Letters to Jacinda Ardern!

Kia ora team, today we sent off some of our letters to the Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern).  These are to do with our Inquiry Topic and plastic pollution. We are hopeful that we get a reply! This has been an awesome experience for our tamarki to discuss the idea of persuasive letter writing and learning more about our government.

 

Summer Learning Journey

 

Kick Start  Learn  Watch: colouring time lapse  Create Art Colouring Book: choose an image to colour.  Download a copy to your Chromebook  Take a screen shot of the original Art   Describe why you chose a different colour for one of the objects in the painting. Share  Upload your Art and a screenshot of the original and label each image. Insert your description in your post Watch: create your blog post.

Step It Up Learn  Watch: Elements of Art Read: Elements of Art Use the Zoom Tool Look closely at the original image you chose to colour. What do you see?   Create  Art Colouring Book: choose an image to colour. Write a description of the Art you chose using as much detail as you can from the elements of art.  Share Upload your Art and a screenshot of the original and label each image. Insert your description in your post Watch: create your blog post.

Rakau with Whakarua 1 and 2

Today we started learning about rakau through our Music and Te reo unit. We composed our own 'Winter Melody' after learning about syllables. We then clapped out the rhythm and practised using our rakau to beat it out. Check out Sophia and Adele's take on their Winter Melody.

 

Yeah The Boys!

 Good luck to Eli, Mesake and Frank who are heading off to Zones today for Athletics. We are so proud of you boys! Sorry to the girls who I couldn't find them to get a photo off before they took off this morning.

Circle time in Whakarua 2 today

 

Dysharn - 'I think Aliens are real'

 

Learning about marine life and plastic pollution

Today we had a visitor called Erica who came and taught us about how we can look after marine life. First, we watched a video about plastic pollution and how it affects sea animals. Then we did a group activity where we had to look at pictures of pollution and talk about what the picture was showing, and what consequences this could have. 

The main points we took away from this session was:

• Jellyfish and plastic bags look really similar. Sea animals get them confused and end up eating plastic bags.
• That plastic doesn't completely break down - it becomes little plastic pellets.
• We can help to save marine life by reusing plastics.
• There is a huge pile of rubbish in the ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is so thick, that people could lie on it and float.
• We can recycle hard plastics.
• We found out that turtles have acid in their stomach that can digest jellyfish, but it can't digest plastic. 

We loved having Erica come and teach us about plastic pollution, she was so nice and helpful. Here are some pictures of us completing our group activity.

Please leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Whakarua 1 and 3 Calendar art

Whakarua 2 and 4 Calendar Art (Mrs McIntyre and Miss Vermaak/Hodgson)

Scroll through to see your child's calendar art. This can be made into a calendar, diaries, mouse pads or sketch pads as part of the PTA fundraiser. For now, view the art and decide whether you want to order. Order forms have been sent home, please see the office if you need another form. If your child's art is not here, it will be by the end of this week.

Reading in Whakarua 2 Today

 Beware, there may be a monster in your child's bag! !

Bike track for PE!

 Yesterday for PE Whakarua 1 and 2 went out for a go on the bike track. It was a super windy afternoon but we managed to all get a go on the track as well as biking around the Junior field. We are super lucky to have such an awesome school!

Check out our very cool class story so far. We have been working on writing complex sentences.

 

Lego Day (more pics!!)

 We loved creating our lego masterpieces. We learned that when we work together, we can achieve great things! Thank you to Rachel from House of Bricks.

Lego Day!!!!!

Whakarua 1 and 2 are enjoying their Lego challenge this morning. Whakarua 3 and 4 will be doing this after play then we will ALL be participating in a group challenge this afternoon. We LOVE Lego!!!!! 

 

Cross Country Champs!

Well done to our super speedy Whakarua kids for making it to Zones. We are so proud ! 

Funday Monday Team Work in the Hall

Whakarua 2 reading group- Check out this FLUENT reading!

Whakarua 1 Readers- A sneak peek at their daily poetry reading.

I really enjoyed listening to you reading your poems today. 

You read so clearly, all at the same time and with marvellous expression. I can tell you are working hard to become fluent readers. 

