Week 5 Update

Kia Ora All,

On Friday we looked at a video about the rock cycle and the three types of rocks. We followed up with an activity learning about what happens to different types of rock as they are subjected to different conditions e.g., erosion. Next week we're going to do some more work on this activity as well as making a sedimentary rock. If your child would like to bring a couple of shells or similar, they could put them into their sedimentary rocks as 'fossils'.

• Homework books & book bags on Monday please!

Rock On,
Mr M

Week 4 update

Kia Ora All,

I thoroughly enjoyed the school BBQ and meet the teacher evening last week. We had a great discussion in Room 2 covering many areas such as mindfulness in the classroom, helping children manage anxious thoughts and build resilience, screen time etc. We also shared parenting tips (for those of you who may not be aware, my daughter is in Room 2 this year) and contrasted our own experiences of school with the experience our kids have these days. I found it to be an enjoyable and valuable discussion. Here are a few things to look out for this week:

• Homework books and book bags to school on Monday please. 
• In doing some research looking for kids' audiobooks recently, I found this RNZ page with a bunch of audiobooks for different age levels. It would be a great way to supplement your nightly read-aloud for your child. 
• If you don't participate in homework formally then please ensure your child is reading nightly and that you have a read-aloud on the go.
• If your child needs to be excused from PE, please send a note so I know their excuse is legitimate. 
• This term for science / inquiry we're studying rocks and volcanoes. On Friday we started our first activity sorting rocks using a hardness scale. To test hardness we used a scale dependent on how easy it was to scratch the rock with a fingernail, a piece of copper, or a paperclip. If the paperclip couldn't scratch the rock we tested to see if the rock could scratch a piece of glass and sorted the rocks accordingly. Below are some photos.

Rock on,

Mr M

Welcome to 2020 in Room 2

Tena Koutou Katoa,

I hope everyone is still feeling refreshed and relaxed after an excellent summer holiday. My family and I had a great break mostly staying around the Bay, but we also spent time on the West Coast and in Christchurch with grandparents. Here is a quick breakdown of what's coming up over the next couple of weeks as school swings back into gear:

• On Thursday the school is heading out to Wainui to check our planting site on the Wainui Sandspit. The recent hot weather and lack of rain has stressed the trees that we planted last year, so we're planning to take some water out to try to help them out. Children will need sunscreen, hats, togs, shoes, lunch etc for the day. 
• The other very important item we need is bottles to carry water in for the trees. We will be taking water from the carpark to the sandspit by hand. I reckon bottles with handles such as milk bottles would be ideal.
• The class newsletter will be going out on Friday. It will have information about what's coming up this term in Room 2 in terms of class programme.
• I haven't organised homework for this week. I anticipate kicking that off next week. I'll include information about that in the class newsletter.
• Next Thursday we are planning a meet the teacher evening and school picnic. More information will be in the school newsletter shortly.
• As always feel free to contact me with questions etc.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the first few of days with this bunch of kids and am looking forward to an eventful and fun year. Below are some photos of the students in action doing some self portrait art, which will be up on the walls shortly.

Rock On,

Mr M

Start of Term 4 Update

Kia Ora All,

I hope everyone had a great holiday and you are all ready to rock 'n' roll for one last term! Here's a heads up about what's coming up.

• This term, one of our inquiry focusses will be how plants survive and thrive. This will involve learning about photosynthesis; the different parts of a plant, flower and a seed; how plants reproduce etc. One thing we'll be doing is growing some seeds in class. If you have any spare seeds that the kids might enjoy growing, please send them along to school.
• Part of the homework checklist is the possibility of doing some Maths Buddy at home. I've set a bunch of tasks for each student that will hopefully last a few weeks. If you're looking for new ideas for your home learning programme, you might like to consider adding in some Maths Buddy. 
• Speaking of homework: Please make sure your child has their homework book ready and at school on Monday!
• I'm looking forward to another exciting term.

Rock on,

Mr M

Science and Maths

Kia Ora All,

This week in maths we are learning about probability. This involves making predictions about "what’s in the bag?" by drawing cubes from the bag (and then returning them). We found out that the more turns we had the more we knew about what was inside the bag. This knowledge helped us make predictions about what cube we might draw out next. However we also found out that with chance involved you can never know for sure. For home learning you could play "what’s in the bag?"

Put a total of six buttons (or counters) of two colours in a paper bag or container that you can’t see into. Ask your child to try to work out what colours the six buttons are by drawing out the buttons one at a time. It is important that the button is put back into the bag each time. Let your child do this as many times as they want until they are ready to predict the colours. Ask them to explain their prediction and then let them look in the bag.

Next time let your child make up a bag for you to work out.

We've also been learning about circuits by making buzz wire games. This Thursday is science fair day. Will you have the concentration and dexterity necessary to complete your child's buzz wire challenge without being 'buzzed"?

Rock On,

Mr M

What's In The Bag?

Buzz Wire