Trees are Treasures

We Love Trees

We have been learning all about trees. 

'Go Fish' Tongan Style

 At our First Language Group on Friday, the children used some of our 'Tongan Colour Cards’ to play a game of ‘Go Fish’. This is a great way for them to practise all the colour words that they have learnt. We now need to make some cards for all the other languages that our wonderful children can speak.

A Trees Life

This week in our ESOL Groups we have been looking at the life cycles of trees.

First, we read the book’ A Trees Life” together and then went for a walk around the playground to look at the big and little trees. We also looked at different types of seeds and how plants disperse their seeds: either by wind, water and animals.

Now we know all about a tree’s life cycle and can put all the words and pictures in the right order.

How to Draw a Tree

Mrs Barr has been teaching the Room 3 children about procedural writing. They had to write some instructions for drawing a picture using Kid Pix. Once they had finished writing their instructions they had to try them out on their classmates. Fili wrote some instructions for drawing a tree, which he tried out on Mrs Mac. Great instructions Fili.

Seeds!

We have been collecting and looking at seeds. There are so many different kinds: big, small, colourful, prickly, shiny, soft, hard, long, tiny, rough and spiky. We found flower seed, vegetable seeds and tree seeds.

We especially liked the seeds that could fly through the air like helicopters. We had fun throwing them up in the air and watching them spin to the ground.

Samoan Language Week 2010

Take part in Samoan Language Week from 30 May to 5 June. The 2010 theme is O le Tātou gagana Sāmoa I Niu Sila – Our Samoan language in New Zealand. The aims of Samoan language week this year is to promote learning, raise awareness, and promote initiatives.http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/racerelations/samoanlanguageweek/samoanlanguagewee k2010.php 
10-05-2010

How to make a Bird

The children in Room 7 have been learning about Procedural Writing. First they read the PM Reader ‘Making a Bird’, then they each followed the instructions and made their own bird. The next day they worked in their writing groups and wrote some simple instructions to show how they had made their birds.

The ESOL children learnt the verbs: colour, cut, fold and paste and the nouns: wing, body beak and eye.

They were all very proud of the wonderful birds they made. 

Colours from Around the World

Amanda is putting some finishing touches to her Tongan Poster. 

Amanda's work

In our First Language Group this term we have been learning about colours. The children have been busy making posters for their classrooms showing the colours in their home language.

We are so lucky to have so many wonderful bilingual children at our school.

Faalagi, Peiai and Venus know all their colours in both Samoan and English

Games, Games and more Games !

The Children have been trying out some of our wonderful new language games.

Tasi and Rachana are playing  ‘Tummy Ache’. The aim of the game is to put together a meal that is safe to eat. You have to watch out though as there are yucky cards that will give you a ‘Tummy Ache’.

Michael and Faalagi are learning lots of great new words in this vocabulary game. It is their favourite game.

Sofi, Niumalee and Vincent are trying go out our new ‘Sounds Like' bingo game. They are learning lots of new rhyming words.

Earth Day and our Term 2 Topic

On Earth Day we went for a walk in the playground to find some of our school’s treasures.

Kabir and Sofilisi check out our protected very special Magnolia Tree. It is over 100 years old.

Venus and Peiai found millions of wonderful golden leaves.

"You used to be as small as this acorn," Kabir tells the big tree.

A huge hug for our 'Special' school logo tree.

Marla found lots of acorn treasures. 

This term our whole school focus is Sustainability. Our topic title is “Putting our Future on the Line." The purpose of the unit is for students to know what we need to survive and live, as everything we do impacts on others, our environment and ourselves.  Children will develop an inquiring mind towards the things they treasure most in life.

Race Relations Day

Pauline tossing the caber.

Pauline and Amanda all dressed up.

Last Monday we celebrated Race Relations day with an afternoon of games and activities. Children were invited to wear clothes from their country of origin, and participated in games from around the world. It was wonderful to see those children in their Samoan and Tongan dress tossing the caber! Spider soccer and marbles (originally from Turkey) were some of the many activities children got to try. It was a fun afternoon and a great way to celebrate us all.