Career's day experience

Careers Day 2015 on PhotoPeach We had a fantastic time exploring the career options that were shared with us on Thursday. Room 15 asked a lot of thoughtful questions and made a real effort to have a go at all the 'hands on' opportunities on offer. A very valuable experience that introduced a number of new possibilities for many students.

Where Art and Inquiry meet

Mrs Griffin has been taking Room 15 through an art journey. We were each given a numbered piece of A4 paper (some with painted lines, some without) and instructed to add colour (- it was actually a bit more specific than it sounds!)
Overtime the puzzle began to take shape...until..'Knowledge is a jigsaw' was revealed. This is a concept we have been discussing through inquiry this term.
What a colourful addition to Room 15!

Forensic's: Crime Scene Investigation @ HNI

Detective Constable Kate Hyde and Senior Constable Gavin Cross came in to give a presentation to Te Kanawa House this morning. We received an overview of what forensics are, before taking part in the process of a crime scene investigation. What a great way to spend the morning...we are now all geared up to learn more about forensic science over the next couple of weeks- exploring the unexplained.

Exploring the Unexplained: Space

What a fantastic visit to the Holt Planetarium yesterday...we have pieces to add to our 'knowledge is a jigsaw puzzle'- scroll through our padlet. Did come away appreciating just how small we are compared to the grand scale of the Universe!

Created with Padlet

Advertising and 'cool'

We used this song by Macklemore, called 'Wings' in reading last week. Firstly we listened to the music and lyrics, recording impressions and key words or phrases that we could hear. We then studied the lyrics themselves, seeing if we could identify the authors purpose, the theme or message. This tied in really well with the discussions we've had this past week regarding the influence the media has on us as consumers and our ideas on what makes you 'cool'.

The Anatomy of Cool

As an extension of our inquiry focus this term 'Healthy Bodies, Strong Minds', we explored the role that the media plays in determining how we see ourselves and others. We discussed stereotypes, the concept of 'coolness' and the messages we receive via the media that influence our understanding of appearance, personality and gender roles.

Above are our composite 'ideal' man and woman as they are predominately portrayed in the media! There were quite a few giggles during this task, but it did generate some lively discussion around body image and self esteem, as well as internal and external 'coolness'.

We also wrote a report describing  'Earthlings' as they appeared in magazines. There was much discussion around how realistic magazines are and how such a small section of global society is portrayed.Here is Eva's insightful report - Thanks for sharing Eva! 

Hello Fellow People

As I was wondering around the East side of our planet today, Discovering why the East side is forbidden, I stumbled across a large white tube looking thing, that is known as a space ship. Of Course with me being adventurous and determined to find out what on earth is going on. I climb aboard the tube and discover what these strange looking earthlings stay in. They have houses in these tubes so I went in and had a look at one of them. Sitting on a table was a whole stack of these magazine/ book looking things. I pick one up and start flicking through.

The earthlings planet is beautiful and so are the people, not one single person there is ugly they are all perfect from what I saw in the magazine. They all have beautiful smiles and are never not smiling, Their hair is never messy and they are all so nicely groomed. Their planet looks so magical, Not in one picture is it raining, the sun is out so they are all lounging around and sunbathing on the beach in bikinis and board shorts.

The scenery is amazing, they have these wonderful things called trees and they stick up tall out of the ground. They are all pale and tan, they aren't multi coloured like us. The feminine ones pack there face up with these chemicals that make them look outstanding. The masculine ones  all have muscly stomachs and forearms. They wear clothes that are colorful and really well fitted, they would never wear rags. Their homes are so big and stylish, every single house has a pool, a TV and a kitchen, they even have their own houses they don't have to share. They never stink because there is so many deodorants and chemical things you can put on your body to smell nice.

