Cross Country

Today we went down to Botany College fields for the annual Point View cross country.

We lined up near the field in girls and boys lines behind signs that said Year 3. Then we waited for the cross country to happen.

Year 3 boys went first. We had to spread ourselves across the start line, fast people at the front and not so fast people behind. We listened to instructions about how to start the race. When the whistle blew, we were off. It was like a stampede of rhinos running around Botany! At the start it was tiring, even if we weren't up near the front. Some of us felt a bit thirsty in the middle. At the end we were glad it was over, but we were pleased with our results. Jonathan was 4th and Crist was 9th.

Then it was the girls' turn. We started the same way as the boys. In the middle of the race some of us were feeling a bit faint. At the end we were a bit out of breath. Our best result for the girls, was Rina who came 12th.

It was very, very tiring.

Technology Towers

On Tuesday and Wednesday we went to technology. I started with drawing towers with NO TEACHERS!

The next activity was building houses with lego. We started off by getting the green board and looking at the next instructions and for the other pieces. The next person builds it.

After this activity we got to build a famous tower that looks like an ice-cream on the top.

After that we went on the computer and checked out where some of the places in Auckland and some of the towers in the world are. We made a big tower out of plastic sticks it was so fun.

By Kyle and Alysa

We had technology. One of the things that we did was lego and building towers. Our teacher was called Mr Rankin. He left us to do it all by ourselves. We built towers from all over the world, like Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower. We learnt how to make models.

By Adam and Ethan

Inquiry Learning Rocks!

On Monday our whole smart class did Inquiry Learning. We picked out cool Irish questions and if we picked the same questions we have to be partners. I was partners with Crist and my friend was partners with Piper. We were doing exciting posters on the laptops. My question was: Why are shamrocks an emblem of Ireland?. We found out the information. St Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Christian religion and also shamrocks are found all over Ireland. It was cool because after the writing we got to put on an amazing picture. Then we printed out our amazing posters and then the teacher stapled them onto the wall. When my whole class walked in from singing everyone was like oh it was really funny. My partner and I were very proud of everyone’s super duper work and we were also very proud of our own work.

By Bridget & Chelsey

We presented our Inquiry Learning research on the laptops.

First we went on blank pages. We put Ireland onto the blank page. We changed the small words into big words and we changed the colour into green. We typed the information. We put some pictures on. Then we printed the page. Ryan H walked and got the page. Then Ryan returned to the classroom and showed Mrs Munro and she said, “this is super”. Ryan was happy as and the posters were put on the wall. Everybody looked at it. It was super fun. Hope you like it!

By Hamish and Ryan H

Go the Irish!

Point View School did Wearable Arts. Room Sixteen were after Room Eight. Room Sixteen made Irish hats for the Wearable Arts parade.This is how we made the hats. The first day we made the middle part and we made shamrocks to decorate our hats. On day two Room Sixteen made the top. It was easy for us, but not Miss Lankow! Some of us had to finish the middle bit from yesterday.

Miss Lankow’s job was to stick the hats on the top of the middle bit. It was a very long time to do one hat for us; it took thirty minutes to stick the top bit on the middle of the hat.

Next we tried the parade out. It was beautiful, Miss Lankow said. The next day we tried it out again and we did better, Miss Lankow said. Then on Friday we went on the stage and we had to present our hats in the parade. We also had a photo at the end of the Wearable Arts. Miss Lankow said it was beautiful!

By Ryan X and Felix

How to make Irish Hats

You will need:

Long green paper

Irish symbols (like shamrocks)

Brim and the top part

Practice paper

Coloured paper

Glue stick

1. Design it on a practice paper.

2. Cut out Irish symbols to make it exciting.

3. Bend the hat into a cylinder shape and make sure the hat fits.

4. Draw a perfect circle (with a plate) to make a brim.

5. Draw a circle with a small plate.

6. Cut like an upside-down vase shape all around the edge.

7. Stick the brim to the inside of the hat.

8. Draw a circle with a plate to make the top part of the hat.

9. Cut like an upside-down vase shape all around the edge.

10. Glue the top part to the hat.

THE HAT WILL LOOK SPLENDID !

