Mr. Speakman's early days

Today our Rotary Reader Mr. Speakman talked to Room 9 about his childhood.  It was interesting to find out that Mr. Speakman went to Westshore school.  He lived near the school and he played on the beach with his friends.  They didn't have computers, playstations, a tv or any electronics.  He said they 'made up' games and had fun.  If they misbehaved at school they got the strap.  Even for not being able to do their work!  He also said if it got cold you put on an extra layer of clothing or another blanket on the bed.  Heatpumps didn't exist back then. Mr. Speakman's clothes were made mostly from wool.  At school, they played games such as rugby, netball and rounders.

Early Settlers Visit

Yesterday we went to the Museum for the Early Settlers programme.  Gaynor was dressed up just like a woman from the early settler period.  We learned alot about the way life was in early New Zealand.  Gaynor made a candle for us from beeswax.  She also showed us how butter was made using a butter churner. We had sandwiches at the end with the butter.  We had alot of fun trying out the activities.  Here are some memories of our visit.  

Early Settlers

We are learning about New Zealand Early Settlers.  This was the period from 1840 - 1900 when people from other continents set out in sailing ships looking for a better life and decided to settle in New Zealand.  New Zealand life was very different back then and very tough.  We are finding out how things have changed since then.  We are also finding out about our own ancestors.  Yesterday we made pikelets.  They were delicious!

The hardboiled egg

I read a story called The hardboiled egg.  Mrs. Anderson brought an egg to school today. I drew his mouth and his hair.  He has freckles.

By Brett.

Well done Dylan!

Dylan was awarded 'most improved player' for Soccer this weekend.  Go Dylan!

Rosie's healthy eating graphic award

A big congratulations to Rosie whose Comic Life poster was selected from many entries to go into the finalists for our regional Digi Dazzlers Competition.  Rosie received Highly Commended.

Winter

Wind swirls around you like you just stood in a freezing cold fridge.
The sun cries because the clouds hide his sunny smile.
Water drips from the drain pipe then it tickles down the window.
Naked trees throw their branches off menacingly.

Rosie.


The rain drops fall like shells falling in war.
The clouds are big and grey like ghosts.
Thunder is as loud as a radio on high.

Dylan.

The Hissing Goose

Yesterday we listened to a story about two children who hear a hissing sound behind a bush.  We used the story to act out looking scared. 

Mount Tongariro

Mount Tongariro




The dreaming volcano woke up from its sleep

Puffing out smoke, spitting out fire.



Awakening, blowing its top with anger

Spewing ash in the air.



The once snowy icing now dishwater grey

Rocks raining the hillside like missiles.



Strings of orange flame escape

From the rocky giant.

By Room 9.

Our gorgeous Kapahaka girls!

Rainy Days

Wet days inside


On wet days I look out the windows and all I see is puddles. Splash, splash, splash. Inside I hear people chatting as they work. The ball rings loudly then everyone rushes to get their bags.

By Ethan



Rainy Day


When it is a rainy day we play on the computer. In the class we eat at our desks and we put our hands up.

By Kaleb




On rainy days…


Me and Liam play with blocks and string games and paper.

I hear rain drops on the roof. I can see puddles everywhere… IT IS BORING HOW YOU SIT ON A CHAIR ALL DAY!

By Keishivah.



One rainy day.


One rainy day Jake, Keishivah, Ethan and me played a gun game. Keish helped me with my gun.

You can hear the rain coming down like missiles falling down.

By Liam

My Hut

In the weekend Dean and I made a treehouse ….but it wasn’t made of wood -a dark blue dressing grown.




We had a walky–talky and a telescope. Climbing on branches, we spoke loudly. We ate in there and we spied on people. I quickly climbed down before Dean wanted to get up. Then yesterday after school, I went outside in the dirty mud and rain.



Everything was wet…even the dark blue dressing grown.



Brea Jeffares.

