Most Improved writer award....Annalise!

Have a look at the bush adventure photo's below, then check out Anna's rcount:

The bush adventure

"Watch out!" I exclaimed to Mr Cowie.  Yesterday we were going to the bush with the class and Mr Cowie almost walked into a branch.  We stopped, and we looked like dominoes about to hit each other.  I heard birds making noises around me like a pack of wolves howling.

Later, we were walking through the bush when suddenly...
"Arrrgghhhhh!" I tripped on the shiny slippery slope.  Luckily Mr Cowie helped me down.
"Thanks Mr Cowie, I exclaimed.  Had we finally stopped?  Then he answered with "you have 15v minutes to build a Bear Gryls survival hut!"

First, my group found a large stick.  We shaped it up and placed it inside the tree branches.  Then we got more sticks to keep it stable.  After that we grabbed massive ferns and layed them down on the sticks for shelter.

"2 minutes left!" Mr Clark shouted loudly.
"Step away from your work", he exclaimed.  "First, lets see the results. Lets go to group 6."
"Yay, thats me!" I shouted with joy.
"Hmmmm...this group gets the presentation award," explained Mr Clark.
" Yay!" our group shouted.

After the hut building I felt exhausted.  We then all went back to class and had lunch.

Room 20 goes bush!

Last week we talked about ways we could strengthen our connections with UHPS.  Some ideas included exploring the area and making things out of nature.  So today we hiked into Lady Pheonix Reserve to discover the area and build a survival shelter.  Check it out:

Turangawaewae Project poster

Hi Room 20.  Here are the details of your inquiry project that you defined at school today. Remember, this is not due until Monday of Week 11 so you have just over three weeks to complete it. As part of your Turangawaewae it is okay to get your family to help you with this project.  You can display it on a piece of cardboard like the example we saw in class.

Things you might like to include:
1.  Title: My Turangawaewae by _______
2.  Mihi (see your homework books)
3.  Introduction:  Define Turangawaewae? Why are you doing this project?
4.  Your ancestors Turangawaewae.  Where are they from?  Why did they live there? Why was it important to them? What work did they do?
5.  What is your family name and what does it mean?
6.  Why did your ancestors came to NZ?
7.  Where is your Turangawaewae in NZ?  Why is this a place you feel connected?
8.  How do you become more connected with a place?  What are we doing to become more connected with UHPS?
9.  Conclusion.  What did you learn? Why did you enjoy this project? What difference has it made to you?

Feel free to ask me any questions in class.  Good luck and have fun!

Most improved recount writer

The Wild Weedy Clean Up  by Seth

"Oh gosh, this is going to take forever!" I thought as I stared blankly into the thick green jungle.  I was with Room 20 about to clean up the nature trail.

First we trudged down the stairs and I heard as swoosh as the rustly wind blew through the leaves.

I started trimming the leaves, then I saw a stick.  I picked it up and shouted "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" before stamping it onto the gravel road.

We finally finished trimming and started to leave.  As we walked back we picked up everything on the track and threw it into the green jungle never to be seen again.

"That was a good dead" I thought to myself and I felt warm inside.

Recount writing

Recount writer for the week goes to Jennifer Kim:

Trapped inside an emerald green cage.

Tall trees surrounded me.  It felt like they were trying to trap me......

First, Room 20 and I trotted down the stairs like a colony of ants.  It was a golden afternoon, and we were off to the nature trail.  We were clearing the track for Mr Benbow and to develop our connection with UHPS.

We walked down the track.  The greenery surrounded the children as they wandered and roamed around the cluttered mess of rocks and the overgrowth of nature.

Sounds of scissors snipped in my ears.  There was also the sound of trees whistling and bushes pricked my fingers as I cut the undergrowth.  While I was cutting, sap squirted in my hand like a water balloon explosion.

After a while I noticed lots of creepy insects invading the plants.  Suddenly the bright happy nature trail turned into a dark eerie gloomy path in my head as people turned into bats trying to scare me.  I shook with fear.  This was now more like torture than a happy gardening experience.

Mr Clark finally blew the whistle and the sound vibrated in my ear as we lined up.  I felt so relieved, but when I looked back the trees gave me an evil grin.

Developing connections at UHPS: clearing the nature trail

Room 20 wanted to further develop their connection with Upper Harbour Primary School.  We realised that one way to do this was to get involved with helping care for the environment.  So we spent the last block of Monday pruning the trees and clearing the trail.  Its now looking great!

Instructions on how to prune trees

Clearing back the undergrowth

Hard at work clearing

Wow.  It was really overgrown!

