Shape Pictures

We are learning to recognise 2d shapes in every day life.

Room 0 have been busy exploring shapes in a range of different ways.  One activity we did was to choose a range of 2d shapes and put them together to create a picture.  By doing this nga tamariki are able to see how shapes can be seen all around us every day.

"I made a giant ice cream truck.  It has lots of circles, some triangles, squares and rectangles", said Erica.

Finding Root Words

We are learning to identify a root word.

In Reading we have been looking for root words and discussing different word endings we find in the book.  By practising this we are able to decode unknown words more effectively.

"I could find all the root words", said Erica.

Descriptive Words

We are learning to add interesting language to our story.

In Story Writing we have been brainstorming adjectives (describing words) and trying to use them in our stories to make our work sound more exciting.  Guy Fawkes gave us the opportunity to practise some of these words:

"Describing words are tricky to use in writing", said Erica.

Diwali Divas

We have been learning about celebrations around the world.  One of the celebrations we explored was Diwali.  We learnt that it is known as the festival of light and one of the parts of this festival is lighting diva (pronounced "diya").  We made our own diva using clay and tea-light candles and then we decorated them with paint and glitter.  Happy Diwali everyone!

"When it is Diwali people light divas to celebrate", said Erica.

I am learning to use my word card

In Writing we have been learning to use our word card.  It has some words in the colourful boxes and these help us to write our story.  If we need to write a word that isn't on our card we can say the word slowly and write down the sounds we can hear instead.

"I do quality work when I colour in", said Erica.

I am learning to complete a word family

In Reading we have been learning how to complete a word family.  We know that all the words in a word family rhyme with each other.  We also know that they have the same letters at the end of the word.  Here is a screen shot of an ipad game we played about word families:

"I had to rhyme words.  Dad rhymes with glad."

Bunnings visits Elm Park

This week we were lucky enough to have Bunnings come and visit us and put together a fun day where students got to build a project.  Nga tamariki had an absolute blast hammering, glueing, problem solving and painting to create a masterpiece.  Here is a brief snap-shot of the fun:

"I liked screwing the hooks in.  I liked the painting too."

I am learning to add numbers where 5 is one of the numbers

In Maths we have been learning to add numbers when 5 is one of the numbers.  To help us get faster at solving these equations we played a game called "Murtle's Turtles".

"This game was easy because I could add the numbers quickly."

I am learning to say the number that comes after

In Maths we have been learning to say what number comes next in the line.  Erica had to choose a card from the pile and then put a counter on the number that would come next on her game card.

I am learning about reflection and shading

In art we have been learning about shading and reflection.  Students observed an apple and then drew the shapes they could see onto different coloured paper.  Once the shapes were all cut out and stuck together students then looked at the apple again to see where the shiny bits were and where the shadows were.  They used white crayon and charcoal to show this on their apples.

"I like that my apples are nice and round and shiny."

We are learning to point to each word when we read

We are learning to point to each word when we read a story.  This is called one-to-one word matching and it helps us to focus on each word that we read.

"I'm good at pointing to the writing."

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