Setting up the worm farms

Wow - we have five worm farms to set up next week and we need to so some research so we know how to do it.




Need:
1.  Rounds of cardboard
2.  Rounds of carpet
3.  Newspapers
4.  Soil
5.  Worms
6.  Water

We need to find out what worms eat so we can make some food collection buckets.  Our worms will need feeding each day we go over to the garden.  Write comment to tell us what they like to eat.

This is not a chair

This is not a chair... it is a ... (tell us in a comment).

This is not a chair...

This is not a chair... it is a... (tell us in a comment).

This is not a chair....

This is not a chair ....it is a ...

10 x Tables

Lachie has included a secret mistake ... can you find it?  Write a comment to remind us what the correct answer is for the little mistake.

I Can Animate Training

Some of our class went for a training session with Carol to learn how to animate.  It was more challenging than we thought.  First you had to write a story and make a backdrop.  You had to take the shots and we haven't even finished yet.  We will tell you about our top tips for animation soon but check out our pictures.

Reading Quiz Question

From your reading about mammals, you were challenged to write a quiz question - well, here are Isabella's.  Answer them as a comment.

1.  What is a mammal - is it warm blooded or cold blooded?

2.  Do mammal live babies or lay eggs ?

3.  Where do mammals love to live ?

Rubbish - how does this relate to our inquiry?

Check out this video from You-Tube.  Think carefully about how this relates to our inquiry. 
What is the result of so much rubbish? 
What needs to be done? 
What could we do? 

Write your response in a comment this week.  We will check them all out on Friday.  Make sure you add your name and we'll have 23 comments.

Learn your 3x Tables

Maaori Greeting

So what should we do?

Over the last four weeks we have done lots of finding out and today have even decided what the issues are with 'Time is running out' for our environment and the animals in it.


Issues:
1.  Our waterways are being polluted and we need to make sure people know how to look after them.
2.  We need to look after our endangered native birds because they are hungry and need a strong food chain.


We have lots of ideas about what we could do to help solve these problems.  Write down your idea on a sticky for the Wallwisher so we can jump into action because the E-Team is going to come to the rescue!

Class River Trip

Yesterday we went on a field trip to the Coes Ford and Lake Ellesmere. 

At the river we saw all kinds of fish and plants like caddis fly larvae and worms.  We found out that all things belong in the food chain.

At the lake we saw the long fin eel.  It is native to NZ and it is endangered. My favourite part of the trip was when we crossed the water to release the Long Fin Eel into the sea.  It now has to swim to Tonga or Samoa to have babies and die.

Cheap Skates Session

Sophie's Adapted Animal

Class Trip

Eels in Ellesmere

How do we use water?

Coes Ford Class Trip

Class Trip

On the 22/5/12 Room 6 and Room 5 went to Coes Ford to learn about the pollution and what plants are good for the native birds and polluted lakes.

Class River Trip

Yesterday we went to Coes Ford to find out about the pollution in the lakes around New Zealand. There we met Errol who was freezing, because he had been in the river to collect samples of the insects for us to find.

Then we meet Steve and his dog, who tried to make it fun to teach us about the native trees he had been planting around the Ellesmere area. We made a food chain with him and looked at the young forest he had planted.

Then we went to the domain at the Selwyn Huts and there Eli took us to his amazing tree hut. This was great home learning.
At the end of our trip, we went to lake  Ellesmere,  the fifth biggest lake in  New Zealand  to meet Clem with a Long finned eel and a short finned eel as well. 
We got to see him release the the eels.  It was an amazing sight seeing it go out to the Pacific Ocean to have babies in Samoa or Tonga then die.

Awesome Adapted Animal

Skate Skool (School)

Phelix's Adapted Animal

The Rock Monster

Nathan's Adapted Animal

Liam's Adapted Animal

I Love Learning Competition

Do you want to win an iPad 2 for yourself and one for our class?  Well - here's the way to do it.  Check out this I Love Learning website and take a look at the entries from last year.  I know we can do better! 

Come to school with some ideas and try wrting some jingles, songs or poems at home that we could use. 