My hut

My hut has luscious palm trees surrounding the entrance.  A delicate blossom tree hides in a bright corner of the hut.  Huddled in the shady area is a summery palm tree.  At night I invite my friend for sleepovers in our campsite.  We scamper through a gap in the fence. We snuggle up in the covers on the chairs and gaze up at the night sky.  Sipping hot chocolate and munching on popcorn we think it is the perfect summer.

By Rosie.

Writer's Notebook

Today, Room 9 talked about why we have a Writer's Notebook.  We also had ideas for when we should use it! 
Here are some...
at lunchtime...after school...before school...at school...on the weekend...in the car...in bed...at the beach...when we're playing...
in fact...anytime we want to!

I wonder if Margaret Mahy had a Writer's Notebook...

Describing a character

He has a homemade tobacco pipe in his mouth.  He has tired brown eyes with wrinkles around them.  I can just see a checked shirt poking out of his checked jacket.

By Zeke.

Hook into a Book

Thank you to all the parents who came along to our recent 'Hook into a Book' afternoon.  We loved sharing our books with you!

Describing a character

She has a yellow sunflower attached to the side of her hat and glasses just before the end of her nose.  She is wearing a green jacket, a yellow scarf and a black polkadot t-shirt with pink in the background.
The old lady has silver hair prettier than her bright blue eyes.

By Liliana.

Talking Tin

Heaven-Leigh is practising her part in our school assembly.  She talks into the tin and then plays it back to hear how she sounds.

Keeping cosy

The ladies from our local CWI (Country Women's Institute) donated 70 pair of slippers to our school.  Mr. Fitzsimons brought them in to show us.  Our Middle Syndicate was very excited this morning to be wearing beautiful hand knitted pure wool carpet slippers.  We think we are very lucky!

Brooklyn's success

On Friday, I went to Taupo with Mum, Jessica, Rhiannon and Mrs. Voice to be in a gymnastics competition.  There were lots of other teams competing.  I had to do uneven bars, vault, beam and floor.  I was excited and enjoyed myself.  My team came third and we were given a bronze medal.  My sister came 6th overall, she is level 5. 
Brooklyn.

Life Education reports

We are learning how to write a report.  We'd like to share some with you.

HEART CENTRAL

On Tuesday 8th May, the class went to the Life Education bus for a visit.

Then, before we could get in the bus we had to give Heaven-Leigh some tickets.

The we met Anne and put body parts on the wall and watched tv.  We watched Charlie the conductor.

Finally, Harold sung to us and stars were glowing on the roof.

By Paige.

OUR VISIT TO SEE HAROLD

On Wednesday, our class walked to the caravan.  We wanted to learn about our bodies.

Second, we watched Charlie the conductor.  We took a train around the body.

Third, we grabbed the fake lungs and kidneys and brains and we talked about it.

In conclusion, Harold sang a song and kept smacking Anne in the face.  We had a blast!

By Piper.

BODY PARTS

We walked to Life Education.

Heaven-Leigh gave us tickets.

Then we sat in rows of two.  Anne told us all about our body parts.

Next, we watched the arteries and veins circulate on tv. We got to stick body parts on the wall.

After, Harold sang.

Finally, Heaven-Leigh took our tickets back.

By Paris.

Room 9 are learning how to play netball this week as part of our PE ball skills.  They are having lots of fun and learning some new skills.  There are some future Silver Ferns in amongst them!

Rosie's cat

Rosie's cat came to visit Room 9 last week.  Toto is a special breed of cat called 'Munchkin'.  These cats were originally bred in the United States.  Toto has shorter legs than most cats.  He has a wiry coat which means that he doesn't shed hair like most cats do.  Toto was a very friendly cat!  He jumped out of his cage and investigated our classroom while on a lead.  He wasn't scared at all! 

We have been making fanfiles to show what we know about the animal we have been studying for our Inquiry.  We're going to use these in our classroom as part of our reading activities.  We think they're pretty cool!

