Antarctica

We gathered questions on the topic for our wonder wall. This was an interesting beginning to help with our research. We soon found other areas of interest including where Antarctica was as part of Gondwanaland and how it once would have been covered with plants and animal life. That is why people might want to extract fossil fuels from Antarctica in the future. We discussed the outcomes both positive and negative from using Antarctic resources. We also studied about explorers Roald Amundsen and Captain Scott.

Big Question- How has technology changed from the past to the present for explorers of Antarctica?

                                                                                                                                      

  Here are some examples of our mode of transport based on Room 5 children's technology design plan. 

 

Our Character Day

On Wednesday 4th September Oakura School had a Character Day and school display. The idea, by head pupil Oscar, was to also bring a can of food for the New Plymouth food bank. We were to come to school dressed up as your favourite cartoon, TV or book character. Didn't we do well? Thanks Oscar and all those others who helped. 

Whaea Hera and Matua Hone

Whaea Hera and Matua Hone are fantastic tutors because they teach us songs and games. They help us to learn te reo. It is a pleasure to go to the Pohutukawa Centre every Wednesday for kapa haka. THANKS Whaea Hera  Matua Hone. 



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We love kapa haka every Thursday.

Fitness circuits

Room 5’s training is in progress now for the cross country races this term. We are focusing on running and keeping a record of the distance that we run daily and also a total for each week. Our class does fitness every day, but this term we are concentrating on cardio-vascular (heart and blood vessels) fitness and upper body strength. Our goal is to run and finish the race. At the cross country races some of us will to try to win and others just to finish their race. HAVE A LOOK AT OUR PHOTOS BELOW.

Fitness Circuits

Stained Glass Effect Art

We want to share our colourful art before we take it home. It was fun making it and it looks amazing and cool. Thank you for looking.

Oakura School KORU LANDING opening

Wow! We are so excited and thankful for a new fun area at Oakura School. The opening was a special time to share with our school of over 300 children, teachers and those who planned, built and help raise the money. All of the features of the area were from ideas gathered from class meetings from all of our 13 classes. The class councillors then reported back to Miss Hepworth. Finally the Koru Landing unfolded over the last year.  

EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Room 5 children were learning about our local environment with an informative walk from a world award winning, the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge to the Aquatic Centre. This journey allowed us to include the Waiwakaiho River, Coastal Walkway, Windwand and Puke Ariki Landing. There was a lot of wildlife to be seen including the rare sighting of a Spoonbill resting on a rock following its long flight from Australia. What a wonderful way to learn we all agreed.

  

Room 5 Risk Takers.

Room 5's Interesting Visitor.

Praying Mantids

These insects get their name because they have very long front legs that they hold in a position that reminds people of praying. There are about 1,800 species of praying mantids around the world.

Praying mantids are carnivores, eating mainly insects and other small animals. Many gardeners and farmers welcome mantids, because the insects they eat are often pests that hurt crops. In addition to insects such as crickets and grasshoppers, mantids eat spiders, frogs, lizards, and even small birds.

Praying mantids have long necks topped by a triangular head. They can turn their heads 180 degrees—an entire half circle—which, along with exceptional eyesight, helps them spot prey. They're well-camouflaged, adapting colours that help them blend with the plants they live near. Some also have amazing body shapes that make them look like leaves or branches.

To hunt, mantids either sit and wait for an insect to pass by, or they stalk them. They're nearly invisible when they sit still, looking like part of a leaf or stem. When they are close enough, they strike so quickly—about one-twentieth of a second—you probably couldn't even see it happen. It's just a blur.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/praying-mantid/

Pukeiti EOTC Visit- a rain forest garden.

The Giant Rata tree is over 800 years old and may have started growing before mammals arrived in New Zealand. It grew near the top of a tree and sent roots down to the ground. After a long time it killed the host tree. It is very tall. Our class were able to fit inside the hollow rata tree. The tree’s cave is from where the dead tree had rotted away. There was a big opening and a small escape opening at the back.

We observed all the bugs that had fallen into the traps. The traps were buckets in the ground almost covered except for a small opening. The top of the bucket was at ground level.

Lots of Rimu trees were cut down and dragged away in the early pioneer days. The children had to work hard too and often didn’t go to school. The settlers lived in large, heavy, canvas tents.

We identified plants and creatures at Pukeiti  from charts they provided. Everyone potted up a native tree seedling to take home and replant.

 We learnt a fact about one sort grasshopper that can jump 4.7metres from a standing start. We all tried to beat that jump, but the best Room 5 pupil could only jump 1.25metres.