Griffin Lawler loves swimming

Griffin went swimming with room 3 today.  He loves being in the water with his big brother Lex, floating, kicking in the water and getting his hair wet.

Thanks room 3 for letting Griffin come swimming with you.

                        


                                     

Sweet Disco moves!!!

For dance rotation this term we learnt how to do these fun disco moves. Have a try!

Writer's group poetry

We LOVE writing! This week we wrote some poems. Read and enjoy our Kennings poems and personification poems.

Winter Family- By Josephine Hunter

Hail throws himself about

up on the roof tiles

his tinkling laugh

is heard for miles 

Shy little snowflake

flutters past the hill

her white little nightie

drags cross a window sill

Frost paints on the window

In ancient winter sighs,

Telling stories of love

That brings tears to your eyes

Wind teaches the trees to dance

The conductor of their song

The choir twirls and sways,

while wind whistles along.

The Crow- By Eric Z

Black features

scarecrow preacher,

Sneaky robber

Fast thinker,

Sleek feathers

Darker than heather,

Loud singer

Bad opera,

Smooth flyer

Sits on wires,

Dark eyes

Convincing lies,

Corn eater

Quick fleeter,

The small bird is the wrath

Who stands in the farmers' path

Annie- By Jennifer

Smart thinker

Cheeks are pinker,

Hair flipper

Juice sipper,

Tap dancer

Sarcastic glancer,

School stroller

Eye roller,

Piano player

Humorous sayer,

Cupcake baker

Laugh maker,

Face palmer

Friend calmer,

Always loved and a true charmer!

Wet lunchtime fun

Euan, Jenna and Ruby spent the wet lunchtime inside room 16 helping each other colouring in their special pictures.  It was great to see them all working together to create an amazing piece of art work.


                                      

Writer's group

Yesterday we had our second Writer's group session. It was so fun! We worked in project groups with each group taking on a writing project. One group is working on a Poetry Anthology and creating imagery poems. Another group is creating graphic novels from story through to end product. The last group are working as intrepid reporters and interviewing student leaders about their leadership responsibilities around the school. They will then be writing an article each fortnight for the school newsletter. How cool!!!
Here's a photo of some of us in action and a taste of some of our latest poems.

The Porcelain doll

By Feifei S

She sits on the stiff wooden shelf alone,

Watching children play through her sad glass eyes

Once her friends, now stroll past her without a glance,

A single tear falls down her face.

She wishes someone would just play with her,

To talk to her, let her know that they care.

She thinks about those precious days,

Suddenly she gets lifted off the shelf,

into the arms of a newborn child.

The Autumn leaf

In autumn: the girl flutters down to the floor,

her feet crunch into the soil

as the wind bully blows her away

she tries to hold on but cannot stay

Her pleadings for help are endless but not unheard,

as a bird scoops her up using her for another purpose

and her smile appears and grows bigger as spring appears.

Basketball Time!

Jenna had a blast learning new basketball skills today with a coach C from the Breakers.

She learnt new dribbling skills, passing and catching which she is going to take home and teach her big brother.

Great job Jenna!

                                     

                                     

Determination!

           

Griffin was determined to climb up the rock climbing wall on the big playground. After a few attempts he managed to get away and climbing.  Great determination Griffin!

                                   

                                                        

New Writing group in the Fast track zone

This afternoon some keen Year 5/6 got together for our first Writer's group session together. We learned about using personification as a poetic device. Personification is the giving of a personal quality or human characteristic to something non-human. Here are two of our first poems:

The Balloon

By Eric Z

I flutter into the big blue sky,

swerving through the powerful winds.

Admiring all the looming clouds,

and putting smiles on happy kids.

Although I look warm and friendly,

Inside I'm young and frail and weak.

Because once I go too high and proudly rise,

I'll fall to the ground and meet my demise.


Lightning
By Zac R

I am angry and vicious because the dark sky is always trying to take over the winter,
I try to burst my light over the land,
So I can share my inner soul.
I am an ancestor of the sun and the blue sky,
I pretend to be the sun and the beautiful blue,
I hope that one day no one will curse me for setting fire to trees and bushes.

The Moon reports

In our literacy groups we are learning to read and write information reports. Here are our first reports about the moon.

The Moon- By Jayanna

The moon is a satellite and we see it at night.

What is the moon? 
The moon is 3,476km wide. It is two times the length of New Zealand and it's four times smaller than the Earth. The moon is never still. It gets it's light from the sun. The moon is a satellite that moves 4 cm away from the Earth.

What the moon does?
The moon makes the tides on Earth. It makes the low tide, high tide and king tides.

