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Educational and fun audiobooks for children and families. A variety of genres await and each podcast comes with podcast specific questions assessing retrieval, sequencing, SPaG, prediction, inference and note taking skills. Ideal as an independent classroom activity, intervention exercise OR homework task.
Episodes
Monday Aug 31, 2020
Women In Sport:50 fearless athletes who played to win ep. 5
Monday Aug 31, 2020
Monday Aug 31, 2020
Episode 5 - Flo Hyman, Susan Butcher, Bev Francis, Naia Comaneci and Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Flo Hyman,
Why did Flo not fit the stereotype for a volleyball player?
How tall was she? What can you find that is the same height?
What does the word ‘boycott’ mean? Can you find a suitable synonym or phrase?
Which colour medal did she win at the Olympics?
Susan Butcher
In which state of America did she start training for the Iditarod?
Name some of the problems she encountered during the races.
When did she finally win?
What was her record time? How hard do you think this race is?
Bev Francis
Which sporting event did Bev do as a teenager?
She was the first female to bench press how much?
What was the name of the movie she took part in in 1983?
What do *you* think about bodybuilding?
Nadia Comaneci
Why could the scoreboard not show 10.0 ?
At what age did she start gymnastic training?
In which disciplines did Nadia win gold medals in 1976?
Nadia said she felt like a ‘prisoner’, why?
How did she flee Romania?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
How did Jackie get to UCLA?
How many events are in a Heptathlon?
What happened at the 1984 Olympics? How do you think this might have made you feel?
What is special about her 7,291 point score in the Heptathlon?
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
Women In Sport:50 fearless athletes who played to win ep. 4
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
Episode 4 - Junko Tabei, Wilma Rudolph, Jody Conradt, Billie jean King and Patti McGee
Junko Tabei
Why do you think some men did not want to climb with her?
How many women did Junko take to Mount Everest?
What happened to her team when the avalanche hit?
What is meant by the term ‘seven summits’? Can you find out whet these 7 are?
Wilma Rudolph
Which disease did Wilma contract as a child?
Why could she not get treatment at a local hospital? How did this situation make her a fighter?
In the two games she participated in, which medals did she win?
How come her victory parade was almost cancelled?
Jody Conradt
In which state was Jody born?
How were the rules of women’s basketball different to those of the men’s game?
Find out how much $1,200 is and do you think this is enough money for three sports teams
How many consecutive games did the Lady Longhorns win with Jody as coach?
Billie Jean King
How old was Billie Jean when she won the doubles at Wimbledon
What was the male and female prize money amounts for Wimbledon 1968? Is this fair?
When did the USTA finally award equal prize money?
Do you think her win at “Battle of the sexes” just changed tennis, or had a wider significance?
Patti McGee
Why do you think Patti took up skateboarding? What was the sport she loved most?
What does the word ‘daredevil’ mean? Can you find a suitable synonym?
How did she become the fastest woman on a skateboard? Do you think you could do that?
What was ‘First Betty’ ?
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Women In Sport:50 fearless athletes who played to win ep. 3
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Episode 3 - Toni Stone, Althea Gibson, Ann Calvello, Beryl Burton and Sue Sally Hale
Toni Stone
When did professional women’s baseball start?
Why could Toni not participate at this time?
What does the word ‘integrated’ mean? Can you think of a suitable synonym?
How fast could she run 100 metres? How does this compare with modern sprinting records?
Althea Gibson
What might a ‘play street’ look like? Does this sound like a good idea?
Why do you think she had to join an ‘all black tennis club’?
Which title did she win to become the first black Grand Slam winner?
Althea's doubles partner was white. What kind of statement do you think this made?
Ann Calvello
Draw a picture to show you think Ann might have looked?
How far did the team have to skate? How far is this in comparison around the world?
What does the phrase ‘get into scrapes’ mean?
Would you like to play or watch Roller Derby? Why?
Beryl Burton
What is a tailor?
In which years was Beryl the British best all rounder?
Which record did she beat in 1967?
When did she win her last title? Can you calculate how old she would have been?
Sue Sally Hale
What was Sally’s fake name?
Why do you think women were not allowed to compete in polo?
Why did her teammates help keep the secret?
When did she, and other women, receive her membership card?
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Women In Sport:50 fearless athletes who played to win ep. 2
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Episode 2 - Gertrude Ederle, Aileen Riggin, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Keiko Fukuda and Marion Ladewig
Gertrude Ederle
Which colour medals did Gertrude win at the 1924 Olympics?
