Miss Lawson

We helped Miss Lawson get ready for her wedding!

Visit to Animal Farm

Earlier in the term we were lucky enough to visit Animal Farm.  Here is a sample of some of the animals we met.  These animals really liked company or was it the pellets we were carrying around?!  One main focus this term is to design a playground for the owners of Animal Farm.  The end of the slide show shows the area that will eventually be the children's playground in the future, hopefully containing a lot of our ideas.

Chinese Language and Culture

We welcomed Mrs Chan into our class today.  She will be teaching us about the Chinese language and culture.  Today we learnt a lot about the country of China, where it is and how big it is compared to New Zealand.  We also learnt to say hello and we even did some gentle kung fu movements.

Athletics

We have been focussing on running, jumping and throwing this term.  This is in preparation for the School Athletics Day.  Here are some of us in action...

Away we GO!

Ready, set and...

Great jump Ella!

Welcome to Term 4

We Like to Move It, Move It continues to be the major schoolwide theme.  This term we investigate the importance of movement in relation to our health.  Stay posted and find out what we will be doing.

Portraits

Our art focus during Term 3 was on self portraits.  Our final art work was a split face portrait.  To do this we had our photos taken in black and white and then they were cut in half.  Next we had to complete the portrait using the skills we had learnt during the term.  Here they are before we completed the background in pastel.

Split Face Portraits on PhotoPeach

Exploring Science

At the end of our science focus on movement we had some wonderings.  We used these wonderings to design and plan our own investigations.  Here we are working on our investigations.

Exploring Science on PhotoPeach

Nessy Numbers: AM and PM

Ticktock Minutes: AM/PM

Healthy Teeth

We have been learning about sugar and tooth decay.  Making a good choice about what we drink is important.  Water is best.  Take a look in the foyer at school and see how much sugar is in popular drinks and look at the amounts of sugar that is recommended for adults and children each day.  Brushing our teeth twice a day with toothpaste will also help us prevent tooth decay.  Here is how we should do this:

We all have beautiful smiles.  If you don't believe this, have a look below.   Lets try and keep them.  

Term 3

Welcome to a new term.  The focus this term is on science and we will be exploring ...

Middle Syndicate Tramp

Near the end of the term the Middle Syndicate went for a tramp on the Richmond Hills.  We were using the fitness we had gained from training for the school cross country.  Here is the view from the highest point we climbed.  Thank you for the overwhelming support we received from parents on this trip.

Games Gala

On the last week of the term we held a Games Gala at school.  This was the grand finale of our term's focus on technology.  During this topic we looked at the way technology impacts on our lives, practised some practical technology problem solving activities and then designed our own games applying some of the techniques we learned from the practical activities.  Our designs all needed to met criteria agreed on by each class, for example, Harakeke's games needed to:
- Be strong and sturdy
- Be desirable and fun (people need to want to play it)
- Be working well
- Be realistic and achievable
This was also a fundraising venture as well because each class decided on a worthy cause to raise money for and the amount raised from people buying tickets went towards this cause.  Harakeke raised almost $80 for the SPCA.  Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and played our games.  Here we are in the process of creating our games.

Games Gala on PhotoPeach

Mr Pearson's Stick Project

This was the task ...
We had 20 popsicle sticks to make something at home.  We could buy as many extra sticks as we wanted or just use the ones we had been given.  It was suggested we plan our stick project before we started.  Our project could be as simple or as complicated as we liked.  We needed to work together with someone older to complete the project, although we were expected to be the person who does most of the planning and making.  We could cut or break the sticks to make them shorter, or use glue guns, paint, string, sequins….anything really to help us create our project.  This was NOT a competition.  It was about having fun, being creative, planning, working together, and explaining our ideas to others.
And here are the results...
Mr Person's Stick Project on PhotoPeach

The Matariki Story

Use the link on the websites we visit to discover more about this special time of year in New Zealand.

