We had a great time at the Auckland Museum in Week 2. Always new things to spot, and to learn about.
Jack enjoys the rebellious thrill of touching museum exhibits.
Ashlee contemplates her place in the food-chain
The buffet table at the museum.
Ciaran with something he purchased from the gift-shop
Like they’ve never seen water before
We’ve been continuing to explore the properties of magnets, and conducting experiments.
There have been a number of fun (but educational!) special events this term. Let’s review!
What a great trip this was. It was fun and fascinating to see the native or introduced birds that New Zealand is lucky to have part of the family. Not to mention the physical benefits of a good stiff walk!
This entertaining show was put on by Perform! Theatrical Group. The fun part was that it was interactive, with students either being part of the Treelanders side of the map, or the Seaview division (the moral had to do with taking care of our environment).
We had a visit from Vector Energy, which was very informative and well presented. The students learned a lot about how to stay safe with electricity inside or outside the home. We particularly enjoyed the animations where a clueless robot made all the wrong decisions and regularly burnt himself to a crisp : )
Lots of talent on display that night! We successfully pulled off our performance of “Splish Splash” and it was great to see many year 4’s represented in the solo performances.
Avengers of various assortments assembled for the Friday night disco!
DAD’S DAY
What a great day Dad’s Day was last Friday. After the school shared some singing – and we sadistically enjoyed listening to the Dads try and get their mouths around some tongue twisters – we went back to our classes for special activities.
In our class, the Dads joined us for some “Minute-to-Win-It” challenges (cracker face, cup stacker, and chopstick challenge). The Dads helped train up the students in their group and provided encouragement when it was time for the competitive challenge. Following that, the best part: getting the Dads to give the challenges a try! Thanks for coming along Dads (and Dad equivalents!), and for giving us some laughs!
Speak up Dads!
Sophie’s dad may have sprained a facial muscle.
Doing her best Walking Dead impression
Dad and daughter trying to use the bridge of the nose as…well, a bridge.
Employing every facial muscle to full effect but facing the obstacle of cracker dust in your eye.
Demonstrating to the class his pyramid scheme and how you can start earning money from home.
Great chopstick skills, terrible meal
Good luck telling your chiropractor why you’ve made an appointment!
Barely suppressed competitiveness.
Smell the testosterone!
SCIENCE
We’ve continued our focus on solids, liquids and gases.
We’ve been learning to make predictions, test those predictions, and discuss our results.
HI PARENTS,
Let me help you get a visual on class Kotare, 2019!
MATHS
Surely there’s no better way to learn about measurement than to actually measure things!
SCIENCE
We’ve been learning about states of matter (solids, liquids and gases). Here we are testing predictions we made about which solids would melt quickest in the sun.
LIFE EDUCATION
Always popular, we had our annual visit from the Life Education van. Led by Chris, with the help of Harold the Giraffe, the students had some rich discussions around friendship.
Hi Parents,
Well, just like that, the year is nearly at an end. It’s been a privilege teaching the students of class Korora, and I’m glad I’ll be seeing most of them around next year.
Here’s a couple of highlights from the last few weeks…
Art
The students have produced some really nice pieces of work this term. There was landscapes in the first few weeks, and lately we’ve been drawing and painting still-lifes.
the colour of Sienna’s roof is, well, sienna of course!
Ethan’s philosophy of art is to curve the spine in harmony with the curves of his lines.
Tiger’s controversial technique is to drink the paint-water, so as to be at one with the art.
Class Plays
When you’re a woman of mature years, you need to use the jaw for extra grip.
Oscar is part of an expedition, along with his robot Thomas, to explore a planet inhabited by aliens (Claire and Jack)
Aston wishing he’d brought a gun to this fight.
Chelsea unfortunately underestimates the distance needed for a stage dive.
Golf
We had a great lesson, led by Jenna Gainford.
Thomas wonders why he’s heard adults swearing when playing golf…it’s not that hard?
Golf is a lot more motivating when aiming for human targets.
Science
This term we’ve covered the physics of sound.
Daniel conducts his teams rendition of “it sort of sounds like a song”
Experimenting with glass and water out on the grass means that the crickets provide a backing choir
Luke uses a string telephone to share a piece of juicy gossip with Konstantin
While Claire is testing a paper banger, Chelsea perfects her runway pose.
Athletics
In Week 5, we had our annual Athletics Day.
Ethan’s shadow has already cleared the jump, so you know he’s going to be fine.
Not casting spells, but practicing shotput.
Oral Language
There’s been lots of opportunities for strengthening oral language skills this term: persuasive speeches, news sharing, and sharing presentations for topic.
Harper shares a speech on Lego, ensuring that you’ll be pestered for expensive kits for Christmas.
Ollie sharing on the topic of skateboarding
Poppy using eye-contact to make sure that her audience are as riveted as she expects them to be.
