Compensation and Rounding Strategy

In maths, Star Ninja and Bubble Bobble have begun learning to use the maths strategy of rounding and compensating. Basically it is borrowing off one number and adding it to another (to make a tidy number) making it faster to add together.

In this basic example we have taken from 2 from 45 and added it to the 38 to make the equation
45 + 40 = ___

Have a go at this example:

145 + 56 = ____         What do you need to "take" to make a tidy number?

Bubble Bobble then celebrated their newly learnt strategy by playing a little calculator golf!

Vortex Wars

After focusing hard on our reading today (generating questions from the text), we got to go outside and enjoy some sunshine. Vortex Wars is a game we invented - it is a bit like a giant game of darts. The field is divided in half and each team has to throw the vortex into one of the scoring zones on the opponent's side. Points can also be won if you defend your zones by catching the vortex before it hits the ground (not like darts).
 Today we decided to introduce the rubber chicken into the game as well.

Song for Singing and Assembly:

Link to Waimarie Smith

Macro Photography

For art this week we decided to embrace photography - macro photography to be specific.
After looking at some examples of macro photography and building criteria around what makes a good photo it was time to explore the school up close!

Here is a small selection of our photos...

Welcome Back!

Everyone had a great holiday - rested and already working hard again.
We have been focusing on the key competencies of thinking, participating & contributing and managing self. It has helped us to build class criteria on how we learn, be organised and act like an awesome class member in Matai.

The last couple of weeks have been about setting up class expectations and routines so we can have a successful and supportive year in Matai!

Haiku Redux

A worker sleeping
Tired from working longer
It's a busy time
by Polina


Icky sticky gum
Lying on the black rough road
Wet gooey bubble
by Josh


Eating cold ice cream
Surfing on a giant wave
Jumping off a wharf
by Fleur

Ben had a red pen
He gave it to a fat hen
Spaghetti on toast
by Ben


Gandalf kicks a tree
The tree is an Ent leader
The grey is now dead
by Johan


Hot sand cooks my feet
Having a picnic today
A scorching hot time
by Zak and Fraser

Making sandcastles
Seagull happily flying
At the beach with friends
by Zoe and Isobel


New Zealand Christmas
Pohutukawas flower
Time to go camping
by Eliza

Haiku

Bright colours are here
Blue and red equals purple
Green grass and blonde hair
by Siena and Sabine


Flowers are blooming
All of the birds are tweeting
Insects are crawling
By Meggy and Sophie


Bee sits happily
It is comfy on a tree
Refridgerator
By Nicholas and Sam


The sea green turtle
Swimming through the glassy bay
And it goes away
By Arlo


Apples are crunchy
Kids complain about their greens
Fly pukes on your food
By Holly and Eve