Imagination Station

Imagination Station

It was hard to know what the children enjoyed the most. Was it the bus ride to town, or out of class for the afternoon, or seeing the wizard, or constructing gadgets using the lego.
Here are a few photos from the trip. Keep watching for the children to write about the trip.

Week 5 Homework

We are half way through the term. Keep up the wonderful science experiments. This week we enjoyed learning about volcanoes and water purification.

Fair Testing

Fair Testing Sheet

Fair TEsting

Servanthood

What does it mean to be a servant of God?

Make Me Your Servant (Lyrics)

CHORUS

I want to be Your hands

And be Your feet

Lord make me Your servant

I want to tell Your love

To everyone I meet

Lord make me Your servant

BRIDGE

And when You call me servant

You really call me friend

Your love has made me love You

And want to serve You

Make me the one You send 

Have fun singing along with the song we learned for RE in Year 3 & 4 today.

Habits of Mind - Persistence

Persistence

(Habits of Mind)

Our Kōtuku whānau have been exploring the habit of persistence.  We watched a video clip about two squirrels (and some helpful people) who showed persistence. 

Two Squirrels ...

Which of the other Habits of Mind do you recognise in this video clip.  Can you explain why you think the qualities these people are showing match with the Habits of Mind?

Thursday 26 May - Ms Steans Group - Finding a common denominator

How to Find a Common Denominator

Challenge time for some of you!

We know that to add or subtract fractions, the fractions MUST have a common denominator.

Watch this video clip which will show you a couple of strategies for finding a common denominator.




Challenge:

Solve the following problems in your maths book ... please show your working out so I can see how you have made the equivalent fractions.

1. 2/5 + 3/10 =
2. 1/3 + 2/9 =
3. 1/6 + 7/24 =

Super challenge ... put your thinking caps on!

4. 2/3 + 1/5 =
5. 4/3 + 1/4 =

Good luck!  Come and see me if you get stuck!

Ms Steans

Ukulele - Blame it on me

'Blame it on me' - Tune and lyrics

In ukulele today we struggled to play this song initially ... not because we couldn't play the notes (well ... 'G' was an extra one, but a few experts like Ioli and Vivek coped well with it!), but because we weren't very good with the tune of the song.

So ... go ahead and get some practice singing the tune and learning the words.  Of course we play and sing it much slower ... but we could aspire to be good enough to play it at this speed some day!

An afternoon of art ... and chatter!

Creating Artworks Using Complimentary Colours

For those children in Kōtuku who were not involved in the cross country today (and for those of us at school and healthy!), we carried on creating our artworks using complimentary colours.

The selection of paints we had to choose from.

Last week, we started by choosing 3 adjacent colours on the colour wheel and we painted an initial shape with these colours.  This week (once we had finished the task from last week) we had to choose the 3 opposite, therefore complimentary, colours on the colour wheel to paint the background.

The Colour Wheel

Can you work out which colours are complimentary to each other?  Your clue is to look for the colours that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel.

Ioli, Max, Hannah P and Vanessa concentrating on their masterpieces.

Elizabeth, Nevaeh (hidden), Olivia M, Olivia Y and Olivia C, hard at work.

Chelsea, Olivia B, Sophia S, Brie and Theo ... creating and conversing.

Part of the joy of getting artistic and creative is that it allows you time to discuss ideas, opinions and just general everyday life, with your friends, as you work.  Here are just a few of the gems I overhead today while the children worked.  I've kept the comments anonymous ... Ms Steans

Discussions during Art today:

"A diamond is not a shape.  A diamond is actually a rhombus." 

"I don't want to be a famous artist ... I just want to create."

"What do you mean I need to sharpen my pencil?"

"I'll have green, blue-green and blue."

"Have you seen a real duckling before?"

"This kind of purple is like grapes."

"Ms Steans, when you just touched me, you electric shocked me three times!"

"Must be because I'm charged with energy, because I'm wearing merino."

"Must be because you are holding the laptop."

"I actually might do something like this at home, because then I can put it on my wall."

"Double dare you to eat all of that (pointing to the paint on the pallet)."

"No!"

"This looks like orange juice (referring to the brush washing water)."

"I have learnt so much about fractions!"

"Wow ... that's awesome!"

