Matarki Celebrations

To celebrate Matariki, Cockle Bay had a special assembly.  Parents got a special invite and were also invited to visit our classrooms afterwards.  In Room 18, we have been reading the book, 'Matariki' and learning about the kinds of things people traditionally did to celebrate the Maori New Year.

We decided to make telescopes in Room 18 so that we could see the constellation, the Seven Sisters, whenever we looked through them.  It was good having adults to help us.  In the afternoon, we followed instructions on a video to make a kite, another traditional past time at Matariki.

All our parent visitors and students (except Lincoln's Dad who was here earlier).

When the telescopes were finished, we took them outside to look at the 'Seven Sisters'.

In the afternoon, we made bird kites.

Then, of course, we had to test them out on the field.

Here is a video of our second test run.

Reading contract - Magnet Boy

The Lions read the book, 'Magnet Boy'.  To finish their reading contract, they experimented with  magnetism in the classroom.  They collected a wide array of objects, and then investigated to see which ones were attracted to magnets.  They recorded their findings in a Tchart in their literacy book.

Reading contract - Making a Caterpillar

The Tigers read the book, 'Making a Caterpillar'.  To finish their reading contract, they followed the steps in the book to recycle old egg cartons and egg shells to make a caterpillar to grow bean seeds.

Reading contract - Junior Journal 46 - The Gulls of Sulphur Bay

In Junior Journal 46, the Giraffes have been reading about gulls that live in the warm waters of Sulphur Bay near Rotorua.   To finish their reading contract,  they had a go at making a bird's nest - it was interesting to find how difficult it was - and we can use two hands, not just a beak!

Wig Wednesday

Cockle Bay had a mufti day to raise money for Child Cancer - it was called Wig Wednesday.  Everyone could come to school in mufti and wear a wig!

Here are Room 18's Wacky Wednesday Wig People.

Planting in our Gardens

Among other things, Matariki is a time to plant.  We have been planting beetroot and spinach seedlings in the veggie garden, and daffodil bulbs in the Room 18 garden.

Making Tens

Using numbers to solve problems, instead of counting each number one-by-one, is an important part of moving from Stage 4 to Stage 5 in Maths.  The Jet Streams had some awesome towers to show all the different pairs to ten.  We can use these facts to solve simple problems like 6 + ... = 10, but also much more difficult problems like 152 + 48, using the same basic facts.

Cockle Bay Cross Country

Every year, Cockle Bay has a Cross Country at Howick College.  This year, the day was fine, but the ground was muddy.  Everyone managed to finish the race in good time though, even though the ground was squishy underfoot.  It was a long, arduous cross country course, so the best part for most people was the Finish Line!