By Jennifer and Ekklesia

How to make an Irish Hat

You will need:

green paper

Irish symbol

glue stick

pencil

scissors

1. We glue the symbol to the green paper.

2. Make the hat round.

3. We made the bottom part.

4. We taped them (be careful).

5. We make the top part and tape them together.

By Rina and Ina

How to make Irish Hats

You will need:

green paper

glue

Irish symbols

brim and the top part

coloured paper

cardboard

pipe cleaners

scissors

First we got the big piece of green paper. Then we started to decorate the green paper.

Secondly we got some coloured paper to make the decoration, but mostly we used green paper because the Irish colour is green.

Some of us used pipe cleaners to stick out the top.

By Kelly, Piper and Sai

Go the All Blacks!

We are dressed in the colours of our favourite team for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Most of us are supporting the All Blacks by wearing black. Others are hoping that Italy, South Africa, Samoa, Tonga, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia or Japan will win. We all have a second team that we are supporting as well!

A few of us are very lucky and will be at Eden Park tonight to watch the opening and the match between New Zealand and Tonga. Others are going to places around Auckland to watch the fireworks. Many of us will watch the celebrations on television.

GO THE ALL BLACKS!

Water Safety Lessons

Today Room 16 went to Lloyd Elsmore pool to learn how to survive when you're in the sea or pool.

We learnt what to do when we need someone to save us. We have to put our hand up straight in the air. If we wave it around people will think we are saying hello!

To save someone you put your hand under their arm and hold their chin. You need to push their chin up slightly and pull them back so they can float.

We had noodles tied around our waists to float in the water.

It was fabulous to learn how to save someone today!

Our Mystery Tour of Auckland

Last week we took part in a mystery tour of Auckland to experience some of the things that visitors to New Zealand might see during the Rugby World Cup.


First stop on the tour was Mission Bay where we sat down to sketch a famous Auckland landmark: Rangitoto.

At Bastion Point we found out about New Zealand's first Labour Prime Minister: Michael Joseph Savage. We also got a great view of the Harbour Bridge and a container ship coming into the ports.


At Wynyard Quarter we had traditional fish n chips for lunch at the Auckland Fish Market, while watching the trams go past.


Next it was time to check out the playground at Wynyard Quarter. We'd never experienced a playground quite like it!


We were incredibly lucky to go inside Eden Park and have our questions answered by an expert.

It was a truly awesome day!

Today's the Day for Cricket!

Today we played cricket with Sid from Auckland Cricket. He talked for awhile and then asked us if that was enough talking. Some of us didn't know how to play cricket, but he taught us.

The first group needed to hit three balls with the bat and then run between the wickets. The other team was fielding. They had to collect the balls and return them to the tees. When the fielding team had got all three balls back, the running team had to stop. Sid told us we had to count the runs because we were the ones at school.

We had a very good time. We learnt how to hold the bat correctly and the correct names for parts of the bat. We'd love to do it again!

Origami Shamrocks

Today Room 16 made origami shamrocks. These are to put on our Ireland display, but also to be part of our hats for the Wearable Arts parade.

We found this challenging. Some of the challenges were...

• gluing the leaves onto the stalk
• getting the folds in the right place
• gluing the shamrock leaves together
• following the instructions on the activboard

We think we did well at...

• helping others who were stuck with the folding
• designing our hats that the shamrocks will go on
• listening to instructions
• working as a team

We hope you like our shamrocks!

Shamrocks and Leprechauns

Today we watched three youtube clips as part of our Ireland knowledge bomb. We need to find out about Irish symbols to help us design hats for Point View School's Wearable Arts show.

Wacky Hair and Hat Day

Today is the last day of term and also Wacky Hair and Hat Day. Here are some photos of some of us (in our artshirts) with some very crazy hair and hats!

MAF

Today we learnt what MAF stands for: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Helmie from MAF Biosecurity came to talk to us about the challenges that MAF face. They have to take care of New Zealand's plants and animals. This means that the team try to stop prohibited items coming into the country. He showed us a giant snake and a smaller snake, a butterfly, a sea turtle, a packet of beef jerky, a kangaroo's paw, a mask made from rabbit, a turkey egg, a baby crocodile's head and the shell of a giant African snail. All these things are not allowed into New Zealand because they may bring diseases and endanger our native wildlife.

