Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Researching general information

Continuing yesterday's idea of research, we looked at another bible verse where a little research proved important. We read Numbers 13 and talked about why people were sent into Canaan, and why they were scared. We copied a portion of verse 2 since that related directly to our lesson for today:
Send thou men, that they may search the land of Ca'naan, . . .
Numbers 13:2
We certainly are not researching information about Australia for a military campaign. The Christian Church is not commanded to take territory or conquer in this way. We are to advance the Kingdom, however, through discipleship and ministry outreach efforts. Like the Israelites, missionaries begin by learning more about the people they will be serving. Sometimes they may become fearful. Other times, they may choose to depend on God like Joshua. As we minister to the nations, however, we need to remember that the goal is to preach Christ, not American Christianity. That is why it is vitally important to know about the areas we are trying to reach and the needs of their communities.

To learn a little about how to research, I typed up several general questions. Today at the library, my daughter will look for some books that she thinks might answer the questions. We will read more about Australia and learn a little about the country today before delving into its history. From her knowledge of books, she has been able to determine that we will need to look at nonfiction books whose purpose is to inform.

Specifically, we will be using the books' text structure to try to find information quickly. Here they are:
  1. How many people live in Australia?
  2. How big is Australia?
  3. Who is the prime minister of Australia?
  4. What is the national capital of Australia?
  5. What is Australia's national anthem?
  6. How many aboriginals live in Australia?
  7. What sports are played in Australia?
  8. What form of government does Australia have?
The internet could also be used to find this information quickly. However, we are learning about researching in the library.

This short video gives some general information about Australia. The segment on Melbourne is very short, but I have been to all the places mentioned in it!



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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Sports are extremely important to Australians. It is the land of the long weekend.

Many years ago it took six months on a boat to travel anywhere. Therefore instead of playing overseas or international games, sports were played between the states.

This created an almost international type rivalry between the states. Just as in the United States people would consider themselves Queenslanders, per say, before being Australian. This began to change around World War I.

The predominant game in Australia is Australian Rules Football:

http://afl.com.au/

Followed by Cricket:

http://www.cricket.com.au/

And then the two forms of rugby, union and league:

http://www.rugby.com.au/

However all sports are played Down Under, even Gridiron (American Football).

But remember amongst all this sport that a nation must not loose its' focus on God or that nation will most certainly end up as Israel at the foot of Mt Sinai.

Remember Israel were God's people and He did not spare them, how much greater the nation not of the vine.

Exo 32:17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
Exo 32:18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
Exo 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount.
Exo 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
Exo 32:21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
Exo 32:22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
Exo 32:23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
Exo 32:24 And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
Exo 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
Exo 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
Exo 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.
Exo 32:28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.