Explanation Writing

As I write this blog, the Beachlands19ers are quietly writing to explain  'How do plants grow?'   We have been investigating through science and reading about plants the ways that plants grow.  Our inquiry has helped us to understand how seasons impact on growing, what gardeners can do to encourage healthy plants, why bees are so important and how seeds travel.  

We have carried out some whole class investigations (photos of these will be posted shortly) and the students are now carrying out their own science investigation, in pairs of by themselves.   The purpose of these investigations is to provide us with information that will support us with our own school garden.

Our next step is learn and understand companion planting, then make up two garden plans for our Year 5&6 garden - one for Term 3 and the other for Term 1.    Exciting stuff!  Can't wait to see what the Beachlands19ers come up with.

Mrs Croll

Week 6

Orienteering
We woke up on Friday morning to see, and hear, the rain pouring down in bucket loads.   This sadly meant that the orienteering at Te Puru had be postponed...  boo hoo :(

Now it will be held on Friday of Week 7... yay!! :)

Mihimihi Posters - Part 1

This term we have been learning about the mihimihi which is an introductory speech that takes place at the beginning of a gathering, after the powhiri.    We have learned that the mihimihi is a way to introduce ourselves in te reo Maori by sharing our whakapapa (family and ancestral ties).  Some of us have had to do some researching for Home Learning as we didn't know where our ancestors came from.  

We are learning how to recite our own mihimihi as well as make a visual mihimihi.   These posters will take some time to complete as they will be made up of many layers.  The first stage is to plan and paint or dye our background.    The next step will be to use three different mediums when we collage the detail.

We will post some photos each week so you can view our progress.   At the end, we are hoping to record ourselves reciting our mihimihi then attach this recording to a photo of our poster using something like Fotobabble or maybe Aurasma.    This will be very exciting!

Tree Planting

Today we went to Duders Regional Park to help plant some native trees.  Mags was the park ranger who gave us tips on how to plant these trees.  She was helped by Laura, Rebecca and Mr Duder.   We also had some amazing parents who transported us in their cars.   We planted manuka, flax, coprosma, and kanuka.  The land was quite steep which made it tricky in parts to not slip.

We worked really hard to plant heaps of trees - maybe over 100 in total so we were extremely hungry when we stopped for morning tea.  

It's going to be wonderful to walk through the park in 20 years time and say "I helped to plant all those trees."