Same and Different

This week room 4 started its new major inquiry about cultural differences and practices. We began our inquiry by finding out where our different ancestors originated from. We used this information to gauge the different cultures that could be represented in the year 3 & 4 syndicate.

Afterwards room 4 watched a short video clip about a group of teenagers from Sudan who learn first hand about the cultural practices that exist in America that are vastly different from their own country.

Cultural Differences

After viewing the video clip and discussing what the Sudanese boys had experienced the students worked in pairs to record their ideas about what they thought culture was. Below is a collection of all the ideas.

We also watched a video clip about what it is like to go to school in Japan. We used the information to create a compare & contrast chart that compared New Zealand schools to Japanese schools.

Nelson Provincial Museum Trip

On Wednesday room 4 went to the Nelson museum to learn more about Gallipoli.

First we had a look at some paintings, photographs, and diary entries of a Gallipoli soldier called Jack Dunn. We talked about the soldier's experiences and feelings.

Next we made a banner based on what we think about as 'home'. Some students painted the banner with a landscape on it and the rest of us painted words on strips of material about our ideas of home.

Afterwards we got to look at the exhibition and then we went back to school.

Thank you to all the mums that helped out.

By Tristan. 

Gallipoli Groems

Our inquiry has been about the Gallipoli campaign. We have written groems, which are a cross between a poem and a grizzle (a grizzle is a sort of complaint). 

We have written groems about what daily life was like for a solider at Gallipoli. In the groem we included what it looks like, sounds like, tastes like, smells like and feels like.  

We published our groems using a website called Festisite where we were able to choose a font and the way our words would be printed out. There were different ways to print (spiral, waves and valentine).

Thanks for reading.

By Tara & Violet.

Thinkers Keys

In room 4 we have been using the thinking keys. The thinking keys are different ways that we can think creativity and help us to problem solve.

So far we have used the 'In Common', 'Question' and 'Reverse' thinking keys. The 'In Common' key is used to see what two different things have in common. The 'Question' key is used to think of different questions that have the same answer and the 'Reverse' key is thinking about actions that you would not do with something. For example you wouldn't use a banana to brush your teeth.

By Alfie & Violet

Term 2 is underway...

Inquiring into

For the first 3 weeks of term 2 room 4 are inquiring into New Zealand's role at Gallipoli. We began our inquiry last Monday by exploring how New Zealand became involved in WW1. 

We watched a series of animations about the landing at Gallipoli that was told from the ANZAC's perspective as well as the Ottoman's perspective. 

Afterwards we discussed the following questions

• Why did the landing go wrong?
• What challenges did they face because of where they landed?

We recorded our thoughts about what might have happened differently if the soldiers landed where they had expected to. We also recorded key words under each of the following themes related to Gallipoli: Challenges...Confusions...Bad luck...Solutions. Finally we used what we had learnt to draw a picture of what the landing may have looked like.

Literacy

During our writing sessions we have been creating scripts for fitness video clips that we can use on wet days. 

We first of all talked about the steps we would need to undertake in order to create a video clip. We then decided upon the best order to do the steps in. 

We have almost finished our fitness video clips so stayed tuned to see the finished product.  

ANZAC ceremony

On Friday we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli by holding a special ceremony at school. 

Members of the New Zealand Air Force spoke at the event and each member of room 4 was given the opportunity to lay a paper poppy next to a cross that recognised a fallen New Zealand soldier.

  

Fluffy Easter Chickens

In room 4 we make Easter chickens. We made them out of tissue paper, plastic eyes and orange cardboard.  

The first step was to scrunch up the tissue paper and glue them on to the cardboard. Next we drew around his hand and drew some legs for our chickens. We stapled these onto the bodies.

By Grifinn

Tahuna Tuatara Award

Hailey is a mature and super considerate member of room 4. 

She is always willing to help others with their learning and regularly offers her support with the upkeep and appearance of room 4. 

Hailey is highly organised with her learning and is always respectful to those she learns and plays with. 

It is a privilege to have you as a member of room 4.Well done Hailey on a fantastic start to 2015.