Celebrating Matariki

Nau mai Matariki, nau mai Puanga, nau mai te tau hou Māori - We welcome Matariki, we welcome Puanga and the Māori New Year.

 

Matariki / Puanga is a time for learning and storytelling and an occasion for people to come together and celebrate what has been achieved in the past year. A time for whānau being together, celebrating a new year where everyone can flourish and remembering friends and whānau we have lost over the past wee while. 

We met on the beach to see the stars and say karakia together. 

Visual Maths

During Number Talks, students develop Mathematical language and skills by engaging in each other’s strategies. When we learn Maths we develop understanding through visual models - these are mental pictures that explain a particular idea or concept. This helps all students to access the learning where they are at. A visual model can be as simple as a using the slices of a cake to represent fractions, but they can explain some pretty complex ideas in advanced Maths too.

Showing children 'quick images' and asking them how many they see is one way of developing subitising. An alternative way of developing conceptual subitising is to show children a number of dots and ask them to say how they see the number.

Number Frog and the Number Line: Most young learners are introduced to the number line at age 5 or 6. It's a valuable visual model for progressing learners from counting one by one with their fingers towards memory recall of their number facts.

Arrays: When learners first encounter multiplication they are usually introduced to Arrays. Arrays are great because they also explain why it doesn't matter which way round the numbers go in multiplication. E.G. In the case above you can see that four rows of six is the same as six rows of four - which explains why 4 x 6 is the same as 6 x 4 - otherwise known as the commutative law.

The Hundred Square/ Number Spider and Number Fly: allows learners to create patterns out of ideas in Maths.

 We can draw to help us to solve mathematical problems

Phizzing with Physics : Science Fair

 

Our students are working away at their own Inquiry projects at the moment. They have four steps to work through before we can celebrate next week. We have been learning about a famous physicist and the research they do/did. 

We are finding new and exciting ways to share our thinking/hard work. We are sharing through poster, comic, movie, essay the list goes on. 

We're looking forward to sharing our finished work next week.

"Everyone is getting closer and closer to their finished projects! The Science Fair is in only one day too, so everyone is rushing to finish their projects in time. We have had 1-2 weeks of just researching and making prototypes. For example Oli’s group is researching gravity and Einstein.Doing all this stuff with science helps us learn research skills. We hope you can watch the Science Fair online!"

- Nicolas

Enjoying Movement!

 

This week in the Seniors we have been learning some new games to help us enjoy moving and using our bodies. In the picture above, we are learning skills like throwing and catching through the game of Pattern Ball. In this game we have to keep the same pattern  but then to increase difficulty different shaped balls are added - it makes it pretty hard.

We are learning to call for the ball and think of our team members when we make passes. How would we like to receive a pass? Is it easy to catch when it goes for our head? 

We are learning that part of what makes a good game or a game enjoyable is teamwork. 

The Arts- Sketching Buddies

 

We have been focusing on the arts in the afternoons this week in the form of sketching! Revisiting the fundamentals of sketching is important to keep front of mind. 

Sketching "rules":

• loose grip on the pencil, halfway along
• 1000 lines (you should be able to hear the pencil move!)
• sketch what you see, not what you THINK you see 
• don't be too careful!

We looked at portraits this week. We buddied up, sketched at varying timings - even tried one with our eyes closed!

Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence - Nature Art Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

We have been spending time looking closely at precious things in nature. We have looked at the shape, colour, texture, markings etc. Here we are with our precious items. 

We were inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy and created our own environmental art. 

By Dante, Sam, Alfred, Leo M and Zen

"Nature Rules" by Nina and Anneke

By Archie, Darragh and Finn

By Arthur and Hannah

"Rainbow of Nature" by Cara, Nikita and Violet

"Mataora - The Bird of Destiny" by Lisa, Olive, Ella and Isabella

"The Flower of Gold" by Ethan and Bella

By Fabian, Leo, Shuyang and Haru

By Otto, Tommy and Marlon

"The Mushroom Shrine" by Nicolas

Visit from Adam - Zero Invasive Predators - Thinking like an Inventor

As part of our Inquiry, we have been thinking like scientists and inventors. Adam came in to talk to us about the work that he has been doing for ZIP (https://zip.org.nz/#intro). We were blown about by the problem solving that he does with his colleagues. 

Sam.G: Adam works for Z.I.P. (Zero Invasive Predators). They try to exterminate rats, stoats, and possums because those kill our native wildlife. they do all kinds of experiments like how high a pest will climb into mountains. Adam is a biologist so he studies what pests think so he can send results to the people who make the traps so the traps will be suited to pests. Z.I.P. needs to have these character strengths: perseverance, creativity, and teamwork.

