Wednesday 29 June 2016

Kupe's Travels

Kupe's Discovery of New Zealand

At the museum, we heard about Kupe's journey to New Zealand.  Read for yourself about his travels.

Copy and paste the link below.

http://eng.mataurangamaori.tki.org.nz/Support-materials/Te-Reo-Maori/Maori-Myths-Legends-and-Contemporary-Stories/Kupe-s-travels-around-Aotearoa

In your reading books, create a flow diagram to outline the main events of Kupe's travels.

Monday 27 June 2016

Kākāpō

Kākāpō



Copy and paste the link below to your iPad for further information about the kākāpō.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/kakapo





Challenge:
In the comments section, record what you think are the 3 most fascinating facts about this native bird. Don't forget ... put your book away and write the facts in your own words!

NEXT  challenge:

On an iPad, with a buddy ... write a poem about the kākāpō.

Sunday 26 June 2016

Homework

Homework this week, week 9, will be reading and continuing essential words.

Friday 24 June 2016

Robotics

Robotics Link


You all had such a great time doing robotics on Thursday ... here is a link to the robotics activity that the Mrs Brereton did with Toetoe in class today.  

Have a go ... and don't forget to leave a comment to tell us how you scored!



This is just a picture of the site ... copy and paste the link below to get onto the site.
(We will check with the very clever Miss Yonetani to see if she can make a real link for us next week.)


Link:

http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/L753/index.html

Thursday 23 June 2016

Don't forget

Tomorrow, Friday Waka Puhara are going to the Museum, so it is white shirts for the boys please.

Mind Lab Robotics


Mind Lab helps with your thinking and creativity. With Mind Lab, you will soon know how to build types of fun robots. The robot that we made was a robot designed to be a waiter. The people from years 5 and 6 were split into two mixed groups, as Mind Lab couldn’t have everybody there at once. We made these by thinking in our groups how to make a robot hold a plate with a marble. The robots had already been programmed to follow black tape stuck to the floor. It was challenging for most groups because sticking parts to the base was hard. Why was this? Because the parts kept falling apart. We solved the problems by making a balanced structure. - Olivia



Half of year 5-6’s excitedly rushed on to the school bus for they were going to an awesome place called Mind Lab.

Mind Lab is so fun. We got to make robots and we had to balance plates on them. - James



Today yr6 and yr5 went to Mind Lab. At Mind Lab we made robots. It was quite a challenge because we had to balance the marble on the plate with people helping us. - George 



Today the year fives and year sixes went to Mind Lab on a school trip for technology. Once we got off the school bus and were inside, the two leaders told us what we would be doing.
The man (called Manish) told us we would be making robots and making them carry a green plate with a marble on it.

We were told to go into groups of three, so I asked Charlotte if she wanted to go with me. We also had George. 

We tested it and it worked very well, but as George picked it up, he dropped it! So Charlotte and I had to 
remake it.

We tested it again and it worked, so Charlotte got a ceramic plate and we tested it, but the plate was too heavy for the robot.

Charlotte and I tried to change the settings, but it still didn’t work.
We had a lot of fun at Mind Lab. - Minnie  



The 5’s and 6’s went to Mind Lab. We did some amazing things. Mind Lab was near the centre of Christchurch. We were put into groups of 2’s and 3’s. The main challenge was building a creation to hold a plate with a marble on top. 


In my group, I had James and Lucy. We all worked well together. I had an idea that worked pretty well and we were pretty successful. - Oliver



Mind Lab is a place where you create solutions to your problems/robotics. It can be very challenging but in the end it’s fun. It’s located on 24 Walker Street, Christchurch Central. You always have 2 experienced adults looking over your shoulder.

Today the year 5s and 6s made a robot waitress. The robotics helpers explained everything first then we went off and got everything we needed (which was in that room). The main part was the brain and sensor which made it follow a black line . We then had to modify it so it could carry a plastic plate with a marble on it. The group I was in made the robot tip over because of the weight. Then we had to make it carry a ceramic plate which was a bit bigger so we had to modify it again! - Olivia C.