Options:
1.  Create a movie
2.  Create a poster

Over 26,000 Visitors - WOW!

Lady Bug Note Generators

Cain's Arcade - out of boxes!

Check out the learning that Cain did in his summer holidays. 

You have been given an art or construction challenge and some free choice spots in your home learning grid.  I wonder if you can be as creative as Cain?

Remember that this took Cain many weeks to complete so don't expect to finish a masterpiece in one week, but we would love to see photos of your progress and ideas sent via. e-mail for the blog.

Teacher Home Learning

I have been learning how to use 'I Can Animate' with my new little stamp characters. I put the sequence into iMovie and added music. Could we add a narration to tell the story of an extinct animal or our adapted animal? How else could we use this cool tool? You could bring some small soft toys or Lego characters to have a go this next week.


 Don't forget that teachers are learners too!

Home Learning Award Week 4

Brilliant work on your learning out of school Isaac.  I hope you will be near if I need CPR or any other First Aid.  This is an important skill to have for life.

Home Learning Award Week 4

Well done to Lachie for proving that learning can happen at any time and in any place.

Adapted Animal Chloe

Adapted Animal

This is George's adapted creature.  I would not like to meet it on a dark night!

Extinct Moa Bird

I have been learning about the extinct Moa Bird for my home learning.  Here is my brainstorm of ideas.  Click the picture to make it bigger.

Camera Spot Lesson

Adapted Animal

Bee Man Visit

Georgia (oops - it was Chloe) has explained about the bee man visiting.  She was right about the mite but it was not a dust mite but rather a Varroa mite.

Photo Spot Lesson

My adapted animal

Graeson has drawn an adapted animal and this Fotobabble is where he explains all the special body parts.  I hope his writing includes all this detail too!  

He didn't write this down but thought as he looked at his image.  I think he must have been able to think very quickly and organise his ideas.

Augmented Reality

We looked at a simple picture on the iPad, when suddenly it came alive.  We don't really know how it happened but we know it is called Augmented Reality.  

Check out what Isabella K thought of the dragon we met.  Think about the language she has used and how she has painted a picture in your mind.

Learn your 2x table

Jess has been working on learning her 2x table.  You could try learning it too.  Write them on a whiteboard then practice saying them out loud.  Get a buddy to test you or even make a photo-babble like this!

Endangered....what do you mean?

Jeremy has thought carefully about what the word endangered really means.  He has also done a fast forward to see what might happen if bees became extinct.  This was some of the great learning Jeremy had been doing at home!

Brookburn Quadblogging School

After some great comments for our focus week from Wix Primary, it is now time to start laying those comments on the Brookburn Blog. 

So get your commenting skills out and get over to Brookburn School.

Don't forget our success criteria for an effective comment. 

1. Are they positive and encouraging comments?

2. Are they questioning comments?
3. Are they constructive comments? (what they could improve)
4. Do they make sense and have correct spelling / punctuation?
5. Would you feel good to get this comment on your post?

Camera Spot 2

Taking Macro Shots:

When taking a macro shot, walk closer to the subject rather than use the zoom.  There is no macro on the iPad so only walk close if it is still in focus.  This shot is good for things like fossils, flowers and insects.

Using different Angles:
The subject stays the same but your camera angle changes how it looks.  Remember that the GIANT angle makes things look small, the eye-level angle makes things look normal and the snail angle makes things look huge - just like they would to a snail.  The possum view is pretty cool - it is snuggled up very close as if you are hanging onto the subject. 

Camera Shot Challenge:
This week you need to take three photos.
1. A macro shot (try the fossils or flowers)
2. A portrait from an unusual angle (giant view, snail view...)
3. A photo with guiding lines (guide you to the subject)

Taking great photos

How Kids Can Take Great Photos
With thanks to Jacqui Sharp.

A cool conservation site to visit

Check out this great website to visit.  
See if it can help in your inquiry.  


Kiwi Conservation Club

Rugby Awards

Isaac from the Cahill Family are going to explain to you what these awards are for.....

We all got rugby awards. I got tackler of the day. My big sister got player of the day and my little sister got most improved player.  We play for the Springston Club.

