Bush Explorers Trip to Zealandia

Our school was selected to take 50 kids to Zealandia - it was a case of the first 50 names in and I've never seen such a quick response!! What an amazing time we had. We must try to get the whole school here sometime! Many thanks to the awesome staff on the Education Team at Zealandia - you are fabulous!

Click on the photo to see more from the trip.

Yucky Bugs!

Here's a neat video we watched this afternoon - all about bugs! (Part of our Inquiry topic this term)

Lightbot

I went to a 'STEAM' workshop last week. (Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Maths)
Came away with lots of ideas!
Here's a coding game that we tried yesterday.
Lightbot 
Warning - it is highly addictive! (Do let the kids have a turn as well!)

Life Education

This week, the Life Education Truck came and visited us. This is a classroom specifically set up to promote the Health curriculum.

We learnt about healthy eating and how to read the labels on food packaging - what's a treat and what's not.

Koraunui School's Bioblitz

A group of us were very fortunate to be invited over to Koraunui School's Bioblitz today. What an amazing time we had - checking out bees in the "Lab in a box" identifying plants and insects over at the Horoeka reserve and then over to the community hub for all sorts of things! All the while being transported around on a fancy-decorated bus!

Many thanks to Di Christenson and her team for inviting us! (Click on photo to see more)

Tawa Zone Athletics

Well done everyone who presented us at the Tawa Zone Athletics, Newtown Park today.

You all performed fabulously! Results on our Sports Wiki.

...and then the Bumble Bees!

These Bumble bees arrived today - we've got them set up by the leaf cutter bees now.

Leaf Cutter Bees

We are setting up a bee hive area - and learning all about bees and pollination.

These Leaf cutter bees were posted to us in a small container - they hibernate over winter. Here they are being put in their new nest and then into the garden home (which was shifted to where they would get more sun later on)

Puriri Moth

Did you know there are over 1500 different Moths in New Zealand?! Well, the biggest (and I think the most beautiful!), the Puriri Moth,  turned up at school today.

The Puriri Moth  has a wingspan of up to 15cm. It lives in the forest - especially in the Puriri Trees. As a caterpillar, it feeds on the wood of the tree and digs a burrow up to 30cm long. This caterpillar stage lasts about 5 years. When the adult moth finally emerges, on warm evenings from September-November, it only lives for a couple of nights to breed. This one here was found in a rather poor condition on the footpath outside school so (in the name of science!) we decided to keep it to show everyone. The Puriri Moth cant eat because it doesnt have a mouth.

Popsicle Chain Reaction

This is a great way to show potential and kinetic energy. As we built the chain, weaving the sticks together, we were building potential (stored) energy because the sticks were bending slightly – creating the tension. Once we finally released the chain, all that stored up energy turned into a chain of kinetic energy.

(Took great patience and resilience building this!!)

Our Major Production item - Six Months in a Leaky Boat

Here are a couple of videos of our item in the Major Production - both taken on the first night. Apologies for the quality at the start of the first one - it does get better!!
So proud of everyone!

Split Enz - filmed from the back from Mrs B on Vimeo.

Split Enz from Mrs B on Vimeo.

Sign Language Taster session

We were very fortunate to have Miggy come and teach us some NZ Sign Language today. Miggy is deaf and it was fascinating watching and learning off him!

Here are some links to learning NZSL at home

Deaf Aotearoa

TKI - Sign Language