Lunar Phases
It takes 28 days to do the phases of the moon. There's a new moon, half moon, full moon and 1st and last quarter moons.

More information
It takes 3 days to get to the moon. It's 385,000 away from the Earth. Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on the moon.


The Moon- By Rouxle
The moon is a satellite. We see the moon at night time. The moon helps make tides on Earth.

The moon is four times smaller than Earth. Only twelve people have been on the moon. Sometimes you can see the moon during the day time.


The moon has no air because their is no wind on the moon. The moon is 385,000 km away from the Earth. Meteorites have hit the moon. It is covered with fine dust that looks like dark flour.


The Moon- By Jake

The moon is a satellite. It pulls the tide in and out.

What is the moon?
The moon turns around the Earth. The moon is 385,000 km away from the Earth. It is 3,476 km wide. This is four times smaller than the Earth.

What does the moon do?
The moon pulls the tides in and out.

Lunar Phases
There is a quarter moon and a half moon and a whole moon. It takes 28 days for the moon to travel around the Earth.


Other information
It takes 3 days to travel to the moon in a space rocket. Meteorites have made craters on the moon. The first man to walk on the moon was Neil Armstrong.

The Moon- By Zoe K

The moon is a satellite that goes around the Earth. 

It takes 3 days to get to the moon. The moon is twice the size of New Zealand. 

What does the moon do? The moon brings the tide in and out. There can be a full moon and a half moon.

Life Skills - Sharing and turn taking

Griffin, Henry and Josh were playing happily together, sharing blocks and taking turns with the trains and the Lego.

Great sharing and learning.

Pirate Invasion

Room 16 was invaded by a couple of pirate scallywags.  They held poor Mrs Shore prisoner and tied her up by her hands and feet.  They refused to cut her loose and thought that she couldn't escape. Unbeknown to them Mrs Shore was an expert escaper and she managed to break free. Room 16 is full of fun and antics!

Soccer Skills Time

Jenna had a blast when the football lads came into the school.  She loved running around, dribbling the ball and doing the drills.

Great work Jenna

                                                            

Sing Star Fun

Super star in the making.  Jenna had a blast belting out a few tunes on the sing star game.  She had loads of fun and lots of laughs.

             

Cross Country Fun

Jenna had an amazing morning running the cross country course with her Dad.  Great job Jenna!

Cross Country

Griffin had an amazing day, running the cross country and then supporting the other children who were running after him.  Great work Griffin.  A huge thanks must go to Mr Benbow for running with Griffin and Henry.

                              

Griffin's Animal Book

Griffin has had great fun on the i pad writing crazy, creative stories. As you can see, these are not your ordinary animals. It is a selection of crazy, animation and creative licence.

 Great work Griffin!

Cat reports

This week we have written reports about cats in the Fast Track Zone. Our success criteria was to:

• include a general statement/introduction
• organise our ideas into paragraphs
• use facts and scientific language 
• complete our reports with a summary statement/conclusion

See if you can spot these features in these reports.

Cat report: By Thomas Z
Cats  are mammals. Some are pests and predators. Their are different types of cats. Cats hunt insects and birds and mice. They have sharp claws that help them to climb trees so dogs can't catch them. Sometimes cats hurt people with their claws. Cats spray their urine on things. That means that it's their territory. If another cat comes in then they will fight!

Cats: By Kaitlin V

Cats are mammals and are classified as felines. They can also be pests. This report will tell you about types of cats, how cats can be pests, controlling cats and ancient cats.

Types of cats

There are 1.5 million cats in New Zealand. Feral cats are wild cats. Companion cats are cats that are your pets and live in your house. In Auckland there are 200 stray cat colonies.

Pests

Cats can be pests. They scratch when you play with them. Cats hunt NZ birds. Cats also bing insects, rats and mice into your home. Gareth Morgan thinks that we should get rid of cats.

Controlling cats

Some people want to have cat laws. Some ways to control cats are: you can keep cats inside or have cats neutered. Also to put bells on their collars so that birds hear them coming. And one more thing, you must make sure they are well fed.

Ancient Cats

Cats have been tamed for 4000 years. Ancient Egyptians worshipped them. They were also mummified. They also a cat god called Bastet.

This report has told you about how people need to control them, how cats can be pests, types of cats and ancient cats. What do you think- should cats stay or go?

Cat report- By Finn R
Cats are mammals and are very fast. 
They have sharp claws. Cats can be pests because they catch native birds and rats. There are lots of different kinds of cats. Some cats are very fat. What do you think about cats?

