something really good with them and they're going to help a lot of people when they're older.

KID 3: Sad because I'm not sure if I'll ever get to see them again.

KID 7: But then I'm happy that these puppies are going to change someone's life.

Closer

And that's it for today! But remember, there is always more to see and do on our website.

Thanks for joining me. I'll see you live on Friday for Ask a Reporter and then next week for more BTN.

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