Luca S: Adam works for Z.I.P.  It stands or Zero Invasive Predators and they are trying to get rid of all the predators in NZ. Their goal is to get NZ predator free by 2050. What they have done is put up walls in the places they can to stop the predators from escaping the area they are trapping. In the places they can make barriers sometimes there are natural barriers like fast-flowing rivers and mountains. They have designed lots of different types of traps and baits to get rid of the predators. The traps they designed are very intuitive because they have designed traps that release food everyday and then the people at Z.I.P can monitor what the predators are doing by satellite so they don’t have to go into the bush everyday and monitor if the predators are eating the bait they are releasing. Instead they get a notification whenever their cameras detect a predator eating their bait. All of us at W.B.S hope that they can achieve their goal of making NZ predator free by 2050, there are definitely going to be more creative and innovative ideas in the future of Z.I.P.

Anneke: Adam from ZIP (zero invasive predators) came in to talk to us about pest control. Adam said that they are trying to make New Zealand pest free and to do that they are going to make each area pest free (one by one.) ZIP is a company that is trying to make NZ pest free but the best materials are expensive so they are using natural fences like mountains and rivers, so the pests don't get into the area that they are trying to make pest free.

Some of the traps that ZIP uses aren't actually traps, those traps (or things) just put a little bit of food out every day so the pests will keep coming back to the same place and if the pests do come everyday they have motion activated cameras. ZIP is always making new ideas for traps to catch their three main predators, possums, stoats, and DA RAT!!!!

Liora: Adam taught us about how he uses all of the gadgets, how they work, how they help them with the predators and how to deal with them. Inventions they made. They made this trap that has something on top and looks like a pyramid. When any type of predator comes it shuts so they get the predator. Before they took this big can and fill it up with toxic stuff and poured it all over the places where predators are, you're probably asking how do they know where they are, they have these cameras scattered around the woods, then they know where to find them.

Ethan Q: Adam came into school, he told us about rat traps and predators.They work down south around the West Coast. He has lots of traps he put mayonnaise stuff on 1 of the the traps. He needs to dial up his perseverance and some grit too. His goal was to clear all predators by 2050. I thought it was quite cool I enjoyed it.

Henry: There are natural barriers like rivers and mountains that keep the predators out. The predators they are focusing on are possums Stoats and rats. They kill animals by dropping poison in helicopters or by traps. ZIP is the name of a predator free company.

Here is our success criteria for thinking like an inventor:

- analyse the factors involved in an opportunity
- develop a detailed CAF (consider all factors)
- develop criteria which guides the design process
- brainstorm 30 ideas
- draw accurate diagrams of the invention
- evaluate the prototype and make improvements to the design

- build a full scale model of my invention

Can You Solve Our Algebra Puzzles?

We have been working through Algebra Puzzles. We know that accepting challenges and staying with a problem helps the brain to grow. We had an idea to make our very own puzzles!

We came up with a co-constructed success criteria: 

Include 4 or 5 pictures 

The puzzle needs a good starting point 

Include answers on the back 

Make the puzzle 4 or 5 lines 

It needs to include some numbers 

We need to remember to do the multiplication first

Animal Algebra by Violet

Why puzzles in Maths?

1. They develop Critical Thinking skills so that you can problem solve in different situations

2. It exercises the brain. Practising these types of puzzles helps the brain to make connections. It helps your brain get used to focusing on a single problem.

3. It will help you to be a more successful Mathematician. You will be able to apply logic to work out Maths problems successfully.

Sarah Flannery, at age of 16, won the Young Scientist of the Year award in Ireland.
This is Sarah talking about Maths and the role her parents played in her own amazing achievements.

“My parents definitely let me see that mathematics was this beautiful subject. I think a lot of people never even hear those two words in the same sentence.
So they gave that to me, and they gave me, through these different puzzles, where even I thought I couldn't start out on them, they showed me, no, you have lots of tools, and techniques, and ways to visualise, and get started, and you can do it.”

Pet Algebra Puzzle by Greer and Amber

Algebra by Finn H

Pikmin Algebra Puzzle by Henry

Cat Algebra by Nikita

Algebra Puzzle by Cam

Algebra by Alice and Ethan

Dragon Algebra by Tommy

Minecraft Mutant Algebra by Sam

Phizzing with Physics

 This week the students did a rotation about Newtons laws of motion. We are learning about the elements of our physical world in connection with our current Inquiry 'Phizzing with Physics'

We did a range of activities, looking at inertia, potential energy and friction.

We are practicing thinking like scientists, being curios and observing closely. There are some exciting things on the horizon with this Inquiry... keep your eyes peeled!

Eastern Zones Cross Country 2022

Ella: The rain dripped down my back as I waited in line. The starter pistol blasted off. I could hear people people falling over behind me. I just kept running. I tried to keep up with the people in front of me. They worked as a great wind shield. We got to a hill. I thought it was be really slippery and I would fall on my face but it wasn't wet or slippery at all. After the first lap and a half, I started to realise that I was in the top ten. I kept pushing myself harder. we ran through a really big puddle. It splashed up all over my legs and I could feel it seeping through my shoes. We were nearing the finish line now. I could hear the crowd cheering. I started sprinting. I went past 1 person, then 2 people, then 3 people. I was crossing the finish line. I was sixth.