Homemade Scooter

Josh has been completing lots of amazing projects in his learning at home.  This week he made a scooter with his dad and brother.  We were amazed when he brought it to school.

Home Learning Model

Captain S Version 2

Jeremy thought he would try his story as a movie.  

Home Learning

Here are two ducks that Chloe and her brother shot on Sunday night.  

I think some people would agree that this is a great thing to do and some people would find this an unkind thing to do.  What do you believe?  Give your opinion in a comment but you must give the reasons to back your opinion.

Attribute your images

Bria thought carefully about how she would feel if you stole her art work.  Remember to ask permission first and tell us where you got it from.  This is called attribution.

Should you steal a painting?

Eli has created this movie to explain how he would feel if you used his work without permission or saying that it was his.  He created this movie by himself on Friday.

Sort out the animals

What class does it belong to? 

Is it a mammal, insect or an amphibian? 

Use this link to find out what a mammal is then play the game.

Click here for the link.

Sort these animals into groups again. 

Can you remember which group they belong to - quickly?

Click here for the link.

Another fun game - Animal classification!  Click here to investigate.

Try out this interactive sorting key.  Can you sort the minibeasts?

Taking a photo - basic rules & head shot

We are looking at how to take a good photo this term. 
This is so we can use the iPads and camers to support our learning and to enter the photography competition for the end of the month. 

Lesson number 1 - basic rules with a camera...

iPad notes:  There is no lanyard for an iPad so you must always hold it with two hands.  Steady it against a table or yourself so the shot is not blurry.  Check which camera you are using - the front or the back one and make sure the cover or your fingers don't get in the way. 

Lesson number 2 - head shot...

Challenge: 
Take two photographs of people - one or more together, in the classroom during learning times.  Make the subject (the people) the biggest in the picture but think about the story you are trying to tell.

On the iPad, e-mail your image to Room 6 then save it as Jeremyheadshot1 - name type of photo then number.  Go to our e-mail then save your image in the Photography Term 2 folder.



Phone Safety

Pirate Story

Jeremy has been writing a story about Captain S and his terrible attack by the pirates.  I like the words he has used like 'ready for action' and that he thought the weapons sounded like music.  It really painted a picture in my mind.

Tell him what you think of his story in a comment.

6x table poem

Have a listen to this cool poem by Liam that will help you learn the 6x table.

Check out George's post on Anzac Day.  He was very proud of wearing these medals.  




Think about the skills George has used to create this post:
1.  Thinking carefully about what he wanted to say
2.  Writing down what he was going to say.....
What other skills did he use?  Tell us in a comment below!

The Secret Garden Club

The Secret Garden Club had its first meeting today.  The executive (leaders) have been appointed from Year 6 - Anja, Anna, Macaulay, Jack G and Cameron.  There will be 'Feed and Meet' at 12 on Friday next, where we will plan the action for the next week, but start collecting seeds and plants for your winter crops like broad beans, cabbages or broccoli.

1.  Allotments were allocated to Garden Club Teams
2.  Bricks were placed to show individual gardens
2.  Weeding has begun

There are still five allotments available to senior students, but you must be serious and ready for work at lunch times.  Check in with the Room 9 leaders and talk to Allana if you are up for the challenge.

I will be available to go gardening second lunch this Friday, so bring your gummies and a label for your spot.

Leave a comment with your ideas about what we could do next in our Secret Garden.

What's in an explanation?

We are writing explanations this term but how do you know what to put in one? 


Well - we searched for the features in some and made a list to help us.  

Check out our list of success criteria and the notes we make on our examples.  Well done to the class for super team detective work to find all of these.  I know they will really help us write effective explanations!

What-ever do bees do for us!

Well - Isaac will tell you all about it.  This is perfect timing as Thursday we will be looking at what might happen if all the bees die from a threatening disease.  We will make a cause and effect chart then take a peek at the Bee Movie (I can't wait).

Check out Isaac's homework brainstorm.  Click on the image for a closer view.

Counting in Twos

Angus worked on counting in twos during maths.  His next challenge is to work on counting in fives and tens.