Nature Is Speaking - The Ocean

Week 4 Term 4

Life Education left this week. It was fun learning with Nicky and of course Harold as well. For maths, we have started learning about graphs and ways to plot data like dot plots, scatter graphs, line graphs, column graphs, bar graphs, pictographs, histograms etc. For reading we are still carrying on with out nature is speaking task. Jorja, Cheng-Yu, Mrs Crowe and I are still busy editing, proof reading and fixing mistakes in the magazine. We are printing it off on Monday to see what it looks like so far because it needs to be finished by the end of next week, so we can send it to the professional printers and they can make it into a book/magazine.

We still haven't been doing tech arts because we have been doing our wearable arts during that time instead. Me and Jorja have nearly finished ours. We just have a few gaps left in the t-shirt and then we need to stick some bread tags on the skirt, and then sew them together. We also are making a hair clip to go with our white shoes we stuck bread tags on. Jorja is the model, and technically everything is reused except for things that are used to stick/sew things on which don't have to be reused. We have our last session on Monday.

This Friday we had 1500 meters. We lined up in our house lines as year seven girls, year seven boys, year eight boys, and year eight girls. First was the year eight girls and we went over and lined up. We had to run three and three quarter laps of Sherwin and the first 15-20 people would get a three and then the next 25-35 people a two and then the rest a one. I came 18th so I got a three. It came to the end and I was neck and neck with Hadlee, but in the end I only just came out in front.

Week 3 Term 4

We didn't have school on Monday because it was labour day so we had a long weekend. This week we finished probability and have started reading about statistics which is when you collect data and plot them on graphs. We have started a new task and we are using you tube video editor. We are doing it based from nature is speaking and we get to choose what part of the earth we want to be. I chose the sea and we just write a paragraph and then we start to make the video. We can use static or moving images.

We had a couple of tests this week as well. We had an IKAN test, a basic facts test and a algorithm test. We also had a PAT vocab test, and some of them were pretty difficult. We have done most of them, but some of us got really bad PAT reading comprehension result so we are going to do asttle reading as well.  

We didn't have french or tech arts on Friday because Mrs Shaw has been busy organizing the gala. The gala was on Friday and anyone could come along. Each class had a stall that they made. We had the fudge stall. We got the fudge made at the start of week two and it was put in the freezer. This week on Thursday some people cut it into pieces and put it in bags. A large bag was two dollars and a small was one dollar. We had to donate some grocery's like cans, fruit, or anything that was in your cupboard at home. We also had to donate any jigsaws, games, or old clothes we had.

On Friday afternoon we had friday sport and everyone that wasn't involved in lacrosse or jump jam went on sherwin park and was numbered from 1-7. I was number six, so we first went to discus. We learnt how to probably throw it, but even though we learnt how to do it the right way I was still pretty bad at it. It kept spiraling out of control. We went to middle distance next and we ran four times around the field. It was exhausting!!
 

Week 2 Term 4

This week has been busy because it is nearly time for the gala and week 10 is coming closer and closer. We have finished probability and I think we are starting statistics next week. We learnt how to use tree diagrams to find the outcome. Our short story video comparison is due next Tuesday and then we are starting some new reading and inquiry tasks. We have started life ed and we are learning about drugs and what they do to your body. I had no idea that tea leaves had more caffeine in it then coffee! 

In tech arts we have started soft materials and we are making jerseys. My main colors are black and green. The sleeves, pouch pocket, design and the inside if the hood will be green and the rest will be black. We have practiced using the sewing machine on some test pieces of fabric and we have had a reminder of how to thread the sewing machine and how to change the settings to straight stitch or zigzag stitch. 

We had the grandparents concert this week and lots of people turned up. We had Sophie and Thomas speaking and presenting the groups that were performing because in the year eight speech finals Sophie came first and Thomas came 2nd. The groups that were preforming were jump jam, the drama group, the two rock bands, and band preformed quite a few times.  

Week 1 Term 4

Sorry I haven't written in a while. Everything has been so busy, and term four has come around so fast! In maths we have started probability and we have learnt how to use basic probability like certain or impossible, percentage probability, theoretical probability, and experimental probability. We have also started a reading task and we have to read one of Ray Bradbury's short stories and then watch the film and compare then. We need to compare the plot, setting, characters, point of view, you're overall opinion, and also a small paragraph about Ray Bradbury. The magazine committee has also been busy editing and designing the magazine for 2016.

