Kakapo love to inquire about new things and work together to solve problems. We really enjoy authentic learning and choosing what we learn about. Our class shows mercy and gives service by taking on many roles of responsibility, which helps to prepare us to be leaders in our school whanau. We love sports, being creative and getting hands on both in and out of the classroom. Our prayers are filled with aroha and we strive to live our school values. Whakarongo ki te tangi a te manu Kakapo!
Showing posts with label Authentic Learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Authentic Learning. Show all posts
In Kakapo class we have been learning all about the brain. Today we got into groups. Each group was given a different part of the brain to focus on. Cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, amygdala and the temporal/occipital lobes.
Each group had to read through and choose the information that related to 'their' part of the brain. After identifying this information the groups dicussed which information was important. They conducted further research to answer any questions they had or anything that they may not have understood.
THEN... Mrs Cutler gave each group playdough. Each group had a different colour. The task was to use the playdough to create their part of the brain into a 3D model. For this each group had to collaborate further to check position, scale and to join them up to build our brain.
Term 3 already! We are back and ready to carry on the great learning we had begun in Term 2. This term we are lucky enough to have a student teacher, Mr Hobson, with us for the entire term. Though this is our most normal term of the year so far, we have a very busy time ahead with speeches & cross country and lots of other tournaments How is your term going so far?
In Kakapo we have decided that its not good enough to just KNOW about the problems facing our world...WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION!
After reading one of the texts (Down the Drain) on our contracts this week our discussion turned to sustainable practices. Small choices that we can make that could help the world overall. This led us to talk about the packaging we have in our lunchboxes and the products we buy in the supermarket. By choosing products in glass bottles instead of plastic, compostable boxes instead of plastic wrappings and bags is a small step but one that could convince companies to make changes.
We talked about the local businesses we knew that used paper straws, cardboard takeaway containers or paper bags. We are choosing to support those businesses over others that use a lot of plastic.
One example Mrs Cutler asked us about was McDonalds. What did we notice about their packaging? McDonalds is a major company with restuarants all over the country and they dont use paper straws. So what can we do about this?
We are investigating ways to promote the businesses using sustainable products and practices and encouraging other people to support these businesses as well. We hope that this is a positive way to get other businesses to change their practices too. We are writing persuasive letters to McDonalds main office in NZ to ask them to consider a change in their packaging.
This is a little different than some of the learning we had planned to do this week, but that happens! It is ok, we are leading our own learning.
WATCH THIS SPACE - KAKAPO IS TAKING ACTION! MORE UPDATES TO COME!
This week, Kakapo's contract had a definite ANZAC theme. Over the past few weeks we have been learning about war time and how that affected NZ and NZers.
Children got creative making their own poppies to put in their windows ready to Stand At Dawn on Saturday with the rest of NZ. We had poppies created out of shells, cupcake holders, origami, drawn, 3D poppies... it was amazing!
To help discuss the long term effects of the lockdown on NZ I asked children to plan a holiday anywhere in NZ. We discussed the importance of seeing our own country and putting money back into it also. We wrote information reports about the place we wanted to visit in NZ.
We had an ANZAC video to watch with comprehension questions. Time lines and decimals for maths. Plus lots of little tasks to help around the house as well.
Kakapo are ready to stand at dawn tomorrow in remembrance and acknowledgement of ANZAC day.