Good work...keep going!

Room 20 Homework

Week 7 - due Friday 18 March

1. Decide on a small task you could do to feel more connected to your home or neighbourhood. Our list of ideas for the school is below. Remember, you will need to adapt these for something at home.

School activities

* wheels day type activities

* scavenger hunt

* pond and stream visit

* visit the school more often

* build something for the school

* morning coffee club

* walk to explore the area

* Make something out of nature

* have a picnic

* help families near the school who need help

* class sports

* clean the nature trail

* cooking

* blog

* time capsule

* school sleepover

* plant some trees

* art that will stay

* help Mr Benbow tidy the school

* family day

* school ground adventure

* do more as a school

* artwork

1. Complete that task.  Take some pictures and involve your family and friends if you want.
2. Write a recount about your experience. Make sure you explain how carrying out this task made you feel more connected.

The task should take no longer than about 30 minutes, and make sure your recount is no more than a page.  Have fun!

Most improved recount writers for week 5

Congratulations Tayler on your stair torture recount:

"Squeak, squeak" went my shoes as I ran up the steep grey concrete steps.  We were at UHPS on Monday, lined up at the stairs for fitness.

Finally it was my turn and I was excited like John Cena the wrestler.  I could feel the slippery bars, taste the cold air on my tongue, and I could smell the wet earth.  After running my insides were so sore.  I was tired as I waited for the others.

I was thinking "When is this over?"

We then walked back to class like a stampede of elephants. "Ha, ha, ha" I thought to myself.

Week 6 Homework

Homework: Mihi

1. Write a Mihi using the following template.  Make sure you can explain why these places are your Turangawaewae

Tena Koutou e hoa ma

Ko _______ te Maunga (a mountain or hill that is special to you)

Ko _______ te moana (a river, lake, beach, harbour that is special to you)

Ko _______ te papa (a piece of land that is special to you)

Ko _______ taku ingoa (your name)

Tena Koutou X 3 katoa

Research the history of the Albany or Greenhithe area

1. What was the name of the area?
2. Who were the first people here?
3. Where did they live in the area? Why did they choose this area? What work did they do?

Use google for this. Here is a good place to start:

http://www.greenhithe.org.nz/portal/community/history/Tauhinu-by-Ray-King/Tauhinu.pdf

Swimming Sports

Xantaux and the swimming cowboys.

Yeehah!  Annalise about to do the cowgirl / cowboy relay

Olivia about to race among the icebergs.

"I won all the races mate!" exclaimed Zander.

Annalise showing her swimming skills.

Xantaux again in the brilliant backstroke bonanza. 

Radical Rain Recounts!

Early this week, Mr Clark made us run up and down the school stairs in the rain for four minutes! We then completed a hamburger brainstorm before writing these amazing recounts:

Week 4 most improved writers awards go to.......

Trot trouble by Zachary Congden  (with the kind use of Annie's brainstorm)

"GO GO GO" yelled Mr Clark as I trotted up the damp stairs like a sad gloomy chicken.   I could see puddles on the cold wet steps and hear the groan of classmates.  Time felt slow as the pain pulsed through my muscles. It felt like I was stuck to the ground!

My hands gripped the handles while rain dropped from the sky and I could smell the water soaked into the steps.  "Ahhhhh" I screamed as I fell to the ground.  "That hurts" I whispered to myself.  Mr Clark then blew the whistle and we finally finished.  I was exhausted and wanted to die, but it was great fun.

Raining Stairs by Grace Deng

"Ttttttttt" went the rain hammering constantly on the tin roof. I was pacing up and down the slippery stairs with the rest of Room 20.  There was basically no reason we were doing this apart from our recount writing.

I was sprinting up and down the stairs while thinking to myself "When will this be over?"  I grabbed the cold, wet, metal bar on the stairs for support because I was so exhausted.

I could hear a squeaking noise on the damp concrete every time I went up and down.  The rain was pouring heavily now and I was trying not to fall.  I could feel a few drops of rain on my head like it was the sky crying tears on my hair.

Panting heavily, I waited for Mr Clark to blow the whistle to stop.  "One more minute!" Mr Clark shouted.  Had we only been doing this for three minutes?  It felt like we had been doing it forever!  Then suddenly Mr Clark blew the whistle and I was so relieved.  I slowly stepped down the slippery stairs breathing heavily.  I was so glad it was over.

Week 4 Homework

Just a quick note.  Homework for this week is your country travel brochure.  Some of you may want to do some more work on your Mihi and find out your mountain, water and land.  Enjoy learning more about your Turangawaewae.