My First Day At Te Manu Tukutuku

My First Day At Te Manu Tukutuku

I feel curious as I walk around the school, because there's things that need to be explored.

I hear children walking to their classrooms, buzzing with excitement energy and eagerness.

I see the new playgrounds and basketball hoops being used and loved.

I smell the new paint and the fresh air binding together to make a new aroma.

I touch the soft, bouncy and comfy chairs.

Overall I feel proud about being a guardian and exhilarated about my future at this school.

by Hayley

👍WALT: write about how we feel about our new space. In our poem we had to include a Simile, Alliteration and Emotion words.

The New School

I see, the great streaks of blue, flowing down the walls and across the coal black carpet.

I feel the cool air in the huge classroom sweeping and skimming over everyone.

I hear the quiet whispers of other children murmuring to each other as they work.

I smell the vivid aroma of others using whiteboard markers on the bright glossy tables.

I touch, the soft, fluffy walls that feel like supple green grass, growing in the ground.

Overall, I feel exhilarated with all the shiny surfaces, the bouncing chairs and the cheerful laughs all around the school.

By Jed

👍WALT: write about how we feel about our new space. In our poem we had to include a Simile, Alliteration and Emotion words.

Te Manu Tukutuku Poem

I feel nauseous with excitement walking  into a new chapter of my life.

I hear screaming of excitement playing on the new playground.

I see smiles shining and sparkling all over the school.

I smell the clean and refreshing fragrances as the new furniture.

I touch all different textures, soft, rough, rugged, all kinds on the walls.

I feel proud to be able to put other people's lives in my hands at road patrol.

By Lily

👍WALT: write about how we feel about our new space. In our poem we had to include a Simile, Alliteration and Emotion words.

The mysterious object

The Mysterious object

As we sit there, watching, we see the great king of literacy attempt to make a simple, round object made of the following; Poisonous, disgustable raisins; bitter, dark cocoa; bland, tasteless coconut and oats. We stare, involuntarily, as the imperator starts to amalgamate all the ingredients together using a food processor and the reverberation coming was execrable. The concoction was starting to come together.

As we slowly started to receive the horrible looking mixture, we rolled the conglomeration into a small spherical shape. After that, we all waited for the other people to finish rolling their interfusion into a ball-like figure. The object looked so incredibly inedible, that it already looked like I didn't want to eat it. After that, we rolled the globules in either utterly, bitter cocoa powder or grated, bland pieces of coconut.

After that, we talked about how it felt like, looks like, smells like and tastes like. We thought of different words to describe the truffle. After that, we ate the globules. It was the moment that I was dreading. Then, I ate a small bite. It was abhorrent at first, but then I had a bit more and I discovered that it was actually not  all that bad.

For the last part, we had to make a piece of writing about the mystery balls that we made and ate which is what you are reading now.

by Jed

WALT write about an experience using descriptive language features.

Bliss Balls

Bliss Balls   7/8/2017

Ever seen, felt and smelt something that you thought was amazing but then a plot twist happens? Well that is what happened to me in literacy today. We were making Bliss Balls. Now you are probably wondering, What the heck is a Bliss Ball? Well my friend a bliss ball is a healthy truffle like ball. It is made out of Sultanas or Raisins, Oats, Cocoa, Coconut and Coconut Oil.

The bliss balls looked like lumps of chocolate waiting to get inside my mouth. The bliss ball looked squished up like banana. The bliss ball looked rough like a rocky mountain. It looked absolutely glorious. It was to die for.

When I felt the bliss ball it felt squishy like gooey slime. The bliss ball felt sticky like glue. When the bliss ball rolled around on my hand the coconut felt rough like bark on a tree. It felt moist like a used damp towel.

The bliss ball smelt like pure dark chocolate about to be gone. The bliss ball smelt mouth watering like a nice refreshing ice-block. The coconut smelt like a glorious lamington. This ball smelt like something you've never smelt before. It smelt like heaven.

Then the time had come it was time to taste the bliss ball that looked, smelt and felt amazing and glorious. I bit into the bliss ball with high anticipation. Then all of a sudden (bite) the raisins are so juicy. It tasted absolutely disgusting. It was sickening like a five month old block of cheese. It was so chewy like uncooked steak. It tasted like a complete disappointment. It tasted like something people eat from the garbage. It tasted like poison, I hated it. I definitely regret it.

by Phoebe

WALT write about an experience using descriptive language features.

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Robotics Class - We are getting there!

This week we used our Learning Powers in our Robotics class. We persisted and asked for help when things got tricky. We also collaborated and problem solved when we got stuck.