We had our last two sessions of art and I finished my caravan. We had to first construct it then paper mache it. We then had to glaze it and then we could start painting on our designs and colors. Next week we start soft materials (fabric) and that will be our last cycle for the year. This term we have athletics and we have started doing that for friday sport in year eight girls A, year eight girls B, year seven girls A etc. We have also started social dance and we are doing it with rooms two and seven.

Mrs Shaw has been busy organising the Te Awamutu Intermediate gala and we have all given our donations to our team raffle, class booth, and sold some raffle tickets. Come along on Friday the 28th of October. It will be fun!!
 

Week 3 Term 3

This week everyone has been busy selling chocolates for our school fundraiser. For maths, we have started volume and I have learnt how to find the volume of some 3D shapes. For writing we have started either our discussion or our persuasive argument. I am doing a discussion and my topic is should we have licenses to ride a bicycle on the road? For reading I have chose a short story and it is called tell tale heart by Edgar Allan Poe.

In tech arts we practiced making our recipe again on Tuesday then on Friday our two guests we invited came and ate our food. I ended doubling the recipe and made ten stars and ten others. Since our theme was beach we had a poster that said welcome to our beach cafe and it had pictures of a surfboard, a fish, and a beach ball. We also had pictures of waves on the board and blue table cloths on the table.

In French we learnt the names of clothing. Shorts and t-shirt stay exactly the same except they are said with a french accent. Un shorts (shorts), un t-shirt (t-shirt), une robe (dress), une jude (skirt), un pantalon (pants), chapeau (hat), veste (jacket), chaussures (shoes). When you are saying what colour it is the color comes after, and some colours are different. Blanc (white) becomes blanch, violet (purple) becomes violette, and bleu (blue) and noir (black) just have an extra e on the end, but it doesn't change how they sound,.  

We have to say our speeches on Monday, but I haven't practiced much, and I'm the first person to do it. Next Wednesday I also have the Waikato Gym Festival that is held in Hamilton.    


     

Week 2 Term 3

This week has gone so fast! We have got a new writing task, but it is still persuasion writing and we get to choose to do another persuasive argument or a discussion argument. The difference between a persuasive and a discussion argument is that in a persuasive you argue what you think, and in a discussion you are giving both sides. For reading, I think I am going to do task one, but I am not sure what short story yet. For maths, I have learnt how to find the area of composite shapes. I have also learnt how to find the area of triangles, parallelograms, and circles. Hopefully we are starting volume next week. I took part in the year eight Australian maths test and the first nine were really easy, but then it started to get harder. Our speech is due on Monday and my topic is about why people should be more aware of coeliac disease.

In tech arts we planned our restaurant and our theme is 'Beach Cafe'. We made our invitations and planned what we were going to make on the day so we could practice it on Friday. I chose to make something savory because everyone else was making something sweet, so I decided to make mini pizzas in the shape of stars to look like starfish and also in the shape of shells. We have two practices before we actually make it on the day and we get to invite two people as well as our teacher.

On Thursday we had the college expo. It is when Te Awamutu College presents us the available optional classes to choose for year nine. Even though I am not going their next year it was interesting to look at their options. Their was metal work, wood work, outdoor education, music, dance and drama, French, Japanese, Maori, business studies, photography, special effects, art, agriculture, fabric, food, and graphics.    

 

Week 1 Term 3

The last two terms have gone so fast! This week we have had a maths test on measurement. Measurement is all about area, perimeter, volume, metric measures etc. I have learnt how to use metric measures and I learnt a new strategy, and I have also learnt how to find the circumference of a circle by using pi. I have finished and handed in my persuasive writing and we have four more reading tasks. Task one is a short story analysis, and task two is a short story and moving image comparison from Ray Bradbury and we have to choose one of his short stories and then compare it with the film. Task three is a static image of any short story which we would make with slides, and task four is a static image of any short story on an A3 piece of paper.

This week we have also started cross country training. One lap is 1.5 km and that is around the school field then around sherwin, one and a half laps is 2.2 km which is one lap plus once more around the school and you can even do two or three if you wanted to, and each day we add how far we run onto google spreadsheets. We have been practicing each day unless it is pouring down with rain. I also made it into the Waikato gym festival so I get to go and compete in Hamilton along with other people who made it in.

