Room 5's Solutions to our plastic issues.

....Creativity Empowers Learning....

Students in Room 5 have been learning about the global plastic issues we're facing in our landfills, waterways and oceans.  It is crazy to realise that plastic takes thousands of years to break down, even then they aren't completely gone.  

What can we do to alleviate the plastic problems?  Recycling is no longer enough.  Reusing isn't either.  We need to make better choices and better decisions.  We've been doing some research on how plastic is recycled and here are some ideas the students have come up with to possibly solve this problem.

Thank You Kids Can

CRAZY HAIR DAY

Today Tautoro School had a crazy hair day fundraiser as a way of thanking the support we receive from Kids Can through kai donations, clothing, footwear, healthcare products and so much more.  If it weren't for their thoughtful support, our tamariki would find it difficult to concentrate and focus on their learning.

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou nga mahita o Kids Can!  

Mauri Ora.

Robopā

Tautoro School have been lucky enough to participate in the 'Robopā - Robotics in Schools' programme launched by Awanuiārangi.  It has enabled our tamariki to access and manipulate technologies, robotic equipment and build on their coding capabilities.  They participate in teams, problem solve, engage in computational tasks, and ultimately design their own robot to successfully complete challenges set by the kaiako of Robopā.

We have already had our local school scrimmage, with lots of whānau and students from other classes come visit and learn for themselves about the amazing mahi that the senior students have been a part of.  

The question of the day was, 'What is a scrimmage?'

 

It's where each group works with another group (building team work) to complete a certain task.  In this case, to move as many blocks into the point zone as possible. You're timed with two minutes to accumulate as many points as you can.  The points you gain for each round gets tallied and accumulated toward your final score. The two teams with the most points by the end of the day, get to represent your local area at the regional championships held later in the year.  Our tamariki have the potential to win that and represent Northland at the National tournament held in Whakatane.

I loved how they were able to construct a robot, test its effectiveness, problem-solve and make changes, then re-test their ideas again in authentic situations.  There was lots of opportunities to communicate and collaborate with others and demonstrate their new found knowledge and skills to their peers, whānau, teachers and wider communities.

I felt that this programme engaged, inspired and motivated our tamariki to be successful innovators and creators of digital technologies (something they're familiar with).  It also encouraged them to develop and enhance their science, technology, engineering and mathematical knowledge, a bonus for me as their teacher :).

Please keep an eye for their posts regarding this experience.  

Nga mihi nui ki a roopu Robopā me Awanuiārangi.

Nā Akōmanga rima.

Mrs Beazley comes to Room 5

Handwriting

For many children throughout New Zealand handwriting seems to be a thing of the past, particularly for those with 1 to 1 devices, e.g chromebook in schools.  Whanau in Tautoro had a few concerns about the handwriting of their children.  Therefore, we have been lucky enough to have Mrs Beazley come to our classroom.  She is re-known throughout Kaikohe for her skills and knowledge in handwriting.

I have already seen a huge improvement in my students writing, from how they form and link their letters, grip their pencil, set out and take pride in their work.  Tall letters touch the top line, small letters start half way between, g's q's and y's have tails.

  

 

Stop Motion Animation

We had Tania visiting today to help us prepare for our movie making presentation based on Matariki later this year.  We were familiar with the process, however we've come to realise that instead of jumping in and racing to get things done.... we need to slow down and think about what we're trying to say. 

What is our purpose for doing this?  

Who is our target audience? 

What is our message?  

What is the best way of portraying that message?

So, thankfully we got to experiment with play dough.  Tania hand made clear back drops for pairs to use in order to eliminate the class room furniture.  We focused on making small movements for each shot (as it's estimated that feature films require roughly 30 shots per second).  We also focused on ensuring the pairs worked as a team, communicating 'clear' when all hair, hands and shirts were out of the picture.  The students enjoyed it, and grew as future movie makers.  We found play dough easier to manipulate as opposed to plasticine.

 

 

ProJoe comes to visit

On Monday Room 5 had a visit from Matua Bodean and his trusty side kick ProJoe.  They came to discuss the importance of making healthy food choices.  As a class we discussed the four main food groups - Grain Foods, Fruit and Vegetables, Milk and Milk products and  Meat and Meat alternatives.

Interestingly we learnt key words that would help us remember the significance of each food group.  We learnt that each food group also contains different nutrients that our body needs in order to grow strong, stay healthy and give us lots of energy.  We were reminded of why it's so important to eat foods from the four food groups in order to help us Go, Grow, and  Glow.

Glow Group = Fruit and Vegetables: This food group provides us with essential vitamins and minerals needed to have our skin glow; our nails to grow; our hair to shine and  they also help fight off infections and bugs.

Grow Group = Meat and Meat Alternatives: This food group helps to grow our muscles.   They provide our bodies with protein which plays an important role in building and repairing our bodies muscles and organs.  Meat is also an important 

Grow Group = Milk and Milk Products: This food group helps to grow our bones.  They provide us with the calcium our bones need to stay strong.  Our teeth too.

Go Group = Grains: This food group provides us with most of the energy our body and brain need to get going - carbohydrates.  They are also a good source of fibre.  

Room 5 Assembly

We've been really busy these last few weeks with quick rip and rippa rugby tournaments for our year 5,6 & 7 students.  We've been preparing ourselves for Tautoro's Speech Competition later in week 7 for writing, where the students have been focusing on topics that are important to them.

The tamariki have also been learning about Pablo Picasso's cubism - a branch off our geometry unit we're studying this term.  We've learnt about the difference of abstract and realistic pieces.

I hope you enjoy the spotlight on some of these amazing pieces of work.  Feel free to browse their blogs.

Nga Mihi

Whaea Gaylene

Tyrone & Chace - 2D shapes

Angel-Rose - Pablo Picasso

Neko Henley - Speech Planning