Using our Prior Knowledge

This week we have been learning about using our prior knowledge to help us with our reading. Using the information that we already know helps us to understand new information in our reading books. Today, before we began reading ‘A quilt for Kiri’, we looked at the cover and some of the pictures. Then we recorded all our thoughts and ideas: “what we already knew” onto a chart. Using prior knowledge made the book easier and more interesting to read.
Tasi, Rachana, Line and Ahsan

What is Change? What Makes Things Change?

Our topic this term is "Sharing our Stories" and learning how these stories have changed over time. 

As part of this topic, we are learning all about change. We will be learning what is change, and what makes things change. We are beginning by observing some very simple science experiments that show how things change.

 (Thanks to Mrs Douglas from Room 4 for sharing her experiment information with us).

Swirling Whirling Milk Patterns

For this experiment you will need

Whole milk at room temperature

Food colouring

Dish wash Detergent 

A shallow dish

We poured some whole milk into a shallow dish

Next we added a few drops of food colouring into the milk

Then we added in a drop of dish wash detergent

What Happened!

The fat in the milk is broken down by the detergent. This caused the food colouring to swirl and whirl and make amazing patterns. It was like looking through a kaleidoscope. 

Wow!

Compound Words

Rachana, Tasi and Line have been 

learning all about compound words. 
They have to match the two word 
cards to make up a compound word. Once they have done this they then have to make up sentences using the words. Big ups to Cherry Carl for her wonderful resources. Check out her resources on the link above. 

Water, water everywhere...

As part of our topic study on 'Sustainability', we have been learning about the Water Cycle. We looked at some National Geographic Readers on Water as well as some great information that we found on the Internet. A favourite of all the children was the Water Cycle Song. They especially liked the catchy tune and even made up their own actions.

Today they worked together to put water cycle pictures and words into the right order. Great work team!

Good Bye Caroline - We're going to miss you

Today the ESOL team said farewell to our wonderful year 5 student Caroline, who is moving to Auckland with her family. 

Caroline started at Addington in year 1 and has been an active member of our ESOL group, as well as a founding member of the Addington Green Team. 

When interviewed for the blog, Caroline, who loves to read and grow vegetables said she will miss her Esol friends, the library, the Green team, Ms Loveridge and Ms Mac.

Caroline always role modeled the Addington Attitude and she will be sorely missed by children and staff alike. Her Auckland school is very lucky to have such a outstanding young lady join them, and we wish her all the very best for the future.

Water

 This week we have been learning all about water. First read a book about water and learnt that water can be liquid, solid or gas. This book helped us understand all about water by showing us pictures of water in these three different forms.

Then we sorted some pictures of water in different states to show that we had remembered what we had learnt.

World Refugee Day Christchurch 20 June 2010

World Refugee Day is an opportunity to reflect and acknowledge the courage, resilience and strength of refugees. Global attention is focused not only on the plight of refugees and causes of their exile but also on their determination and the contribution they make to their host communities.

The global theme for World Refugee Day in 2010 is “Home.” 

See the poster above for Christchurch Celebrations.

For more information go to

http://www.refugeeservices.org.nz/home

Tongan Colours

Amanda has finished her wonderful Tongan Poster. Great work Amanda.

Samoan Language Week: Teaching the Teachers

Tasi and Line check out the teachers' Samoan Workbook

The Samoan children have had a busy week, teaching the teachers at our school some Samoan words and phrases. We think that these children are all wonderful teachers and thank them for the enthusiasm they have put into this task. Well done Faalagi, Fili, Peiai, Miracle, Venus, Izaia, Dupri, Jeremy, Utu, Tasi and Line. We are all very proud of you.

Miracle, Tasi and Line help Mrs Barr learn her Samoan numbers

Samoan Language Week 2010

We began our Samoan Language Week by taking some beautiful posters that we made in our ‘First language Group” to our junior classrooms so that the children can learn some Samoan words. We made them on the computer using KidPix.

Trees are Treasures

We Love Trees

We have been learning all about trees.