Stem Fun!

Over the past few weeks we've been having an awesome time working through some STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) problems.  We have looked at buildings and how they are structured to be strong.  We also looked at Newton's Laws and how they apply to force and motion. 

We had to plan in teams, design our structures, adapt them if they didn't work, test them then reflect on our designs.

We created ... towers, catapults, zip lines using balloon propulsion and houses.

Below are some photos. 

Last Video Catch up - The real me is coming soon:)

This was my fourth attempt and I probably should have had another try but I was getting worse!  Any way catch you tomorrow on Zoom @3.30.  This will be the time to ask any questions you might have about next week at school.  That will be the purpose of the Zoom Meeting.  See you then.

Term 2 - Week 5 Friday 15 May

Today is all about Creativity

Choose one or more of the activities below and get those creative juices flowing...

Be Creative: Work through the cartoon workshops Mrs Harpur posted on Ti Kouka’s blog and create a cartoon YOU.  Tahlia has already had a go!	Be Creative: Yesterday I suggested that you all watch The Handrils video (see below). Think about making your own puppets.  You can make puppets out of anything: Socks, wooden spoons, paper bags, paper and sticks, some pen drawn on your hand or just your hands, some movement and practice. Your challenge is to decide on a theme, write a script and create your own puppet show. You could retell a story you know well, create a show to help younger students know what to do in a tricky situation or just let your imagination run wild.  Have fun!  Someone could film your show and share with me or you could wait until next week and share it live at school.
Be Creative: Create an exercise routine that includes many of the fitness activities you have completed during Alert Level 3 and 4.
Be Creative: Watch the video below and create your own bird feeder.  There are so many birds in our gardens at the moment.  I have never seen a Tui in my garden and that is my goal this year, to have a feeder and some plants that will attract Tuis.

Term 2 - Week 5 Thursday 14 May

Hi everyone, we are nearly there!  I will have a chat tomorrow to tell you a little bit about what school will be like next week.  I can't wait to catch up:)

Maths: Quick Question Tupou has 298 stickers in her collection. She gets 129 more. How many does she have altogether?? And/or: Number of the Day – 86 Make this number as many of these ways as you can. 1. Adding two numbers 2. Adding three numbers 3. Adding more than three numbers 4. Using a double, or a double plus or minus 1 5. Finding the difference of two numbers 6. Multiplying two or more numbers 7. Multiplying then adding 8. Multiplying then subtracting 9. Dividing one number by another 10. Using a fraction 11. Using a decimal 12. Using another clever or different way And/or: Keep working on the games and activities on Studyladder, Prodigy under Useful Websites that focus on basic facts knowledge.  This will help you to solve any maths problem.

Read or write: Spelling Continue working on your new spelling list using the activities posted last Monday. And/or: Sparks writing Remember Sparks Writing can include your thoughts, your feelings, your experiences, your opinions, your memories, any idea. You could use – poems, letters, comic strips, any kind of genre – fairy-tale, report, retelling, songs, jokes, fiction, non-fiction Or try one of these prompts: ·      Describe the perfect day.  Put in as many details as you can.  Make it a possible day, not a "dream day." What family chore do you have that you like the least.  Explain your answer I looked around the house.  Nothing seemed unusual, nothing but the… Invent a school of the future.  How would it be different from your school now?  How would it be the same? And/or: Try Jackson’s Quirky Challenge (Useful Websites)

Be Creative: Watch the Video  - The Handrils- see below.  Tomorrow on Friday Fun Day for our Grand Finale in Alert Level 3, you will be working on something around this

Exercise: Continue working on Silone’s Challenge. And/or: Grab a Dice and play Fit Dice again– see the photo on Monday.  No dice? You can use playing cards or make you own cards showing 1 - 6

Term 2 - Week 5 Wednesday 13 May

Maths: Quick Question Koro’s greenstone patu weighed 2.5 kilograms. Dad’s weighed 1.5 kilograms. How much did the two pounamu weigh together? And/or: Relationships Y4 or Y5 This is about using your basic facts knowledge to see relationships between numbers.  Look at both options (Useful Websites) and choose the level that suits you. And/or: Keep working on the games and activities on Studyladder, Prodigy and under Useful Websites that focus on basic facts knowledge.  This will help you to solve any maths problem.

Read or write: Spelling Continue working on your new spelling list using the activities posted last Monday. And/or: Make your own fun story – see (Useful Websites) and add the appropriate words to the list and then use these words to make up a fun story.

Be Creative: Doodle art – *Begin in one spot on the paper and start drawing doodles. Create as many doodles as you like… the only rule is that no doodles should overlap or interfere with any other doodles. *If you wish, you can keep the doodles the same. In other words, draw only geometric shapes (ie squares, triangles, circles etc.) or draw only organic shapes (squiggly “natural” shapes). *When you have filled your paper with doodles, begin coloring in. *You may use solid colour, lines, cross hatching, dots, dashes… whatever you like.

Exercise: Continue working on Silone’s Challenge. And/or: Let’s go for high energy again. Use the Useful Websites links and try PE with Joe

I'm back @ home:)

Hi everyone, I have posted some more suggestions for learning at home.  Everything is to help you move forward and progress.  Thinking creatively is a really important skill, we have seen how many businesses have been creative during Alert Level 3 and now moving into Alert Level 2.  The more you practise any skill (reading, writing or maths) can only help you to improve.  Many of you are creating your own learning opportunities at home as well.  We are always learning:)  Think about how much we now know about effective hygiene actions, PPE and social distancing:)

Term 2 - Week 5 Tuesday 12 May

Maths: Quick Question 273 students from one school were participating in the tryathlon. 189 students from another school were participating. How many students were participating altogether? And/or: Maths puzzle 75 is the Sum Focus - using addition facts knowledge, and recognising some ‘compatible’ numbers for 75.  (These are pairs of numbers that add to 75 exactly (see Useful Websites). And/or: Keep working on the games and activities on Studyladder, Prodigy and under Useful Websites that focus on basic facts knowledge.  This will help you to solve any maths problem.

Read or write: Spelling Continue working on the new spelling list and activities in last Monday's post. And/or: Play a game of online Boggle (Useful Websites)  and see how high you can get your score.  Remember the letters need to be connecting.  Share your scores.  Choose any sized grid. And/or: Visit the Rainbow Poetry Website and click on the My Teacher Doesn’t Get Me poem and resource.  Read the poem and scroll down to answer the questions.  You could share with me or have a discussion with a family member.

Be Creative: Do it yourself marble run – if you have glue/tape, scissors, and a stash of leftover tp and paper towel rolls, you can create your very own DIY Cardboard Marble Run

Exercise: Continue working on Silone’s Challenge. And/or: Jump Jam - Do both The Witch Doctor and Who Let the Dogs Out? and I guarantee you’ll be puffing