Schools Past, Present and Future

group of people wearing white and orange backpacks walking on gray concrete pavement during daytime

Image: Unsplash: School children

“Back to school, back to school,
Now the holiday’s done.
We love our teacher, we love our class,
We think our school work is fun!” (an old rhyme)

If it’s February, it must be back to school time! Ever since New Zealand was colonised in the late 1800’s, schools have been built around the country. Many early schools were small, single-room buildings with one teacher who taught everything to students of varying ages. There were strict rules on how to behave, and often physical punishment (usually a cane or leather strap across the hand – ouch!) was administered if you misbehaved! By around 1910, all children between seven and 14 had to attend school.  In 1913, secondary schooling became free to attend in New Zealand. Children who passed Standard 6 (Year 8) in a number of subjects were awarded Proficiency. This meant they could go onto high school.

Today New Zealand has over 2,500 primary and secondary schools.

Fun School Fact #1: Daily School Milk in NZ Schools

Milk In Schools | On 2 April 1937, the free milk in schools … | Flickr

Milk in Schools, 1937. Image: Flickr

New Zealand schoolchildren received free milk between 1937 and 1967. This scheme was introduced – a world first – to improve the health of young New Zealanders (and make use of surplus milk).

Each day, class milk monitors handed out a half-pint (284 ml) of milk to each pupil. By 1940 the milk was available to over 80 per cent of schoolchildren. For a few years during the Second World War, pupils also received an apple a day.

Fun School Fact #2: The world’s largest school

City Montessori School in Lucknow, India takes the prize as the largest school in the world. It has around 52,000 students (from kindergarten age through to secondary school) and 1,050 classrooms! Each class has around 45 students, and there is even a whole school department just to write letters of congratulations to students. As there are so many pupils, the school’s classrooms are spread across the city.

See if you can find the city of Lucknow in India on a world map HERE

Fun School Fact #3: Correspondence School | Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) is New Zealand’s largest school, providing education programmes to more than 23,000 students every year! The students learn remotely for lots of reasons – they  may live a long way away from their nearest school, or they might be living overseas with their family for a time.

The Correspondence School was established in 1922 to provide lessons to approximately 100 isolated primary school children scattered throughout New Zealand. All the lessons and letters to students were written by hand by the school’s first teacher, Miss Janet Mackenzie.

Check out Te Kura’s interesting timeline HERE.

What will schools look like in the future?

Today’s schools rely heavily on technology, from having laptops and tablets available to students for research, creative writing and presenting, to many schools requiring their students to BYOD – Bring Your Own Device… a far cry from slates and slate pencils in Victorian times (1830’s – 1910’s) and blackboards and chalk in 20th century schools!

boy wearing black and white VR headset

Image: Unsplash: VR headset

With multiple lockdowns because of the Covid-19 pandemic, school students throughout the country (and the world) have already started to learn in different ways to even five years ago.  This includes virtual classrooms using online video conferencing tools such as Zoom and Teams, and having your own school online account and log-in to allow for work to be uploaded and submitted online.

Many schools and libraries already have Makerspaces offering everything from building blocks to 3-D printing, laser cutting and virtual reality headsets. Very soon we may see holograms being used to help with teaching, or maybe students will be taught by robots!


School Jubilee Histories – finding out about your school

Want to find out more about the history of the school you attend? Wellington City Libraries have a great online resource you could use. In our Wellington City Recollect page, we have a collection called School Jubilee Histories.

Here’s a step-by-step to help you find this page:

On the Wellington City Libraries main website page


Wellington City Libraries have got loads of books  about schools from around the world, the past and the future:

