New Zealand
The English in the New Zealand Curriculum document indicates that the content of Bubble Dome Writing Adventures links comfortably to objectives in the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s English curriculum statement. It is acknowledged that this document is currently under review but changes are unlikely to undermine this relevance.
Click on the link below to view more information about the links between Bubble Dome Writing Adventure cards and NZ English curriculum objectives.
Links between NZ English Curriculum and Bubble Dome sets – (pdf, 55kb)
The curriculum achievement objectives reflect progressions of increasing complexity. There is a continuum and, to some degree, an over-lapping of student age, year and curriculum level. Bubble Dome Writing Adventures can be linked to student age, year and curriculum level as follows:
| Bubble Dome Set |
Student Age |
Year |
Curriculum Level |
| Mud Ants |
5 – 6 years |
1 – 2 |
Level 1 |
| Bubble Cats |
6 – 7 years |
2 – 3 |
Level 1 – 2 |
| Pumpkin World |
7 – 8 years |
3 – 4 |
Level 1 – 2 |
| Zinger Pinger |
8 – 9 years |
4 – 5 |
Level 2 |
| Shell Children |
9 – 10 years |
5 – 6 |
Level 2 – 3 |
| Furkle Stroy Williams |
10 – 11 years |
6 – 7 |
Level 3 |
Each Bubble Dome Writing Adventures set includes: a storybook, map card, facts cards, Six Thinking Hats card, writing prompt cards, photocopiable activities, teaching notes, a Mystery Learning Object, an interactive CD ROM and a link to the Bubble Dome website. As indicated below, all of these can provide support for instruction in key learning areas at each level.
The storybook and the map and facts cards provide background information for the tasks on all the writing prompt cards by introducing students to characters and settings. Reading the book to students provides opportunities to develop speaking and listening skills.
The Six Thinking Hats card provides some explanations of how to apply each Thinking Hat. There is a Thinking Hat activity at the end of each writing prompt card.
The writing prompt cards and photocopiable activities provide opportunities to explore and develop a range of learning outcomes. These include all the outcomes and indicators in the English curriculum document.
The teaching notes for each set further illustrate specific applications for all the set contents. They provide guidelines for every activity, links to other genres of writing, further details about the Thinking Hats, the mystery learning object and differentiated learning. There is also some advice about introducing the characters and about assessment.
The Mystery Learning Object is linked to one or more activities in each set but can be used for additional activities to encourage creative and lateral thinking.
The CD ROM and supporting resources on the Bubble Dome website provide additional interactive activities that extend each set and also help develop ICT skills.
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