Wow! Look At All Our Learning!

This morning we reflected on our learning for the term. There was so much we couldn't fit it all on the activboard!

Now we have to decide what our next steps will be and what we can do to achieve our goals next term.

It's Buddy Time!

Today we worked with our buddy class to create a slideshow of our cupcake making day.

We did these things well:

• helped our buddies with the typing and proofreading
• put the photos onto the pages without deleting them
• helped our buddies with the correct spelling
• concentrated on our own work

Next time we work with our buddies we could be better at:

• focusing on what we are doing
• learning the different keys on the keyboard
• typing faster
• making sure we do just as much as our buddy
• asking our buddies for help rather than having them do it for us
• making sure our buddies are doing just as much as we are doing

Overall we thought that it was a great 'learning together' experience!

Jokes for Christchurch

We were making jokes for Christchurch. They had a really bad earthquake, so we chose the jokes because Room 16 like jokes. I chose: Knock, knock. Who's there? Bridget. Bridget who? London Bridget is falling down.

Our teacher got her camera and we took photos. We glued the photos to our jokes. Then we decorated the paper with felts or crayons. I used felts to make it pretty and I drew a picture of a bridge and a lake.

When I was having a photo I was lying down and smiling. I wrote: By Jennifer, because that tells the people in Christchurch my name. I hope the sick people will be happy and I wish it goes to a Canterbury school.

By Jennifer

I Admire...

I admire the All Blacks

Because I think they are cool rugby players.

I admire Tori Vega

Because she is a great singer.

I admire my teacher

Because she is the greatest teacher ever.

I admire my sister

Because she helps me do my homework.

But most of all

I admire ME!

Because I'm an artist!

By Alysa

I admire the All Blacks

Because they're the best.

I admire Bruno Mars

Because he's famous.

I admire Ethan

Because he is cool.

I admire my dad

Because he's handsome.

But most of all

I admire ME!

Because I'm awesome!

By Kyle

A Surprising Afternoon!

On Wednesday after lunchtime it was a surprising afternoon.

We went to the hall. On our way there, we saw Miss Pirie and she told us we had to go to the back door. We were lucky. We got to sit on the bleachers. The special event was for the Middle School and the Senior School.

The first song was called Phantom of the Opera, but I had a nickname. It was Phantom of the Opera Operation. After that dance they introduced themselves to us.

For every dance they had a costume. It was very fancy. Victoria was the leader of the dance group.

The next dance was the caberet, which was with the sticks. After that song was ended they showed us their hat and how they made it.

I hope that one day you get to see the dance too.

By Felix

What's Been Happening This Week?

On Tuesday we made jet plane cupcakes. At the beginning we mixed the butter and sugar with the flour and baking powder. Then we put in the egg. We kept on stirring it. Later we put it in the paper cases. Each person had a turn. When we were done we licked the bowl and the spoons. Then we walked downstairs to put it in the oven and turned it to 200 degrees Celsius. After morning tea we made the icing. First we put the icing sugar in the bowl. Then we put the water in. Then we stirred it. Later we got the spoon to pour the icing on. Then we put the jet planes on. We ate them before they flew away!

By Matthew

On Tuesday Room 16 got some balsa wood planes in our classroom to learn about flight. We made the wood into a plane, then got the ipods in our class to take photos of the planes. When everyone had finished their planes we put our names on the planes, then we went out of the classroom and tested our planes at the top of the playground. First we had free play with our planes, then we had a competition to see who can go the furthest. Rangitoto were first, Motutapu was second, Waiheke was third and Motuihe was last to fly their planes.

By Ryan X

On Wednesday the 8th we started to make calendars. We drew hot air balloons. We thought about the foreground, background, middle ground and overlapping. But we first got a piece of paper to practise on. First we drew normal hot air balloons, then when we got better, we got to do other kinds. After that we made hot air balloons on the calendars.

By Alysa

What a Drag!

This afternoon we went to the back courts to do topic. We were experimenting with air resistance, which is sometimes called drag. We ran with a piece of paper in front of us and then with a huge piece of cardboard. It was easiest to run without holding anything. It was hardest to run with the cardboard. The cardboard was the most fun and we had lots of turns running with it. Sometimes it flattened against our faces and bodies. This was the air resistance. Room 16 enjoyed their afternoon - it was super exciting.

