Discovery Time and the Key Competencies through AROHA

This week we are having some time working in "Discovery Stations" in the afternoons.

We are learning to develop the New Zealand Curriculum's 'Key Competencies'. These are life skills such as 'Managing Self', 'Thinking', 'Relating to Others' and 'Participating and Contributing'.

We have 6 stations through which we can develop these skills:

1) Minecraft on the i-pads
2) Maths games on the computers
3) Construction Table
4) Music Table
5) Block Construction
6) Technology and Mechanics Table

Here are some pic's from the first session today!!

Maison thinking hard in a maths game

Gordy, Charlie and Zara participating and contributing to group success.

Jaylah, Rakaia, Trey and Ryder are relating to each other by following each others ideas

Te Whakaturoa is thinking about how to create an Angry Birds character

Room 16's Animations

This week we have been VERY busy!!

As you may know the kids have been studying just one text in detail this week. Learning about the characters, the setting of the story, the plot and finally planning to TRANSFORM this into an animated movie.

As you can imagine, this is a very deep and challenging task, with a lot of learning opportunities and unforeseen problems to overcome. But I am really glad that every group managed to complete their animations and did a great job!!

Well done kids, you ALL should be very proud of your hard work!!

Monster's Vest

By Maison, Harley, Elias and Trey.

The Lion and the Mouse

By Rakaia, Ryder, Shaniza and Jaylah

A Lucky Day for Little Dinosaur

By Charlie, Jesse, TeWhakaturoa, Matthew and Amelia

Little Red Riding Hood

By Gordy, Levi, Ali and Shelby

Jack and the Beanstalk

By Zara, Amorangi and Alahzay

Our 'CONFLICT' Presentations.

On Friday we finished our conflict inquiry relating to the insect world.

Here is our conflict wall now!!

Well done kids, it looks great

Next are the video's of the presentations. Sorry about the sound quality!!

Great work Ryder, Elias and Maison!!

Well done Rakaia and Shelby!!

Super inquiry Zara, Jaylah, Alahzay, Gordy and Wiremu!!

Really interesting work TeWhakaturoa, Levi, Ali and Amorangi.

...and this concludes our inquiry into conflict in the insect world. We will take some time to reflect on this section before setting off on another look at conflict through the Literacy and Science.

Starting our CONFLICT Inquiry

Today we started the 'Inquiry Process' with our conflict topic. 

This process has four steps, 1) form a question  2) find resources  3) interpret the information you find and 4) present your findings. The focus is on the SKILLS the students will use, rather than on the facts they will find out. 

We formed groups and made some questions, tomorrow we will narrow these down to just one question per group to investigate. 

By the way we saw more action with our Praying Mantis' this afternoon. I'm afraid we only have one left now..the others have been devoured by the 'mummy'. It was great to watch though!!!

Quality "wordwork" in our Literacy Time

Today we had two proud boys complete the word rhyme wheels. Perhaps the first in class to do so!?

Well done Ali and Ryder.

"learning to hear, say, read and write rhyme are a vital literacy skill"

Praying Mantis Vs. Weta

Today we observed and discussed the NZ Weta. Many of us had never seen one up close before. It led to some interesting discussion and many questions.

Can you spot the weta in the picture below??

We also wondered who would 'win' in a conflict between the weta and our big praying mantis. We were so interested we even took a vote on it!!

I wonder who will be right? What do you think will happen in the insect farm tomorrow!!!???

P.S. if you are wondering... below is how large a giant weta is:

Conflict in Nature

This term we are inquiring into 'Conflict' as a topic.

Of course this relates to war and ANZAC Day at the moment, and we are looking at this in class this week.

BUT, the kids have also been captivated by the insect farm I have started this term. We have some Praying Mantis, Spiders, Fruit Flies, beetles and a Weta in the insect farm.

Today was very exciting as we saw some live CONFLICT in the insect farm!! The large female praying mantis was eating the small male.

We all looked in wonder!! Wow, what a creepy but amazing thing to see.

See the video's below and look closely, like a scientist. (PG rating!!!)