This week we continued to build our robots. Some of us started to learn how to programme them to move in straight lines and stop at a certain spot. We are still working on this! Next week we will be learning to turn corners.

To make the robots move we use a programme on the Macbooks. We use the Action Blocks and decide on the Power/ Speed and the Duration/ Distance numbers. It is a lot of trail and error. We just need to have a go and learn from our mistakes.

Robotics

This week we started a Robotics Unit. We are building our robots and learning to write the programmes to make them move. We are very excited and are looking forward to problem solving and working collaboratively to programme our robots to move through a maze successfully.

S.T.E.M. Design a Water Slide

During S.T.E.M the past couple of weeks the children have been working collaboratively to design and construct a water slide. In their small groups they had to draw and label 3 or more different water slides. They had to share their ideas clearly and listen carefully to each other. 

The materials available to use were 10 straws, 3 cardboard tubes, a bowl to catch the water at the end, masking tape or sellotape, foil or Glad Wrap.

The success criteria was the water will be able to travel down the slide and end up in the bowl and not soak through the slide. The slide will have an access ladder or ramp.

Most of the water slides were successful. When reflecting on the activity and their collaboration skills; they commented that it was hard to make sure every one did their share of the work and some children found it hard working with others to complete the task. A couple of the groups found it difficult to transfer what they had drawn on paper to physically making their design.

The Brilliant Blizzard

The Brilliant Blizzard

The most important, whitest, windiest and iciest place in the world is… Antarctica. Antarctica is a very fascinating place. The white, and the ice just makes me wonder about the history and how everything just came to what it is now. Antarctica used to be at the top of the world but throughout    the years it came to the very bottom.                    

Antarctica sounds like people are right next to you whistling so loud into your ear. The ice of Antarctica sounds like a cold crackling fire. The ocean sounds like heavy splashes of water into your drink. The crashing icebergs sound like bags of ice getting smashed by a hammer. It sounds so amazing. Antarctica is the best place in the world.

Antarctica feels like frostbite is nipping the end of your toes off. Antarctica feels like you're sleeping outside in a pool on a cold winter's night. Antarctica feels like you are a snowball and the cold never stops. Here in NZ when it is winter we think it is quite cold but you should feel what it's like in Antarctica. In the summer here we have the sun stretching fiery fingers down on us and it is just amazing but down in Antarctica it is sunlight all the time but it is still freezing.

Antarctica looks like the biggest mountains covered in hundreds of snow layers. The snow is the whitest thing you have ever seen. The colors are like the most beautiful things ever. It just makes me speechless.

In my opinion Antarctica feels freezing and bone-chilling. Sounds extraordinary and mind blowing. Looks amazing and the best place in the world.

Author - Phoebe (Room 6)

The White Continent

  The White Continent

             Antarctica is the coldest,whitest, most amazing place on earth.

Some people go there to study the life cycles of animals. It is a very interesting place.

The climate of Antarctica is the coldest on Earth! The lowest air temperature was on the 21st of July 1983. The temperature was -89.2 C. This is very cold compared to what we get!

Antarctica is so dry that scientists believe that it is a desert! It hardly ever rains in Antarctica. Antarctica is fascinating. Most of the snow that we see isn't just falling it is getting blown around in the wind.                                                                         

Antarctica has katabatic winds just like us but… when we have katabatic winds they come from the mountains and give us warmth. In Antarctica they come from the mountains that are covered in  ice and brings bone-chilling cold.

Antarctica is 25% bigger than Europe. It is the least polluted of all continents. Antarctica is bigger than New Zealand by about 40,000 sq. miles.

Antarctica has two main areas, East Antarctica and West Antarctica. They are separated by the mountains. West Antarctica is the smallest of both of them, because of all the ice Antarctica is the highest out of all the continents.

In my opinion Antarctica is a one of a kind extraordinary place to be in. I also think that it is very cold . I would love to go there someday and find out what it is like to be there.

Author: Phoebe (Room 6)

Stepping up with Leadership

Friday Winter Sports at Hornby High School

One of our new Whakarua class members is playing hockey for the very first time. Erika, from Punui-o-toka, took the time to show Joanne how to hold her stick and hit the ball. It was fantastic to see her taking the initiative to be there for a new South Hornby Hero!

My Audience

Being Cybersmart is COOL!

We often share personal information when we are online. The people we share with could be our friends and family or people we don't know. We need to make smart decisions about what personal information we share online.

S.T.E.M. Bridges

For the last 2 weeks our task was to design a bridge that would hold 340g of weight for 20 seconds. The materials allowed were - 30 straws per group and a teacher’s (Mrs Jack’s) handful of playdough. Scissors, a metre of string, 4 paper clips and masking tape.