Half of St Mark's year 5-6’s excitedly clambered onto the school bus for they were going to a fun, awesome, exciting place… Mind Lab!

Mind Lab by Unitec is a fun place for anyone 7+ and their holiday programs are available for ages 7 - 12. It is located on 24 Walker Street, Central City, Christchurch.

We drove down the busy streets before turning down a small side-street (Walker Street), where we hurried out onto the footpath then carefully crossed the road.

Inside, it was very colourful with pastel colours on almost every wall. Then we went in this room full of tables and chairs and surrounded by glass and then taking a seat.

“Today, you are going to program and solve robotic problems” explained our tutors, Manish and Lucy, as they showed us an interesting slide-show about how robots will make the future easier.

Then we got into action, exploring a website about what jobs in the future will be taken over by robots in groups, my group was James, Oliver and myself. The most likely to be taken over by robots was a telephone salesman and least likely a nurse.

After that we were given the big challenge of the day, we had to build a robot waitress and make it to carry a plastic plate with a marble in the middle along . We were given a basic robot (already programmed) and pieces of plastic with holes in it  similar to LEGO complete the task.

When you had completed the challenge, you and your group did the same challenge but with a glass plate, this made this rather challenging because you had to modify your robot structure and program the robot to go faster otherwise it wouldn’t move because of the weight.

Too soon, it was time to go. I really enjoyed Mind Lab. I loved learning about robotics. It was challenging, fun, exciting, and awesome. I hope we get to go there again! - Lucy



Mind Lab is a place where you do robotics. It is located on 24 Walker St, Christchurch Central. It can be very challenging, but great fun as well. The tutors there are great help and very funny! If you are stuck with something, they will help you get it right. Mind Lab is great for kids who are interested in IT things and they let you make your own robot! Today at Mind Lab, a group of mixed year 5/6 s learned how to program robots. Our challenge was to make a robot waitress or waiter. Our robots had to be able to carry a plastic plate and a marble on a black line. You had to build the equipment to help the plate stay stable. Once you got the plastic plate at the end of the line, you moved on to the ceramic plate, which was larger and heavier. Then, so your robot could carry the ceramic plate, you had to plug it into the computer and modify it. My car was not very successful as it kept doing donuts everywhere. - Lilah



It was an amazing trip because we got to get a robot (not to keep). We got to customise our robot cars. We had to balance a plastic plate. - Tom

Year 5/6 Coding and Mind Lab Day

Introduction to Coding with Lightbot



Which habits of mind are we really learning about?

Work With Others because different people solve problems in different ways and you need to work together.
Persistence because when you get stuck, you need to keep trying.  
Make it Right because you need to check your code, especially if it's not working. 
Stop and Think because you need to make a plan for getting the code to do what you want.





Intermediate Coding (Python) with Code Combat


EMAIL - Use your school Google account (even though this doesn't function as an email address).
PASSWORD - Use your school Google account password.
USERNAME - Use your school Google account username, e.g. benmi26
BIRTHDAY - You may enter your real birthday.
CLASS CODE - GatePinkSwim



Monday 20 June 2016

Aesop's Fables

The Wolf and the Crane

Read the following fable.  In your own words, describe what you think the moral of the story is and record you ideas in the comments section.  Don't forget to leave your name.



Sunday 19 June 2016

Ride the Wave!



The Wave of Kindness

Aesop's fables are stories that have been written with a moral ... to help teach us a lesson in life. 

Leave a comment below and tell us:

Which Aesop fable is your favourite ... and why?

Can you identify an Aesop fable with the moral : No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.

(REMEMBER TO LEAVE YOUR NAME AT THE END OF YOUR COMMENT!)

Anyone who leaves a comment this week, on this post, will be in the draw for a prize at Friday's Waka Pūhara Assembly!




What can you do this week to start your own wave of kindness?


   


Tell us about an act of kindness you have put into motion this week ... comment below.