In tech arts I made sushi. It was difficult, but it ended up being really yum! The most difficult was rolling the sushi because sometimes it didn't work, but in the end I made three rolls. I also made a bar and I called it the healthy sweet treat. It was only made out of peanut butter, honey, dates, coconut, sultanas, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. Once we had made the bar we had to freeze it and while we were waiting we made our packages. Next week I'm pretty sure we are starting to plan our cafe and I can't wait!

 

Week 10 Term 2

Finally, it's the last week of school! We haven't done anything major this week because we don't want to start anything new before the end of term. I finished all of the maths work and I handed in my draft persuasion writing.

At the gym festival and I was in flyers which is the second group. Their are three groups springers, flyers, and twisters. Springers are the least advanced, flyers are a bit more advanced, and twisters are the most advanced. Each groups had to compete at the vault, beam, and floor. In the end a lot of people got placings and I came 4th=. Their was a lot of waiting, but I had fun.

I didn't have tech arts on Tuesday because I went to the marae. Our class was going on Wednesday, but we were at the gym festival so we went with the other classes. We went on the buses and when we arrived we had a powhiri then got straight on with the seven activities. The first one we went to we learnt the school haka that matua po had made for us last year. t the second activity we made fried bread, and we learnt and write down the traditional recipe. At the third activity we learnt a new song and what the words meant. At the fourth activity we had a crayon and we had to lightly trace over a carving onto the piece of paper to make a pattern. At the fifth activity we had a partner and practiced using rakau sticks. At the sixth activity we had a direction in Maori and we also had a place in maori. We had to then use that direction to get to the place. The seventh activity was my favourite. We had a large stick and when the person said mahue we had to swap to the stick on the left and when they said matau we had to swap to the stick on the right. If the stick dropped you were out, and the last one standing wins.

It was the last lesson of extension food and we made Sticky date pudding with toffee sauce. It was delicious. In the pudding all you needed was pitted dates, water, baking soda, butter, brown sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla extract. For the sauce all you needed was cream, brown sugar, vanilla essence, and butter.

Week 9 Term 2

This week some people from Belmont came over to Te Awamutu for our 23rd sports exchange. Their were 13 sports played and Te Awamutu Intermediate won six of them, Belmont Intermediate won five of them, and the other two were a draw. Last year Belmont took home the shield, but this year it has come back to Te Awamutu.  

For maths, I have nearly finished the work on percentages. I learnt how to find the percentage change, to calculate profit or loss, and to calculate simple interest. For reading, our draft analysis had to be finished on Wednesday, but I also finished editing it and handed it in early. For writing, I have chose to do should plastic bags from supermarkets and other retail outlets be banned. The draft has to be finished by next Friday and I'm not going to be at school next Tuesday and Wednesday because on Tuesday I'm going on the marae trip, and on Wednesday I have the gym sport festival.

We have finished music and we have now started food. For the first lesson we made dip sticks and cheesy rolls. The dip sticks was just crusts from the bread with marmite and cheese on them, and the cheesy rolls was corn and cheese on a piece of bread (without the crusts) and then rolled up and put in the oven. The next lesson we made paraoa bread which is technically just a sweet Maori bread. It's taste nice but also really weird because it's sweet. Next Week we are making either butterfly cakes, peach danish, or banana bread.

For science fair, I didn't get to the finals but nine people from my class did and then four placed.   

Week 7 Term 2

This week we have been doing a lot. For maths, I have learnt how to convert between fractions, decimals and percentages, to show one quantity as a percentage of another, to find percentages of quantities, and to use the unitary method with percentages to find the whole amount. For writing, we did a draft argument about school uniforms. We had to hand write it because it was just a draft but a majority of the class did it faster handwriting than typing. For reading, I decided I would do the school for good and evil for my analysis. Mrs Crowe said that the plot had to be around about 200 words, but is way over and I haven't even finished yet.

In tech arts we had our assessments because we are doing dance next week. We had a guitar, keyboard, and drums test. out of three, for guitar I got a three, keyboard I got a two, and drums I got a three. We had a test in the back of our booklets on symbols and beat counts, then we had a test sort of the the selmer one at the start of the year. She played one beat and then another and it was either the same of different.

In French, we went over the weather and we had a blank spinning wheel that we had to draw little symbols so when we spin the arrow whatever symbol it lands on we have to say what it is in french. Even though the spinner doesn't work it is still a great reminder and I might be able to fix it next week. In Japanese we learnt our number from 1-10. Itchy (1), knee (2), sun (3), shee (4), go (5), rock (6), nana (7), hut (8), que (9), dew(10).