Published Writing

                                                         THE ZIP
I heard a rumble then suddenly the zip in front of me opened. I leaned over the edge. I saw blackness. I was spooked. I felt cold hands touch my back. When I turned I saw a Goblin and he pushed me. I  wondered what would happen to me. I was falling and  falling and I thought this black hole of darkness would never end. Then finally I hit the bottom of the hole. The Goblin followed me down the hole so I rushed inside the beautiful sparkly Purple Castle in front of me. The first room I looked in had a bed for a queen. Then I looked in the backyard and I saw one Vomiter and two dangerous and terrifying Jugglers. I thought I had started a new life but I was actually in Heaven.
By Alice.

 

Published Writing

                                     The Kitten Rescue 

I stepped outside of the firetruck and gazed at the burnt house. I grabbed the hose and put on my protective  gear and started walking. It was pitch black the only light came from my flashlight. I bravely entered a bedroom and looked around. My eyes spotted a little grey kitten on the ground not moving. I slowly approached the little guy and cautiously picked him up and carried him out of the house. One of my mates passed a bottle of cold water. Suddenly I saw it's paw move. I poured the freezing cold water on him and His head moved. He  jump around me and People started to clap and cheer. I felt happy that I saved a life.

By Lucy D

New Hats

Jonty's grandmother has knitted us these amazing beanies.  Thank you Jonty's grandmother for keeping us warm and snug over the winter.

Art and Motion

We are learning how artists show motion in their artworks.  Using repetition and showing movement are two ways.  For these art works we used photos of us in an action pose and then we repeated the action.

Art and Motion on PhotoPeach

Financial Literacy Presentation

Today we had a visitor talking to us about money.  We learnt about keeping money safe in the bank,  shopping around for the best price and knowing the difference between needs and wants.  In this photo our special visitor is acting like a caveman!  Cavemen traded when they wanted something.

Technology in Action

Today we created a dart using a list of equipment.  The main things we had to use were 4 straws but they could be cut up.  The winning dart was the one that could fly the greatest distance.

Sorting out the best 'dart launchers'

The winning dart by Jayden

Orchestra Visit

We were lucky enough to enjoy an orchestra that was entirely made up of string instruments.  What instruments can you identify in the photo?

What is Technology?

We are exploring ideas around technology this term.

Published Writing

The Great Kitten Rescue

I bolted into the smouldering house with only the light of my flashlight. I walked cautiously up the broken, smoky stairs. Once I had gotten into the smoky bedroom. I flashed my torch around scanning the room. Suddenly I saw a small tabby kitten lying motionless on the hard ground. I carefully picked up the tabby kitten and dashed back outside. I grabbed the first aid kit and put the gas mask on him. I also sprinkled some water. Suddenly he came to life. I picked him up and gently rubbed him. Every one applauded. I felt like a hero. 

The End

By Rhiannon

Published Writing

The Spooky Zip!

I heard people saying, "Wow!" They were all yelling like mad. I saw people looking and wondering. I felt the wow factor going around in my head. Suddenly I saw the zip slowly open and I saw 50 goblins jump out. I wondered if the goblins were nice goblins. Next I saw 50 more goblins jump out. I felt a bit afraid because they were coming towards me. I wondered if they were after me. The goblins were green and they had black eyes that looked like ash. Next I felt the cold creep up my body. I slyly crept up behind a tree so no one could see me.
By Ella Bella

More Studyladder Awards

Pizza for Lunch

Last term we created some posters about RESPECT.  The posters explained how we show respect in areas around the school.  Some of the posters explained how we show respect at assembly.  These were entered in a school-wide competition organised by Mr Herrick and WE WON!  The prize was a free pizza lunch.  Here we are tucking in.

New Zealand Sign Language Week

As part of our celebration of New Zealand Sign Language week we have been learning how to sign this song.  We have also been learning about healthy hearing. You can find out more about this on our link to the website Dangerous Decibels.

ANZAC Poppies

We made giant poppies as part of our ANZAC focus.  This activity linked in with our new technology focus as well.  We had to learn how to create a strong, tall poppy out of a small amount of materials.  Here is Jack's impressive structure.