Pizza, Pizza, Pizza
Today we made pizzas. Students had to research what type of pizza toppings students liked as well as look at professional companies pizza menus. This was done so as the students would be creating a product that would appeal to many people.
Room 3 then had to make a pizza base and they soon found that kneading dough can be very tiring! Once the bases had risen they were ready to be rolled, toppings added then placed in the oven.
Students made the traditional types of pizzas, which were very successful, and two groups chose to try a dessert pizza too.
Week 3 Learning
This week we have been looking at the process of making a pizza, how our body works, statistics, completing our 500 word story and our haiku poems.
“I have learnt why you breath faster when you run,” said Casey.
“I learnt that the white part of your eye is called the sclera,” said Emily (with help from Baillie).
“I learnt that there are three layers to the skin, the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous,” said Dr Phoenix.
“I learnt that the dermis is the largest layer of skin,” said Cass.
“I learnt that the skin is an organ,” said Kyron.
“I learnt how to do market research,” said George.
“I learnt that maths games can be more interesting than I thought,” said Steffin.
Busy Days!
We have had a really busy start to the term, which the class have embraced with great enthusiasm. The most exciting thing so far, (apart from pelting each other with missiles of course) has been the start of our swimming programme at the Greerton Pools. The children have been sorted into ability groups and are learning some solid techniques, all are showing a huge improvement already! I’m sure this will prove a huge advantage when it comes to running the cross country in June – swimming for an hour has to be good for fitness levels!
The children are working hard on their individual topics which have something to do with the human body. We have got a range of topics from how humans evolved, through studies of various body organs, to how chemicals how affect the body. Watch this space for the finished product which will be a series of ‘glogsters’.
We have also produced a video showing the classes perspective on the virtue of assertiveness – they identified a few different ways in which you can be assertive,
- saying no when asked to do something you are uncomfortable with
- accepting ‘no’ when told you can’t do something you want to do
- making the right choice when faced with something more appealing
- and continuing to work hard even when you are faced with distractions.
Watch the movie to see how these play out on screen!
ANZAC Day
In Room 3 we have been learning about ANZAC Day, what happened at Gallipoli and why we celebrate ANZAC Day. Today the students enacted (sort of) the Gallipoli landing. We had all the boys as the ANZAC troops trying to invade the Gallipoli Peninsular (which was the big kids playground). The girls were the Turkish defenders trying to stop the invasion, thus stopping the access to the Dardanelles Strait and the Black Sea (the native area). To minimise fatalities paper replaced bullets.
The students soon realised that despite the best efforts of the boys, they were never going to take control of the playground so long as the girls controlled the high ground and the boys had to do all the climbing under heavy fire. This helped the students understand the impossible situation the ANZAC soldiers were placed in.
We Have Learnt…..
This week we have been learning about ANZAC Day, looking at the artist Robert Delaunay, working on our family of facts, haiku poetry, as well as beginning our fitness for cross country.
“I have learnt that concentric circles are circles inside circles,” said Jessica.
“I have learnt how to blend pastels,” said Kyron.
“I learnt about the Dardanelles Strait and how the Turkish were protecting it with mines during WWI,” said Jovanna.
“I learnt that the ANZAC soldiers lost the battle at Gallipoli,” said Jasper.
“I learnt to blend two different shapes similar to Robert Delaunay,” said Emily.
“I learnt that art can be weird,” said George.
Weekly Round-Up
This week we have been learning about a lot of new things. Some of the students will share some of these now.
Sean: “I learnt where apostrophes should go and in what context.”
Piper: “I learnt how to play badminton and tennis.”
Phoenix: “I have improved my basic facts in Maths.”
Jasper: “I have learnt how to use colour schemes.”
Casey: “I learnt how to do a smash shot in tennis.”
Dannielle: “I have learnt that hyperboles are figurative speech.”
Steffin: “That a new school (Kaimai School) is better than my old one.”
Baillie: “I have learnt how to do a forehand shot correctly.”
