Week 8 - Zupelz Maths and logic

This term we have been working really hard on our Maths.  We start our math sessions with a warm-up.  This week we shared an investigation to solve a zupelz puzzle. 

We need to use lots of mathematical thinking to solve this.  We can recall combinations that add together to make numbers, understand and identify even and odd numbers then finally, use logic to explain why certain numbers fit in a particular place.  Below you will see our whiteboard discussion about even numbers.  To our maths group the word even means something fair or something that is shared evenly. Our definition of an even number was a number that could be split into two groups and the groups were the same size. You can see how we proved the numbers in the list were even.

Then we had four numbers to organise into the grid.  Each row and column needs to add up to the number on the outside.  We started by placing the number four in the even box.  We then used our knowledge of combinations to place the three and the two in the correct boxes in the grid.  This left us with one digit to place which was one and it only had one place to go.  

We used lots of thinking, discussing and reasoning to solve this with our buddy. Our next challenge is to solve larger grids using the same thinking. We would love some of your positive, thoughtful and helpful feedback about our mathematical thinking.

Week 6 - A-Z Thinker's Keys and Inquiry Work

Hi everyone,

This term, we have focused our learning on Hauora and healthy communities.  We have been busy thinking about what a community is, what places are important for us in our community and who we see.

Last week we watched a video which helped us learn a bit more about what a community could be.  We then used SOLO hexagons to organise our thinking.   This week, during our big class discussion, Mr Riceman challenged us to come up with a place or person in our community that begins with each letter of the alphabet.  The ideas were flowing and we made it, the most challenging letters were Y (yoga studio), X (X-Ray) and Z (we included the Zoo in our wider Auckland community). We have included a picture of all of our thinking below.

Next, Mr Riceman asked us each to create  something to show each of these letter.  Some of us chose to use our new google drawing skills to create this, while others preferred pen and paper.  These are coming together nicely and there are a few of these below for you to look at.
> >

Finally, we are using this blog post to share  this learning with you.  Please have a look at our ideas then think, are there any other places that you could add?  What is special to the community you are a part of?

Thanks for reading, we would love some positive, thoughtful and helpful feedback.

Week 4 - Cameron Pools Swimming

Hi bloggers,

We have been very excited to begin our swimming sessions at Cameron Pools.  We travel to the pools by bus each Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks. It is such a good opportunity for us to develop our confidence and skills in the water with the support of our swimming teachers.



In our first session we focused on kicking, floating, streamlines, getting ourselves into and out of the pool safely and started some strokes.  Can you complete all of those skills?


Keep checking back as we keep you updated by sharing the skills that we are learning.

Week 3 - Assembly

Kia Ora bloggers,

This week we were very lucky to have our turn to host assembly. It has been a very busy start to the year and we have had plenty to share.  Some of our highlights were the fabulous poems we have written about summer with help from Mrs Law.  We also introduced ourselves using maths numbers and shared a little bit about how to be Cybersmart with our new Chromebooks.  It was really fun to find out about emotions and use our drama skills to show these. Below is a copy of our assembly slides and a link to our emotions video.  We hope you enjoy!

If you came along we'd love to hear what you thought! If you couldn't make it, please drop us a positive, thoughtful and helpful comment so we can share more with you.

Thanks for reading.

Rights and Responsibilities

Kaiwhare has been very busy in Week 2, learning more about the Treaty of Waitangi. Did you know that some Māori signed the Treaty with a mark showing a pattern from their tā moko (tattoos on the face) or from their area?  You can see them on the eight sheets of the Treaty that travelled around New Zealand from February to September 1840.

Photo: Archives New Zealand

We have started developing our class treaty, to explain our rights and responsibilities as we learn.  We've also started some artwork, using symbols to represent ourselves and our families in different ways.

In cybersmart, we are learning about using our chromebooks safely and our responsibilities for looking after them - our Kawa of Care.

Some of our parents have been invited to a meeting to learn about their responsibilities with their child's new chromebooks too. (Remember to send back the form that was sent home with your preferred meeting time!)



We practised:

• moving carefully around the class
• holding our chromebook with our "thumbs up" 
• typing gently on the keyboard and closing the screen softly, so it doesn't click
• putting the chromebook in a safe position on a desk, and turning it carefully with two hands
• logging off the chromebook when we finish working, and storing it safely

Then we made a digital poster sharing at least one of the Kawa of Care responsibilities. 

Check out Freddy's poster below.