The Goat Dance

(Room 9 used a funny picture to get our imaginations going in our writing. We got a copy of this picture and then had to write a story about it. Here is Raqib's effort.)

The Goat Dance

Once upon a time there was a goat that wore a t-shirt and could dance. The goat was brown like the trunk of the tree and black like a black drawing. It was a clown goat that was practising his clown act. The clown goat went to its show and it was the star of the show. The clown goat was so happy he celebrated with his mum.

By Raqib

Wacky Hair Day

We embraced the Summerland value of 'fun' by having a wacky hair day! We had a parade, then we worked with a pod buddy to create a wacky hairstyle for Mr Sumich, Mrs Dysart or Mr Giles. To see all the photos, click here.

Fern Art

We made beautiful ponga fern artworks to sell at the school gala. Here are our finished products. Don't they look amazing?!

Tree of Life

Last week we did painting that was called the Tree of Life. First we painted it with gold paint and we had to do curly lines. Then we sprinkled it with sequins and we had to push the sequins in the gold paint and give it to the teacher.

By Kuresa and Adam

Quantum Physics in a Primary School!

Today room 9 watched this video (click on the word 'video' to see it). We were learning how to ask questions to help us understand something better. Take a look at the video, then read our questions below.

- what was the gas doing in the experiment?

- can it only stick on metal?

- how was it able to float?

- what does 'quantum locking' mean?

- how was it able to spin around without touching anything?

- what was used to make it?

- what is liquid nitrogen?

- does it have no gravity?

- if it touches metal, will it stop spinning?

A very interesting website

We have found this website. There is so much information on it. We love exploring and finding new facts!

It's called 'Glossopedia.' Take a look here.

Monster Nests

Monster Nests

First we got to read a poem. Next we got to buddy up, then we read some instructions. After that we got to make a list for what stuff we should get. After that we got fabric from a box. Next we glued all the fabric on the balloon and we let the balloon dry. When the balloon was dry we popped it and we pulled the balloon out of the nest. We let it dry again. When it was finished it looked like a real nest.

By Jayden

Amazing Artists

In term 3, room 9 got to spend two days doing specialised visual arts learning with Mrs Shepherd. They learnt and practiced sketching and observational drawing, then paint and ink techniques. Check out these pictures showing their process and final products!

Whose Nest Is This?

Taylor found this nest at his grandmother's house.

It was on the ground beneath a tree. He thinks it got blown out of the tree by the wind. He thinks it is amazing how the birds can make a next that is so round! We are not sure which bird it belongs to ... can you have a guess and add it to our answer garden below?!

What bird made the nest?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Cricket

On the 27th of September we did cricket. Our coaches name was Sid. He taught us cricket. He put us in groups of five. We learnt how to hold a cricket bat and the right side to hold a bat and how to hit stuff really hard with a cricket bat. It was really really fun!!!

By Aniela and Ruby

Gymnastics

We are learning about gymnastics. We do tramp, moon hoppers, balance, rolling, beam and the box. On the tramp you have to practice your jumping. On the beam we have to put our arms out straight and walk carefully along and try not to fall off.

By Zoya

Room 9 Wins a Prize!

Room Nine got an excellent picture from Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust. It was a picture of one of the moreporks called Whisper. Its feathers are black and white. It has tiny legs. It is pretty big. We are the only ones who have this wonderful picture that we have got. It is very fragile. We feel very lucky to have it.

By Hayley

My Daffodil

I had to plant the seed in the soil and water the daffodil and gave it some sun and the daffodil opened up. It was bright and yellow. I brought it to my class.

By Lorenzo

Our Visitor

On Monday Mr Ben came to visit room 9. He knows all about bats. He told us vampire bats suck blood. He told us bats are warm blooded. Did you know when vampire bats bite the insect and its blood pours out? Did you know there are two types of bats in New Zealand, the short tail bat and the long tail bat? There are no bats in Antarctica because it is so cold in Antarctica. Do you know bats have thin bones?

