TK technology challenge

Half a packet of spaghetti pasta, 20 marsh mellows,an egg and 30 minutes. Instructions: Build the tallest freestanding tower...supporting the egg. Simple??

Poser Art

In Room 15 we have been exploring our incredible human machine. After a yoga PE lesson, we created poses using a cardboard skeleton, to which we added colour. A colourful addition to our classroom wall. The challenge was demonstrating our pose with our own body! Our next step is to recreate this pose using wire, to produce a sculpture. We'll keep you posted on how successful we are. Below are the creations of Ella MacKenzie and Sam Gilbert.

Transplant victims!

The challenge was set! In groups of four construct and plant every major organ into the "patient". Needing correct size, shape and colour..it proved quite a challenge for many!

A real fun way to explore the human machine.

Sensational senses

Exploring whether our tongues still detect flavours when our other senses are inactive. What an incredible human machine we have! 

This explanation about our tongues in a school journal has reinforced what we need to aim for in our own explanation writing this term.

The Incredible human machine brainstorm

We created initial brainstorms using a variety of mind mapping tools this week.  Our next step will be to identify a topic that is of particular interest, formulate some 'FAT' questions to research and eventually craft an informative written report. Keep a watch on our blogs as we will be creating posts to show our progress.
Here is Sophie's brainstorm...check out others on individual blogs.

Treaty of Waitangi inquiry finale

I am busy lining things up so that I can update the class blog...because so much is happening and being achieved in Room 15 already this term- BUT.... WAIT! My students have alerted me to a  major omission. At the end of last term we created and shared with each other some AMAZING timelines of major events in New Zealand's history that are linked to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. You need to check these out!
A huge amount of effort went into creating these and a number of new timeline apps were explored.
As a taster, here is the link to Jasmine's superb creation- check out others on individual blogs
http://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/272010/Treaty-of-Waitangi/#vars!date=1842-03-13_12:33:48!

The Incredible human machine

We have started discussing our 'incredible human machine" and gosh...what a lot of amazing options and variety of interests we have in our class in relation to this unit! This youtube clip was shared by another teacher...I just had to post it!

Courtenay's Showme

In Room 15 we have been learning how to add and subtract fractions. Here is Courtenay's show me, where she explains the process she follows when solving a word problem. Check out individual 'show me' maths learning by clicking on the individual blog links.  

Transformation in maths with style!

Our focus in maths over the past couple of weeks has been Transformation. Found this fun way to remember the properties for reflection, rotation, translation and enlargement!

Matahiwi Marae visit

Created with Padlet

We headed off to Matahiwi Marae today to kick off the HNI Kotahitanga week. A very valuable experience for many of us, which prompted us to create a Padlet to share our new learning! A great way to start the week!

Kotahitanga Week

We had a number of students in Room 15 working hard on creating a banner that represented our class. This is our finished effort, which is now hanging in the newly created wharenui (our school hall). Taurean and Jacinta did a fantastic job on Friday explaining the design features of our class banner- Well done guys!

We're back from camp..and it was AWESOME!

Lakes Ranch 2014 on PhotoPeach

Athletics Day- HNI

ATHLETICS DAY on PhotoPeach

Poem analysis: Heritage by Vernice Wineera Pere

Heritage

Take the sharpened pipi shell,

piece of paua, bird bone,

razor blade if you like,

carve upon my face the marks

of Maoritanga, Let the blood spurt

and dribble down my chin

like the moko of the old women

wrapped in blankets round the cooking fire.

Rub the juices in the wounds.

Charcoal, vegetable dye, Indian ink.

Make beautiful the design, like

the young fern curled across the moon,

or the kiwi feathers in grandfather’s proud cloak.

Seek the patterns of the paua’s inner shell,

the curl of kumera vine.

Trace the call of the karanga across the marae,

the nose flute in the night.

Slice the flesh like the tekoteko’s stare.

The soft flesh, lip, membrane, skin.

Cut statistics on my face:

name, age, place of birth, race,

village, tribe, canoe.

Carve deeply, erase doubt

as to who

I am.

Use the sharpened pipi shell.

bird bone, razor blade.

Use them harshly. Lacerate

my legacy upon me

where all who read will perceive

that I am taking my place

on this vast marae

that is the Pacific

we call home

Vernice Wineera Pere, Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa.

(published: (1989) Harvest: Contemporary Morman poems,

Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books)

We critiqued the poem 'Heritage' as a class, exploring vocabulary and language features. Our final task was to create a piece of art work to illustrate a section of the poem that left a lasting impression on us. Check these out on our individual blogs. This poem was selected as we can make connections to it through our inquiry focus this term "I am New Zealand...together we grow".

Te Kanawa Namesake research

Room 15 was tasked with researching our house namesake: Kiri Te Kanawa. We were encouraged to select a presentation tool which we thought best suited the task. The class voted on the top three to share at a Te Kananwa House assembly. This one was created using 'Prezi' by Sophie, Charlotte and Bailey. Check out others on individual blogs.

Investigating background to the Treaty of Waitangi

Students were tasked with creating a Venn diagram to illustrate similarities and differences between two European explorers to New Zealand. This is Charlotte's creation using google drawing. Check out others by clicking on the link to individual blogs.

Pop art portraits

Colour, colour everywhere. As part of our identity inquiry focus, we have used a pop art approach to construct portraits of ourselves. We had to identify the light and dark contrast in a black and white photograph and then express that same contrasting effect by making careful, considered light and dark colour choices. They have proved to be very colourful additions to our classroom wall. 

Terrific Tabloids!

Fabulous weather, afternoon at the village pool, throw in a little competition...Year 8 tabloid sports was a hit! 

Statistics..Analysing Data Rap!

We are developing our statistical skills in Room 15. I found this fun rap to help us remember the different "M's"- Mean, Median and Mode...the catchy tune might just work!?

Te Kanawa wins the swimming sports!

A huge effort from all of TK has seen us take away a house win in the school swimming sports. Room 15 had a strong representation in the house team...and we looked particularly awesome in our blue gear! Well done team!

A fantastic first class novel for the year!

In Room 15 we have started reading the novel 'Memoirs of an imaginary friend' by Matthew Green. It is proving to be a really entertaining read...and we're only up to Chapter 9! Check out our individual blogs towards the end of the term to read our reviews.

I am New Zealand...together we grow

Created with Padlet

We have brainstormed and discussed what we already know about the Treaty of Waitangi. This is a padlet that we made to share our 'I wonder' questions.

Cyber citizenship and penguins?

Over the past two weeks, we have been exploring the idea of cyber citizenship. We have discussed a variety of issues that we need to be aware of when we work in an online environment. One area has been Media Smarts - where we are exposed to a wide variety of material online, ranging in it's accuracy, reliability and value; which we need to evaluate and determine how well it meets out needs. Check out this youtube clip-  it generated heaps of discussion!

The reading challenge is set!

READING OUTSIDE THE BOX CHALLENGE

In Room 15 we are adding a bit of a challenge to our homework reading program.The goal to broaden our reading habits by exploring a range of genres, including types of literature that we wouldn’t normally choose to read. The challenge requires the completion of 16 books, one for each box on this grid.

Keep an eye on our blogs as we post reviews of the books we read as we go!

The end of our first week in Room 15

We are settling in nicely to our new classroom. A three day week sure is a nice way to ease back into it!

30 Year 8 students have spent the week getting to know one another and Mrs Ellmore. What a great group of students! I am very excited about the term ahead...it's looking busy, busy, busy, so keep an eye on our individual blogs- they will be in action very soon!

Maths websites

Reading websites