🧠BRAIN BUILDING🧠

 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.

In Class Mahi Tahi

Even though we are in Level 1 - we have decided not to engage in Mahi Tahi with the three senior classes for the entirity of the term.  So... this week Kakapo had a contract activity that was Mahi Tahi as we know it..but with only our class.

The task was to create a functioning water wheel using only a selection of resources and supplies - rubber bands, skewers, balloons, paper plates, paper cups, tape, hot glue, straws, egg cartons.

 

This task required all of the 4 Cs (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication and Creativity).  The main communication came when groups were planning - there was a lot of discussion around everyone's understanding on what a water wheel was and its purpose.

Check out the video of one of our water wheel designs and see the individual blogs to find out how Kakapo Kids found this challenge. 

Figuratively speaking....

This week, Kakapo have been working on Figurative Language.

We have been doing a few different tasks focusing on our learning about metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia and idioms. 

Powerful Paragraphs 💥

In our literacy warm up's we have been looking at an image.  We use the photo to write a moment in time OR describe what we see.

We look carefully at the photo using our senses.  We look with our maths eyes.  We look with our imaginations.  We look at the small details.

We have ten minutes to write.  After we have written we have time to check back over our paragraph.  We share and discuss.  We share the figurative language we have heard.  As an audience could we imagine what was happening? Were we hooked? Did we want to know more...

We then have some time to rework our paragraphs.  We are trying to improve our paragraphs by checking for language features and organisation, spelling, punctuation. Do we have different sentence types to add interest?  

We share with a buddy and check again.  

Idioms 📕

In our contracts there has been a different idiom.  Without googling or asking someone we need to explain what we think the idiom means.  Our first idiom was "never judge a book by its cover"  

Poetry Bus Stop 🚌

We had five different poems spread around the room and a information chart of figurative language. We read the poem and discussed as a group what language features we found in the poem.  Then, Mrs Cutler would yell "BUS STOP" which means we moved to a different poem.  We could go to whatever poem we wanted to each time we moved.  This was a fun way of identifying language features.  

Check out our individual blogs to see some of our Powerful Paragraph examples! 

Lest We Forget

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.

Mahi Tahi 2020

For those of you who are new to our blog, Mahi Tahi is where the three senior classes come together and work on a range of tasks. We chose the name Mahi Tahi because it means 'working as one'.  We used to meet twice a week, but this year we have two new teachers in the senior syndicate.  So while Mrs Cutler is the "Original", this year she is making sure we ease into the learning for everyone who is new to Mahi Tahi ... the teachers, new students and the year 5s.

Search our blog with 'mahi tahi' to see some of the awesome activities and learning we did in 2019.

During Mahi Tahi we learn about the four C's.  Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking and Creativity. The activities range from STEM to baking to art to school beautification to maths challenges.  Children are grouped randomly - we do aim to have one person from each year level in a group.

The aim is to instill 21st century skills in a way that every person gets to shine, take leadership, share ideas, follow leadership and practice the 4C's.  Now that you know what Mahi Tahi is - keep an eye out for some 2020 Mahi Tahi posts!

Lick, Lick, YUCK, YUCK!!

Today for Mahi Tahi the task was to collaborate and communicate .... while being blindfolded and tasting foods! The person blindfolded had to taste the food and describe what it was to their buddy.  
There were some interesting faces with some of the foods!
There was lime juice, golden syrup, baking soda, chilli sauce, icing sugar, rice bubbles, marmite, caper, salt, mustard and cocoa powder.  

Everyone had a turn at tasting and describing.  The children were pushed outside of their comfort zone! 
  

What would you have liked to have tasted??

It's that time of year again...

Speeches!

In Tui class we have been busy integrating oral language and persuasive writing into our literacy contracts.  We have had chatting cards, using drama with our shared reading, using expression and projection.... 
There were 37 English topics and 18 Te Reo topics to choose from.  
This week Mrs Cutler is listening to speeches in class.  Everyone has made her judging job hard! The speech topics were varied and props were used appropriately.  Tui class were supportive and encouraging of everyone.  Speeches are not a favourite for everyone but each and every student still stood up and gave it a good go!
Three finalists get chosen to go through to the PCS Speech Competition.  It was a super hard choice, but everyone can be super proud of themselves for the hard work and effort they put in to their presentations.