Welcome to 2016
Learning conferences are held on Monday 1st or Tuesday 2nd of February. School begins for all students on Wednesday 3rd. Your should have received your learning conference time in the post in January. Please email me if you have not received your conference time (Contacts button above).
Please remember to pay for your stationery at the office on this day (if you have not already done so).
I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Ms I.
Please remember to pay for your stationery at the office on this day (if you have not already done so).
I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Ms I.
Volcano fun!
Today we made colourful volcanoes in the sandpit with Miss Johnston our student teacher. We wrote about what we saw!
You can try this at home: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/vinegarvolcano.html
You can try this at home: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/vinegarvolcano.html
Maths homework
Today the children cut up an old calendar and made an envelope. These numbers are to be used at home. You may like to make more numbers, greater than 31.
Some ideas:
*Order the numbers from 0-31. Read them
*Write the numbers out
*Order the numbers backwards 31-0 and say them eg 20,19,18,17...
*Ask you child what comes before and after a certain number
*Skip counting (2s, 5s & 10s) eg 2,4,6,8,10...
*Call out a number - get your child to quickly find it (time them)
*Choose a "number of the day" - see where you can find it and/or count those objects
Some ideas:
*Order the numbers from 0-31. Read them
*Write the numbers out
*Order the numbers backwards 31-0 and say them eg 20,19,18,17...
*Ask you child what comes before and after a certain number
*Skip counting (2s, 5s & 10s) eg 2,4,6,8,10...
*Call out a number - get your child to quickly find it (time them)
*Choose a "number of the day" - see where you can find it and/or count those objects
Athletics day - Wednesday 21st October
The children have been busy practicing these events over the past few weeks and last term.
The children had a great Athletics Day on Wednesday. The weather was great and it was well supported by the community. On the day, the children participated in a variety of events and aimed to beat their own "personal best".
Thank you Heather (Robbie's mum) for the great photos.
The children had a great Athletics Day on Wednesday. The weather was great and it was well supported by the community. On the day, the children participated in a variety of events and aimed to beat their own "personal best".
Thank you Heather (Robbie's mum) for the great photos.
Fairytales
This term we are learning about different "fairytales".
Today we read a story called The Three Little Sheep. Can you guess what fairy story it reminds you of?
Geometry - position & direction
We have been using words to describe position and direction of movement. Today we have been practicing using language of position to describe a "building" we made from cubes. We had to describe this carefully, so our buddy could build the same "building" without looking.
We have also been using different words to describe where something is e.g. the book is ON the table. Try using these words or phrases at home: on, around, under, past, right, left, beside, behind, in front of... etc. Can you think of any more?
We have also been using different words to describe where something is e.g. the book is ON the table. Try using these words or phrases at home: on, around, under, past, right, left, beside, behind, in front of... etc. Can you think of any more?
Lambs
Look at the lambs from Miss Calder's farm!
Our school opening time
Some children are arriving very early to school. School is not open until 8.30am. The children are unsupervised. Your child must remain in the front of the library until the bell goes at 8.30am. It is very cold some mornings and there are a lot of wee 5 year olds sitting outside in the cold :-(
Please also be aware we have an early staff meeting on Mondays and sometimes this overruns.
Please also be aware we have an early staff meeting on Mondays and sometimes this overruns.
Clay sun sculptures
Our finished clay sun sculptures of " Maui and the Sun"...
Smoothie making
As part of our language experience - we made smoothies this week and we wrote about it. They were delicious!
ABCD time
The children have been making pet homes. Some children have been bringing their pet homes back the following week to add to them. There has been lots of discussion about what different pets need, how to care for them etc.
As part of writing - Mrs Lange made jelly with Rooms 9 and 10. We wrote about what we saw. On Friday we ate the jelly.
As part of writing - Mrs Lange made jelly with Rooms 9 and 10. We wrote about what we saw. On Friday we ate the jelly.
Maui and the Sun - designing and making a sun out of play dough...
We thoroughly enjoyed the Court Theater production of Maui and the Sun. Over the next few weeks we will be using this story as a base for our topic work. We have spent many weeks manipulating clay. This week, we designed a sun...
Topic: Healthy eating
We had to design and make a healthy smoothie. They were delicious!
Thursday sport
On Thursdays during Big Break, our school leaders take us for sport. The Junior children have been given the opportunity to learn hockey skills and play hockey.
Science writing: Tooth decay
This week for Science writing we looked at eggs and tooth decay. Mrs P as part of her topic on teeth, put an egg in white vinegar. We noticed the shell had started to soften and that there were tiny bubbles around the egg. Some "skin" fell off one egg. This experiment shows how the acid interacts with the calcium to cause tooth decay.
You can try this at home or for more information look at this website: http://kidsactivities.about.com/od/scienceandnature/a/Egg-In-Vinegar-A-Dental-Health-Activity.htm
You can try this at home or for more information look at this website: http://kidsactivities.about.com/od/scienceandnature/a/Egg-In-Vinegar-A-Dental-Health-Activity.htm
Topic: Room 9 - Healthy Eating
As part of our collaboration within the Junior Team, in room 9 we have been learning about healthy foods and what food does in the body to keep us healthy. This week we looked at different vegetables, where they come from and what they do to keep us healthy. We then made delicious vegetable soup.
Fruit: can you name these fruits? We tasted them and they were yummy!