We had to remember what a bridge was and work together collaboratively to complete the task. First we designed 3 different types of bridges. We picked one to create and test.

We were very successful. Nearly all of the designs worked and held the weight for the amount of time.

Working With Mr Maddren

Working With Mr Maddren

We are learning to create a positive digital footprint.
We often share personal information when we are on line. The people we share with could be our friends, our family or people we don't know. We need to make smart decisions about what personal information about what we share on line.

We are also learning to identify our audience when we are creating blog posts.

STEM - Toothpick Tower

For STEM we learnt about what a tower is. We found out that a tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide and it is a self-supporting structure. 

This weeks challenge was to design a free standing tower with the greatest height using only play dough and toothpicks. They were only allowed to use 100 toothpicks per group and a teacher’s (Mrs Jack’s) handful of play dough. The Success Criteria was - your tower must be able to stand up off the ground by itself only using the supplies you were given.

STEM - Newspaper Tower

During our STEM programme our Learners who are a mix of Year 4/ 5 / 6 children are working on communication and collaboration skills. The task was to  design a tower that can support a basketball. Materials they were allowed to use was newspaper and masking tape. The Success Criteria was- your tower must support a basketball for at least 20 seconds. Bonus Points were awarded if they constructed the tallest tower possible.

Spencer Park

This is my Spencer Park writing. We learned how to write a recount and to put our ideas into paragraphs  - Lily

Spencer Park

On the 10th of March 2017 the year 4,5 and 6  Learning Community went to the amazing Spencer Park with some parents.  We went there to bond and get to know each other better.

When we got there we had morning tea under the big tree . Mrs Dinnington put out the blue tarp because the grass was wet. After we ate we had a wee play on the playground.  It had three flying foxes you sit on. Layla and I found a secret meeting spot at  the bridge that we had found.

After that we went to the amazing beach that had nice blue water. We were not allowed to swim because is was not safe. What a bummer! We made some towers  and unfortunately my team did not win but congratulations for the team that won. Then it was beach races.

Soon it was time to have lunch.  We put out the blue tarp again and ate till the teachers told us it was time to play. We were allowed to play sports or play on the playground First I played a small passing game with Layla then we went off and played. I went on the longest and biggest flying fox there. Then after I finished I went and played volleyball with Mrs McGuinniety and Logan.

Soon it  was time to go back to school and then home. I wish I could go back there again with my family and friends because it was a spectacular day there at Spencer Park. - By Lily

     

We were learning to write a recount and to put our ideas into paragraphs. - Jayden P

                              Spencer Park  

On Friday 10 March 2017, we went on a trip to Spencer Park. All the kids in our Learning Community went on the bus.

When we got there we had morning tea. I had popcorn and a sandwich with just butter and bread. I sat with Kade and his dad.

After that I went to the sandpit and played on the spinning seat. I got really dizzy and when I stood up and I fell over.

After the playground we packed our bag then we went for a long journey to the beach. Then we put our bags on the sand then made towers out of big and little sticks and the judges looked at the buildings.  The judges have to figure out what was the biggest wooden tower, the most collaborative group and the best decoration.

It was lunch time I had a jam doughnut, coke and a little jelly pottle.

Then we went on the bus back to South Hornby School.

I loved the day but I got really hot running around.

By Jayden P

Spencer Park Recount

We were learning how to write a recount and put our ideas into paragraphs. - Layla

On fun Friday the 10th of March we went on a spectacular school trip. We went to Spencer Park. It was only the year 4-6 and we went there to get to know each other better.

When we got there we had our morning tea under the trees.The grass was wet from the dew so we crouched or sat on the blue tarpaulin. I had peppermint wheelys and a bar for my morning tea.

After morning tea we went to the playground. I was playing with Lily H and we were judging the playground. Our favourite place was the wooden bridge and we liked jumping on it because it made it harder to stand on and I like it when it's challenging. I also saw my friends Tisharn and Teneesha from my softball team.

The sports leaders had to take the sports equipment back to Mrs Dinnington's car before we moved on. The next activity was going to the beach. The two activities were creating tall towers and racing on Mrs MG's race track. In my group were Callum, Nici and both of the Logans.

When we got back to the park area we all had lunch. I was very hungry after coming back from the beach with all that hard work. I ate my yummy peanut butter sandwiches and my chips and my apple.

I enjoyed going to Spencer Park because I love the waves at the beach and I loved playing with Lily, Tisharn and Teneesha.                 By Layla