By Cody and Aryan

St John

St John help people who are really hurt and sick. The emergency number is 111 for Fire fighters and Police and St John. If someone is bleeding a lot we need the ambulance to help them and take them in the ambulance. There is a big space in the ambulance for the people to work in there. There is a bed for the grownup to look after the sick person.

By Raqib and Krishal

The Physical Change of Water

Playball

Coaches James, Liam and Laura came to school on Thursday to show us how to have fun with sports learning. Here are some pictures of us enjoying ourselves with room 11.

How a Seed Grows

Another example of a written explanation. We watched time-lapse videos on YouTube, then brainstormed what time sequence words to start sentences with, as well as what specific vocabulary we could include. Here is Ruby's amazing effort.

How a Seed Grows

A seed is a plant that can grow.

First the roots from the plant come down. Then very carefully the seed breaks a little bit. After that some of the leaves shoot upwards. Next the leaves open more and makes lots of leaves. Finally the leaves are up and it is in the sunlight.

That is how a seed grows into a plant.

By Ruby

How a Tornado Forms

In room 9 we have been learning how to create a piece of explanation writing. These need to explain how or why something happens. We have made a book of our texts that explain how a spider forms their web - come in and have a read! In the meantime, here is an example of another explanation.

How a Tornado Forms

A tornado is made out of wind. It can go really fast. When the ground is really warm the sun turns in to a cloud then it rains and makes thunder storm. After that turns to a tornado. The wind goes upwards. The wind speed is so fast. The wind starts to go faster and faster. It can spin faster like spiral. So tornados can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage but luckily they don't destroy New Zealand.

By Krishal

Special Persons Morning

On Wednesday 6 July we had a special persons morning. We got to go to every class room in the pod. In room 9 we did stuff on the computer like:

www.spellingcity.com

http://tinyurl.com/wordshake

www.primarygames.com

www.arcademicskillbuilders.com

tutpup.com

www.globio.org/glossopedia/

Then we went to room 10. In room 10 we did science. We tried sherbet and saw what we need to make sherbet and we hit two gun balls together really hardly and smelt the smell of it. Then we made a tornado with water in two one liter bottles and shook them really hard and it made a tornado. We were amazed! Then we did the ballon rocket. The ballon rocket glides on the nylon because we did not tie up the ballon. Then we had a plastic see-through straw we had to hold the straw with our thumb so we could get the colours up the straw and we tried to make it all colourful.

Then we went to room 11. In room 11 we did math games. Maija and Josiah went up to play swat-a-fact. That is when someone calls out a number and then the players swat it. Whoever swats the number first is the winner. Then we played traffic lights. That is when we write hundreds, thousands, ten and ones. The people guess what the number is and place place does it go in.

Then at last we went to room 12. In room 12 we did imagination play. We saw lots of people having lots of fun. There were board games, dress ups, beads, blocks, old phones and bags.

At the end we said goodbye to our special people and then the special people left.

By Maija and Serena

A science experiment

One day we did science about mixing food colour into hot and cold water. One food colouring was yellow and one was green colouring. We counted how many seconds it took and one took longer. Liquids move faster when they are hot. Some don't move faster because they are cold.

By Josiah

Surprise Discovery

I found this on the field and it is called a basket fungus. It smelt like mud and it felt squishy.

By Tassnim

(A basket fungus is quite amazing. Their rotten smell makes flies and beetles come to it and then they take away the spores - little tiny bits - and the spores make new basket fungi. - Miss Galbraith)

States of Matter

There are 3 states of matter. These are liquid, solid and gas. Matter is everything that exists and takes up space in some way. Solids are things that keep their shape. Liquids spread out because they don't have their own shape, they take the shape of the thing they're in. Gases sometimes have a smell, but they have no shape and we can't see them. Some gases can make people faint. Some gases are heavier than other gases. There are heaps of solids.

By Kabir, Divij, Roberto, Raqib, Nevin, Hayley and Kuresa

What's Your Favourite Book?