Schools : then & now / Hope, Charles
“Children have been going to school for thousands of years. While some things about schools are the same – teachers and students. Subjects and classrooms – in many ways the schools of today are different to the schools of the past.” (Catalogue)
My school in 2055 / Lewis, Carrie
“In the school of the future, children might use tech such as interactive screens, holo projectors, and virtual reality to set their own pace and make learning is personalized” (Catalogue)
A school like mine : a unique celebration of schools around the world / Smith, Penny
“Introduces children from around the world and describes what school life is like for them.” (Catalogue)
What’s for lunch? : how school children eat around the world / Curtis, Andrea
“An examination of the food consumption by school children in thirteen countries; focusing on school lunches, as well as the inequality of food and the importance of health, nutritious food.” (Catalogue)
Children just like me.
“Photographs and text depict the homes, schools, family life, and culture of young people around the world.” (Catalogue)
Off to class : incredible and unusual schools around the world / Hughes, Susan
“Travel around the globe to visit some of the world’s most incredible schools, and meet the students who attend them.” (Catalogue)
Bots! : robotic engineering : with hands-on makerspace activities / Ceceri, Kathy
“Robots are everywhere! In Bots! Robotics Engineering with Hands-On Makerspace Activities, middle schoolers learn about these devices that vacuum our houses, work in our factories, help us learn at school, sample rocks from other planets, and even bring back images from the bottom of the ocean. In Bots! you can find hands-on STEM activities, coding challenges that use free online software, essential questions, and links to online primary resources!” (Catalogue)
The makerspace librarian’s sourcebook
“This collection leads librarians through how to start their own makerspace from the ground up, covering strategic planning, funding sources, starter equipment lists, space design, and safety guidelines; discusses the transformative teaching and learning opportunities that makerspaces offer, with tips on how to empower and encourage a diverse maker culture within the library.” (Catalogue, abridged)

Children’s Comics and Graphic Novels: New Releases in October 2021

Spring is around the corner! Why not spring on down to Wellington City Libraries for some new children’s comics and graphic novels to keep you amused. So what are you waiting for? Come on down to your local branch and borrow the following:

image courtesy of syndeticsHarriet Tubman : toward freedom.

“Graphic biography detailing Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and her efforts with other abolitionists to rescue dozens of those still enslaved”– Provided by publisher.

image courtesy of syndeticsMagic tree house : dinosaurs before dark.

“Retells, in graphic novel form, the tale of eight-year-old Jack and his younger sister Annie, who find a magic treehouse which whisks them back to an ancient time zone where they see live dinosaurs.” (Catalogue).

image courtesy of Pup detectives [4] : ghosts, goblins, and ninjas!

“During a martial arts expo at Pawston Elementary, the sacred scroll of Bark-Jitsu is stolen. The pup detectives set out to crack their most puzzling case yet… because this one involves, ghosts, goblins, and a super stealthy ninja”– Provided by publisher.

IMAGE COURTESY OF SYNDETICSJop and Blip wanna know [1] : can you hear a penguin fart on Mars?, and other excellent questions.

“Join Jop and Blip as they follow their curiosity and investigate these seemingly odd questions using their own brand of logic, critical thinking skills, STEM knowledge, and humor. Can you hear a penguin fart on Mars? What if you wanted a dragon sandwich? Why do we need TWO ears?” (Catalogue).

image courtesy of syndeticsSurvive in the outdoors!

“In this volume of Maker Comics, First Second’s DIY graphic novel series, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for seven projects that will help you survive in the wild! Sophia and Alonso have been packed off to their grandpa’s for a fishing trip, and they’re dreading spending a whole day in the woods without any cell service. But Grandpa opens their eyes to the wonders of the outdoors, and its dangers — from tick bites to hypothermia. And when a sprained ankle delays their return to civilization, the kids have to learn not only how to perform forest-friendly first aid, but how to safely spend the night in the woods when you don’t have a tent! Prepare yourself before you set off on your next adventure! Whether you’re hiking in the wilderness or camping in your own backyard, Survive in the Outdoors! will equip you with the know-how you need. In this book, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to build a campfire, catch and clean a fish, make a shelter, and more!” (Catalogue).

image courtesy of syndeticsMarvel action. Avengers. Book 5, Off the clock.

“First, in order to stop Loki’s newest scheme, Thor and Ant-Man go… antiquing? Then, while visiting an elementary school, Captain America runs into the nefarious Trapster! With scores of children in peril, Cap must rely on the aid of none other than Squirrel Girl! And, after Thor and Cap’s difficulties, find out what the rest of the Avengers are up to on their day off! Chaos reigns as a fiendish villain makes off with one of Dr. Strange’s most powerful artifacts!”–Amazon.