Ka pai Whakarua 1 readers! 

Some Eager Learners at Maths Time Today- Whakarua 2

Well done, Nathan, Kaia and Jessica. 

You have been working hard to master your basic facts at maths time.

Check out THIS talent?!

Hi team. Whakarua 1 and 2 have been working hard on our Dance to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Let us know what you think. We came up with the moves together after learning to sing the song. It is so catchy! We have also learned a 'Blast from the past' song thanks to Mrs McIntyre (Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Enjoy.

Pipe cleaner creations by Dysharn

Pacifica Art in Whakarua 1 & 2

Week 9 Assembly award and wrist band recipients. Awesome work team!

Whakarua 3's Wonderful Week 5 Home Learning

So far this week we have:

• Created amazing Autumn leaf art and beautiful self-portraits
• Completed some tough "minute to win it" STEM challenges.
• Continued to learn about fractions by making magic maths potions, fraction flowers, and fraction memory games.
• Made 'sick' sentences better by using interesting words.
• Learned all about fairy tales and read stories about dragons, mermaids and unicorns.

Click through the slideshow to see some of our super work!

                      

A Mid Week Fantastic Video from Incredible Izeiah

Kia ora team, happy Wednesday. I thought I would share some super home learning project that I received yesterday. This was created through iMovie. I also shared the following video at my hangout with Whakarua 1. 

Izeiah this is awesome! Good on you. It is great to see you enjoying your home learning tasks and sharing how you complete them. The second video is of Izeiahs science task 'A Minute to Win It'.

Whakarua 1 Week 4 Wrap up

Happy friYAY team. See below some awesome home learning.

Whakarua 4 Week 4: Learning & Life in Our Bubbles

We've had a fantastic week in our Bubbles creating stand out learning. Look through the slides below to see what we have been up to. There is also a whole section dedicated to what life in our bubbles has looked like over the last month.

I'd also like to congratulate the following children who have gained 50+ Thank You tickets from their home learning as of Thursday 7 May.

 Scarlett, Phoenix, Faith, Lee-Chin, Christine, Brooklyn, Bry, Bren and Warren

Most of you are close to earning 50 and will get there by the end of next week! I'm so proud of how ALL of the children in Whakarua 4 are Leading Learning and inspiring each other. Ka pai.

 

Whakarua 2's Home Learning Heroes

Brilliant Book Cover Designs

To celebrate finishing our chapter book (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume), we had a competition to design a new book cover. Each homeroom chose two winners, who earned an extra two Thank You tickets. Check out the wonderful winning book covers in the slideshow.

Week 3: Creative Genius in Whakarua 4

This week there have been many opportunities for Whakarua 4 to show off their design ideas and creative skills. From design unique rain protection gear to abstract art we've all had a chance to shine.

Alongside this many students have put on their scientist hat and had a go at experiments from home.

Some students have already submitted their redesign of the "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" book cover for the competition (see the last few slides). I wonder which one is your favourite so far? Get your entries in to your home teacher by Sunday to have the chance to win extra Thank You tickets.

Some Home Learning Snapshots From Whakarua 2- Watch this space for another fun week of activities next week

Check out Whakarua 3's Home Learning so far this week!

So far this week we have investigated some super cool science experiments, created beautiful pieces of art, and invented clothing and objects to keep us dry in the rain (for our reading activity). Click through the slideshow to see Whakarua 3's amazing work from Wednesday and Thursday. You can make it full screen by clicking the square-shaped button at the bottom of the slideshow. Enjoy!

Whakarua 4: Amazing Anzac Art and Egg-speriments! (Week 2)

Well done on another fantastic week Whakarua 4. I am so proud of all of you and the beautiful work you continue to create every day! Here is some of our best work from Thursday and Friday (Click Read More). Can you spot something you did? Enjoy the long weekend. We will start back again on Wednesday next week!

Amazing Artists and Super Scientists from Whakarua 3

There have been so many wonderful and creative pieces of work shared with me this week. See below to check out more photos from Thursday's science "eggsperiment" and Friday's Anzac Art.

Have a fabulous long weekend!