A few terms ago the big trees at the front of our school had to be cut down to make way for a new bus area. These trees were established and huge meaning they gave us shade on the field.
Mrs Cutler organised for some new plants to be purchased and on Marcellin Day - the day we give service to the parish and community - Tui class were set to get planting.
We were so excited! We had spades, gloves and buckets. We were ready!
Then...... when Mrs Cutler dug the first hole, it was like she'd hit concrete. Pan. A layer of solid soil! Even if she'd been able to dig a big enough hole the pan was so solid the plants roots would never have been able to get through it.
So, feeling a bit down, we had to come up with a Plan B.
After a while we had help from some Dad's who came to school over the weekend with an auger. They dug the holes in the places Mrs Cutler had marked.
Yesterday, we all went out again and this time we were successful in our service! The native plants, flaxes and trees are in the ground. We took turns planting and delivering mulch. The Tui kids set up a human chain to pass buckets of mulch and plants along.
We planted around 60 plants in about an hour.
Once the plants grow we'll have shade, a place to build huts and flowers for the bees.
It is Social Justice Week this week and we have been learning about being FAIR and being EQUAL.
We discussed what we thought each of these words meant. Tui thought that the words basically meant the same thing.
Each child was given an 'ailment'. The ailments ranged from a ache, a cough or sore tummy to a broken leg or cut head. The children had to discuss who was worse off.
After this discussion the children came to the 'Doctor' for treatment. Each child was given a piece of paper that they were not allowed to look at until everyone had seen the 'Doctor'. The treatments were revealed..... everyone received a band-aid! There was much discussion about this!
"How will a band-aid fix my runny nose?"
"A band-aid isn't going to help my broken leg!"
"Yay! I need a band-aid for the cut on my hand!"
We discussed this further as a class. Was receiving a band-aid fair? or equal?
The penny dropped and the difference between fair and equal was clear!
Fair is when everyone gets what they need or deserve
Equal is when everyone gets the same regardless of need.
Check out the Tui Class individual blogs to see more!
