Human Digger Track

Today's Mahi Tahi task (where the Year 5 - 8s come together each Tuesday to work as one) was to create a human digger track.  All of the team had to be on the inside.  The track needed to be strong and the team had to communicate effectively to ensure the track moved them from one end of the court to the other. This task required critical thinking, communication and collaboration.

We saw the tracks being strengthened by folding paper, adding extra layers, laying paper over top of the joins in a brick like fashion. 

When everyone had finished we had groups test their tracks in our Mahi Tahi Space - Piwakawaka.  Then those that were successful went out to the court to race! It was great fun to make these and work together - we were really successful! 

Ancient but earthquake proof!

We read a story called "Ancient but Earthquake Proof" which was about the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.  The Parthenon was built over 2500 years ago and while it has some walls and carvings missing it is still an impressive structure.  

We were amazed that the ancient builders were able to create such a building using only their brains and their two hands.  The Parthenon was created using a strong foundation, pedestals and then the columns which were made of blocks stacked on top of each other, just like our spine.   Inside the columns are iron rods surrounded by lead (to stop the rods rusting and to absorb force and vibrations).  The Parthenon is a strong yet flexible structure able to withstand earthquakes.  

Modern builders tried to preserve the Parthenon by inserting more iron rods into the columns...only they didn't add lead so the rods have become weakened meaning the columns are now cracking.  

We answered comprehension questions and then used a venn diagram to compare the Parthenon with New Zealand Parliament building (The Beehive in Wellington). 

Then we tried to build our own flexible structures thinking about what we learned using only marshmallows and toothpicks.

"Our structure had a big foundation base, and we used the toothpicks as rails and rods like the Parthenon"  - AL

"To make ours strong we used extra toothpicks and we had cross beams.  Ours was the tallest" - QS