Camp notice...

I am delighted to let you know that we will be going on camp this term – Thursday 29^th – Friday 30^th of October. We are lucky to have secured the expertise of Glenn Beach from Kahikatea Outdoor Education Academy!

The camp will include: fishing with rod and reel, exploring a glow worm cave, walking and camping out at the Putangirua Pinnacles, looking at traps and snares and hopefully squeezing in a visit to the seals at Ngawi. The two days will be full of adventure and excitement!

For this camp to be successful we will need a few brave volunteers to accompany us as well as provide transport. This is a super way for us to finish off our year. Room 9 have been a great class, and the opportunity to share an experience like this is too good to miss.

The cost of the camp is $70 per student, adults are not charged to attend.

Class Trip

Room 9 has been working on a Maths Inquiry to look at the best possible place to visit as a practical end to our term of looking at conservation and tourism. After costing it up, considering transport and the day itself, we have decided on a trip to Pukaha/Mt. Bruce.

We will leave school at 9.00am on Monday 21^st September and have a booking from 10.00. We will have a ranger guide us around the aviaries and park from 10.00 until just before 2pm seeing takahe and Manukura the white kiwi, visiting the interactive gallery, feeding the eels and visiting the ‘Kaka Circus’ before heading home to be back at school by 3pm.

In order for this day to go ahead, we will be relying on transport from parents. Could you please let me know, as soon as possible, if you are able to drive, and transport Room 9 kids, to and from Pukaha/Mt. Bruce on Monday 21^st September?!

As part of our inquiry we looked at costs. The cost per student is $4 and we are required to have a ratio of 1 adult to 6 children. If we have more than 5 adults, there will be an additional charge of $20/adult which can be spread across all of the adults present, if necessary.

Thank you very much for your support!!

Last home learning task of the term...

Predator Home Learning

Your final conservation based home learning presentation this term is to be on a predator or a threat to a New Zealand native species. Think outside the box about your presentation this time! Power-points and posters are great, and you’ve proved you can make those. Can you do something even more creative?? Write a song? Make a video? Maybe put together a stop-motion? What about a puppet show? Or a video of a puppet show? Or a board game that teaches people about your predator and the effects it has?

Things to include:

·               The name of predator

·               What it affects

·               How it attacks

·               Where it lives

·               Why it is a threat to our native species

·               How it is managed (by the Department of Conservation, farmers, students etc)

·               Can it be eradicated???

     Design a trap that could be used by Dept. of Conservation. Draw a diagram and            explain how your trap would work.

Due: Friday 18^th September

Technology and Te Reo Maori videos

We have been working hard this term and as we have assembly this week, thought we'd better show off some of our learning!

Balloon Racers

Kei te pehea koe

Home Learning due Friday Week 6.

Native Plant Home Learning

Choose a native plant to investigate. You can present your information any way you like – video clip, powerpoint, prezi, poster, speech, song, rap, poem etc.

Your presentation will need to include the following:

·        Where your plant grows and what conditions it needs to thrive.

·        What the English and Maori names are for your plant.

·        A description of your plant – how tall it grows, what it looks like, its leaves etc.

·        A diagram of your tree or leaves from your tree – this could be a rubbing as well.

·        Any uses for your plant – can it be medicine???   How is it used?

·        Is there any other information you would like to tell us?

DUE: Friday 28^th August

Your kids!

Wow! I have been literally been blown away by the quality of presentations on New Zealand's native birds today. The kids have made power-points, posters, models, prezis, written from the perspective of a smuggled bird, and delivered speeches and generally have impressed each other throughout the morning. I am so proud of their effort and achievements!! Thank you for all the support at home. It's been a pleasure to mark home learning for perhaps the first time ever! We will continue on this project-based home learning while we're on a roll!!
Pics to come.

New maths maintenance website

The kids have been trying out 'skoolbo' today and are really excited by the competitive nature of this website. All of the games are leveled to their ability and change the level of difficulty according to success. This is a great website for maintenance and practice - both for maths and literacy.

www.skoolbo.co.nz

The kids all have usernames and know the password. If they forget their username then I have an extra copy!