Awesome Animal Mosaic Art!

Wow - check out this amazing art from our Year 5s!

Firstly:
- we created graffiti art on A3 size paper using crayon and pastel
- then we did a wash of dye over the top

Then:
- we ripped the paper up!!!!!!
- we put it all in a pile in the middle to SHARE

Then:
- we created our animals fur/feathers by placing similar colours together and arranging them until we were happy with what we saw
- we used pva glue to make sure it stuck well

After that:
- we researched our chosen animals eye
- we discovered that eyes are not just one colour!
- we had lots of fun recreating the eyes using pastel
- we learnt that the white spot that makes the eye POP is actually a reflection

We are so proud of our work!!!

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs written by Jon Scieszka

The Fantail and Pukeko reading groups learned and rehearsed a Reader's Theatre of this story over the last couple of weeks.
We learned lots about:
- speaking clearly
- using expression
- speaking loudly
- working as a team
- helping each other to be successful

We were pretty happy with how our Reader's Theatre turned out - we are going to share it with all our classes so that everyone can hear how great this story is!

Who knew there was another side to the story?!!!

Maths Strand Puzzles!

Recently Koka Ngaire has challenged us with puzzles in EL4 Maths Strand... we have had measurement, algebra, geometry and statistics puzzles.

The very first puzzle was 'The Farmer's Sheep' from NZ Maths. 

After Koka Ngaire shared this with us and we had read the problem we wanted to:
- give the sheep back
- hide the sheep
- eat the sheep!!!
In other words - we thought the problem was HARD!



Some of us persevered and started working with random number combinations, others got some equipment out to move around.  Suddenly, someone had THE answer.

THE answer got shared - however, someone else had THE answer - but it was different!  There was a LOT of discussion.... someone else figured out another answer!

We shared our strategies and our different answers... we got LOTS of answers.  So, we brainstormed what was helpful and tricky and why.

There were so many different answers that were ALL correct!
What we discovered:
- all the corners added to 11 no matter what combination we used
- sometimes there is more than one answer

Some of our combinations.... the crossed out ones did not fit the criteria

What we learnt... and yet MORE combinations!

 HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS CAN YOU FIND?!

Surfing Kids!

Here are some of our awesome student surfers!

Our Year 6s surf every Friday morning in Term 1 and Term 4 and just recently there was a Surf Slam.... some pics of our MLH learners showing their stuff on the waves from the Gisborne Herald.

Inspired by James K Baxter

Our Level 3 writers were inspired by James K Baxter's poem 'This Town' recently.   We learnt about James K Baxter and how he was inspired by his surroundings and people around him.

We were looking at writing recounts in a different kind of way. 

For this exercise, we borrowed the structure of the poem to create our own memory poem of somewhere that is extra special to us.    It was fun trying to create a memory of our special place without saying exactly where it was.  We enjoying sharing our poems with the rest of our group.  Have a read here yourself.

Support our Craft Fair!!

Wow - we have been busy beavers today in Moana Learning Hub!
Our school Craft Fair is coming up next Saturday 17 November and today we had a Make & Do Day to get our craft items ready.

We have made: airdry clay christmas ornaments and jewellery dishes, christmas card packs, baking in a jar, little poi and jewellery (necklaces and bracelets).  We had 2 awesome mums (thanks Dayna and Kari) come in to help us.

We are really proud of our efforts and look forward to selling our wares next weekend.  Perhaps you could come along to our craft fair too!

Cafe Day!!

Wow - our Cafe Day was today and it was brilliant!!!
We had to postpone it from during Term 3 when our topic was 'Actions Speak Louder than Words'... but in the end it ended up fitting in perfectly with this term's topic of 'Culture Club'.

Everyone in Moana Learning Hub was involved.... our whanau baked delicious food, we decided what entertainment we should have (especially to showcase all our talents) and invited guests - namely our elders.

We had the first 3 weeks of term to practice and get ready... we had ukelele playing, singing, dance, gymnastics, jump jam and finished with a haka.  We had a full hall of guests and everyone had a very, very enjoyable time!

We did such a good job that we were even able to sit down together at the end and indulge in some of the baked goodness that was left over!

Many thanks to everyone who helped us: before, during and after!!

Here is a video with just a snippet of the awesome entertainment enjoyed through the morning....

We also made it into the Gisborne Herald!