Writing
Hi there
The term is flying by, and everyone is working really hard to complete their work. The class have all just about finished their persuasive writing, giving opinions on the effect of the european colonisation of New Zealand. I have included two at the bottom of this post, for more examples look at the writing page. We are now moving onto narrative writing, which is the children’s favourite! From the planning that is happening, we are in for quite a variety of storylines – watch this space!
We have just had the swimming sports, and you will have read in the newsletter about Jessica’s success, we are all very proud and excited for her. I was very proud of all the children who have swum this year – without exception we have seen extremely positive progress in the class, in both attitude and ability. I was particularly proud to be associated with the children at the participation event which I accompanied, they really pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and worked hard.
Here are the two writing samples, one for each side – which one convinces you most?
European Settlement by George Sadler (Yr 6)
I believe that European settlement ruined New Zealand; animals that have been brought over from other countries affected the Native animals badly. The Europeans brought deadly diseases over from other countries and the Maori cultures have disappeared into thin air.
Dogs would sprint after the slow and sluggish flightless birds. They would pick them up in their jagged jaw and take them home for dinner. The Settlers cut down hundreds of trees to make crops. When they cut down the trees, they made millions of birds homeless. Europeans started to hog the land, and animals like the Kiwi began to be endangered.
Europeans brought deadly diseases over from other countries. These will cause more deaths and panic all over New Zealand, and since the Maori never used soap and couldn’t use a nice hot shower, some children would not make it. Hospitals would be needed which meant more industrial buildings.
The Maori had amazing cultures and hundreds of gods, which crafted the land. They tell the Maori what to do. When the Europeans arrived, they brought their god to New Zealand. More and more Europeans arrived, and the Maori begin to believe in the European god, not theirs. Now, the Maori god has disappeared into thin air. They are just legends now.
If you went back in time, would you change the past? Well, would you?!?!
European Colonisation by Jasper Stone (yr 5)
I believe that European colonisation was the best thing that happened to New Zealand.
The Maori had more land and space for buildings and jobs for money for a good life.
The European cleared out the land for buildings and grew food that the maori could eat.
The Maori could do jobs and earn money. With money they could buy stuff like defense and weapons. They could buy food and good toys. They could buy resources to build there houses for there shelter in the world.
The Europeans also had better guns, they had better technology for their stuff.
By Jasper Stone (yr5)
The virtue of unity
Term 1 has got off to a great start, with everyone working together to complete the necessary tasks. One of those tasks was a production for assembly this morning, pertaining to the virtue of unity, and this was the end result! (Costuming and props were not the priority – the message is very clear!)
http://youtu.be/ZQcUlHJmy0o
My apologies for the sound, but you can see what is happening without necessarily listening to what is said.
Here at last!!
Yes, the new school year is about to start, and I am busy getting everything sorted. I am a little sad that my sleep-ins are numbered, and I’m going to miss spending my days with our 2 dogs, but I am also excited at coming back to school and having some fun there!
This year our theme is “Curiousity and Creativity”, so I am expecting that we get really curious and creative – and have lots of fun in the process. We will be starting the term being curious and creative about the Treaty of Waitangi, and will be visited by Harold and the Life Ed caravan in week 5 (The parent session is 2pm on Tuesday 28th Feb).
The swimming sports are on the 7th and 8th of March, depending on whether the children are in the competitive or participation event.
We are also participating in a new sporting endeavour this year, with Sport BOP – the Go4it programme. In term 1 this means someone from Sport BOP will be visiting once a week with the ‘hit it’ programme, for the last 4 weeks of the term.
As you can see, it will be a busy term with lots to keep everyone on their toes! Please feel free to come in and see me at any time if you wish, or ring/email.
Happy Christmas
The year has finished, and the children left school in a really positive mood, looking forward to their holidays and anticipating their changed role next year. We finished on a lovely note, with some fun and games happening as well as the serious business of classroom moving. Room 3 is now situated in the old room 2, which is now in room 3 and last years room 4 is room 1 and vice versa.
I have posted the stationery list onto the website, it will be really helpful if the children can arrive at school with their stationery on day 1.
I hope you all have a wonderful festive season, See you next year.
wetland slideshow
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