By Sai, Alysa and Daniel

Welcome Home

Today we watched an advertisement made at London's busiest airport, Heathrow. We talked and wrote about what it would be like to walk into the terminal after getting off a plane, and be greeted the way the people were in this advert. We really enjoyed watching it so we've put it on our blog with some of our writing.

As I walked into the terminal, I felt so excited that I wanted to cry out loud. I was surprised that lots of people were singing to us. They were making musical instrument sounds with their mouths and pretending they were playing them.
By Jeffrey, Ina, Rina, Sai, Yua and Adam

This Term's Topic

Book Week Day Five

This morning we went to the hall for our Book Week parade. We were dressed as our favourite book characters. It was a school assembly.

Clifford came into the hall on his scooter. He did a dance on the stage and was given a certificate for being a wonderful part of Book Week.

It was an amazing day because we got to go on the stage with other classes. Some classes won prizes for the guess the favourite teachers' book and the daily quiz. Jennifer won a prize. It was two chapter books which look exciting.

We all looked fantastic!

Book Week Day Two

It was amazing what Stu Duval was doing. Room 16 really enjoyed being with Stu Duval. Today he taught us art that we didn't know how to draw. Now we can draw cartoon dinosaurs, orca, parrots, cats, octopi and dogs. He taught us how to draw eyes showing different expressions.

Earlier Stu taught us how to perform. We learnt to drink warm water before we go on stage and to go to the toilet first. He taught us how to get our audience ready and to use our voice like a rollercoaster.

Today's quiz questions were a bit tricky, but we think we've done okay.

Book Week Day One

This morning we went to the hall to meet Stu Duval. He told us the story of Rat Island and drew a picture using chalk. The story is about Tam and his adventures on the pirate ship Terrified Jane. One of the characters was called Two Fingers. Another was Jimmy Tarbottom. Stu Duval is very creative and he can draw very quickly. He draws pictures using letters and numbers. We might learn how to do this tomorrow.

Clifford the big red dog came to visit. We are glad we are not too old for Clifford! Mrs Munro read us a story called I am So Strong, because Clifford can't read. Room 12 came to join us to see Clifford as well. We love Clifford!

We have entered the competition to guess the teachers' favourite book. We also entered the daily quiz where we have to go to the library to find the answers to questions Mrs Munro has emailed us.

Book Week is fabulous and exciting!

By Matthew, Alysa, Morgan and Adam

Challenging Chooseday

Yesterday on Tuesday the Middle School children had Challenging Chooseday. Everyone in the Middle School had to come to school in mufti, but not random clothes. We had to wear our class colour and Room 16 wore black. Every class picked a song and our song was Simply the Best.
It was in the hall. We had to do Challenging Chooseday because we were learning about our challenges and now we were ready to challenge other classes. It was quite hard because we had to challenge Year Fours, but it didn't matter because Room 16 is simply the best. Do you want to know why Room 16 is simply the best? It's because Room 16 came third, that's why. Now do you agree with me?
I thought I was in the skipping, but I was in the hula hoops with Ina, Mervyn and Ryan H. I was really surprised because I got up to my third hoop, but when I started all of my hoops went down.
By Ekklesia

Yesterday nine classes went to the hall for Challenging Chooseday.
The first activity is Rob the Nest. The game is to rob someone else's eggs.
The second activity is the skipping team with the skipping ropes. The rules are that if someone had tripped over and stopped they have to sit down. If the people are still standing, they will get a medal.
After the skipping is hoops. The rules are that the people that have a hoop need to spin it very fast. If the people stop spinning then they need to sit down. If the people still spin the hoop they will get another hoop.
Next we have the shape boxes challenge and the rules are that the people can't touch the shape box until the teacher said start.
The next activity is chopsticks and jellybeans and I am the first one that had finished and have got a medal.
By Ryan X

Yesterday it was Challenging Chooseday. My class and I did Challenging Chooseday!
We have a colour. Guess what colour it is! Black!
We have a song. The song is called Simply the Best. I like that song.
Now I'm going to tell what really happened.
At first we went down the steps and shouted "Go Room 16, go Room 16". When we were inside the hall we began to go on the stage. Then we went down. Then Challenging Chooseday began.
By Jeffrey

It's Been a Challenging Term!