Sienna shares some medals. Chelsea wants one
Sailing
In Week 7 we had our sailing day with Volvo, Learn to Sail. We’re grateful to have gotten such good conditions in a week that wasn’t always pleasant!
Daniel and Tiger looking as smooth as the water.
Luke and Oscar find that sailing is pretty cruisy when you remove the ocean.
Jack looks for unchartered land
Daniel and Tiger see if they can get any fish nibbling on their scalp.
Claire shows no-hands. Poppy resists shaking the boat.
Ollie overboard!
Hi parents,
Now that we’re nearly at the end of Term 3, let me share with you a few highlights:
Science
We finished up our investigations of magnets, by making our own compasses from corks and needles. We can now attest that we’re going North when we exit through the classroom door!
Daniel now knows where North is, and is ready to go question Santa about a gift he never received.
These guys are giddy with excitement at their discoveries. Or corks in water looking like floating poops. Probably the latter.
Lately, we’ve been looking at the human skeleton. Below you’ll see photos of us comparing the measurements of our major bones.
“My vertebrae are more impressive than yours”
Dr Chen, prepares his patient for a lobotomy
Dylan, looking like he has all the makings of an excellent tailor.
Maths
Recently, we’ve had a focus on geometry: naming, drawing, and constructing three dimensional shapes.
Aston and Harper show that it’s not just girls that are known for their delicate craftsmanship.
Tiger juggles two cubes. Coming up: he swallows three tetrahedrons that are on fire.
Computational Thinking
The student’s have learnt a significant amount of computer skills this term, including how to use email, and how to use the Google suite (Google docs, Google Slides etc) to produce work.
Jack checks the status of his financial stocks, and decides whether to invest in bitcoin.
Literacy
Persuasive Writing and Speeches
We’ve had a focus this term on learning the features of effective persuasive writing and speaking. We’ve recently been practicing our oral language skills by sharing a page from a novel. We’re now in the process of writing our own speeches.
Konstantin decides that having to hold the book is for sissies
Grandpa Rensen enthralls us all with tales from long ago.
Storybooks
We’ve added another illustrated narrative to our storybooks this term.
Dylan’s latest is a war between robots and humans.
Luke’s latest is the story of a war between flies and spiders.
War! – what is it good for? Stories, if nothing else.
Art
In Art, we’ve had a focus on learning to draw and colour landscapes.
Poppy finishes giving her tree a “perm”.
Chelsea’s left hand takes a holiday, while her right hand is busy at work.
Production Rehearsal
As you would have heard, we have our major production coming up at the end of term. We’ve been busy learning and rehearsing all the songs and dances
At Wentworth we pride ourselves on students being able to know where their knees and ears are.
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Hi parents,
Here’s some highlights from the term thus far…
New Students
At the start of Term 3, we had two young men join us: Konstantin and Ollie. Three weeks in, they’re part of the team, and it’s easy to forget that they’re new.
Konstantin and Ollie. Both always early for school because they don’t have to
waste time styling their hair.
Art
Early this term we finished our self portraits. They are hanging in the school hallway for you to check out, next time you are in.
Oscar in the early stages of a skin-graft
Daniel animated in more ways than one.
Topic
For topic, we’re taking a look at history. We’ll begin to focus on the 1920’s: the period of our upcoming school production.
Matching his place on the timeline, Tiger adopts the pose of a reclining Roman emperor
Science
We’ve been focusing on the properties and behaviour of magnets.
Ollie finds his bones and sinews are no match for magnetic force.
Konstantin gets a trail of magnets going
Harper made this himself at home: a magnetic contraption that causes two coins to stand upright.
Oscar uses magnets to become a hipster. Now he just needs skinny jeans.
Reading
We’ve been learning to participate in “Literacy Circles”. The students are in groups of 5, with each group reading the same novel. They have different roles to fulfil, such as “Discussion Director”, “Passage Picker”, “Word Master” etc. Every 3 days they have a discussion day where they discuss and share what they have prepared.
Claire ponders the far-reaching implications of Poppy’s statement. Or, she just wishes it was
her turn. Can’t remember which.
The boys are turning pages. An important skill to master when you are reading.
Ethan seems to literally have his nose in a book.
Luke and Dylan with their best “show me how much you love learning” faces
Cross Country
On Friday 10th August, we had our annual cross country event. An all around good effort and attitude from the Year 4’s. No tears, just flushed faces!
The Sienna-strut
The Aston-Martin, firing on all cylinders
The Jack-Be-Nimble, Jack-Be-Quick
Maths
The last couple of weeks have seen us focusing on fractions. For instance, “which fractions are equivalent to three quarters?”, or “how many more thirds to make one whole?”
