Dr Seuss Characters

As part of our learning about forces and movement we have been exploring different levers. This week, we made Dr Seuss characters. We used our knowledge about levers to make moving parts using split pins.

We know that the split pin acts as the lever and we use a push or pull force to make the part on the Dr Seuss character move.

It was a pretty big challenge. First, we had to plan our creations - we had to sketch all of the body parts like puzzle pieces onto a big sheet of card. We made a few mistakes but that's ok because we know that making mistakes is how we learn. It was pretty tricky get the size of the parts right so they would all fit together. Then, we had to colour and cut (very carefully) all the puzzle pieces. Lastly, we joined the pieces together with split pins.

Check out the amazing creations...

PRIDE Recipient

This weeks PRIDE recipient is Harlem. Harlem you are a wonderful model of Parkvale PRIDE.

Harlem got his award for always doing his personal best in all his learning. The enthusiasm he shows for learning is infectious ! Tino pai a Harlem.

Busy Mathematicians

In maths we are learning about statistics and subtraction. In statistics we are learning to gather, display, read and talk about data.

We know data is information.

The Fraction Frogs had a question - What coloured pencil do we have the least of? This is a good question because sometimes we have a problem in class when lots of children want to use the same colour and we don't have enough. Fraction Frogs gathered data. Next week we will read the data and find the answer to our question. I wonder what colour it is?

In our learning about subtraction we know that there are lots of different words for the - sign

• subtract
• take aways
• minus

We are learning to use the counting back strategy to solve subtraction problems. We have to remember not to count the biggest number so we use our fingers to track how many we are taking away. Practising our counting back in 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s helps us with our subtraction.

Thinking Creatively

We are learning to think creatively. Each week we have a focus shape - we have to think creatively, draw an illustration that includes the shape and write a sentence that gives some detail about the illustration.

Check out the great work by Hannah

Karate Super Stars

Harlem and his older brother, William, attended a karate tournament on the weekend. They have been working very hard for many weeks training for the tournament and all their hard work and determination payed off with both boys coming home with lots of awards.

Harlem came 1st in the 6-7year old individual Kata.

William came 2nd (twice) for the 9year old Junior Weapons and Kata.

We learnt that

• gee is the white uniform the boys wear at karate
• kata means a pattern of karate moves
• kaia is the loud sound William and Harlem make when they are doing their kata. Kaia is a release of energy because they are working so hard on controlling their moves.

Congratulations Harlem and William

Picture Graphs

We are learning to collect and display data. We know data is information and we can display it in lots of different ways. Today, the Maths Magicians created picture graphs to show healthy brain food choices for Room 14 children.

Can you read the data in the graph to find out which brainfood we have the most of? And, the least of?

Rakau with Room 11

This week we spent some time learning with our buddy class. They shared their knowledge about rakau (Maori sticks) with us. We explored how we can move the sticks working in pairs and small groups. Then, we made up our own patterns and shared them with everyone.

Even though it was pretty scary getting up in front of everyone we showed perseverance and determination! We are proud of our learning and most of all we had so much fun - we can't wait to get together with our buddy class again and practice our rakau patterns to waiata (Maori song).

Thank you Room 11 for an awesome learning experience.

Marble Art

Today we created some texture art using paint, a marble, a fulcrum and lever and some arm force.

We used a plastic cone for the fulcrum and a grey plastic tote tray for the lever. It was heaps and heaps of fun creating some marble art.

Writing Persuasively

WALT write persuasively. We know that persuade means to try and make someone agree with you.

We know that persuasive writing

·       Tries to make people feel the same way you do about the topic

·       Tells your opinion (I think…)

·       Has a topic sentence that states your opinion

·       Gives facts and examples to support your opinion                                                                               (My first reason is …..)

·       Has a conclusion that restates your opinion (You will….)

In maths we asked a question, ‘What is our favourite pet in Room 14?’  We made graphs to display the data. We decided to write about the pets we really want too. Check out what these clever authors wrote:

Author Hannah wrote:

Guinea pigs make great pets because they are like little lawnmowers. Second, you can throw food scraps into their run and they will nibble it all up and you will have less rubbish to put at the gate. Third, you don’t need to spend much money to buy some food for them because they only eat pellets from the supermarket and food scraps. Lastly, they are easy to move around when they have nibbled their grass up because they are only small. I think you would LOVE a great guinea pig.

Author Zack wrote:

Puppies make great pets and here are some reasons why. First, puppies have soft, fluffy, cuddly fur. Second, they are so easy to train, sometimes. Third, it will annoy Max, haha. If you buy me a puppy Mum I will start sleeping in my own bed and it will help me go to sleep easier. I promise.

Author Jack wrote:

A puppy is the best pet to have. If you get me a puppy I will do the washing for a year. Puppies can keep you safe because they can catch robbers. I will take my puppy for a walk. Second, they can snuggle with you in bed. They are easy to train. Lastly, I would teach my mummy to look into a beagles eyes so we could take it home. You would like a puppy too.

Catapult levers

Today, we made and tested a simple catapult lever. Just like scientists we drew diagrams to show how the catapult works then we tested the catapult and made changes. Our challenge was to get the tinfoil ball into the plastic cup using the catapult. It was pretty tricky but we worked together showing perseverance and determination.

Harlem's Diagram

PRIDE Recipient

This week, Caitlin was Room 14's PRIDE recipient. 

Caitlin got the PRIDE award for showing commitment and determination in becoming a confident and capable mathematician. Tino pai a Caitlin

Exploring Levers

We are learning about levers as part of our unit on Forces and Movement.

We know that levers pivot or move on a fulcrum. The fulcrum is the part that the lever balances on to move up and down.

Today, we went into the sandpit and made levers with blocks of wood. We had to use the lever to lift up an ice cream container filled with sand. Underneath each ice cream container was a secret word. We had to use the lever to lift it high enough to read the secret word underneath.

We discovered that one block for the fulcrum wasn't enough to make the lever move up and down enough so we added more blocks. We also discovered that putting the ice cream container on different parts of the lever changed how easy or hard it was to lift up.

Our challenge was to get all of the words to see what the secret message said - we got some of the words. Keep checking the blog for our next post on levers to see what message we discover the next time we visit the sandpit!

Estimating in Maths

Today, the Number Ninjas were making predictions about how many cubes fit inside a given area.

We know that clever mathematicians make good estimations or predictions by using what they already know about numbers and size. After making a prediction the Number Ninjas checked their predictions by counting the cubes.

Check out the great work by Ethan, Janice and Whetu