SCIENCE - Hibernation

This week we researched the answer to Sophie's question, "What is hibernation?" We watched a PowerPoint to learn more information. We also discussed how this PowerPoint was made in America, so the winter months mentioned on the slide are different to ours.   The PowerPoint has been made into a movie for our blog - just press pause to read the slides.  Thanks for the great science idea Sophie!

ELECTIVES HAVE STARTED!

Electives have started in the Middle Team.  This term the children are participating in 'Construction', 'Woolly Workers', '3D Art', 'Animal Art and Craft', 'Tie-dying' and S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths).  Thomas, Leo, Gabe and Archie worked extra hard in their S.T.E.M. Elective and shared the house they had made with the class.

PRESENTING A PLAY

Today the 'Super Dogs' reading group shared their play 'Snow White and the Hex Factor' with us.  They have been practising this week with our College Teacher, Miss Bolger.

MUSIC & DRAMA LESSONS WITH OUR COLLEGE TEACHERS

This week our College Teachers Mr Basford and Miss Bolger are teaching us music and drama lessons.  We are enjoying learning new things!

CHARACTER VALUE OF THE TERM - Compassion

We have been learning about 'Compassion' in Room 11.  We each made a lamp with a special saying:

"If you light a lamp for someone,
it will also brighten your own path".

We talked about how it feels good to help others in need.

SCIENCE - It worked!

Today we looked at our celery experiment and it worked!  The celery had absorbed the coloured water.  The red and blue ones worked the best!

WACKY HAIR DAY

Today was 'Wacky Hair Day'.  There were lots of very creative hairstyles in Room 11 today.  Thank you to everyone who bought along their grocery item for the PTA Quiz Night hampers.

WHAT DID WE DO IN SCIENCE TODAY?

Today we watched a video to find out more about plants...

Since our experiment last week did not work that well, we tried again with celery sticks!  We will report back tomorrow with our findings!

OUR COLLEGE TEACHERS

For this week and next, we have two first year College Teachers helping in our classroom.  Welcome to Mr Basford and Miss Bolger.

GABE'S LEARNING COMMITMENT

Today, Gabe shared his Learning Commitment with us.  His goal was to share a science experiment with the class.  Gabe showed us two Carbon Dioxide experiments and made a special handout for everyone to take home.  What an awesome effort!  Well done Gabe!

WILLOW PATTERNS

At reading time, the Super Canines group have been learning about 'Willow Patterns'.  They designed their own Willow plate and wrote a story to match.  Awesome work  Sophie, Amanda, Leo and Thomas!

UKULELE WITH MRS KING

On Friday we had a fun session with Mrs King playing the ukulele!

LEARNING ABOUT PLANTS

For our science session this week, we investigated Olivia's question "How do plants grow?".  We watched the following movie to find out more information:

Then we completed the science experiment:

On the movie we watched, it said that it would take a "couple of hours" for the dye to move up the stems and colour the flowers.  We left the flowers overnight and the colour is just starting to move to the petals.  It is taking a lot longer than we thought!

LEARNING DETECTIVES - Lunchtime Games

Today our 'Learning Detectives' Ashleigh and Keziah came to visit to tell us about something new that is happening at school.  At lunchtime, the senior children will be organising fun games that everyone can play.  We are looking forward to joining in!

THE BERNARD MANGAKAHIA SHOW

This morning, the whole school watched a show in the hall.  Bernard Mangakahia took us on a journey of Polynesia, telling stories of his family history and showing us amazing dances.  Bernard was very inspirational and told us to always believe in ourselves and to work for our dreams.  Here is the link to Bernard's website if you would like to know more... www.bemana.wix.com/mana

SPECIAL VISITORS FROM THE SPCA

Yesterday we had three very special visitors - Marjorie and her two dogs Ralph and Kudos.  They were from the Otago SPCA.  Marjorie talked to Room 9 & 11 about the animals that come to the SPCA and how they help them.  We got to pat her lovely dogs and ask lots of questions about the SPCA.  As part of our compassion topic this term, we will continue to learn about the SPCA and we will be trying to help them as much as possible.

SOPHIE'S LEARNING COMMITMENT

Today Sophie shared her completed 'Learning Commitment'.  Sophie made a powerpoint to share her knowledge of programming.  She made some amazing things with a 3D printer.  Awesome stuff Sophie!

OUR AMERICAN VISITORS

On Friday afternoon we had two special visitors, Seth and Amanda.  Seth and Amanda are from America and they have been studying at the University of Otago.  They spent the afternoon helping out in our classroom.

WHAT KIND OF SCIENTIST WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?

This week we learned about different kinds of scientists and discussed what kind of scientist we would like to be.  Here is a quick quiz for you:  Can you remember what the following scientists do?

*  Botanist
*  Chemist
*  Biologist
*  Zoologist
*  Ichthyologist
*  Entomologist
*  Seismologist
*  Mineralogist
*  Astronomer
*  Paleontologist
*  Geologist
*  Ecologist

OUR DISCOVERY TABLE

This term we have a new addition to our classroom - we have a 'Discovery Table'.  On this table we are collecting lots of interesting objects from nature.  We have been enjoying examining all these items and learning more about them.

TARRAH'S LEARNING COMMITMENT GOAL

Tarrah has been working very hard over the school holidays to complete her Learning Commitment goal.  Tarrah's goal was to "design and build a house".  Here are some photos of her amazing creation.  Awesome work Tarrah!!!