Tiwhiri class have been getting to know eight animals that can help us all learn. We call them our dashboard thinking animals. As we drive our own learning they sit on the dashboard of our car and help us to navigate our way to our destination! We would like to introduce you to some of them: Curious Cat: |
| The End of the Woods Wooden giants loomed over the camp site, making tall shadows on the grass. The sun disappeared below the motionless horizon. It all grew still and quiet, but one noise still bugged me… breathing. Though sentences roamed my head, one of them scared me the most, the breathing wasn't mine. Footsteps circled my tent, and then, it stopped. The outline of a person, a man, with a knife. I hid in my sleeping bag, waiting… I heard the tent zip slide down. By Poppy Carpenter The Woods A soft whistling breeze rustled the autumn leaves, that were sprouting at the top of tall, curved trees, stretched up to the sky. The setting sun cast an eerie glow throughout the forest, sending shivers slowly crawling down my spine. Realizing my mouth was parched, I opened my backpack in search of my drink bottle. Relief washed over me as my hand grasped its smooth plastic surface. But the feeling was replaced by dismay as I found that it was empty. By Megan Sushames |  The Woods The forest was ice cold pitch black. I tiptoed outside my tent, my heart thudding. The silence seemed to swallow me. I glanced over my shoulder, hoping no one would follow me. It looked like I was alone, I wiped my clammy palms against my satin skirt and took a deep breath. Then I saw them glowing from every corner, like tiny points of light, were pairs of red eyes. Evil eyes. And they were staring right at me. Fear snaked down my spine, but I told myself not to run away I had to go on with this. There was no turning back now. by Liahona Osman |
During the Easter Holidays Tiwhiri class was sucked into a vortex and we have arrived in a foreign land of Gamification.
There are four kingdoms- there names are River Pillow Kingdom, Sea Kings Kingdom, Rainforest Tropical Kingdom and Arctic Icicles Kingdom.
Each has their own unique environment and ecosystem of animals and plants.
We can level up as a kingdom to gain gems, potions and tools.
If you gain 15 points you earn level one and a clothing tool. That means you can design, make or wear a costume for your kingdom.
If you gain 25 points you get a habitat tool and you can design and build a place for your kingdom to live in the classroom.
A level 3 you gain a precious gem that you can trade in to help others. There are 15 levels and many more tools to earn in our gamification land.
We are very excited about working in our kingdoms to complete literacy and numeracy missions.
There are four kingdoms- there names are River Pillow Kingdom, Sea Kings Kingdom, Rainforest Tropical Kingdom and Arctic Icicles Kingdom.
Each has their own unique environment and ecosystem of animals and plants.
We can level up as a kingdom to gain gems, potions and tools.
If you gain 15 points you earn level one and a clothing tool. That means you can design, make or wear a costume for your kingdom.
If you gain 25 points you get a habitat tool and you can design and build a place for your kingdom to live in the classroom.
A level 3 you gain a precious gem that you can trade in to help others. There are 15 levels and many more tools to earn in our gamification land.
We are very excited about working in our kingdoms to complete literacy and numeracy missions.
The Top Schools team had a great time at Gate Pa Primary School where they competed against other Tauranga Schools for the title of Top School. It was a hot night and the children did amazingly well in all the events, particularly the Big Foot event, where they placed third overall. Thanks to all the family that came out to support us.
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In Ruru Pod we use tuakana/teina, where the tamariki are the experts(tuakana) and they help their younger or less able (teina) peers.
Showing ERICs values
This week during our swimming session, the tamariki of Poutahi had a game of Water Polo. First Thomas explained the rules and then the tamariki were put into teams. Thomas was the referee. Most of the tamariki had not played before but they tried hard. Their skills improved as the game progressed and they included their team-mates when they could.
Miles was not swimming so he was a spectator. He was impressed with how hard the tamariki were working. He was particularly impressed with how determined Terri (the only Year 4 in the pool at the time) was working to get the ball from the other team and the persistence she showed. It reminded him of a video clip he had seen called The Humming bird and the Forest Fire. He sent a clip through to show the class the next day.
Miles was not swimming so he was a spectator. He was impressed with how hard the tamariki were working. He was particularly impressed with how determined Terri (the only Year 4 in the pool at the time) was working to get the ball from the other team and the persistence she showed. It reminded him of a video clip he had seen called The Humming bird and the Forest Fire. He sent a clip through to show the class the next day.
The mantra of our whānau is that WE ARE ALL ON THE WAKA TOGETHER (HE WAKA E KE NOA) and that all of our students have their important strengths to contribute to the classroom. Where ever the Waka goes, they will always have a support network behind them.
Check out our video of our Year 5/6 Swimming Sports. Thanks to Luca Money and Alex Capper for capturing this footage! See results of our Year 5/6 Swimming Sports below the video.
Tīwhiri means 'discovery' or 'to discover' and Room 15 started the year with lots of fun activities to problem solve, create, invent and design!
This year our focus will be to inspire our children to solve real problems and the first one facing our new classroom is the question: where can we store our school bags?
The children have been excited to learn the design process and we have been building prototypes, testing and redesigning. If you pass by our class you might hear us drilling or hammering away! Check out some of our projects and group challenges below and we look forward to seeing where our imaginations take us!
This year our focus will be to inspire our children to solve real problems and the first one facing our new classroom is the question: where can we store our school bags?
The children have been excited to learn the design process and we have been building prototypes, testing and redesigning. If you pass by our class you might hear us drilling or hammering away! Check out some of our projects and group challenges below and we look forward to seeing where our imaginations take us!
Fonterra milk in schools competition 2017
We have also been busy filming a short clip for the Fonterra milk in schools competition. Look out for our funny video on why milk is so good for you and cast your votes. The class with the most votes wins a trip to meet the cows and so we hope that the community gets behind our effort. We have had a lot of fun.
We have also been busy filming a short clip for the Fonterra milk in schools competition. Look out for our funny video on why milk is so good for you and cast your votes. The class with the most votes wins a trip to meet the cows and so we hope that the community gets behind our effort. We have had a lot of fun.
Children in Kaimai Pod are involved in PrEP (Primary Enterprise Programme) this term, and there is a hive of activity amongst classes with children marketing, and producing products for PrEP Market Day. The Primary Enterprise Programme gives our students the opportunity to run their own “businesses” in a minimarket society which provides real-life experience in a safe and nurturing environment. It is designed to teach them Financial literacy and this Inquiry based learning integrates all areas of the curriculum which includes Maths, Reading and Writing, the Arts and Technology.
So far we have students making scrunchies, stress balls, pencil toppers art, painted rocks, bookmarks and slime. The Market Day will be held on Thursday 8th December so we look forward to seeing friends and family there.
So far we have students making scrunchies, stress balls, pencil toppers art, painted rocks, bookmarks and slime. The Market Day will be held on Thursday 8th December so we look forward to seeing friends and family there.
