Matariki

LI: Identify Matariki as the Māori New Year and explain its cultural importance.

LI: Explain how the rising of Matariki signaled a time of celebration, reflection, and preparation.
LI: Create a piece of work that expresses their understanding of the significance of the Matariki stars.

Our Challenge was to research about different topics all connecting to Matariki.  To explore Matariki we worked collaboratively to complete a series of challenges picking one from each slide to research about.

E Mahara Ana, E Marama Ana, E Hangai Ana, E Tatari and E Aro take Ana.

Something I learnt was that Matariki disappears because of light of the sun shining bright as the earth rotates around the sun. It reappears in the morning sky in June or early July, just before sunrise.

My favourite challenge was Birds and Matariki because it was the amusement to draw the 3 birds connecting to Matariki.

Impact of Volcanoes

LI: To discuss the impact of volcanoes on the environment and human communities.

Our challenge was to research the impact of a specific volcanic eruption in Aotearoa. We had the choose bewtween Mt Tarawera or Whakaari.

We found out that Whakaari or white island is a stratovolcano or a composite cone volcano.  Located in in the Bay of Plenty, off to the coast of the North Island of New Zealand by 30 miles.  Whakaari last erupted in December 9th, 2019 this eruption was very fatal as many lives were taken and many people injured.  Whakaari is known to be on of the most active volcano in New Zealand meaning it can erupt again anytime in the future.

I found this task very  fun because I got to learn about other volcanoes.

Volcanoes

LI: To use our smart searching skills to find relevant information

In our reading session, we explored losts about volcanoes.  We needed to create a Google Vid explaining about the 4 different volcanoes there was (Shield,Cinder,Composite,Dome volcanoes).  We’ve had researched about each one puting all the information we collected onto each slides.  We also needed to record our selves reading the information then placing it in the Google Vid.

Overall the task was very joyful.

 

Tragedy at Tangiwai

LI: To Identify the author’s purpose

In our reading session, we explored the Tangiwai disaster. We watched a video that detailed the Tangiwai railway bridge tragedy and took notes on vocabulary (words we didn’t know) and questions we had.

Key Learnings
We discovered the differences between open and closed questions:

Open questions invite more detailed responses.

Closed questions typically require a simple yes or no answer.

For our assignment, we read through the story and responded to the questions using our own words in a comment tool to express our opinions and ideas.

Group 2 created a Google video where we took turns sharing six facts about the historical tragedy. We utilized our research skills to succinctly explain what happened, using our own phrasing. For example: “The disaster occurred on Christmas Eve, with many passengers traveling home to be with their families, which heightened the tragedy of the event.”

I really enjoyed this task.

Diary World War 1

LI: To retell an event in history through the fictional eyes of someone who was there

 

We have been looking at the events taking place at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915, during WW1. We seen videos of  how life in the trenches in the perspective of a ANZAC soldier, explored many things about the soldiers in WW1 using ANZACs site we also had read Hami Grace’s diary giving us a understanding of what was needed to be written.  Using what we researched and learnt we put our own diary entries together.

We used Google Vids to record our diary entries. I enjoyed using this as it allowed me to make everything within a small amount of time due to how simple it was to use.

Something I found interesting about this task was that the diaries of the ANZAC soldiers were very engaging to read.

Time Traveller’s Podcast ft Samuel Marsden

For Literacy we have been using our Inquiry knowledge to help us write questions that we might have asked Reverend Samuel Marsden had we had the chance to meet him and talk to him. This was a fun activity because we took on the roles of Samuel Marsden and the Time Traveller’s Podcast team. It was like we experienced actually meeting him.

We learned that when you are recording a podcast expression is everything! It makes what we have to say more engaging.

Camp Maths

LI: Learn how to manage money

In our camp activity groups we were given a budget of $2,000 to feed and hydrate everyone. We chose a menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for morning tea and deserts.

We used our smart searching skills to find the best price for the food we wanted. The maths strategies we used were multiplication. working in groups helps me understand because it gives a better understanding from each other and it helps us get a small idea created into a bigger idea.   Something I enjoyed was working together in my group because we collaborated and got to know each other more better while we were at camp.

 

Mapping the Migratory Flight of the Kuaka

LI: To use Google My Maps to show the migratory flight path of the Kuaka.

For this activity we needed to create a map that shows how long the kuaka birds fly for and where the kuaka birds migrate to.
Kuaka birds, also known as bar-tailed godwits, love to hang out near the water, especially in places like estuaries, mudflats, beaches, and coastal marshes, where they find lots of yummy food.

Every year, as winter approaches, the Kuaka fly north to the breeding grounds of Alaska, stopping off in Korea and Japan for a rest and some food on the way. On the return journey, as our summer approaches, they fly to New Zealand, a trip with no food, water, or rest for about 12,000 km non-stop.

  • Did you know that the Kuaka bird holds the world record for the longest flight?

 

The Kuaka

LI: To create an infographic that tells others about the migration of the kuaka

During reading, Group 2 had created an Infographic about the Kuaka bird. Did you know the scientific name for the Kuaka bird is Limosa lapponica. In our infographic, we included their habitat, diet and appearance. 

Something interesting I found out about the Kuaka was that these birds are known for there long flight from Alaska to New Zealand all down within 8-9 days.

Dot to Dot Connections: The Kuaka

LI: To draw the lines between the words to show how the connections you have made.

For this activity, we created a DLO showing our Dot to Dot Connections of the Kuaka Bird, First we used the scribble tool to connect each word and write down information that is related to the text.

As a group we worked together and combine our prior knowledge and put everything we know about the kuaka bird down, we also needed to highlight the information written on the first day yellow and the updated information another colour which we coloured cyan.

Something our group found interesting was that these birds hold the world record for the longest flight.