Working with colons

Today we learnt about colons and how to use them.  We watched this You tube video clip to give us some examples as well as some information on how to use them.  We also became aware that American punctuation can be different to ours as we use the British form.

Check out the You Tube video the class viewed as part of theit Word Study programme.

This will help us to know how and when to use semi colons.

Ioane and Regan's Mustelid PicCollage

After carrying out research about the mustelids that were brough into New Zealand, Ioane and Regan created thier PicCollage with details about the pests we now have in New Zealand.

Visitors To Room 1 last week

Last week as part of our reading, one group of studetnts were looking at the effects of mustelids being brought into New Zealand to keep control of rabbits.  Stoats, weasels and ferrets liked this country so much that they stopped hunting the rabbits they were brought out  here for, to devour our kiwi, their eggs, weta, native frogs and other small lizards.  The result of that was that they are now the pest and we have now to find ways to get rid of the mustelids.    The visitors, from left to right are: the weasel, ferret, partly obscured and the stoat.  They came from DoC for a few days.  Luckily, they are stuffed and will not kill any more kiwi.

Looking at Unsustainable Practices around the world

Our Beginning Thinking about Sustainability.

At the beginning of the term, we brainstormed what unsustainable practices might be.  We then, worked in groups with a picture of something that was not positive for our environment.  We considered four categories while thinking about the pictures: environmental, social, cultural and economic perspectives.   Our thinking led to a wide range of ideas and the next thing we need to do is to think about something that was common to all of them in one way or another.

These are our charts as they appear on the classroom wall.

Hamish sharing his speech with Hillary House

Hamish prepared a speech about the Independence Games. Has has participated in them over the past few years. His speech was instead of a debate presentation which the rest of the class participated in last term. There were some very persuasive presentations from Scottish Independence, Plastic Bags Should be Banned, Zoos Should be Banned and Cats Should be Contained in their own Properties.

Welcome back toTerm 4! 
The summer uniforms are dusted and ready for their last airing in 2014. 
The students have arrived back eager to meet their mates and catch up on the last two weeks of holidays.
Lots of questions were asked: 
'Where am I sitting?'
'Can I get more gold points this term?'
'How was the holiday?  Did you go away?'
'What are we 'doing' this term?

We are focusing on a theme of inquiry based on: Building a Sustainable Future
Our global learning intention is: How are our decisions and actions affecting earth's resources and our future?

The diagram below is the basis of the approach that we intend to utilise. Watch this space!