Making with great meaning

Welcome back to Term 2!
We have already been super busy with our learning. You may have heard or noticed that last week we were super engaged with creating cardboard classrooms. The room was a buzz with problem solving and team work. This enthusiasm stemmed from our reading work on structures. Jet plane reading group has been reading about a number of design features of buildings, inparticular the Cardboard Cathedral and the construction of a Wharenui. These artcles discussed the innovate building ideas the designers and builders undertook to build them. 

The excitement of creating an interesting classroom spread through the class until almost everyone was planning, designing and making their own cardboard classroom. It was wonderful. So many learning opportunities naturally fall out of a task like this. I observed teamwork, commmunicating, relating to others, managing self, problem solving, creativity and flexible thinking. The students were reflective as to what to include in their classrooms. Such a great way to begin the term.

Here are some images to show what has been going on: 

Science Skills

As mentioned in our Team Newsletter our Inquiry focus is the Kā Waimaero/Ilam Stream through the Essential Learning area of Science. We are really excited about this learning. We are currently honing our Science Learner skills of being great observers, recorders and questioners. We have carried out two experiments so far to help develop these skills before we apply them to our stream study. 

The first experience was to observe and record the number of water droplets New Zealand coins could hold. We recognised a number of skils such as honesty and precision were needed to carry out this experiment. We had some EXCELLENT wonderings after too such as: What makes the water droplet break? How does the water droplet stay together once it is formed? What technique is best when trying for the largest number of droplets?

Here are some images to show you our excellent science skils:

As you can see we are highly engaged and got super excited by the number of droplets. We are great scientists in Room 18

STEAM Challenge: Cup Pryamid

We do love your STEAM challenges in Room 18. We look at upholding our school values of being kind, positive and respectful when contributing to our group discussions during this time. Sometimes it is a bit tricky to up hold these values when we are working with others so we have recognised it is something that we might have to keep working at. 

The challenge was to see how fast the team could build a pyramid out of cups without touching the cups directly with our hands. 

We could only use the tools provided - 6 cups, 4 pieces of string and a rubber band.

It was SO much fun and at times SO frustrating! We were pretty clever though and most groups managed to do it! 

Thanks Christchurch Boys High

Last Friday we were lucky enough to have a skills session around a number of sports with some of the boys from Christchurch Boys High School. We had a GREAT time with them!

Here are some photos to show you how we got on.

We love maths!

Cracking the 100 square code 

We have been having a wonderful time problem solving in maths this week. We needed to be code crackers, using what we know about the number system and using strategies to solve the problem. We had to think deeply about what we were doing, take risks, try things and talk about our thinking. It was so much fun.

Here are some images to show you our thinking and solving!

STEAM challenges: Building a nest

STEAM standing for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths. 

During our STEAM challenges we have been utlising a variety of skills especially cooperation and communicaton. We really enjoy the opportunity to problem solve and try lots of ideas while working with others. One of the key aspects to this challenge was that they needed to be made entirely out of natural resources and hold three 'eggs'. We were really successful at working together, being creative and having fun! 

Here is some of our work during the nest builiding challenge.