Beebots at play

Thursday Year 3 and 4 Technology



We had great fun programming our Beebots.



Week 8 homework

Week Eight Homework

Thank you to those of you who took the time and effort to complete last weeks homework. Some of you managed to get more than 50 words and more than 100 ways to rename 50. Well Done!!

This week your homework will be to: 
* read your classroom reader and or your own story for 15minutes
* check the essential word lists as there will be checks on these to see how you are going
* check your addition and  subtraction basic facts and or your multiplication and division facts

Blog Challenge:
Go and view our new blog post, 'Ride the Wave'.  Follow the instructions and you could be in the surprise prize draw at this weeks Waka Pūhara Assembly.

Collect small things to create a 'Pa' at school on July 1. Please bring them to school in a named bag before Friday 1 July.
Olivia  in action.

Netball on Friday was awesome! You girls were amazing. Way to go.
Elizabeth and Olivia 

Alice, Bonnie and Brie, ready and waiting

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Crazy Foam Science Experiment


Crazy Foam - Inspired by Olivia Y


As part of our fair testing science experiments, Olivia Y presented Kōtuku whānau with this wee treasure.

She did a great job explaining the trials and errors she'd had at home while experimenting to get the perfect formula with ingredients she could collect and the measures she used.

Here's a sneak peak at how the experiment looked.  Watch out for Olivia's own explanation on the blog, with photos from her actual experiment .... coming soon!



                      

Sunday 12 June 2016


New song


  1. Hope you enjoy singing this one too.

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Week 6 Homework








Matariki

Wednesday 1 June 2016

Do Re Mi - Junior Choir Song

Do Re Mi 

(From 'The Sound of Music')

Here is the song we are learning in Junior Choir at the moment.  Have a listen ... have a sing along ... learn the words ... enjoy!

Serving Others

Serving Others in Western Samoa

Today we welcomed Mrs Sherwood to talk with us about the time she spent living, with her husband (Mr Sherwood), in Western Samoa.  Although they were not sent to Samoa by the church, as missionaries, during their time living in Western Samoa they had the opportunity to help and serve the people who lived there.

Western Samoa is not a wealthy country and one of the requests that the Anglican church there had was for St Mark's Church (in Opawa) to help support them by providing a guitar for the youth group.  This certainly goes to show how precious possessions (which we might consider as readily available) were to the Western Samoa Anglican Church community.

While living in Western Samoa, Mrs Sherwood showed servanthood  by volunteering her time to make toys for the children in hospital, working at the Secondary School helping to teach children to speak English as a second language and by helping support women's groups in the area.  She was involved in many church groups and in this way she was about to take with her the love and support of St Mark's Church, Opawa.  St Mark's Church also provided money so that the service books in Western Samoa could be reprinted as they were getting old and very tatty.  The service books were printed in English and Samoan.

Mrs Sherwood talked with us about the tradition of 'White Sunday' in Western Samoa.  This was a time when the children were treated exceptionally well for the day.  They received a brand new outfit (generally the only new clothing they received all year) and were served first at the mid-day meal.

We really enjoyed learning from Mrs Sherwood, not only about what it was like to live in Western Samoa, but also about her thoughts and feeling about her time there.  

Some though provoking words that Mrs Sherwood left us with were:
"We went with skills to share and to help the people of Western Samoa ... but my husband and I decided, before we even left New Zealand, that unless we also learnt something from the people of Samoa, our journey would be wasted."

Challenge:  Comment below and let us know what you learnt today that surprised you or perhaps made you appreciate how lucky you are to be living in New Zealand.  Can you think of things that we have in New Zealand that we take for granted and we should show more appreciation for (think about the houses that the people live in, the roads and transport or even the way people were served at meals when they are gathered together as large groups).

Laura, Mrs Sherwood and Olivia B model keepsake necklaces from Western Samoa.

Managing Impulsivity

Managing Impulsivity ... A Lesson For ALL Children


When I found this video clip about the Habit of Mind 'Managing Impulsivity', it made me think of incidents I had seen in the classroom regularly!  