What happened on her first attempt at crossing the channel? If this had been you, would this have spurred you on to try again or put you off?
What happened on her second attempt? Do you think she was right to try again?
Her record remained unbroken for 24 years? Why do you think this was?
Aileen Riggin
Who suggested to Aileen to take up swimming?
What was she almost excluded from the Olympic diving team? Why did they let her stay?
How long did if have the team to get to Antwerp? What do you think this might have been like?
What feat did she achieve when she was 85?
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Why is she described as a ‘one women athletics team’?
How many events was Babe allowed to compete in at the Olympics?
Do you think her silver medal in the high jump was fair?
In which year did she become the first woman to qualify for a PGA event?
Keiko Fukuda
The women’s class she attended is described as ‘progressive’. What do you think this means?
How do you think her family and peers felt when she chose judo over getting married?
What is a ‘dojo’ ?
Why do you think the Judo Institute did not allow women above 5th level black belt?
Marion Ladewig
Do you know what the game of softball is?
What is the perfect score in a game of bowling?
How many times in total did Marion win the All-Star game?
What did Marion do when she retired? Do you think this was really retirement?
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
Women In Sport:50 fearless athletes who played to win ep. 1
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
The next book follows on nicely from "Little Leaders" but this one has a sporting lilt.
This series of mini biographies is written by Rachel Ignotofsky and not only showcases famous sportswomen in well known sports like tennis and athletics but finds unsung heroes in lesser known pursuits such as skydiving and roller derby. As you will discover, finding your way to sporting glory is a rocky road and does not just require talent but also hard work and in many cases a healthy dose of serendipity. You may well think that you are no good at sport, but maybe just maybe, you just haven't found the right one...
There are some great quotes and illustrations in the book as well as a couple of 'visual chapters' that I have not been able to include in my reading - for obvious reasons! I would heartily recommend you find the book in your local library or school library or from you local bookshop as it is not only a great read but a beautiful book to own. If you enjoy this book there are other books in this vein - "Women In Science" and "Women In Art".
Episode 1 - Introduction, Madge Syers, Tiny Broadwick and Bobbie Rosenfeld
Madge Syers
Why were women not allowed to compete in competitions?
How was she allowed to compete in the 1902 World Championships?
Which year did she win the first ever Women's gold medal for Skating?
Who was her pairs partner?
Tiny Broadwick
What was her real name? And why exactly was she nicknamed ‘Tiny’?
Which acts from the carnival was she inspired by?
In 1913, she the first person to do what? How do you think she (or her family) felt?
Why did she have to retire?
Bobbie Rosenfeld
Although Bobbie was Canadian, where was she born?
Who did Bobbie beat in her very first 100 metre race?
In which events did Bobbie participate during the 1928 Olympics?
Why did Bobbie have to retire from playing sport? How do you think this made her feel?
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 9
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
Episode 9 - Zaha Hadid, Maya Lin and More Little Leaders
Zaha Hadid
Where was Zaha Born?
Which Russian Painter inspired her final school project?
What did the nickname ‘paper architect’ mean?
Which building, created for the 2012 London Olympics did she design?
Maya Lin
Maya’s mum was a ceramist – what do they make?
Which competition did she win?
What are ‘renewable resources’?
What award did May win in 2009?
More Little Leaders
How many of the 18 had you heard of before?
Which of the ‘mini leaders’ did something you would like to achieve?
Make a list of 5 other women that could have been included in this section. Try to make sure they are from different spheres of life
Write your own 3 minute script about someone you have been inspired by in this section (1 minute is about 180ish words)
Saturday Aug 15, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 8
Saturday Aug 15, 2020
Saturday Aug 15, 2020
Episode 8 - Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher, Eiko Ishioka, Wangari Maathai, Calypso Rose and Flossie Wong-Staal
Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher
In which state of Australia did she grow up?
What did her tribe usually use clay for?
How did she help chronicle the Thaynakwith language?
What do people celebrate at the Weipa Festival?
Eiko Ishioka
What did Eiko’s father do?
What is a ‘mantra? Which 3 words became Eiko’s mantra? What would yours be?
Which award did she win in 1993?
Name three people or companies Eiko has created costumes for.
Wangari Maathai
What did Wangari’s parents do?
Which country ruled Kenya when Wangari was young?
What did she suggest women should do to help the environment in Kenya?
Why did she promote growing food at schools?
