Hauora Challenge! - Te Whare Tapa Whā

 

*Updated* Sharing our Home Learning!

 

Home Learning - STEM and Writing

Happy Birthday Anare! - Made by Talei

Home Learning - Task Board

Hauora!

Cross country training is well under way! This year we are participating in cross country by either running or fast walking. We are learning about setting realistic goals for ourselves and why participating in daily kori tinana is great for our hauora. While we are practising for our cross country we are also working towards our Rā Hauora in week 5 of this term. The Amazing Race - Rā Hauora will be a fun team race with a focus on collaboration and inclusiveness.

Up, Up and Away!

This week we explored the definition of flight! We looked into which objects can fly and how. 

We first explored this by creating different paper planes that are made to do different things. Our planes either glided, went really fast, or spun! We introduced fair testing by identifying who made the best plane for its purpose. We thought about what defined 'best' and how can we measure that? We also created objects that required wings and tested the best shape for creating lift. 

Science of Sound!

Sound starts with a simple vibration. When any object vibrates, it causes movement in the air particles. These particles bump into the particles close to them, which makes them vibrate too causing them to bump into more air particles. This movement called sound waves, keeps going until they run out of energy. If your ear is within range of the vibrations, you hear the sound. 

When learning about sound we have looked into the way bumble bees extract pollen from flowers by buzzing. A bumblebee grabs hold of a flower and vigorously shakes its body using its powerful flight muscles, not its wings. These vibrations cause pollen to be released from the flower and are propelled onto the bumblebees body. In some of the pictures below we used tuning forks to see how the vibrations move corn flour 'pollen' off of a balloon and cup 'flower'.

For digital technology we learnt about computational thinking which is a set of problem-solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in ways that a computer could also do. We made our way through a 'super computer' and sorted out our tuning forks from highest pitch to lowest pitch. The way we did this was by tapping the tuning fork and listening to the sound it made. We compared this to our buddies tuning fork and decided which was higher or lower. We then followed coloured lines for the higher and lower pitch until we finally were sorted in order. 

Check out some of the sound experiments we have done so far!

 

Measurement Matters!

How tall? How much? How heavy? What time did you wake up this morning? What size is your shirt?  What is your temperature? Why is measurement important? Measurement provides a standard for everyday things and processes. It is everywhere playing a vital, and often unexpected role, in our daily lives. This week we explored hands-on 'real world' activities, we explored using standard versus non-standard units of measure, and were introduced to the difference between accuracy and precision. We learnt how to take accurate measurements and the importance of calibrating measuring devices.

Check out our measuring experiences below!

Fireworks Science!

From 'fireworks' in a test tube to changing the colour of a candle flame, room 12 loved the the exciting activities we did this week! We had the opportunity to predict, observe and explain natural phenomena, in the context of fire. What is the fire triangle? What are the different zones in a candle flame and what is happening in each zone? What creates the colours in fireworks? We explored these questions but in a safe an engaging way. 

Check out the pictures of our experiments below!

Seeley's Gully

In term 2 we are starting a new unit about the history of Aotearoa. A part of this unit will focus on the shaping of Kirikiriroa throughout history. As a part of our unit we went for a walk to Seeley's Gully and looked at the beautiful nature we have right in the middle of our city. The gully was completely bare when Mr Seeley began planting in the 1960s. Now mature groves of kahikatea, Rimu, Kanuka, Mahoe, Nikau palms and tree ferns line the walkways. 

Hukanui Marae Trip

 This week our school visited the Hukanui marae. We as Manuhiri (visitors) were welcomed onto the marae by the tangata whenua (people of the land). The Hukanui marae is the marae that Hamilton East School has a connection to. 

The marae was moved because of the arrival of British troops in 1864. The new wharepuni (camp hut) was built from ponga logs and raupo reeds. Named after the nearby swamp land. It is very foggy on cold frosty mornings, and the fog hangs down low on the ground. The second Maaori king was Tawhaio, Tukuroto Matutaera Potatau Te Wherowhero. He called the Wharenui 'Tu Tururu-a-papa kamutu'. Enduring the land. To the people, this means that they will not be made to move again. Their marae is their home and it will always be there.

We are now a part of the Hukanui Marae.

Marae experience - By Layton Mace

Tuurangawaewae - Portraits

Tuurangawaewae in maaori culture is a sense of identity and independence associated with having a home base. Through this we explore our own identity and place in the world. The main question we ask ourselves is Ko Wai au? Who am I? 

As a part of our Tuurangawaewae learning we explored the art style of maaori artist Robyn Kahukiwa. Robyn Kahukiwa is a leading maaori artist who has done a lot to raise awareness of contemporary maaori art. Her art style is often political and addresses the oppression of Maaori woman by the social structures of the dominant Pakeha culture and the change in Maaori tradition. In her artwork she acknowledges the disappearance of meaning and identity - specifically maaori identity.

Here are a few examples of the amazing artwork ruuma tekau maa rua has completed. The task was to complete a self portrait inspired by Robyn's style. We added in Tui to incorporate our hub name (Tui hub) and other designs inspired by papatuanuku.