I had to share it .... many of the children in Waka Pūhara have seen it ... but it would be great to watch it again, and share it with family.

Challenge:
Post a comment below explaining other situations that you may encounter that might require you to manage your impulsivity.  Can you give some examples and include a 'wrong' way and a 'right' way to manage your impulses?


Problem Solving Champs

Problem Solving

Tuesday was a session of serious problem solving for those who do maths with Ms Steans.  Many of the children in the class actually did not manage to answer the questions that were provided.... however many got very close!  The persistence shown by all children is worth noting ... I was impressed with their focus!

Team work ... Vivek and Max compare ideas and show persistence to find solutions.


Thinking looks like this ... Minnie, Elizabeth and Nevaeh don't waste any time testing their 
ideas.

Problem Solver of the Day ... Charlotte! 


Charlotte (who, incidentally, was one of many who did not actually manage to successfully solve any of the problems today) was, without a doubt, our problem solving champion of the day.  How can this be (you may ask) when she didn't manage to find the actual solutions?  

Our learning intention today was indeed to solve problems.  BUT, our 'other' learning intention was to show persistence whilst working ... to have a go and then try and try again.  

Charlotte's work book models (not only beautiful presentation) her ability to come up with an idea, try it out, get it incorrect .. and then try and try again.  Persistence at it's best.  SO proud of you Charlotte!  

Sure, teachers love to see correct answers (when it means you understand what you are doing), but sometimes even more important is to keep going when the going gets challenging.  AND ... teachers also LOVE to see persistence ... to see the trial and error as you try to work out problems.  

So ... don't ever be afraid to get questions wrong ... it's how we learn, and it's how teachers can see what you are doing so we know how to help you solve your problems to achieve success. 



Problem 1
Use the digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 (one time each) to find a 3 by 3 digit addition sum, with answer.
Challenge:  Can you find some other solutions (add the to the comments section when you do)?

Congratulations to Amelia H who has already found another solution:
"I found an Answer for Q 1 at maths today ( Wednesday)

142
695
837

So 2 + 5 = 7 then 4 + 9 = 13 (write down 3 because one carries over) then 1 + 1 + 6 = 8"
Amelia H

Brie ... the first to find a solution to this problem.  Super problem solving skills, Brie.


Problem 2
Remove only 2 sticks (from the red combination) to provide an answer that has 2 squares in it.

Max was the first to solve this problem.  Well done, Max!
(It turns out he has a book of similar type problem solving questions at home.) 

Problem 3
Mr Smith is 30 years old.
In 6 years time, he will be three times as old as his son, Sidney.
How old is Sidney now?

(Interestingly, many children found the answer '12', but they forgot to do the final step of taking 6 away from 12 (which was necessary as the question said, 'How old is Sidney now?'

A proud smile from Hannah, who was the only person to solve this problem correctly ... super work, Hannah!
(Two other children also solved the problem, but for some reason they only found the answer by doing the square root of 36, which actually was not the correct strategy.  It may have worked for this question but it would not have been successful for other sums.)

Keeping Chickens

Would You Keep Chickens?

During reading this week (with Ms Steans) we have been reading about 'Keeping Chooks'.  We've been identifying the pros and cons of keeping chickens.

Your challenge is to get your family talking!  

Challenge:  Discuss, as a family, how you would feel about keeping chickens at home.  Consider things such as:  Is your property big enough?  Where would you build the coop?  How do you think the neighbours would react to you keeping chickens?  What would be the benefits to your family of keeping chickens?  What would be the drawbacks (the negative aspects) of keeping chickens at your house?

If you are a family who already has chickens at home, we'd love to hear how it works for you.  What are the challenges?  What are the benefits?  

Challenge:  Get creative!  Present your findings as a Pic Collage (or any other visual way) and, if I am able, I will up load your presentation to our blog.  Alternatively, leave a comment below to tell us your/your families thoughts and feelings.

We look forward to some great feedback!