Moving the Moai

Today we felt like it might be to move a Moai, the traditional name for the Easter Island (RapaNui) statues. We were feeling the burn that the carvers may have felt when they were trying to move the Moai into position.  After this, we went back into the classroom to create poems reflecting the pain and pressure of moving a heavy, cumbersome load. The results were amazing! They will follow these  photos.

Creating our Class Hou

During Term 3 we began to create hou (paddles) which are to be symbolic of the year that the students had at HNI. I did not realise how long they would take for the students to create so term 4 has arrived and we are now near the final stage of them.

They are being made by small groups, pairs or just individuals. They will be  covered in layers of  papier mache, white paper, then painted white, have designs set out on them and then painted carefully.

The idea came from seeing examples that showed how different cultures could be represented symbolically in a visual format on a papier mache hou.

The hou is to represent the work in the form of paddling that the students do on their journey through Havelock North Intermediate.

Watch this space to see the end results.

Roksolana in the early construction phase of her hou.

Summer and Kataraina 

Renee just starting out.

 Vicky and Makenzie at the ripping stage.

Cort is at the initial stage where he is starting his framework of the hou.

Eva, Ruby and Callum beginning the first layers of their papier mache. EVa is working out how to do this without getting glue everywhere.

Rio and Connor smoothing the base of the papier mache blade while Max looks on!

Renee planning out how the handle will be attached to the blade part of her hoe.

Forensic Science in Room 17

This term our theme is Exploring the Unexplained. We have begun by looking at some forensic science. We have determined that everytime they ask a question, they find that there are more questions that they have. This was shown in our recent experience carried out in Week 1 of the term,.  The students looked at six powders, four of which they knew. The other two powders needed to be analysed closely.

Further discussions helped them to consider options while they were working together where they had to act as a forensic scientist would do when investigating unknown powders.

They were given the white powders and had to observe them closely.  They then had to watch what happened when water, white vinegar and iodine were added to the powders.

Their reactions were recorded so that they could consider the differences and then ask 'why'.

 

Max and Lewis, using the magnifying glass to note any reactions which they will record later.

Daniella Brooke and Melissa are checking out the reaction of water mixed with cornflour and then noting the effect on the powder. They quickly recognised that the new product they had created was something like Ooblek.

Melissa, recording their group's results of their observations and outcomes.

Learner Agency with Rugby Lessons.

Lewis, Fletcher and Ollie carried out several teaching sessions in rugby skills.  These students are very skilled in the game so they were asked to plan several lessons that included a warm up, skills teaching session and a game to consolidate what they had covered.

They had to show their planning to Ms Moratti to ensure that they had ideas that were new to the learners so that they would be extending the student rugby skills and knowledge as well a develop games that extended the skills even further.

The boys had to ensure that everthing they said was clearly explained and heard so that the activities could be carried out effectively.

At the end of the teaching sessions, the class then gave Ollie, Fletcher and Lewis feedback to their coaching and teaching of new skills.  Overall, the class enjoyed the boys teaching them and gave constructive feedback for future teaching activities. 

The class was keen to take part in the PE lessons. Some students have asked if they can teach their sporting skills to the rest of the class.   

Makenzie: Our Hawke's Bay Under 14 Canoe Polo Rep Player

Makenzie is wearing her Hawke's Bay travelling uniform, while Eva is holding her playing top.  Makenzie is a member of the HB Hurrikets.

Understandably, she is very proud of her efforts but she has had to work very hard in order to be selected for the team.  She is travelling these holidays, to take part in the tournament in....

Making a Footbag. (Hakey Sack)

Melissa read a book about making a hapy sack.  After reading it, she decided that she would like to make a one.  She followed the procedure and created it.  After a few steps where she had to visit the procedure again, she finally created one made with four different coloured balloons.

She really enjoyed the process, even making her own funnel and carrying out alternative steps she thought that they would be more effective.

The Hakey sack went home to be played with by her siblings.

 

Matariki Art Forms

Part of the art carried out in Room 17 for Matariki involved the use of colour blending and then creating and effect with black on white.  Eden and Melissa presented their work showing that using Learner Agency, they could display their thinking and creativity using their perspective.  Eden wanted to show the early Maori arriving in Aotearoa while Melissa wanted to people coming together.

Th is goes to show that's everyone interprets art ideas int their own way, and that is totally ok.