Share'n'explain

This week we were very lucky to have a concert in our class. Liam brought his clarinet to school. This was special because we are also learning about sound and how sounds are created.
Liam explained how this instrument works and how sounds are created. He then played for the class two pieces that he has been practicing. It sounded wonderful. We know that Liam is talented musician. He also learning the cello and piano. We are looking forward to other concerts that he might share with us.

Writers conference

Hamish and Ben had the opportunity to attend the Writers Conference held this year at Port Chalmers School.
At the start they listened to a speech and then they were split into groups. At first the groups went to different work shops. One group went to Ella the, writer of the book Thieves. Ben learnt a motto; every story has to be cool people doing cool stuff. Meanwhile, Hamish was in room 6 with Raymond Huber. He told him that there was something called the three p’s. Person, place and problem. Then after that, everyone went back to the hall. There they all went to Port Chambers school library. They met someone called Sandy McKay. “I have written about nine books” she had said. Hamish identified some of the areas that he finds difficult in his writing. It is when he needs to add or extend his stories. Ben says that the hardest bit for him about writing is when a story is ending. Making the end have a good twist was something he wanted to have in his writing.
They both felt that they enjoyed the day and that many of the ideas shared would help their own writing back at school.

Hamish Ben

Achiever of the Week.

Harold the Giraffe

On Thursday and Friday our class had the opportunity to go into the Life Education truck with Harold the Giraffe. There we learnt about how special and unique we all are. There was a movie where it told us about a plant where everyone was all the same. The planet was boring and no one ever thought for them selves. We thought it would be boring to be like them and never have to think for ourselves. Learning to make our own decisions was something else that we learnt.

Mase

Achiever of the Week.

The Army comes to school.

Steve Aydon came to our school to share what it is like to be in the army. He has been in the army for ten years. Steve showed us his army gear and told us information about the army. We were able to try on some of his uniform and put on his backpack. When his back pack is full, it weighs 10 kgs. His sleeping bag is warm, cosy and waterproof. Steve then placed us into 3 groups. Room 2 was Alpha, room 3 was Bravo and room 5 was Charlie. We did a range of exercises like they do in the army.
Working together was the skill that we learnt and how important this is in the army. We can use this idea in our class.

Grace
Kyle

Rapping

I didn't know that learning about snakes could sound so interesting. During the holidays,Reuben attended the work shop held by the scientist and rapper, Tom McFadden. There, he learnt how to write,act and perform his own rap. We think its amazing so Reuben prepared this to share.