MAGNATISM

Well today was the last of the Science Activation Activities that we had to do. We were able to play around with the new magnetic kit that had just arrived at school. Playing with the metals shavings making different patterns was popular as was dealing with the magnets repelling each other.

SCIENCE

Today we looked at heat. We found there were a number of ways heat could be made. We looked at  human, mechanical or electrical means of creating heat today. Sanding a block of wood or using a rubber quickly both meant we created friction and things got hot pretty quickly. The girls tried out the hairdryer (and so did some of the boys.....I think they have used one before). The lamp also got hot pretty quickly if it was left on for a while. The skateboard wheels couldn't be kept going long enough or fast enough to make any real heat. Air going into the airbed made the valve on the pump hot if you were able to pump hard and fast enough.

 

SCIENCE

We have started some of our science samplers this week. We were able to try out electricity, testing whether objects were insulators or conductors, using a circuit we had made up. In other activities we worked with a number of examples of friction to see how friction affected the movement of various objects. We were also able to see how various forces worked in different ways to create movement. Those we have to look forward to include studying, heat light and sound.

AT WHAT STAGE OF OUR LEARNING ARE WE?

Recently we have been looking at 'what is learning?' and "what makes a good learner?'. As part of this we have in Room 8 decided upon some definitions for the various stages we could be at when talking about a skill we have learnt or are learning. Think of a skill you have and then try rating yourself using these.

TOPICS IN TERM 2

We as teachers have recently had time to start looking at our possible topics for next term. These topics are going to largely affect what you as student will do next term. On the Inquiry Link to the side is a link to some science sites. Have a look at some of these, complete the activities and games. Early next term you will get to experience one lesson in each of these areas. As a class we will then have to decide which area we might investigate further.

INQUIRY PROJECT

Finally Room 8 of 2012 have achieved the first part of their goal. Having visited Muritai School (Thank you Mr Bird for letting us come) we decided we wanted to put up some murals making the school more 'child friendly' and showing some of the history of Wainuiomata Primary. Room 8 also decided we wanted to create our own 'class sign' in order to show some of the things that meant something to us in their class. It is our hope that other classes will see these murals and then want to complete artworks and room signs of their own. 

The photos below are of the artworks that were finally put up this week. We hope to have a official unveiling ceremony in the coming few weeks to say thank you to the huge number of people, all of whom were former students and/or parents of Wainui Primary, who were involved in getting these completed.  Courtney (Mural designer/artist), Olivia (Room 8 Sign artist), Michelle (parent helping supervise student artists) Mrs Burdon, Lisa and Robyn (who got us to Muritai, Eastbourne and the old Woodhatton School), Hannah W, DJ and Hannah H (former students at school on work experience who helped touch up various parts of the murals)

A big 'thank you' must go out to Dan Totty and staff at the MMS Group who donated time and materials to ensure the artworks were graffiti proofed at no cost to Room 8.

HOMELEARNING and Basic Facts Results

Last week were the best results for Home-Learning completed and Basic Facts tests passed in Room 8 this year.  Our goal is to get better each week.

So what are you going to do to help improve our results? Use you Green Thinking Hat to come up with some ways to help yourself and others improve the classes results. Maybe we need to also use our Yellow Hat to consider the positives of what people are already doing that works and our Black Hat to consider what is not working well with what we are doing.

Double click on the page below to add a comment. Put GH, YH, RD, BLKH, WH or BH to tell us which hat you are using before writing your comment. Your comment will show up when Mr Cooper has checked it.

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