Education for life in Papua New Guinea
Student Activities
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Student Activities
1.
- i) Find Papua New Guinea in an atlas. Work out the shortest distance from mainland Papua New Guinea to mainland Australia. Does the figure surprise you? Why or why not?
ii) Find Milne Bay, and any other maps that tell you about life in the area, for example, maps about the temperature, rainfall or vegetation. With a partner, discuss what life would be like if you lived in Milne Bay area.
2.
- i) In what ways is Hagita High School similar to or different from your school?
ii) Lyn thought students at Hagita High School received a good education for the future. Why might Lyn have thought this?
iii) Lyn also thought that the students did a lot to help themselves. Why might Lyn have thought this?
iv) Do you think your school gives you a good education for the future? Explain.
v) Do you think you help yourself towards a good future? Explain.
3. Although more and more people are learning to read and write in Papua New Guinea, nearly one-third of the people are illiterate (cannot read and write.)
i) Describe five things which you might do in a day which would be difficult or impossible if you could not read or write well.
ii) Most of the people who cannot read and write are girls and women. Can you think of reasons why a large number of girls and women cannot read and write?
iii) Many overseas aid programs help girls and women learn to read and write. How might the life of a girl or woman who can read and write be different from one who cannot read and write?
4. Milne Bay was an important Australian army base during World War Two. Recently, Australian war veterans visited Hagita High School and shared their memories with students. Students were amazed that the men could remember their experiences of 50 years ago.
i) Find out about what happened in Papua New Guinea in World War Two and why Australians were there. Perhaps speak to grandparents or older people in the community.
ii) Find out how the lives of Papua New Guineans changed because of World War Two. Why was 1975 an important year for Papua New Guinea?
5. Visit a display on Papua New Guinea. What does the display tell you about the different lifestyles, beliefs, ceremonies, songs, dances or art of Papua New Guineans?
6. Make your own traditional Papua New Guinean mat. Use coconut palm leaves (or experiment with other sorts of leaves.) Sit cross-legged on the floor and gently tear the leaves into strips of equal lengths. Weave the strips over and under each other, and fold the ends neatly back into the mat. What else could this type of woven palmwork be used for?
7. Plant a class vegetable patch in a protected part of the school. Grow cabbages, carrots or capsicums as at Hagita, or vegetables your class particularly likes, or vegetables which suit your climate. What sorts of things will you need to do to make sure the plants survive?
8. Make coconut milk by soaking dessicated coconut in a small amount of water then squeezing out the juice (perhaps through a strainer). What does the milk taste like?
9. Cook a class meal, perhaps a rice and vegetables dish as at Hagita. Plan everything from what ingredients and how much will be needed, what the dinner will cost per head, how and when the shopping will be done and how and where the cooking will take place. Give every class member a job. Perhaps cook some vegetables in your coconut milk. What does the activity tell you about Hagita where 500 people are fed each meal?
10. Australian Volunteers International has recently started a penfriend scheme for Australian and Papua New Guinean students. Contact Australian Volunteers International in your State or Territory for details on how to join.
11. Returned Australian Volunteers Abroad, who have had different jobs in different places, often visit schools as guest speakers. Think of a job or place your class would like to know more about and contact your local Australian Volunteers International.
12. Approximately one-third of Australia's overseas aid goes to Papua New Guinea. Contact Canberra Mailing, on 02 6269 1230, for copies of AusAID's colourful Focus magazines and other publications on Papua New Guinea. Cut out the pictures and make posters showing the sorts of ways Australia helps Papua New Guinea.
© Commonwealth of Australia