"Let's cross our fingers for them (referring to our classmates at the cross country this afternoon)!"

"My cup looks like it's got crushed up Vitamin C (referring to the brush washing water)."

"Would you rather have free time doing your own thing, or your best friend back from the cross      country?"

"My best friend back from the cross country!"

"So ... what colour was I on?"

"What's opposite yellow?"

"Opposite yellow is purple."

Week 4 Term 2 Home Learning

Chocolate is a great way to introduce everyone to fractions.

SMILE!

Smile - Music and Lyrics

Here is the song that Kōtuku Whānau has been enjoying this year.  It's time to share it with the rest of the Waka Pūhara Whānau!

   

Servanthood

Mother Teresa

The focus for Scripture this term is being a servant.  As a Year 5 group, we have been learning about what it means to be a servant.  We've had some interesting discussions about different types of servants, both now and in history.

Today we explored aspects about the life of Mother Teresa, a woman who committed her life to working for God, by serving the less fortunate and the sick.  Mother Teresa was a living example of servanthood and we can learn a lot from the way she lived her life and the way she cared for others.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

                      

This short video gives a basic outline about the life of Mother Teresa.

Something to think about: In what ways can you act as a servant to those around you?

More Zero Gravity Action!

How to wash your hair in space!

So many people seemed to have found the previous zero gravity video really interesting.  Here is another one to show the challenges of washing your hair in space.

Challenge:
Can you turn this video explanation into a written explanation text (using your own words)?
Compile a list of pros and cons of washing your hair in space (with zero gravity), compared with washing your hair on Earth (with the help of gravity).
Can you write a poem about what it would be like to wash your hair in space like this?

Junior Choir

Welcoming Our New Accompanist

We are thrilled to have Mrs Panckhurst (Charlotte and Harriet's mother) join us as our new accompanist for Junior Choir.  Not only is she amazing on the piano, but she has brought along a range of new music/songs for us to learn.  Her knowledge and love of music is going to be of great benefit as she and Mrs Brereton work together to lead the Junior Choir.  This is only our second week of practising and we are sounding great already!

Mrs Panckhurst accompanies the Junior Choir.

Mrs Brereton is the teacher who leads our Junior Choir.

Basic Fractions Knowledge - How to Write a Fraction

Zero Gravity

WOW ... Water in Zero Gravity

In Kōtuku, as part of our science work exploring friction, we discussed the role of gravity.  We all knew that gravity was the force that kept us 'grounded' and stopped us floating up into the sky.

But ... what is it like to actually live in zero gravity? 

Published on Apr 17, 2013

International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield soaks a washcloth, gives it a twist, and...well, you'll see.

International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield soaks a washcloth, gives it a twist, and...well, you'll see.

Something to think about ... What do you think it would be like to live in zero gravity?  What other everyday things would be a bit weird or challenging?  How would zero gravity impact on our experiment exploring friction?

Reading Group (Ms Steans) - Tuesday 17 May

Reading Group Activity (Ms Steans) - Tuesday 17 May

The Butterfly Effect

Yesterday our reading group discussed kindness and how acts of kindness could have a really positive impact on other people.  This linked perfectly with out current topic 'Cause and Effect'.  We talked briefly about the 'Butterfly Effect'.

Read the brief overview (below) about Chris Rosati and how his actions have impacted on others, then watch the video outlining his story.

Chris Rosati – The Butterfly Effect Spreads Kindness and Inspires Kids Around the World

Chris Rosati wanted to see what one random act of kindness could do to change the world.  He was testing “The Butterfly Effect” which is the idea that one good deed can inspire many others.

Chris gave $50 to two young girls in a restaurant one day in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina.  He want not sure if anything would ever come from it.  But then, several weeks later, he learned that they had used the money to to help poor people in Africa!

And that was just the start!  The Butterfly Effect caught on in a big way!  Chris’s one action caused many good deeds to happen.

Now Chris’s is $50 offering grants through his organisation, InspireMediaNetwork, to kids around the world who want to do good.  If all of this is not enough, Chris has done all of this despite having ALS, a very serious disease.

Chris is a true inspiration and role model.  Check out his super inspiring story below!

Activity:

Topics for Discussion:

• What do you think about The Butterfly Effect?
• What random act of kindness can you do right now?
• Do you think random acts of kindness can change people’s lives?