Ethan wonders why Maths worksheets always seem to include cartoon fish
Sienna wonders what fraction of $10 she is entitled to if she allows images of herself to be used on our Blog.
Wacky Wraps
Earlier in the term, we enjoyed making Beeswax wraps with Mrs McLeish. It was fascinating to watch the beeswax pellets melting in the oven and forming a protective layer around our cloths. It was also a great application of our learning in science around liquids and solids.
Beeswax wraps: the hottest trend in winter fashion.
Jack shows us all how it’s done. I bet he makes a great lasagna as well.
Music Festival
We had a great time performing our items for the Music Festival. The thrill of an evening performance was great for the kids, and there’s no question that we were justified in having our own performance, separate from the College.
The hardest thing about being a dog is the fleas you attract..
Despite being nocturnal, possums love the limelight.
Claire exaggerates the the size of the last fish she caught.
Stardome Visit
Our visit to the Stardome Observatory, stimulated a lot of good learning. In class, we followed up the visit by looking further into some of the questions that arose such as, “what causes the seasons?”, and “how many different sorts of constellations are there”?
Oscar is pointing to something, which means he must be learning.
The students worried at first that this was some sort of sneaky dental examination.
Chelsea is concerned that such a large web must be the work of a very large spider.
Breakers Basketball Sessions
Class Korora have very much enjoyed the basketball sessions we’ve had the last couple of weeks, led by Coach C. Before the sessions many of the students thought dribbling was something you only did with a mouthful of saliva, but are now much more adept at basketball skills.
Ethan is impressed with Couch C’s Black Swan impression.
Thomas measures the width of his belly button?
Harper and Tiger try to wrangle an unruly tape measure
Oscar realises that letting go of the tape measure measures gravity, not height.
In groups, the students planned and conducted an experiment in which they changed one factor e.g. “will the chocolate melt faster if it’s cut into smaller pieces?”
Luke and Daniel exploring how different liquids melt at different rates
Ethan, Sienna and Luke wishing the experiment was “how much chocolate can I fit in my mouth?”
Ethan wishing the experiment was “how many marbles can I fit in my mouth?”
Poppy worries about the experiment’s effect on her last manicure.
Aston ponders the metaphysical themes in the great literary piece: “I Want My Potty”.
Hi parents,
Here’s a couple of highlights from Term 2 so far…
Maths
In our first week back we continued to explore measurement and how it connects to decimal numbers
Thomas measures the width of his belly button?
Harper and Tiger try to wrangle an unruly tape measure
Oscar realises that letting go of the tape measure measures gravity, not height.
Science
For science, we’ve been looking at states of matter (solids, liquids and gases). In Week 3, we looked at how chocolate can melt when it’s sitting on a plate placed on top of a bowl of heated water.
In groups, the students planned and conducted an experiment in which they changed one factor e.g. “will the chocolate melt faster if it’s cut into smaller pieces?”
Luke and Daniel exploring how different liquids melt at different rates
Ethan, Sienna and Luke wishing the experiment was “how much chocolate can I fit in my mouth?”
Ethan wishing the experiment was “how many marbles can I fit in my mouth?”
Poppy worries about the experiment’s effect on her last pedicure.
Writing
For the last three weeks we’ve exploring the conventions of effective storybooks, and using what we’ve learned to plan our own.
It’s required our full creative powers to come up with good ideas that are original and entertaining. The students have been sharing their ideas with the class, getting feedback, and improving their ideas where necessary.
Most of us are now at the stage where we are ready to start the first draft of our story.
Aston ponders the metaphysical themes in the great literary piece: “I Want My Potty”
Grandparents Day
On Friday of Week 3, we had our annual Grandparents Day. We performed some songs and dances as a whole school and then went back to our class for some learning about the past. The year 4’s asked the grandparents about what school was like in their day. Using that information we compared and contrasted using Venn diagrams.
Amongst other things, the students were fascinated to learn that left-handed students were punished if they didn’t use the “correct” hand!
Hi parents,
I thought I’d take a moment to share with you some of the special events we had in Term 1.
ASB Get Wise Session
It was an upbeat, engaging lesson that the students learned a lot from. I wouldn’t trust them with your credit cards just yet though… ; )
Reptile Park Visit
On March 15th, Wentworth Primary visited the Reptile Park at Ti Point, Leigh.
For many of us it was our first visit. It certainly was for me, and I was impressed with the place. The students were able to get up close and personal with a number of reptiles (though we did keep a healthy distance from the alligator).
Year 4 – 6 Camp
The major event of this Term! It may have been at the regional park, but it was certainly no walk in the park: running, sliding, swimming, diving, shooting, flaming, climbing, kicking…all the intense verbs!
The Year 4’s coped with it all admirably. I’m sure it stretched them all in one capacity or another, and I’m sure they won’t forget it in a hurry.
