Dulce et Decorum Est: Guided writing

What amazing pieces of writing produced in Room 15 today! 
We had a go at a guided writing exercise. 
Using the poem by Wilfred Owen, "Dulce et Decorum Est", we created our own original pieces of writing on the theme of World War One.
We are so proud of what we were able to produce. I've borrowed Lucy's effort to share on the class page..and to entice you to click the links to individual blogs.

A Soldiers Tale

My chest heaved as my legs trudged through the knee deep sludge, arms hanging off my mates shoulders as we walk.

For many months we walk, famished, completely drained of energy.

The flares of fiery shells burst behind us, heating our backs as we go further and further from the death disaster behind us. Safety, safety, chanting in our heads.

Sores on our feet, limping without boots.

A few crawl, too tired to stand, occasionally drooping to the ground, faces deep in mud, never resurfacing.

I walk with a heavy heart, not hearing or seeing anything, blocking memories and thoughts out, only focusing ahead, on the sinking sun along the horizon. An occasional thunk hits the ground behind us, no one cares.

A mustard colour flashes in front of my eyes, my mind only takes a second to register it. ‘GAS!’ I hoarsely try to whisper.

Mustering all the energy we have, we fumble our numb fingers around in our backpacks, searching for that all important mask. Most find them in time, taking deep breaths of the stale oxygen, relief flooding many faces.  

One man is not as lucky, stumbling around, clutching his throat, everyone watching in horror..

The gas encases us, burning our skin like acid. Reaching my hand out in front me, I only see the shadow of my hand waving slowly through the air. My comrades stumble, reaching out for a friend to hold as the thick green stench swirls around us.

I will never forget watching figure reaches out to me, his hand clasping my bare foot, his eyes pleading me to do something. He coughs, terrible hacking coughs that turn into to a fit as he still clings to me, I felt helpless, only watching him as the gas gets into his lungs, enveloping him.

You could never imagine what this felt like, grabbing his feet, dragging him atop a wagon, making some form of a sick stage, knowing as you watch that there is no cure other than death.

His eyes were popping out of his sockets now, mouth open, heaving with agony.

The figure still scrambles for air, the noise unimaginably disgusting as he hurls, his bile slowly turning a different colour, red. His body bumping up and down in the wagon as 2 men drag him over the hill.

Blood gushes out of his mouth filling up his lungs, no longer coughing, just lying there limply, letting the inevitable happen, waiting for his vile death to come.

If you had experienced what I felt, If you smelt, Heard, watched, what happened out there, you too would slowly shivel inside when people talk of war. It was never glorious to die for your country, it was agonising.

There is a saying: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori, and it translates roughly to "It is sweet and right to die for your country". It will never be sweet, therefore never right, just heroic and heart breaking.

ANZAC sculpture art

 

After completing a 'thing link' through which students shared their concepts of war, students were each given a matchbox (empty!). The instruction was to create a miniature sculpture which reflected a specific understanding of war from their research or prior knowledge, using both the interior and exterior of the matchbox. What resulted was a very interesting and clever array of different sculptures...which created a fair amount of additional discussion! Above are just a few images of the sculptures created in Room 15...each student should have their own shared on individual blogs-check them out!

ANZAC commemorations @ the Village Domain

This afternoon we all walked down to the Village Domain to be a part of a Havelock North School ANZAC day commemoration. It was a very special event to have been a part of. Each school from the Havelock North area presented a piece  related to the events of WW1 , 100 years on, that we had gathered to remember as a community.
HNI, in particular, Room 15 were very proud of Niamh and Eva, who represented us all with a poem reading. Niamh, Eva and Timothy were among a group from HNI who were then given the honour of laying the wreath at the Village cenotaph.

ANZAC Thinglink

We have begun inquiry in Term 2 by building on our understanding of ANZAC day. After exploring what knowledge we already had, we undertook some research to increase our understanding. In groups of three we put together a 'thinglink' as a way of presenting information that we felt was important. The 'Thinglink's' have been posted on individual blogs...check them out as instructions have been interpreted in a variety of ways. Below is the Thinglink created by Oscar.M, Geordie and Noah. Thanks for allowing me to share yours on the class blog boys- a wonderful effort! (Hover your cursor over the image to prompt the link cues)

Turangawaewae Timelines

To complete our Inquiry focus this term, students in Room 15 formed groups and created their own timelines of significant events since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, that they believe have had a hand in shaping New Zealand into what it is today. Each event selected had to be justified through an oral presentation to the class. It was very interesting comparing each groups ideas and understandings, in addition to discovering those events that were common across the groups. Students used their own judgement to decide which presentation tool was the best to share their information, there was a great selection. Thanks Maddie and group for sharing your wonderful effort on the class blog - check out more awesome creations on individual blogs.

Geometry: position and location

We've been learning to communicate and interpret locations and directions in maths this week. We applied our grid reference skills to a quick game of battleships today...maths can be fun!