Miss Galbraith's favourite story is 'Bad Jelly the Witch' by Spike Milligan. She especially loves it when the witch says "Stinky poo! Stinky poo! Knickers, knickers, knickers!"

What's your favourite story?? Add it on our answer garden below!

What's your favourite story?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Science Ignition Day

On Tuesday we had our Summerland Science Ignition Day. We enjoyed heaps of different experiments and learned so many new words and facts. Click here for all the photos.

Our Volcanoes Learning

Here are some of the interesting facts we have learnt about volcanoes this term . . .

Measurement Words

Look at all the measurement words we know after learning about different types of measurement. Miss Galbraith is so impressed!

Room 9's Trip

Yesterday we went on a trip. It was fun. First I went to Onepoto Domain. It was very foggy. Onepoto Domain is extinct. Extinct means that its never going to erupt again. We saw some volcanic rocks. There was a lake, and a playground but we weren't allowed to go on it. Next we went to Auckland Museum. We watched Rangitoto erupting, but it was a video. Rangitoto is a shield volcano. That means it has sloping sides, is very big and is a cone volcano. We got to do the drums with a rock it sounded like bang bang bang. We looked at the World War 1 objects and then looked at the hall of memories. After that we went to Mount Eden. We looked at the rocks and it was called scoria. We walked around the crater. My leader was called Fern and that was the end of my story.

By Kabir

Class Trip

Tomorrow we're off on a trip across Auckland! Our day will include visits to two volcanic sites; Onepoto Domain and Maungawhau. We will also visit Auckland War Memorial Museum (which sits atop an extinct volcanic crater!) to learn more about volcanoes. While we're there we will also find out about Anzac Day, walking through the Hall of Memories to help us comprehend the huge loss of life that resulted from WW1.

Keep an eye out for pictures, arriving here soon!

Learning to Measure

Measuring is all about length and width. You would need a measuring tape or a ruler and you would measure in cm m and mm. Today we were measuring in cm. We measured our arms. We also measured our body and we needed a buddy for that.

By Lily

Battle of the Mountains

Retold by Divij

Once upon a time Maui pulled a huge fish called Te Ika A Maui. Soon the fish settled and became the North Island of New Zealand. There stood 5 mountains. Tongariro was the chief  of the mountains. Taranaki was not happy of Tongariro being the chief. The smaller mountains Tauhara and Putauki  were frowning at mighty Tongariro. Soon they began battling. Mighty Tongariro rushed by throwing hot lava but the smaller mountains Tauhara and Putauki were throwing lava at Tongariro. After several days the battle stopped and Tongariro won, the other mountains shifted. Taranaki moved to the west coast. Tauhara was just looking back to Pihanga and  Putauki reached the end of the lake.

Aye-Aye

The Aye Aye is hairy. Its eyes are as yellow as the sun. It climbs on trees. I think its hands are as good as a monkeys. Its nose is pink. Its fur is as black and white as a cow. I think its tail is

long. Its ears look as nice as a shell. It has black around its eyes.

By Aniela

Story Bee - A Great Website

We are about to start using Story Bee in reading time. The only problem is that there are so many stories to choose from it will be hard to know which one to choose first!

Learning About Adjectives

Can you find the adjectives in Lorenzo's sentences???

I went for a swim in the tiny sea.

There was a big storm yesterday.

My friend's ice-cream looked odd.

We saw a scary tiger at the zoo.

I liked the funny movie.

There was an ugly spider on the wall.

ANZAC

In the week before the holidays, room 9 learnt different techniques for applying paint when creating artworks. We used this new knowledge to create a piece in honour of Anzac Day, with the poppy fields of France as inspiration.

Karekare Team Picnic

Click on this link to see some pictures from our Pod Picnic at Hillwell Drive.