I finally finished my science fair and I went and got a black display board from warehouse stationary because I am going away next week to the south island. I chose a lime green backing paper because I thought it would look cool on the black with then the white paper.

Next week I'm going to the south Island, and I'm so excited. I can't wait to go to the snow and see and do amazing new things!

 

Week 6 Term 2

This week we have been busy. For maths, I have learnt how to write ratios in their simplest form, to understand proportions, to use ratio to divide quantities, and to use scale and ratio with problems. For reading, we are starting a novel analysis and we get to choose a book we have recently read to do an analysis on. For writing, we have started on persuasive writing and we have learnt about rule of three, repetition, exaggeration, description and imagery, alliteration, facts, rhetorical questions, personal pronouns, emotive language, and flattery.

In tech arts, we played the drums, and we also played london bridge is falling down and twinkle twinkle little star on the keyboard. Ms Motes was away on Friday, so we had Mrs Germann, the vice principal. I have nearly finished my science fair, I just have to write my data and results and then my conclusion. The science fair boards come next week and then I just need to print of my paragraphs, and hand it in by next Friday.

This Wednesday we had winter games. We had the choice out of volleyball, corner ball, football, rugby, netball, indoor bowls, and basketball. Since I play netball on Saturdays I thought that doing netball would be fun. I played goal shoot (GS), and goal attach (GA) because they are my favorite positions, and we won one game, but lost the two others.

In french, we have learnt how to ask and how to say the weather. Quel temps fait-il? (Whats the weather like?). Il fait beau (it's good weather), il fait mauvais (it's bad weather), il fait chaud (it's hot), il y a du soleil (it's sunny), il y a du vent (it's windy), il y a du brouillard (it's foggy), il pleut (it's raining), il neige (it's snowing), and il y a du nuggeux (it's cloudy). I can't remember them without looking at my oui book, but hopefully I will get them. In Japanese we didn't learn any new characters, but we learnt Japanese calligraphy. There was only three people out of eight because five of them were at junior tough guy and girl. Junior tough guy and girl is when people run through a muddy course with lots of other schools, but it's no just a race it is also about teamwork.      

Week 5 Term 2

This week I finally got my silver badge. I was called up on stage on Monday. Their is no school this Friday because it is teacher only day and the following Monday is the queens birthday, so we get the weekend plus Friday, and Monday off. Mrs Crowe has been away on a maths course, so on Monday and Tuesday we have had Mr McCabe. I have finished my reading and I handed it in on time. For maths, I have finished all of the work on fractions and have now started on ratios. This week I have learnt how to solve problems involving fractional numbers, how to find the square root of fractional numbers, how to express quantities as ratio, and how to express ratios as fractions.

In tech arts, we went on an app that was on the iPad and we had to choose some instruments like smart guitar, smart drums, etc, to back up our blues song. Someone from our pair then had to sing while the music was playing and record it. Once we were ready we presented it to the class pair by pair, giving feedback on each others work. I had extension food this week and we made ham and cheese scones. I had to add a bit more flour because it was a bit sticky, but in the end it still tasted great.

For science fair, my question is what is the effect of phosphate on plant growth, but I am thinking of changing it to what s the effect of nitrogen on plant growth because I will get a faster result and I don't have long to grow them. I have 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% as my fertilizer amount. On 0% I have no pearls of urea, 25% has two and a half pearls of urea, 50% has five pearls of urea, 75% has seven and a half pearls of urea, and 100% has ten pearls of urea (urea is the closest fertilizer you can get to nitrogen as it is 46% nitrogen). I give them one tablespoon every one and a half days because after one day they are too wet, and after two days they are too dry. I couldn't find enough container for them in store for 15 plants so I had the idea to put the in yogurt containers because it saves a lot of money and are all the same size. I put some small holes in the bottom, and they sit on the conservatory windowsill because they cats cant knock them over and they get a reasonable amount of sun.

Week 4 Term 2

This week has been another crazy one. I finally earned my silver badge and I recieve it on Monday. In class for maths, I have learnt how to add and subtract fractions, and how to multiply and divide fractions. For writing, I handed in my report about meerkats and I had no sentence fragments, but I couldn't get rid of my run-on sentences. For reading, I have finished my summary, and I just need to finish my characterization, write a paragraph about the setting, and write a paragraph about the message.

