Highlights and lowlights of week 8, by Lydia and Lucy

Yesterday it was Sophia's Birthday. Sophia brought a delicious chocolate cake to school. It had three layers of cream. We had a bit of a party. When we finished we had delicious cream all over us!
We feel sad for Neve because she broke her ankle at school this week. She is doing well hobbeling around. Next week she says she is going to get a beautiful, new purple cast. We hope she is feeling better soon.

Sophia and her super duper chocolate cake

Brave Neve

Our weekly bloggers for week 8

By Lucy and Lydia

Leaves, twigs, fruit, and flowers

 

Our fantastic trip on Tuesday saw us experiencing all of these.  We began at the National Aquarium of New Zealand where we looked at the layers of the Native Bush and who and what lives where.  We became scientists for a spell using microscopes to look closely at different plants, seeds and animals and played a game to reinforce the concepts of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. The education officers showed us right around, even into the penguin enclosure. Then it was off to Taradale park for lunch and a play before meeting Robyn McCool and Selwyn at the Dolbel tree reserve.  He is one of the volunteers who have spent many hours planting and caring for the trees. We got to see a lot of native trees that had been planted by the volunteers and walked to the top of the hill to see the views right out to the Cape.

We returned to school a weary but considerably more knowledgeable  bunch.

Carol and the eager listeners



Scientist Amelia at work

First-hand look at a Kiwi

'Oh I hope it doesn't bite!', said Hena-C

Chilling out at the park

Spot the native tree

View to the Cape

Kay :)

National Downs Syndrome Day

Friday also saw another very special event and that was when Lucy shared her speech on National Downs Syndrome day, firstly to our class and then to the entire Junior syndicate. Well done Lucy! We were all very proud of you and really enjoyed learning more about Downs Syndrome.

A Fitting Reward on Fun Day Friday

Making gingerbread men was real fun when Kelly came to help us last Friday. Some of us had filled up their sticker gingerbread man chart with stickers for all sorts of good behaviour and so pressure was on to get baking.  All the children had some part in creating the delicious biscuit and then it was all about decorating them with icing and smarties. Some decided they were too good to keep and got stuck into nibbling off hands and feet while others took their creations home. It was a good recipe so will enclose the link for you to have some gingerbread fun at home. Thankyou Kelly for giving up your time to help us.
www.foodinaminute.co.nz/Recipes/Gingerbread-Men

A visit from our local Kaumatua

Last week Room 3 welcomed Mr Unahi to our room.  Mr Unahi has been involved with Haumoana School for a long time and is a Kaumatua (elder) of our local Matahiwi  marae.  He came as part of our Native Bush study, where we celebrate our local identities and listen to a story of our area that they wish to share.  He told us about the legend of Maui and how he along with his brothers and mother and father stand proudly at the front of the marae. The children listened intently and then were able to also share their own stories of different Maui adventures that they were familiar with. We shared a very special morning and wrote thankyou letters to Mr Unahi to express our appreciation for visiting our classroom and our school.

Our Native Bush: the beginning...

Sorry for the inactivity of this blog, I’ve been away and then was bogged down with a cold, but we are all back and rearing to go again, so where to start?

It has to be with the beginning of our wonderful Native Bush study in partnership with The Department of Conservation. This really is an authentic learning opportunity which exposes the children first hand to a variety of experiences and venues that make learning genuine and exciting. I think I am preaching… probably  to the converted if you are reading this. But it really is a series of great opportunities to look at and understand the importance of the Bush and its inhabitants.

It all began with a visit from Robyn McCool who brought the bush to our doorstep with a pile of leaf litter and all its creepy crawlies. What fun the children had to find and count the bugs.

 

 From here we chose a bug to study, research and then write a report on. Here are some goodies..

The stick insect comes from the family of insects called Phasmatodea.  It looks like a stick and it lives on a tree trunk.  It eats eucalyptus and other leaves.  Its worries are birds and humans.  If it’s a young one and something grabs its leg it can detach it and grow another one, but if it’s a grown up one it can’t.    Sophia

A stick insect can be like a twig especially when they keep very still.  They live in grasses and on fences and on twigs.  Stick insects eat rose leaves and different plants.  They fall on the ground and they are like a twig.  There are 2,500 different stick insects in the world.  I would like to see a stick insect because I have never seen one before.    James

The most common stick insect in New Zealand is the smooth bodied.  When it walks it wobbles.  It can turn into grey or green.  If a bird catches a stick insect its leg drops off and it can escape because it can grow another one.  A stick insect eats plant leaves.  You can see them on grass, fences and trees, also timber.  There are 2,500 types of stick insect in the world.   Bruno

A stick insect is aware of birds and humans.  When a stick insects break a lag it can grow another one.  They look like a stick and can be brown or green.  A stick insect has 6 legs and stick insects eat rose bushes and prunus and privet leaves.  The stick insect comes from the family of insects called Phasmatodea.   Vinnie

You might notice that they are all on Phasmatodea or more commonly known a Stick Insect, this was to teach the format of the Report and from here the children will chose their favourite insect and work on their own.  I am really impressed with the quality and detail of their reports and look forward to the next instalment.
Thanks for the photo Tracy, taken on a recent tramp. Even though they are harmless, they do look a little off- putting!

Green Hat Thinking in every way!

Apparently I am known as the 'enviro' lady which I think is seriously cool. If it influences peoples behaviour into caring even more for the environment, through practices of recycling, reducing and reusing, then it is all good in my eyes. A great example of this was an exciting visit from Vinnies Dad yesterday. He brought an amazing go-cart that he had made for Vinnie, out of a couple of old pushchairs that he'd found at the dump. Talk about Green hat Thinking- creating and innovating!. Well done Steve and Vinnie. The design was stream lined and had even progressed to having steering and a brake. I think once Vinnie gets back on his feet after tomorrows operation,

he will be having a lot of fun!!

All the best Vinnie, we look forward to your speedy recovery.

We welcome Study  Ladder to Room 3,s learning. This is agreat way to direct your children at home into an activity on the computer that will be extremely beneficial to their learning. The activities are all at their level or a bit easier, in order to consolidate ideas and knowledge, and it's heaps of fun. They have all bought home their Username and Password. If you have not seen them I will give you another. 

Just a couple more stories to add to our terrific 'Cool' writing.

I am a fox because I am sometimes sly and sneaky. I am a shark because I like to have power. I am a teddybear because I make people happy.  George

I am a shark because I like my voice and I like to shout. I am an owl because I like to listen.  Sean

Just wanted to share some Cool thoughts from Cool kids about Cool Schools. We've been discussing the different ways people can respond to each other especially in times of conflict. These personality traits have been illustrated as animals in the Cool School approach. Turtle, Teddy bear, Shark, Fox and Owl.

I am like an owl because I want to win and I want you to win too. I am also like a turtle because I am shy sometimes. Kyle

I think I am like a fox, a turtle and an owl because I am a bit sneaky, a bit shy and a listener. I also like to be creative with a listening mind and I listen to other people too.  Lucy

I think I am a shark because I like to get my own way. I am probably powerful as well as strong. I am probably a fox as well because I can be quite cunning and sly as well.  Joseph

I am like an owl because I want to win but I want you to win too. I am nice to people. I am a fox as well because I can be a little bit sneaky sometimes.  James

I am like a turtle because I am shy. I sometimes don't even talk to anyone. I am really like a turtle. I am also like an owl because I always want to make people happy and that makes me happy too. I love being happy as well.  Amelia

Great thoughts that  show some pretty deep thinking.
Check out this link if you are interested. It really is a COOL programme.

http://www.peace.net.nz/uploads/CSflyer.pdf