Guest Visit

Today we had Frances come and visit us. She is a friend of Miss Galbraith's and she is a doctor. She tested us on our knowledge of the vital organs in the human body AND she also brought along a model of the human body to show us what it looks like inside. We enjoyed her visit so much!

Golf Skills Session

Yesterday we had heaps of fun learning the proper technique when playing golf. We were joined by Room 21. Here are some photos.

An Awesome Word Game

We have discovered this really fun word game, thanks to a blog from another school. Click here to play the game. It's HEAPS of fun!!!

Mapping Volcanoes

Today students had to use GoogleMaps to locate volcanoes around Auckland. This made us realise just how many volcanoes there are in our city! We focussed on the Summerland value of: team - to work together and cooperate to do the task. Here are some photos of us showing this value.

Our Shared Writing

A few weeks ago, room 9 started writing a story together. We have all had some input into this story and it is full of exciting bits ... the only problem is that we never decided on an ending! So have a read through of our story below and make a suggestion on how it should finish in the comments section of the post.

Miss Galbraith

In a vegetable garden next to an old, broken fence lived a whole family of beetles. They lived in that garden because their favourite food, which was broccoli, grew there. One morning, the beetle family woke up to see the most beautiful sunrise, but . . . all the broccoli was gone! "Oh my golly gosh!", said Harry, the father beetle. "We will need to find some more food." Melon, the mummy beetle, said "Let's start before the sun gets too hot." So off the beetle family went. Harry led the way, while Melon and their four beetle babies followed behind.

They had only been walking for a few minutes when they saw a spider's web blocking their path. Rosie, the oldest of the babies, shouted "Help! We're trapped. That spider will eat us for breakfast!" All the little beetles started crying. But then they heard a voice calling out to them saying "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I'm waiting to catch a big huge blowfly for my breakfast. They're my favourite." The beetle family thanked the spider for not eating them and continued on their way.

They came across a drain going under the concrete path. James, the second oldest beetle baby, wanted to walk over the top of the path. But Maija, the youngest beetle, said "No, let's go through the tunnel. It will be an adventure." So down into the dark and spooky drain pipe they went. They had only taken 20 steps when . . . they saw a dark shape sliding through the shadows. James shouted "Ahhhh! There's a ghost in here!" Jim, the third beetle baby, didn't believe in ghosts. "Nonsense, ghosts aren't real. There must be someone else in this tunnel."

In a a loud voice, Harry said "Who's there? Tell us immediately who you are!" But there was only silence in the tunnel. Melon told everyone to open their wings and fly as fast as they could to the other side. When they had landed on the other side, Melon counted them to make sure all her babies were safe. "1, 2, 3, 4 ... 5???" Melon was very surprised to see a tiny little skink peeking out from behind Rosie. "Hi, I'm Gordon, I've lost my family," said the little skink. "I'm sorry if I scared you in the tunnel, but I was actually frightened of you!" The beetle family invited Gordon the skink to join them as they searched for a new garden.

Just beyond the garden path, they discovered a garden full of broccoli.

(how should we end this story? leave your suggestion in the comments section below)

Alliterations

This week we are learning how to create an alliteration. Here are a few of them:

Emma's enormous eagle eats eggs excitedly. Emma's enormous eagle even eats eagle. Emma's enormous eagle was eight.

Jayden's jumping jaguar eats jam and jumping juice.

Grace's grey goats got the giggles.

Harrison had hundreds of hats on his head.

Keeping It Real

As part of our 'Keeping It Real' focus we are learning about what's really underneath our skin and all the parts of the body that keep us alive. Here are some body parts that we already know are there (the bigger the word, the more people know about it):

Our Volcanoes Brainstorm

The Trap Story

On Monday we checked our pitfall trap. Then we checked our wooden disk. There were heaps of crickets and it was fun. We went in out of bounds and we had to be quiet. We tried our best.

By Taylor

A Special Visitor

Monday 14 March

Dear Mr Giles

Thank you for showing us Gordon the skink. He can drop his tail. He eats pollen. He searches for food at night.

From Brandon.