In tech arts we learnt about the famous band called the blues and learnt about all of the different styles they play. Their lyrics are mostly about feeling down and they write about what it was that made them feel blue. We also made up our own song that made us feel blue, and played some songs on the keyboard. At french we had a mathematics test and everything was in french. For example, vingt - douze = huit (20 - 12 = 8), and I got 8 out of ten. We also learnt how to ask and say our birthday. c'est le votre anniversaire (when is your birthday),  Mon anniversaire est le cinq novembre (my birthday is the 5th of november).

This Friday we wre supposed to have winter games from the choice of netball, volleyball, corner ball, footbal, rugby, indoor bowls, karatu ball tag, basketball, and hockey. We ended up not having it because of the weather, so it's postponed to next thursday because we have teacher only day next Friday. We had japanese and we learnt how to say some greetings and how to write them as well. Hello/konnichiwa (こんにちは), good bye/sayonara (さようなら), good morning/ohayo (おはよう), and good evening/konbanwa (こんばんは).

Week 3 Term 2

This week has been pretty busy. I have started writing my report about my chosen animal. We had the choice of bumblebees, giraffes, meerkats, the giant panda, bottlenose dolphin, or hectors dolphin. I had already done the hectors dolphin at primary and so many people were doing the giant panda, so I decided to do meerkats. I have also started my reading and I have finished finding the meanings of words and I now just have to do the summary and the paragraphs about the characters and the message. We had a maths test on decimals and I got all of them right except a couple, so I need to work on those as well.

In tech arts we have started music. We learnt about some different styles of dance and music and then we played the A-train on the keyboard. We also learnt a bit of a song and played it on the piano. We also watched some Irish jigs and learnt about those then made our own piece of music and played it on the keyboard. In extension food we made Mrs Shaw's fail proof carrot and pineapple muffins with cream cheese icing. The muffins contained flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, mixed spices, mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, grated carrot, eggs, and oil. The icing contained butter, cream cheese, icing sugar and you could make it as a cake as well.

On Wednesday and Thursday most of the class was out at music camp. Music camp is held at our school and other intermediates come to us. Their are teachers for each musical instrument and they learn their parts and then all of the instruments together form a song. While they were doing that I was helping Mrs Shaw prepare the burgers for their dinner as it goes from 9.00-7.30 for two days and the students from other schools stay over at the school. I also tidied the library and looked for the old books with the old stamps that are a bit outdated. We didn't have french this week, but hopefully wee will have it next week.

Week 2 Term 2

This week has been great. We have started a new reading task and my story is called, 'A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings,' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. We also had a maths test for the end of geometry and I got a couple wrong, but I still think I did really well. I handed in my writing and there is now no to-be words, weak and hidden verbs, vague words, sentence fragments, or run-on sentences. For science fair, I think I am going to do something like what is the effect of different fertilisers on plant growth, and I still need to research what different type of fertilisers there are. We also had lacrosse and we learnt some tricks, how to properly hold the lacrosse stick, how to catch the ball, how to throw the ball, how to scoop up the ball when it falls on the ground, and how to score a goal. We also had a game in the end. It was hard and a bit confusing at times, but it was fun learning how to play.

In tech arts, we tasted,felt,and smelt the mystery substances to predict whether it was an acid or a base. We then used red and blue litmus to fully determine what it was. If the red litmus turned blue and the blue litmus stayed blue it was a base, but if the red litmus stayed red and the blue litmus turned red it was an acid. We also used universal indicators to see what number on the PH scale it was. We then made bath bombs with baking soda (base), citric acid (acid), fragrance and then colour. We used both a base and an acid because when you add them together they neutralise, but when you mix them together you don't want the reaction to happen just yet otherwise it won't react in the water. We also had a test before we move onto our next cycle for tech arts. We had some questions about solids, liquids, gases, bases, neutrals, acids, blue litmus, red litmus and basically all the things she taught us this year. After we had done that we also made sherbet with baking soda, icing sugar, citric acid, and food colouring.