Charlotte: On the 1st of June some students qualified for Eastern Zones. There were lots of other schools competing too. Year 4 boys raced first, then year 4 girls and so on, until year 6. Once the hooter had gone for my race I ran for it, then finally I reached the hills. Once I had passed the hills, I slipped over but just kept going. I was finally onto my second lap, then at the hills, finally speeding down the last one. I could hear footsteps thundering up behind me, but before she could catch up, I got across the finish line in 5th place and making it to Inter Zones with Ella and Lisa who also got in the top ten.

Marlon: We were getting ready. The sun was still shining outside. Our teacher, Hayley was doing the roll when it started raining, to pouring to utter pouring,*sigh* phew the bus was here... but it was going trouble getting on.We dashed outside into the rain everyone started to complain that it was too wet. When we got to the road it had turned into a river, we ran as fast as we could across the river/road. Our shoes got soaked but we didn’t mind. We got in to the bus. It was warm and dry in there. I was with my bus partner, Leo. When we got to the outer gates of Scots College, it was a swimming pool. We went inside. I watched as a miniature size wave rolled down the footpath. The bus stopped waiting for the passengers to hop off. A mini car came into the swimming pool but it had to back out otherwise the water would have got inside the bonnet of the car. "Hurry up" came Hayley's voice from the front. Me and Leo hopped off (not really hopped, just jumped) the bus.What we saw was not a field, it was more of a ditch. We had to walk straight through the ditch to get to the indoor sports centre. When we got there, we had a snack and a drink then waited for our race to come… 2 hours later … YEAR 5 BOYS got shouted out on a microphone. We lined up 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th from our cross country I was 3rd. Bang! The starting gun went, we were in race. I went as paced as I could predict that would get me in a good place. People were all slipping and face planting in the mud. In a few tens of seconds, mud splattered all of our t - shirts. Splash! A few people stumbled into a puddle. First lap done, half to go. Sweat beaded my forehead, luckily I had not have to face a stitch yet. The last strip I run my heart pounding as fast as a cheetah on a bike. I got place 43 THAT WAS FUN!

Locky: Boom! The shot fired. I ran so fast. I looked beside me and I saw multiple people fall. I didn't want that to be me, so I ran up to the hill. I was in front of a lot of people. Me and Arthur were next to each other. I gave him a boost and he said thanks. We were coming to the first lap and we past it. Arthur was going to stop but I told him "let's keep going." We ran up the hill a second time and we were coming to the end. I started sprinting and passed somebody. We both sprinted in and I made it 35th. Arthur made it 34th. I had to dial up perseverance.

Amber: Our bus zoomed past the flooded entry to Scots College and the water sprayed up on the bus. My shoes were already soaked and so were my socks. Each step was a big “squelch”. We made it inside a safe shelter and decided to have a snack. I saw lots of people I knew from different schools. Soon it was time for the Year Fours to go. Me and Marcia were racing to get into line and then we slipped “whoosh” and landed on our butts, we got SO muddy before the race had even started. HA HA! 3,2,1 “Bang” the race began. We ran and ran until we got to a steep hill where I overtook lots of people. I ran past the finish line and saw my mum cheering me on. “Onto my second lap” I thought to myself. I overtook more people on my second lap. I sprinted to the finish line and got . . . 26th place!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! Soon it was downpour raining hard enough you could shower in it but it would be a VERY cold shower, like an ice shower. After three hours of staying there we went to the bus both of my socks were SUPER soaked and my shoes even more muddy and wet. We came to school and got dressed. I changed shoes but had to borrow Tui’s socks.

Rézi: One morning I woke up quite early, because we were going to go to Eastern Zones Cross Country. We got to school. We did the roll for the kids getting on the bus, and at 9:00 we left school in the pouring rain. When we were almost on the bus, we just had to cross the road when everybody's feet got wet, because the hill had a road on it and the water came pouring down and the rain made it worse, because it made the water bigger and faster while we were trying to cross the road. Once we got on the bus, every single part of us was soaked with water. When we got to Scots College, there was honestly a big flood happening which drenched us even more. We were almost the first school to get to the Eastern Zones cross country, where about 15 schools were doing it with us. It was amazing. The whole course was wet grass. Year 4 boys went first, second was year 4 girls and so on. Everybody was cheering for us, the year 4 girls! We were cheering everybody on who was either before us or after us. The course was really big, and we had to run in water going into our shoes from the ground, but our heads were also really wet because it was dripping as well. Almost all of us were either 40th place, or 20th place. The year 5 boys came after us, once we had gotten off the track. It was the best day ever!

Fitness and Football

Over the last few weeks we are continuing on our theme of fitness (read more here). We continue to collect our own data and are sharing our learning with the wider whānau. We have created fitness circuits that we shared with Tautoru.

We have also had the Miramar Rangers coming in on Tuesdays to run Football training with all students. We have been engaging well with this opportunity, those that are already football mad and those that are new to the game. 

It's great to see people enjoying being active! We have a tournament (for Year 5 + 6) run by the Rangers in Week 8!