 

 

 

6 New Comics to Read During Winter

Hey Kids!

Wellington City Libraries has a new shipment of junior comics and graphic novels! Get your hands on them just in time for winter!

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndeticsMaker Comics: Grow a Garden!

You can grow a garden — and it’s easier than you think! With the easy instructions inside this book, you can grow lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, and more. And you don’t need a backyard to be a great gardener — just a little bit of space and a lot of sunlight. Maker Comics: Grow a Garden! will walk you through each step, from seed to harvest.

image courtesy of syndeticsMarvel action : Spider-Man : bad luck. Book 3.

“Peter, Gwen, and Miles have learned to work together, but a sinister new enemy is about to tear them apart in this middle-grade-friendly graphic novel! After a devastating encounter with the Black Cat and her bad luck powers, the Spidey team is down on their luck and at each other’s throats. Will Peter, Miles, and Gwen learn to overcome their bad luck and work together again, or is this the end of the line for the Marvelous Spider-Trio?”–Provided by publisher.

image courtesy of syndeticsPoems to see by : a comic artist interprets great poetry.

This stunning anthology of favorite poems visually interpreted by comic artist Julian Peters breathes new life into some of the greatest English-language poets of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

image courtesy of syndeticsAstronauts : women on the final frontier.

“The U.S. may have put the first man on the moon, but it was the Soviet space program that made Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space. It took years to catch up, but soon NASA’s first female astronauts were racing past milestones of their own. The trail-blazing women of Group 9, NASA’s first mixed gender class, had the challenging task of convincing the powers that be that a woman’s place is in space, but they discovered that NASA had plenty to learn about how to make space travel possible for everyone.”–Front flap.

image courtesy of syndeticsSnapdragon.

“Snap’s town had a witch. At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a crocks-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online–after doing a little ritual to put their spirits to rest. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it’s kind of cool, too. They make a deal: Jacks will teach Snap how to take care of the baby opossums that Snap rescued, and Snap will help Jacks with her work. But as Snap starts to get to know Jacks, she realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic–and a connection with Snap’s family’s past.”–Provided by publisher.

image courtesy of syndeticsKaren’s witch : a graphic novel.

Karen Brewer’s imagination gets the best of her when she decides that her neighbour, Mrs. Porter – who has wild gray hair, wears black robes, and has a garden full of mysterious herbs – must be a witch.

10 new junior comics to celebrate the new year!

Happy new year everyone! Head on down to your local branch, and celebrate the new year by getting your hands on 10 new junior comics in Children’s collection.

Enjoy!


Crush.

Jorge seems to have it all together. He’s big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he’s also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl… But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him and what he actually wants? When the group dynamic among Jorge’s friends starts to shift, he must learn to balance what his friends expect of him and what he really wants.


To dance : a memoir.

Ballerinas are young when they first dream of dance. Siena was six–and her dreams kept skipping and leaping, circling and spinning, from airy runs along a beach near her home in Puerto Rico, to dance classes at the School of American Ballet, to her debut performance on stage with the New York City Ballet while working with ballet legend George Balanchine. Part family history, part backstage drama, this beautifully updated graphic memoir–which features a refreshed design and a brand-new scrapbook of Siena’s mementoes–is an original, firsthand look a young dancer’s beginnings. Siena Siegel is an author and former dancer who trained at the School of American Ballet. To Dance is her story.


 Maker Comics: Draw a comic.

With Draw A Comic!, you’ll learn to create and print your own comic books! Follow these simple steps to sketch out your story ideas and ink a comic page. Learn which art supplies are best for drawing comics–you can use a pen, a brush, or even a computer. With the help of a photocopy machine, you can even self-publish your own comics and share them with your friends!


Maker Comics: Create a costume.

The comic convention is just a few short weeks away. All Bea and Parker need now are great costumes… But won’t the supplies and materials cost a fortune? Not if Bea and Parker follow a few simple instructions from Costume Critter, the world’s cutest cosplayer! With Maker Comics: Create a Costume! you can create fun, easy, budget-friendly costumes. And you don’t have to start from scratch: A few simple modifications can transform thrift store clothes into a variety of costumes. Even mastering the sewing machine isn’t as hard as it looks! You can make amazing costumes–all you need are the right tools, a little know-how, and a lot of imagination.