Te Tuhi Trip

Yesterday Room 16 went to the Te Tuhi art gallery in Pakuranga. We have read the Maori legend In The Beginning and did some art of the characters in the story.

When we arrived, we went into the big room with lots of posters on the walls. There was writing in different languages to tell people about the art.

Our guide Jeremy, read the legend to us again and some of us acted it out. The story is about Rangi and Papa and how the world was created.

After that, we went into a studio to make posters of the characters in the story. We used pencil, coloured paper, scissors, gluesticks and a big piece of paper. Everyone thought it was fun making these posters.

Last of all, we thanked Jeremy and returned to school on the bus.

We all thought it was a fabulous, exciting trip and would like to go again.

Paul Klee Artwork

Room 16 read a book about the artist Paul Klee. He used lots of shapes in his paintings. We drew a face using shapes. We outlined it with a black vivid marker and then used dye to colour it in using six different colours. When we were using the dye, it was a challenge not to mix the colours! We hope you like our artwork.

It's Domino Time!

Last week Room 16 went to technology and made dominoes. Here are a couple of recounts by two of Room 16's fabulous writers.

First I got out a hammer, ruler and the other things. Then I got my goggles and my mask. Mr Rankin told us how to saw. One person saws and the other holds on one side.

Next we used the hard paper to get the wood soft. When we finished we moved to the next thing. It was painting. We had to put a tiny dab and get this kind of paper and rub it on it. Then we drew a line and dots. Then I went to Mr Rankin to get the holes done.

Then we packed up and went home.

By Bridget

Yesterday we went to technology. We made wooden dominoes. They were fantastic.

Mr Rankin showed us how to make boxes. We had to saw three pieces of wood exactly the same. For the boxes we had to saw smaller pieces for the back of the box.

Mr Rankin let us pull our shirts out and when we let go we looked fat and chubby. It was fantastico!

I got to use a huge drill by myself and it was shaking. I loved hammering. I imagined the nails as my brother. I hit the nails really, really hard. Sawing made me tired so I went over to the fan.

By James

Birkenhead Challenges

Money for Christchurch

Today we are wearing red and black for Canterbury. This is to show that we care for Christchurch, because they had a horrible, terrible earthquake. We brought a gold coin to school to give to the people of Christchurch. This morning we had a Christchurch earthquake assembly. James and Jennifer read their poems at assembly. At lunchtime we will have lots of different things happening to raise more money. Tonight is a family picnic where we will have lots of games and raise MORE money!

EARTHQUAKE

By James

I see helicopters filling up the sky.

I hear heart-broken people wailing for their loved ones.

I taste sandy dust landing on my wet, soggy tongue.

I smell horrible stinking port-a-loos in my street.

I feel rocky concrete crumble under my feet.

I wish this disaster didn't happen.

EARTHQUAKE

By Jennifer

I see people hurt from their fallen houses.

I hear buildings crashing and smashing like a pancake.

I taste dirt and smoke coming to my body.

I smell stinky people not washed, because there's no electricity.

I feel scared and frightened because stuff is crashing.

I wish an earthquake would not happen in Christchurch again.

Marvelous Me!

Marvelous Me is a superhero. We read the story this morning and discovered that we can all be superheroes. Awesome Kyle can lift a medicine ball and throw it to the other side of the world. Marvelous Kelly can do awesome art. Awesome Piper walks her cousin's superdog around the street. Incredible Ina is a sensational speller! Our world is awesome! Come to visit us in wonderful Room 16, to meet all the superhero children!

By Kyle, Kelly, Ina and Piper.

Room Sixteen 2011

We are the new Room 16. We have been doing lots of work like maths, art and reading. We have been learning to make a friend. Some ways of doing this are by being nice or by being kind. Sharing and caring for other people is important to us. We are all very helpful.

Felix is looking forward to the cross country. Mervyn is excited about going on trips. Jorja is happy to have her own desk and is hoping she can keep it tidy. Bridget likes art and wants to do heaps of it! Sai enjoys ICT and Ryan H likes the library.

We hope you enjoy following our adventures this year!

By Jorja, Bridget, Felix, Mervyn, Sai and Ryan H.