Cats- pest or pet? By Leon S

Cats are common house mammals. There are 1.5 million cats in New Zealand. This report will tell you about kinds of cats, controlling cats, cats as pests and ancient cats that lived in Egypt.

There are lots of species of cat, but there are three kinds. They are feral cats, companion cats and stray cats. Stray cats are when they are lost or they have run away or their owners have moved house. Companion cats are house cats. They are very friendly to  you and will stay with you. Feral cats are dangerous. They get really angry and can attack.
Cats can be pests because they kill native birds. If they go there will be no more. They also sometimes bring rats, mice and birds inside their houses. This is really scary and gross.

Some people want laws made about controlling cat populations. They suggest that people keep their cats inside their houses. They also say that bells should be attached to a cat's collar.

Ancient cats and cats that lived in Egypt. When cats died they would mummify them. The ancient Egyptians worshipped cats like they were gods. There was a cat goddess in ancient Egypt.

In conclusion, cats can be friendly but sometimes they get aggressive. Get a home cat, but look after your cats so they won't bite you. I hope you enjoy your cat. 

Cats: By Matthew

Cats are mammals and classified as felines. Lots of people have cats as pets. Cats are domesticated. Cats can be big like a lion or small like a pet. Cats can see in the dark and they are good hunters. They hunt native birds and be a pest. Cats sometimes scratch and bite. They are also good climbers. Cats also purr. They can have long hair or short hair. Some of them are wild. What do you know about cats?

Open day in the Fast Track Zone

It was Open Day today. Lots of our parents came to join in with our learning. It was great to share our reading, writing and maths sessions with them. We hope they enjoyed it!! Here are some photos from the day.

Report writing in the Fast track Zone!

This term the literacy groups are learning how to write reports. We have been reading reports and highlighting the key words and topic sentences. Then we have learnt that a report needs to have a introduction (opening statement- for year 3-4s and definition and outline for years 5-6s).
After an introduction the report needs factual information about a topic, this may be paragraphed under headings. So far we've read or written reports about: the sun, mammals (including walurses, dolphins, kangaroos and elephants) and most recently- sleep. 
Here's a couple of our reports about sleep.

Sleep: By Zack P

Sleep is a state of the body and mind when we rest. We can talk when we sleep. We also can walk when we sleep. Children sleep for 10-12 hours at night. Most people forget their dreams. Dreams take 20 minutes. We sleep to get lots of energy. What do you dream about when you sleep?

Sleep: By Nevaeh D

Sleep is a condition where the body rests. It happens every night. This report will tell you about what we do when we sleep, dreams and the purpose of sleep.

What we do when we are asleep?

It may seem strange but some people do stuff in their sleep like kicking, sleep walking, talking and even sucking their thumbs. Everyone does something while they're asleep- their bodies changes. Our saliva stops flowing, our breathing slows down and our heart beat slows down too.

Dreams

You can have 8-9 dreams every night. People dream happy dreams, scary dreams and strange dreams. Dreams prove that your brain is working.

Did you know you breathe slower when you sleep, and if you don't sleep it affects your emotions your emotions. How long do you sleep for? Can you remember your dreams?

Sleep: By Nash B

Sleep is a thing that you do to rest during the night. This report will tell you about dreams, what we do when we're asleep, the purpose of sleep and how we sleep.

Dreams

Every time you sleep you have dreams. Some people can have 8-9 dreams each night. You can have scary dreams that are called nightmares. You can only remember your latest dream when you wake up from your dream. 

The purpose of sleep

Sleep can create energy in our bodies and minds for the next day. Sleep can even help you grow. It can help your brain grow as well. It can help your brain grow as well.

What do we do when we sleep?
There are a lot of things we do when we sleep. We sleep walk, we suck thumbs, talk, breathe slowly, we bang our heads on our pillow, and we even pedal our legs like we are riding a bike. Our bodies cool down while we sleep and our breathing slows down too.

How long do we sleep?
Adults, babies and kids have a limited time to sleep. Adults sleep for 7-8 hours, babies sleep for 16 hours and kids sleep for 10-12 hours each night.

What did you dream about last night? I bet you don't remember!

Rockets in the fast track zone.

Maths learning in the FTZ is really fun. We always start with a game. Today's games was Rockets. In this game Mrs. Milllett rolls 2 or 3 dice and we have to rearrange the digits into a 2 or 3 digit number and then put that onto a rocket board. 

The aim of the game is to fill all the spaces on our rocket boards. The catch is that the numbers must be in numerical order from smallest (at the bottom) to largest (at the top).