Calypso Rose
What is Calypso Rose’s real name?
Where was she born?
What was her song “Glass Thief” about?
Why did they change the name of the Calypso King competition?
Flossie Wong-Staal
Why did Flossie and her family leave China?
How did her dad choose the name Flossie?
Which 2 subjects did Flossie choose between to study at high school?
What does the acronym AIDS stand for?
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 7
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Episode 7 - Vera Rubin, Yayoi Kusama, Toni Morrison and Ester Mahlangu
Vera Rubin
Who was Vera’s inspiration?
Why did she get turned away from Princeton?
What subject did Vera study at Vassar College?
What did Vera prove most of our galaxy was made of?
Yayoi Kusama
Why do you think her parents ‘did not approve of art as a career’?
What is a ‘happening’?
What was the symbolism of using dots? What did they represent?
Where else might to see a room covered with mirrors – especially one that might confuse you…?
Toni Morrison
Why did Toni hear her family’s stories and not write/read them?
Who were her favourite authors growing up?
Why might the girl in ‘The bluest eyes’ have felt ugly? What ist just about eye colour…?
Which awards has she won?
Ester Mahlangu
What do the women paint in Ndebele culture? Would you like to do this?
Where did Ester work? How do you think this helped her art?
How did she make her paint?
Why do you think she never used pinks and neons in her work before?
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 6
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
Episode 6 - Sister Corita Kent, Esther Afua Ocloo, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian and Mahasweta Devi
Sister Corita Kent
What was her real name? What does ‘Corita’ mean?
At what age did she leave home to become a nun?
What medium did she mainly use at first? Whose art work later inspired her?
What is a serigraph?
Esther Afua Ocloo
How much money was Esther given by an aunt?
What did she initially need to buy to make her marmalade?
What is Nkulenu Industries?
In 1976 the WWB was set up – what do the three letters stand for?
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian
How did she initially learn to draw?
Where is she Shah Cheragh masque?
Why did Monir stay in New York for 20 years
Why do you think so much of her art got destroyed? How might this make you feel?
Mahasweta Devi
Which jobs did some of the family members have?
Why do you think Mahasweta never showed her work to anyone?
In the book “The Queen of Jhansi” what/where is ‘Jhansi?”
What does the word ‘indigenous’ mean?
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 5
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Episode 5 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Asima Chatterjee, Maya Deren, Amalia Hernández and Violeta Parra
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Why was it unusual to see a girl with a guitar? Do you think this is the same today?
What genre of music was Decca records most famous for?
What term was used to describe her song “Rock Me” ?
Search for her on youtube and describe her performance style
Asima Chatterjee
What did Asima do when there was no Chemistry department at the university?
Which phrase from the text tells you she did experiments multiple times before she got the technique correct?
From which plant did she derive an anti-epilepsy drug?
What did she discover about the Madagascar Periwinkle?
Maya Deren
Who was Maya the personal assistant of?
Find the meaning of the phrase ‘avant-garde’
When did she create “Meshes in the afternoon” ?
How does the phrase ‘visual jigsaw puzzle’ make you imagine her work?
Amalia Hernández
Why do you think Amalia learned European style ballet before learning her own cultural dances?
How would you describe when ‘danzas’ usually happen?
Why might the Mexican people have really liked seeing the dance group on the TV?
How many dancers were in her troupe in 1959?
Violeta Parra
With whom did Violeta tour around Chile with? Do you think you could do this with one of your family members?
Who gave her information about the songs she had never heard or sung before?
What does the Spanish phrase “Nueva cancion” translate to in English?
As well as singing, what other 3 art forms was she exceptional at?
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 4
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
Episode 4 - Chien-Shiung Wu, Bessie Blount Griffin, Hedy Lamarr and Claudia Jones
Chien-Shiung Wu
There was no school for girls where she lived, so what did her parents do?
What was the Manhattan Project all about?
What did ‘The Wu Experiement’ prove?
Do you think Chien-Shiung Wu should have received a Nobel prize too? Why?
Bessie Blount Griffin
List the different ways Bessie learned to write.
Why did these skills come in useful when working with injured soldiers?
What device did she invent and why do you think some organisations were not interested?
Where did she become known as ‘Mom Bessie’ ?
Hedy Lamarr
What was Hedy’s real first name?
Why did she need to keep her Jewish heritage secret?
Although her wartime invention was not used, it is the basis of which modern technologies?