Maker Comics: Fix a car.

Before you get behind the wheel, learn what’s going on underneath the hood. Follow along as Ms. Gritt covers all the basics of preventative maintenance and roadside repairs. Colorful diagrams illustrate the inner workings of complex parts and systems. With Maker Comics: Fix a Car! you can keep your automobile in tip-top shape!


Scare City.

Scare City is the hub where all of the world’s ghouls, ghosts and goblins dwell in perfect harmony. Like any other urban city, it’s bustling with working class folk and thriving with a sense of culture and community! It took the monsters centuries to overcome their differences and develop a realm in which they could live together in peace, but when a mysterious light begins to steal people in the night, paranoia takes hold, revitalizing ancient tensions between clans and causing Scare City to fall back into the hands of angry, pitchfork-wielding mobs! Its fate rests, unexpectedly, in the hands of a compassionate zombie-witch baker, Gina, who doesn’t want to see her home be torn apart by hate, and is willing to do whatever it takes to bring everyone together once again.


The White Snake.

Young Randall dreams of adventures until one day he’s sent off on a mission to discover the neighboring king’s secret. When he returns, he’s thrown in a dungeon and despairs until Princess Tilda — the power behind the throne – entices him to compete for her hand. Courage, determination — and Tilda’s trust in him – toss him from one adventure to the next as he dives for a ring at the bottom of the ocean and searches for a Golden Apple from the Tree of Life. BEN NADLER’s modern version in comics highlights the timeless truth at the heart of this Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale in a way that is sure to delight and resonate with today’s young readers.


Smurf Salad.

The Smurfs have been unhappy lately with their meals as prepared by Chef Smurf. When Chef Smurf suggests to Papa Smurf to investigate what’s causing Farmer Smurf’s crops to be wilted and stunted, Papa Smurf whips up a potion that works a bit too well, not even he can predict that his Smurfs will smurf into Veggie-Smurfs!


Teen Titans go! : weirder things.

“Let’s rock! Here we go with more adventures with the funniest teenage superhero gang around – the stars of Teen Titans Go! to the Movies! All the Teen Titans wanted to do was enjoy a fun night out at a concert… but their plans change when Terra shows up to terrorize the team! Will paper beat rock when Robin leads the Titans in an origami attack against Terra? Then, the Titans are shunned by social media elites when a bad after-action photo reveals them as poseurs! Can they finalize a successful stance in time to defeat their next great menace? Plus, it’s game night at Titans Tower as Robin oversees a session of Basements and Basilisks as Game Master. When Raven plays a portal-casting spell, a real portal opens up and sucks the Titans into a dimension where strange things are happening! Check out these adventures and more in TEEN TITANS GO!: WEIRDER THINGS.”– Back cover.


Adventure Time : Season 11.

In the aftermath of The Great Gum War, Finn, Jake, and the entire land of Ooo make some new and unexpected friends.

 

15 New Non Fiction: The Makerspace and Movie Post.

Hi Kids. Welcome to the Makerspace and movie blog post. Check out all the latest books added to the Wellington City Libraries’ junior non fiction that you need to create your own makerspace area all about coding, 3D printing, minecraft, video capture, arts and crafts. Also included is books and movie trailers on upcoming movies due to be released such as Justice League and Coco.

Enjoy!

Building Amazing Creations.image courtesy of syndetics

This large-format photographic book provides a fascinating in-depth look at a LEGO artist’s oeuvre. Chapters explore such subjects as transportation vehicles, animals, life-size work, science fiction, nature, cities, sports, portraits, and even home furnishings and custom apartments! A personalized LEGO compendium perfect for brick-building enthusiasts of all ages.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsCoco : the essential guide .

Explore the art of the Disney movie Coco! Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector. Follow along with word-for-word narration as, together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Check out the trailer down below!

image courtesy of syndeticsJustice League : the ultimate guide.

