Sunny side up - exploring our life-giving star

Our inquiry investigations this week looked at the Sun. We integrated our learning into reading, writing, and art. The students completed a range of tasks designed to help students understand how the Sun affects us here on Earth.

Bruce @ TPS

Today we where learning about the sun and here is a little drawing of facts about the sun.

Raena @ TPS

WALT: Connect to the topic (Earth and Beyond) and Rhyme.

Today in class I decide to make a poem on the sun, I enjoy rhyming so why not!

Paris W @ TPS

WALT create an sun poem

Today I have created my very own sun poem.I have did an acrostic poem to help me describe the sun.I found it kind of tricky because how the sun is very far.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the sun...THANKYOU

Andre @ TPS

Willy's Movie Trailer for the Manaiakalani Film Festival 2015

Here is a snippet of Willy's movie Trailer for the Manaiakalani Film Festival this year.

B.B.H Trailer from Tamaki Primary on Vimeo.

Here are the bloopers for his movie. Willy worked very hard with some Year 8 students to put his movie together.  We will post his movie after the Manaiakalani film festival on Wednesday 11th November. 

'Be Big Bloopers' from Tamaki Primary on Vimeo.

Activating Prior Knowledge in Room 6

Term 4 has started with a rush and a roar, or rather a countdown and a blast off! This term for Inquiry we are investigating the Earth and Beyond, the Final Frontier, and began the unit by activating our prior knowledge. It's always a good idea to start with what you know. By discussing ideas and concepts (and misconceptions) that we already know about Space, we can identify areas we need to investigate further and make connections with new knowledge.

Mrs Manuyag did an awesome art lesson on the first day back as part of the Inquiry Unit's big reveal. The students created representations of our solar system, with planets, the Sun, and an asteroid belt using inspiration from the Mandala art technique.

A common way that we get the students talking and thinking about a new topic is by completing a bus stop activity. Miss Aireen and I came up with questions that related to the topic, eg. What words do we know that are associated with Space? 

Students are organised into small groups and start off at one of the bus stop questions. Before the activity started we had a rousing whole class discussion to get the brain juices flowing before setting off for quick fire stops. Students had around 2mins at each question to jot down their ideas.

Once all the groups had answered each of the questions we had a feedback session where groups identified the top 5 answers on their sheet. I recorded these ideas on a class presentation for the students to refer to and add to as a follow up activity. The feedback session generated some more interesting discussion and I can already tell this Inquiry topic is really going to generate some great questioning and debate amongst the students.

Onwards and Upwards - To Infinity and Beyond!

Oh and yes we have already had lots of giggles when mentioning the 7th planet in our Solar System, whoever named Uranus has a lot to answer for!

NZ Shakeout Day - Reported by Willy

"Everyone, everywhere should know the right action to take before, during and after an earthquake."

Hi, there, again! Finally on track for blogging now!

Room 10, and probably Tamaki Primary, have today learnt a little about the upcoming national (meaning over New Zealand as it is out nation) event that is...New Zealand Shake Out Day! Tamaki Primary is going to participate, along with almost probably ALL of New Zealand, participating in this annual and national event, where we all practise the earthquake drill:

DROP, COVER, HOLD

And little known (or not really little known) fact, the whole world is participating also, not just New Zealand. Over 40 million are also participating. So, yes, this day is PRETTY important. Important for you, me, EVERYBODY!

It will happen tomorrow. October the 15th. 2015. Remember that, reader! It may be important!Also, the drill occurs at a specific time, too. Yes, it does, believe it or not! The whole drill starts at 9:15am and we will, again I say it: DROP COVER and HOLD. Specifically, and as the site says:

-----------------------------------------

DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquake knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.

COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall (or next to lowlying furniture that won’t fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

-----------------------------------------

We're going to practise this drill tomorrow because it is a chance for everyone in New Zealand to practise what to do if an earthquake happens - because literally, it can come anytime! And so that if an earthquake happens, and we know what to do, we can DROP, COVER, and HOLD

As of now, there have been 1.2 MILLION New Zealanders signed up and prepared for the national drill, and it's going to be great! The main aim for the amount of participants is 1.5 million, so let's hope more people sign up!

Remember:

09:15am.

October 15th.

Room 10's Water Bottle Rocket Experiment

This week we were introduced to our inquiry topic through a water bottle rocket experiment. We used the scientific method to document this experiment. Some students in our class also put a video together so that you can see this experiment in action.

Water Bottle Rocket from Tamaki Primary on Vimeo.