Which award is the ‘Oscar of Inventing’ ?
Claudia Jones
What is ‘discrimination’ and why might Claudia have been discriminated against?
What does FBI stand for?
Which weekly newspaper did Claudia found?
When was the first Notting Hill Carnival held?
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 3
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Episode 3 - Frida Kahlo, Gyo Fujikawa, Katherine Dunham and Mary Blair
Frida Kahlo
What happened to Frida’s leg? How did she disguise it?
Why did she end up doing so many self-portraits?
Why did she not classify herself as a ‘surrealist’?
How did she show her Mexican culture in her work?
Gyo Fujikawa
What did Gyo paint as a child?
What happened to Gyo’s family during WW2?
Which books did she write and illustrate herself?
What do you think the author means by ‘characters of many ethnicities’ ?
Katherine Dunham
How old was she when she had her story published?
What was the name of the group she created that was the first black ballet company?
Where in the Caribbean did she travel?
What do you think the word ‘matriarch’ means?
Mary Blair
What did Mary start out life as doing?
Why do you think her husband was chosen for the trip and not Mary?
Name some of the films Mary worked on? Have you seen any of these?
Which ride did Mary design? Find a picture/video of it and see if you can understand her style.
Sunday Aug 09, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 2
Sunday Aug 09, 2020
Sunday Aug 09, 2020
Episode 2 - Marie Curie, Edith Head, Peggy Guggenheim and Grace Hopper
Marie Curie,
Why could Marie not go to ‘normal’ university?
How old was she when she went to Paris?
Which 2 elements did Marie and Pierre discover?
Which 2 Nobel Prizes did she win?
Edith Head
Why did Edith not have many friends as a child?
How many Oscar nominations did she get?
Which movie stars did she work with
Can you draw what Edith’s own personal style looked like?
Peggy Guggenheim
How old was Peggy when she became an art collector/owner?
What was the name of the first gallery Peggy opened?
Why did the Nazi’s destroy art?
Where did Peggy smuggle her art to?
Grace Hopper
What did Grace to to her alarm clock? What do you think would happen if YOU did this?
Grace was rejected from the Navy several times – for what reasons?
Which idea did her co-workers laugh at?
When did she return to the Navy and why?
Saturday Aug 08, 2020
Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around The World episode 1
Saturday Aug 08, 2020
Saturday Aug 08, 2020
Written by Vashti Harrison, "Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around the World" chronicles in short biographies the lives of many pivotal women in various spheres. But in many cases, because they were women or of colour or both, their legacies were overlooked. These names were lost to the general consciousness and would never get the recognition they deserved. Many of the names that come up will be new to many but their influence and worldwide reach may amaze you!
Episode 1 - Introduction, Fatima Al-Fahiri, Wang Zhenyi and Ada Lovelace
Fatima Al-Fahiri
When did Fatima live?
How did Fatima and her sister get the money to build the Mosque?
What is a ‘masdrassa’ ?
Which Pope studied there? What did he introduce to the western world?
Wang Zhenyi
If girls at this time did not go to school, how did she learn?
What different subjects did she write about?
What equipment did Wang Zhenyi use to recreate an eclipse?
Why do you think so much of her writing was published AFTER she died?
Ada Lovelace
What were the names of Ada’s parents?
Why might Charles Babbage have declined to work with Ada?
How did she prove she was worth working with?
Ada is thought of as the first person to be a… what? Why do you think her name is barely remembered/taught?
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Roald Dahl's "Revolting Rhymes" episode 3
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
This audiobook is the final installment of my reading of "Revolting Rhymes". In this podcast I read aloud the tales of "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Three Little Pigs" which end up being strangely connected...
Poem one starts straight after the intro music, poem two commences at 4.45.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
What does granny say is going to happen?
What did the wolf do to make sure he looked like granny?
Where did the wolf sit once dressed up?
Why use the word ‘caviar’ to describe the taste of Red Riding Hood?
How many times does red shoot the wolf? How do you know?
What ended up happening to the wolf? How do you feel about this ending? Who is the baddie of the piece?
The Three Little Pigs
Why does the wolf shout “Bacon, pork and ham”?
What is the meaning of the word ‘trifle’ in this text?
Why phone Little Red Riding Hood?
“Spit was dripping from his jaw” – what does this tell you about how the wolf was feeling?
Why is the phrase ‘the upper crust’ a clever phrase to use in this story? What are its two meanings?
How do you feel about Red Riding Hood now?