New science inquiry - habitats, species and what changed we can make to help

For the next few weeks we will be learning about habitats and animal species, focusing on the big questions of:

What changes do I need to make to protect habitats & species?

Assessment Week

This week we will using art to show our understanding of the different habitats in New Zealand and the species that live in them.

A-Z Habitats	Department of Conservation

One reading activity for SML is to go to the Department of Conservation website and research a native animal species of New Zealand.

Here is the link

The task is to complete the following:

1. Status information - if applicable

Māori name:

New Zealand status:

Conservation status:

Found in:

Threats:

2. Facts        -   Chose 2 headings on the fact sheets and record 3 facts for each.

3. Location

• Take an NZ map and an atlas and locate where your animal is found in NZ (and on Islands outside of mainland NZ). Write the name of the location and colour the area,
• Glue into your reading activity book

4. Drawing

• Do a pencil sketch of your animal
• Once you have done your sketch you can colour it in

Year 5 / 6 Whanau Hui and jump jam

Each Thursday morning this term the year 5 and 6 classes (Rm 5, 6, 10, 11, 24) meet in the hall for jump jam. This is part of our move to work closer together across a range of learning areas. We do PE and Te Reo together, and this term we include jump jam (fitness), our integrated learning science topic and some mathematics.

Here are a couple of photos and two very brief videos of us in action.

What would I see if others are showing the CARE values in the playground?

- Agree on the game rules
- Play fairly √ √
- Students letting others join in rather than say ' there's too many people, you can't play'
– Students standing up for others who are getting bullied - UPstander
– Students not being left out of games
- NO rubbish on the field because it would have been put in the bin
– No bosses in games; students working together
– students treating others like they want to be treated
– keeping their hands and feet and mouths to themselves
– students respecting the playground equipment √√
- recognising that shaking and trying to knock others off the forts is dangerous

St patrick's Day

Today is St Patricks Day. It is March 17.

This is what we know, or think we know about St Patrick's Day

+ The leprechaun slides down the rainbow
+ It is Ireland's Nation Day
+ It is said that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
+ It is the day of the little gnombs
+ They are known for the three leaf clover
+ They dance an Irish jig
+ St Patrick's Day was the day there was peace between the British and the Irish
+ The thing on the rainbow is a myth
+ I think the leprechaun has a gold tooth
+ Leprechauns wear a green suit
+ Leprechauns have special hats, boots and belt


Then we watched a video

And now we know ...

+ It is a myth that if you don't wear green on St Patrick's Day a leprechaun will pinch you
+ Everyone should wear green on St Patrick's Day
+ St Patrick was actually British, rather than Irish
+ They have parades to celebrate St Patrick's Day - the largest one is in New York
+ St Patrick was kidnapped by the British and kept in captivity for 6 years.
+ When he dies people forgot about him and then they started celebrating on the day he died
+ He dies 1600 years ago, exactly.

Flag Referendum

Today we had the chance to experience what it feels like to participate in New Zealand's democratic process. We have been learning about the flag referendum and today we got the opportunity to vote for either keeping the current flag or changing to the Kyle Lockwood alternative.

All Kauri students went to the hall throughout the day to make their vote. Room 24's returning officer - the person who asked us our name, ruled a line through it and directed us to the voting booths - was Daniel B, and he did a great job.

One by one we came up, gave our name and then were given a pen and off we went to a voting booth to fill out a voting paper. We then folded it up and placed it inside one of the post boxes.

Tomorrow a group of students will count the votes and they will announce the results of the Kauri Flag Referendum. We will let you know the result.

Here are some photos of students in action.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the awesome Daniel, Jack, Tanika and Ella on receiving certificates at yesterday's whole school assembly.

Swim success

Congratulations to the amazing Ella who today received her certificates for 1st place in the 9yrs 50metre freestyle and backstroke at the recent Kauri team swim trials.

Ella will next be in action at the SW Zones swim champs in a couple of weeks. If she places 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the finals of her events she will be eligible to attend the Primary Schools Swim Championships.

Well done, Ella