1)  With a buddy - brainstorm as many ideas as possible about ways you can have a positive impact on others.  Write a list of ideas that you, or those around you, could do as 'Random Acts of Kindness'.  These random acts could just be enough to make someones day, or indeed they could be the start of a your very own Butterfly Effect!

2) Read the list of quotes below.  Find your favourite - discuss with your buddy what it means and be ready to share with your group why you like this quote so much ... and how you can put it in to action yourself.  Make a poster (on A4 paper) of your favourite quote to display on the wall.

If we can all give a little more to others, we will not only be be better people ourselves, but the world will be a better place.  As Margaet Cho said, “Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways, it can change someone else’s life forever.”

Check out these inspiring quotes about giving and generosity:

• “The meaning of life is to find your gift.  The purpose of life is to give it away” – Pablo Picasso
• “Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” – Ben Carson
• “No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
• “Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.” – Unknown
• “Sometime when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways, it can change someone else’s life forever.” – Margaret Cho
• “What I spent I had; what I saved I lost; what I gave, I have.” – German motto
• “No person was ever honoured for what he received. He was honoured for what he gave.” – Calvin Coolidge
• “I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts.” – Mother Teresa
• “Do all the good you can,
  By all the means you can,
  In all the ways you can,
  In all the places you can,
  At all the times you can,
  To all the people you can,
  As long as ever you can.” – John Wesley
• “You will discover that you have two hands.  One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn
• “Life is not about giving up or giving in.  Life is about giving.” – Anthony Douglas Williams
• “I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” – Kahlil Gibran
• “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, and create shade where you do not necessarily expect to sit.” – Kamari aka Lyrikal
• “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchhill
• “We rise by lifting others.”  – Robert Ingersoll
• “The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Ghandi
• “For it is in giving that we receive.” – Francis of Assisi
• “The only gift is a portion of thyself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” – Charles Dickens
• “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” – John Holmes 
• “Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege.” – John D. Rockefeller
• “Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
• “As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
• “The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.” – Lao Tzu

Week 3 homework

Homework for week 3 

 * Spelling. Keep working on your 'essential list' words please. When you have finished them see how many new words you can use in your written language. They may be ones we have put on our  week 3 list.

* Can you be a sports reporter this week and write & draw about the game you played at the weekend. If you play a sport for a team outside school that would be fine. For those of you who do not participate in a sport, could you please write about one thing you did in the weekend. This could even be a sport you watched as long as you don't be too mean about the Crusaders!

* Maths. Keep working on your basic facts. How fast can you recall them now?

Keep watching this space as we will be adding some of our science experiments from our class activities. We will also be adding some of the work we are doing in technology this term.

An Explanation about Friction

Here is a reminder of the learning we did about friction today.  Have another look to reinforce your understanding.

Challenge:  Can you use your own words to explain friction to someone at home.  Try to create your own experiment showing your understanding of friction.

Recycling Glass

Recycling Glass

Watch this video clip for an explanation of how glass is recycled.

Use this information to create a flow diagram to outline the process of recycling glass.

Celebrating Nevaeh's Speech

Celebrating Nevaeh's Speech

As part of our home learning last term, the children each produced and presented a personal profile about themselves.  Listening to each person present their personal profile was a highlight of the day for the staff and many children.  While we would like to acknowledge the work that all of the children put in to complete this home learning task, there was one 'Stand Out' presentation that we wanted to mention.  

Nevaeh went above and beyond expectations.  Not only did she create an awesome visual/written personal profile to share with the class, but also in addition to this, Nevaeh prepared and practiced an entirely separate speech all about herself.  Her presentation was so polished that to acknowledge the hard work she put in, we asked her to present her speech to all of the children in Waka Pūhara - which she did today with great success.

Thank you Nevaeh for your wonderful contribution.  We honour your outstanding commitment and devotion to this home learning task.

Nevaeh presents her speech to Waka Pūhara this afternoon.

Cross Country Champions

Cross Country Champions

We couldn't have ordered a more perfect day to have held our school cross country.  Congratulations to all the children from Waka Pūhara for your effort and achievements!  