“This comprehensive guide celebrates the exciting world of the iconic Justice League Super Heroes, a roster that includes SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN, THE FLASH, AQUAMAN, and CYBORG. A must-have for fans, this book showcases major in-world events in the Justice League’s pulsating story, spanning nearly 60 years of comic book history, and is packed with info on the team’s allies, enemies, bases, origins, and more. Includes artwork from the first Justice League comic book in March 1960 to the crucial Rebirth issues and beyond. The stunning design contains lots of in-world information, including in-depth profiles of characters, key comic book issues, and special features on the Justice League’s greatest adventures.”–Publisher website.

Check out the trailer down below!

Also check out the latest and extended trailer of Star Wars: The Last Jedi!

image courtesy of syndetics3D Printing Projects.

Over 20 exciting 3D printing projects for kids to design and print their own toys, gadgets, models, and ornaments. Using freely available 3D modelling software and without the need for your own 3D printer, 3D Printing Projects has inspiration and instructions for a wide range of thrilling projects, from simple models you can print and assemble at home to more elaborate builds you can design on screen and then order online.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsYouTube World Records.

Featuring more than 300 jaw-dropping records and super-powered by exclusive, instant-access QR codes, this unique collection is the best place to find some of the world’s most amazing records being broken.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsHello Ruby: Journey Inside the Computer.

Join Ruby on her journey to what goes on inside a computer. This half picture book, half activity book will help kids understand computer logic and introduces programming without having a computer at all.

Also check out Adventures in Coding, where kids will be introduced through storytelling to the basic concepts of coding. With activities included in every chapter, future kid coders will be thrilled to put their own imaginations to work. image courtesy of syndetics

 

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of sydneticsMinecraft annual 2018.

Contains accounts of the Mojang team’s epic adventures, comic strips depicting your favourite YouTubers’ adventures, and the experts at Mojang have some challenges for you to try in-game, too. This book finds survival strategy for adventurers, a feature about Adventure Mode, inspiration for adventure map builds and ideas for real-world adventures.

 

image courtesy of syndetics101 Video Games to play before you grow up.

Each page in this interactive handbook offers behind-the-scenes tidbits and trivia about the games that belong on your bucket list, along with parental rating guidelines, series background information, and storyline previews. Gamers can record their personal ratings of each series as they play their way through the list, making notes and critiquing the best and worst parts of each game.

 

Code your own…

image courtesy of syndeticsJungle Adventure.

Fearless Captain Maria’s adventure is brought to life by encouraging readers to draw central characters, animate plot lines and create games. With easy-to-follow, illustrated step-by-step instructions, this book introduces key coding concepts through simple and practical tasks – from drawing shapes and giving instructions in code to building games and much more!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsKnight Adventure.

Sir Percival’s brilliant adventure is brought to life by encouraging the reader to draw central characters, animate plot lines, and create games. With easy-to-follow, illustrated, step-by-step instructions, this book introduces key coding concepts through simple and practical tasks–from drawing shapes and giving instructions in code, to building games, and much more!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPirate Adventure.

Pirate Pierre needs your help to find the lost treasure! With easy-to-follow, illustrated, step-by-step instructions, this book introduces key coding concepts through simple and practical tasks – from drawing shapes and giving instructions in code, to building games, and much more!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsSpace Adventure.

Astronaut Kate’s quest to save Planet Zyskinar is brought to life by encouraging the reader to draw central characters, animate plot lines, and create games! With easy-to-follow, illustrated step-by-step instructions, this book introduces key coding concepts through simple and practical tasks – from drawing shapes and giving instructions in code to building games and much more!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsEasy Origami Decorations.

Handcrafted decorations are just a few folds away! Learn how to turn origami butterflies, swans, and tulips into locker magnets, table decorations, and more.

 

 

 

image courtesy of sydneticsMinecraft mobestiary.

Written by a naturalist who has made it his life’s work to study Minecraft’s mobs, and illustrated with field sketches, Minecraft Mobestiary is the definitive guide to every mob in the game. You’ll find little-known facts about passive, neutral, hostile, utility and boss mobs, as well as more general information about their location, behaviour, threat level and drops.