Belle

Mrs. Grant brought Belle in to see us on Friday.  Belle is classified as a 'working' dog but she doesn't live on a farm, she is the Grant's family pet.  Belle was carefully chosen from the SPCA.  She is three years old and loves to chew!  We were able to feed Belle some biscuits and ask Mrs. Grant questions about having a dog.  It is a big responsibility.  Thank you Mrs. Grant and Belle for visiting Room 9.

Noticing

Today, we 'noticed' a shrub outside our classroom.  It was covered in red flowers.  We talked about what we could see.  Our original observation was...' red flowers on a bush.'  After sharing our ideas we came up with this... ' the frilly red petals floated on the brittle branches of the hibiscus tree.'

Te Kuiti pies

Once me and my Mum went to the shop.  We bought some yum pies.  They were hot and delicious.  It made me want to have some more.  The shop was in Te Kuiti. 

I love Te Kuiti pies.

By Haupokia.

Stolen phrases

We are learning what a 'stolen phrase' is.  We are reading some great stories written by kids like us and 'stealing' a phrase we really like to use in our own writing.  Awhina described stolen phrases as a 'a group of amazing words'.

This is one we loved from a book called Giddy Goat...  "...was a soaring broom handle of a rock said to hold up the sky."  We thought we could use this phrase to describe other tall things like a mountain, a tree or a skyscraper.

Brayden's animal story

We have been planning an adventure story about an animal of our choice.  We have to plan it first and write the first sentence.  The sentence has to grab our attention and make us want to keep reading.
Enjoy Brayden's story!


I'm in the jungle and a snake's after me!!!

It really wants a meal and I'm its main course!  There's a clearing up ahead.  I'll fight it there!  It's a dangerous Cobra but I don't care!!!  In the clearing I see the full snake.  It's alot bigger than I thought.  I must have only seen the front bit.  I'm really nervous!!

Suddenly, a knife appears from nowhere right in front of me.  I grab it, at least I have something to defend myself with. The snake leaps and just before it bites me I slice its head off.  I won the battle but I still have to get out of the jungle.

I get out of there alone and head for home.

The end.

By Brayden.

Things that excite me

My friends excite me.  They are Rosie and Brooklyn.  They believe in me all the time.  I like Rosie because when I am sad she always cheers me up and sorts everything out.  That's what I like about her and we can play happily ever after.  I feel happy and proud.

Awhina.

On Friday I went to Nana's place.  We had fish and chips.  I had a hot dog, fish and chips.  I watched TV until 9pm.  I watched Cartoon Network.  I went to sleep straight away.  I woke up at 7am and I watched TV and then we had breakfast.  After breakfast, we went to the supermarket and I got lots of lollies for a surprise.  It took me one hour to eat them all.  There were lollies like bananas, apples, marshmellows shaped like mushrooms, giant snakes and little snakes.  The lollies were all colours.  I went home at 3pm.

Dylan.

Things that excite me

In one month it is Easter.  I'm bursting with excitement!  I am so happy because the Easter bunny brings me lots and lots of chocolate.  The chocolate is delicious.  It melts in my mouth.  I like caramello chocolate, crunchie and white chocolate.  There are lots of kinds of chocolate.  The only one I don't like is dark chocolate.

We always have a family day at Easter.  We would have a scrumptious lunch.  We sometimes see people in olden cars.  Some are really little and some are really big.  Me, Isaiah and Jacob dip our feet in the water.  It is freezing like an icecube and the waves splash at me.  Isaiah splashes the water at me too.  He laughs his head off. I say it's not funny!

Paris.

We have been learning how to create personalised artworks using our initials.  First, we had to design a page using a ruler and coloured lines.  They couldn't go the same way.  Then we dyed the page blue.  When it was dry, we folded it into eight segments. Before we drew our initials we had to practise writing block letters.  Mrs. Hilton helped us with that.  Then we cut them out and glued them onto a red painted sheet of cartridge.  We're proud of our art!  Can you work out who these belong to?