Humans all have so much money so everyone will be able to afford anything they want. In their houses they have these things called showers that shower water all over your body to clean yourself, no one has to wash up in the one river like we all have to. They even have these products to make there hair look stunning, Shampoo, conditioner, hair brushes, combs, hair spray, mousse, hair ties and even these cool little hair clips called bobby pins. They all have their very own hairdresser that does their hair every day. Life on Earth looks amazing, maybe we should ask to visit some time?

Love Rigfu

Sensational Science fair

Check out some of our awesome science fair projects. While the majority of the students in Room 15 shared their projects with the class, 16 students took the next step and transferred their presentation onto Science boards for school testing. Five of these have since been selected to progress onto the Hawkes Bay Science Fair next week. A fantastic effort by Room 15- You rock!!
Science fair entries on PhotoPeach

 

Passion project sharing has begun!

As part of our inquiry "healthy bodies, strong minds" we have been researching and exploring Passion projects. It is an opportunity to learn more about one another and take our interest in a topic we are passionate about, a step further by applying the inquiry process.

Kayla shared her passion with us all this morning...a combination of business and cooking/baking. She has really set the bar high for the rest of the class. After presenting her passion with a slide show, she demonstrated how to decorate a cupcake...with the whole class following her lead. There are definitely some newly discovered cake decorator extraordinaires!

Protecting our reputations: Cyber safety

One of our tasks this week was to explore the site "protect my rep" and then come up with one key point that, we as individuals felt was the most important thing to remember when we are online. Zethan, Mark and Flynn used the information they encountered to create this poster to inform others on what they need to always keep in the forefront of their minds when online.
Excellent advice boys!
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Technology Challenge afternoon

In order to select a team of fine Room 15 students for the school technology challenge, we held a technology challenge face off this afternoon. The challenge was to create a solution using a very limited array of resources..with a group of people who may or may not be thinking along the same lines.
I have used Flipagram to give a snapshot of our process!
Our final class team are: Liam, Lucas, Amy and Laura- Awesome team work!

Matariki creations and explanations

We have been investigating what Matariki means to New Zealand Maori...and us. Discovering 10 facts and writing our opinion as to whether Queens Birthday celebrations should be replaced with a Maori New Year (Matariki) celebration. Check out individual blogs! Well done Maddie and Madison for your creative spin on Matariki.

Innovation in industry

We visited Arataki Honey Ltd today as part of our inquiry into innovation, invention and creativity today. We learnt a great deal about the changes to the honey industry since the time of the Egyptians, when the commercial production of honey was first recorded. There have been a number of changes to the way honey is collected and processed to met the needs of commercial demand. From the hives themselves, to the equipment used to collect honey and care for bees and to the processing of honey for us..consumers. I think we now have an appreciation for the need for continuous innovation and creativity in industry to meet demands and needs. We also had time to explore and learn about the key component of honey production...Honey bees!! We headed back to school with a container of honey....all we could think about after all this honey talk!

Innovations: Making a difference

In Room 15 we have been exploring the concept that innovation is an idea turned into a working solution that meets a real need. We identified a product currently in existence and went about either improving it, or in some cases, creating a completely new gadget. We needed to identify a target user group and meet a need. Wow- some interesting and creative ideas resulted! Check out Oscar, Zethan and Curtis's effort- Awesome effort!

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.

Salute the Army

Today we had an opportunity to 'hang' with the army. It was really hard to wait until after lunch, especially once we had seen the very authentic army camp setup on the school field. We rotated in two groups looking at and having explained different aspects of Army life- vehicles, fitness training, arms, and routines. It also provided an opportunity for some great action photos!

Pepeha and Whakapapa

In Room 15 over the past couple of weeks, we have been building on our knowledge of 'Turangawaewae- a place to stand'. Creating our own Pepeha and Whakapapa has been a part of this process.Check out Amy's awesome effort, and others on individual blogs! As we become more confident with our pronunciation we will be adding a vocaroo (a recording of our reciting).We have written our Pepeha in a form that we would expect to say it, or hear it being said, on a Marae.
Check out my Maori  pepeha and whakapapa.