Congratulations to the year group winners from Waka Pūhara ... Julia (Yr 3), Hannah (Yr 5), Ioli (Yr 3), Olivia C (Year 4), Torbin (Yr 4) and Bede (Yr 5). 

Air Resistance

What is Air  Resistance?

In Kōtuku, we have been learning about air resistance and how the shape, size and weight of an object have an effect on the way that the object moves and how quickly it falls through the air.  Have a look at this video to remind you of what we have been learning.

Challenge:  Can you think of a different way to demonstrate air resistance?  Try to come up with your own example to share with the class.

Colour Wheel Magic

Colour Magic!

For art this term, we are going to working with the medium of paints.  Kōtuku Whānau will be working with Rachel as our mentor to help support our programme.  Before we get the paints out we are learning about the colour wheel.  The colour wheel is a great way of learning about how colours are formed and also to help us develop an understanding of which colours go well together.  We learned about primary, secondary and tertiary colours.

Rachel explains how primary, secondary and tertiary colours are made.

Making our own colour wheel models.

Asking and answering questions to check our understanding.

Now ... check out this amazing video which shows how colours can magically 'disappear', right before our very eyes!

(You might even like to complete this experiment and bring it in to school to show us yourself.)

How Does It Work?

Where'd those colours go?! Well… they're all there, they've just mixed together. The rapid spinning of the Disappearing Colour Wheel causes the colours to “blend” into each other. This blending creates the illusion that they're actually white! How does that happen?

Light is all of the colours in one: white. When the wheel spins up to the right speed, the colors blend into a near-recreation of white light. This “white” wheel is created because your eyes cannot keep up with the rapid rate at which the individual colours are spinning!

The Awesome Multi-Purpose Space

Morning Assembly/Service

It is fantastic having the new multi-purpose space to use as our morning assembly meeting area.  It's going to be such a blessing to be able to keep warm during our morning assemblies ... especially as winter approaches.

Lily presents the reading of the day.

Term 2 Week 2 Home Learning

Term 2 Week 2 Home Learning

 

Reading: As always, please complete 15 minutes of reading each evening at home.

Current Events:  As part of your home learning this week please learn about an event that is currently occurring either locally, nationally or internationally.  You will need to present the main details of this event to the class as part of our oral language on Friday (13 May).  This can be completed in any format of your choice.  You may choose to write a script and read your work out as if you are a news reader on the television or radio - you might make a presentation with a photo of the event.  Most importantly, we would like to see you put the details in your own words to show that you have a good understanding of the even that has occurred (or is still occurring).

Spelling: 

Thursday Technology Spark

Thursday Technology Spark

A fantastic idea sprang to mind, the year fives joined up with the year 6's for a new activity that would change everybody's thinking and learning skills. A challenge that involved teamwork, persistence, creativity and courage.


                                        


Each student got into a mixed group of three and was handed a sheet with rules and instructions. The teacher told us the challenge: we had to use a ping pong ball and optionally 4 coloured ice block sticks, 4 straws a meter of sellotape and 4 A4 pieces of paper to create a structure that can hold the ping pong ball and let it fall like a sycamore seed. Which ever was the slowest to hit the ground won.

We had 5 minutes planning and 25 minutes creating. Planning was underway!

Time to create! We were allowed to test the seed falling from the tower. To see if our creation needed improvement.

Time's up! Time to check out all these awesome ideas!


                                  

Trinity's group won but the most important thing was to have fun ... and surly everyone did. But anyway catch you later I'm waiting for next Thursday!
By Inaki and Solomon.

Week 1, Term 2

Welcome back!

Homework this week will be:

Reading (15 mins per night) - Your priority is your class guided reading book followed by your own choice of reading material.

Spelling - This term spelling lists will be managed at home.  The first task is to check your child knows the words on Essential Spelling List 1-7 and Commonly Misspelt Words.  For any words that your child gets incorrect on these lists, please manage a weekly learning list of no more than 10 words.  Once your child has mastered these spelling words then your child will focus on one of the lists that has been sent home on our weekly spelling sheet.  A number of suggested spelling activities has been listed for your child to work on at home (these activities will not be handed in to the teacher) to help support and extend your child's vocabulary learning.

Science - A newsletter outlining being a 'Class Scientist' will follow this week.

Maths - Please continue to work on 'speedy' recall of your basic facts.