Clay fun...
This term we are working with the media of clay. We are learning to work with clay, join pieces together etc.
Behaviour - using our WITS
As part of our school wide policy - we are learning to use our WITS when we have a problem. Today rooms 9 and 10 role played scenarios. We...W - walk away; I - ignore; T - talk to them using an "I" statement (I don't like it when you...) and S - seek help from an adult.
Sickness - Wednesday 5 August
Today seven children were sent home from rooms 9 and 10. These children had similar symptoms - they gradually got warmer and warmer and then fell asleep! Some children also complained of a sore stomach. Please ensure we have updated telephone numbers for you. Check these with Vicki in the office.
Please also note there is chicken pox doing the rounds!
ABCD Pets
This term in room 9 we are learning about pets and how to care for them. This week we designed a pet cage. We sorted pets and their homes; made playdough animals and pets.
Static electricity
This week we have been writing about static electricity. Look at the balloon sticking to the wall!
Story time
Dr Seuss day - 100 days at school
Busy bees
As part of our teams learning on Sustainability, Ms Ifield and the children have been looking at bees and why they are important to have and our food sources. We were very lucky to have one of our parents - Andrew Turner (Charlie's dad) come in and talk to us about bees, how he works with the bees in their hive and why bees are important to us. He brought along a bee hive (minus the bees!) and the equipment he uses. There were many interesting questions from the children about being a "bee keeper". We then ate some of Andrew's honey on bread. Yum. Thank you Andrew and Charlie!
Coke explosion!
For writing this week we looked at what happens when we added some mints to coke. We made some predictions, discussed what happened and why. Then we wrote about what we saw. The web link for this experiment is below if you want to try this at home....HINT: use "proper" diet coke or the experiment is a "fizzer"!
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/dietcokementos.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/dietcokementos.html
Super Shapes
As part of our Geometry lesson this week we took some iPad photos of different shapes around our environment and named them. Our homework is to look out for different shapes at home and name them. Next week some of us will be exploring 3D shapes.
ABCD
In Room 9 at ABCD time we have been looking at people who help us - Nurses and Nurses from the past. Look at Eric's 3D ambulance!
Moving milk
Today we looked at how we could move milk. We made some predictions. We added food colouring to milk and then carefully added some detergent on a cotton bud. The milk"moved". We then discussed why this happened and wrote about it.
Fraction fun...
We have been learning about "equal sharing" or halves.
ABCD - Florence Nightingale/Library time
Skittle colour fun! Yum, yum!
This week we explored different colours and how these separate. We then wrote about what we saw! Look at the different colours and how they have separated.
Cultural interchange
On Fridays we work with the other children in the year 0/2 team. We are placed in our house groups. Ms Ifield is taking us for te rakau. We are learning the song "E Papa Waiari" to help us with the rhythm. If we bring some magazines to class - we make some and can then take them home!
Think Pink!
On Friday we had a "pink" day thinking about anti-bullying.
Room 9's Celebration of Learning
On Friday we held our assembly. We focused on what we have learnt about bees and how important they are to our food system.
Science fun!
For writing this week Ms Ifield showed us what happened when we mixed oil and water together. The oil and water were not very friendly and didn't want to mix. We added some detergent (a Policeman told them to hold hands) and the two mixed together. We then wrote about what happened.
Elisha read a book "Lily and the leafboat". He made his own leafboat. What a clever boy!
Mrs Wishy-Washy at the seaside
Today we wrote stories about Mrs Wishy-Washy at the seaside.
Junior Jump Jam
On Friday mornings at 8am our Juniors are learning new Jump Jam routines in Room 9. We hope to make a mini team that can lead our Jump Jam on Friday mornings.
Ice fun!
Today Ms Ifield brought in some ice. We looked at it. We also learnt about water - solid (ice), liquid (water) and gas (steam). We put salt on our ice and waited and watched to see what would happen. We found out that salt made our ice melt much faster. We then wrote about it.
Process cooking with Stacey
Stacey (Connor's mum) is coming in to help us cook on Monday mornings. Today half our class made our own ANZAC biscuits. We made these individually in our own cup and measured out our own ingredients. They were yummy!
ANZAC Day service at WSS
This week we had an ANZAC day service. We had some soldiers from the past and present to talk to us. We then planted some poppies in the garden.
WSS Cross Country
Monday 4th
Today was the WSS Cross Country. After a fresh start to the morning - it turned out to be a glorious day! Well done to all our gorgeous children for such a great effort.
Today was the WSS Cross Country. After a fresh start to the morning - it turned out to be a glorious day! Well done to all our gorgeous children for such a great effort.
Busy bees
We have been learning about sustainability. Our topic this week was "busy bees". We've been discussing why bees are important for our food sources. We looked at our school grounds and took some iPad photos of bee friendly plants. We saw lots of flowers, fruit trees and vegetables in the garden. What bee friendly plants do you have at home?
Constable Ross
Kia Kaha
Constable Ross came to talk to us about "keeping safe" and how to make sensible choices.
ANZAC activities
We made ANZAC biscuits - they were delicious!!! We looked at the different ingredients and smelt them. We talked about how butter changes when it melts and what baking soda does.
Today we also looked at different photos to do with ANZAC day and we wrote about what were knew about them.
Today we also looked at different photos to do with ANZAC day and we wrote about what were knew about them.