In french we learnt days of the week, numbers from 20-31, and what the months where called. The days of the week are Lundi (Monday), Mardi (Tuesday), Mercredi (Wednesday), Jeudi (Thursday), Vendredi (Friday), Samedi (Saturday), and Dimanche (Sunday). Numbers from 20-31 are vingt (20), vingt et un (21), vingt-deux (22), vingt-trois (23), vingt-quatre (24), vingt-cinq (25), vingt-six (26), vingt-sept (27), vingt-huit (28), vingt-neuf (29), trente (30), trente et un (31). The months are janvier (January), Fevrier (February), Mars (March), Avril (April), Mai (May), Juin (June), Juillet (July), Aout (August), Septembre (September), Octobre (October), Novembre (November), Decembre (December). It seems really confusing, but one you've been learning it for a while and you practice it gets easier.

Week 1 Term 2

I am so glad to be back at school. On Monday we had a powhiri, a formal welcoming ceremony, to welcome and introduce our new Japanese teacher, Etsko, and a new teacher for room six. We have started to edit our writing and we are learning how to get rid of run-on sentences, sentence fragments, vague words, to-be verbs, and weak and hidden verbs. I have been able to get rid of everything, but I still need to get rid of three run-on sentences before I hand it in. For maths, I have learnt a bit on geometry, but still have a lot to learn. I have learnt to understand the geometry of points and lines, to understand angle properties, to revise angles and transversal, to find unknown angles with parallel lines, and at the moment, I am learning to revise finding unknown angles in triangles.

In science for tech arts, we had to purify salt water with green food colouring so it was clear drinkable water. There was three particles, salt particles, water particles, and colour particles, but all we wanted was the water particles. In the end, we only ended up with water particles because salt or colour particles couldn't be evaporated, so the salt water was now clear and drinkable. This week Mrs Crowe had to choose two people from our class to participate in extension food, and luckily I was one of them. We made focaccia bread and topped it off with bacon, cheese, and salt. In french, we had a test to see what stage we were at with our french and there was 20 questions. For ten of the questions we have to translate the English to French, and for the other ten we have to translate the French to English. Overall my score was 12 and a half out of 20, but I also got some wrong because of incorrect spelling.

We had Mike King visit our school and talk to us about depression and what he went through as a child. He was always being teased because he had a big head and when he was older became a drug addict and an alcoholic because when he used them it took away pain, sadness, and anger. Eventually, those stopped working and when he was in a angry mood and he was drinking it would just make him even angrier. His friend suggested a councilor and he wasn't sure at first, but when he found out he went and saw one he thought it would be a good idea. His councilor, Stella, discovered that he had depression and he eventually learnt to deal with it. He said it has now been 9 years he has now gone off drugs and alcohol and has learnt to deal with his depression and let people know around him what he is feeling.

Week 10 Term 1

This week has been full of learning as we are going on camp next Wednesday. In tech arts, science, we made soap and I learnt about solidification, condensation, sublimation, etc and how they change from a solid to a liquid and a liquid to a gas. We also made a formula with 100 mls of wood glue, 100mls of cold water and then you stir that together and then you add hot water and it becomes a gooey dough. Through that process, I also learnt about how to use a beaker properly. For writing, we have had to choose a place that is easy to describe in a 15 minute time frame to write about. In this peice of writing we are learning how to eliminate all of our to-be words and boring verbs to make our writing more interesting. For reading, we have read, 'The Monkeys Paw,' and we have had to answer simple questions in detail to classify our reading groups. I got three questions half right because I only half explained those questions, but I got the rest correct. For maths I am i the top group for geometry. I have learnt about angles from transversals and it was a bit confusing at the start, but now I understand. In French, we are still learning the animals. Une souris (mouse), un vache (cow), un cheval (horse), une perruche (parrot/bird), un lapin (rabbit), un mouton (sheep), un cochon (pig), une poisson rouge (goldfish), un chat (cat), and un chien (dog).

Week 8 & 9 Term 1

I have joined these two blog posts because in week eight we only had four days of school, and in week nine we only had three days. I handed in my water cycle and I think I did really well and thoroughly explained the steps. In tech arts, we have started science and it is so fun. We only had two lessons out of four because of the easter holidays, but they were both interesting. In one of the lessons, we had to practise drawing and writing diagrams. We also watched an eruption from a beaker and we had to write a paragraph about what happened. In the other lesson, we were practising reading the periodic table. Some of the people in extension science have been working on a project about hatching chickens. Luckily enough we got to hold them because they had hatched two days before. They were so adorable and I got to hold one named Charlie. In French, we are still revising things like stationary, but we are also learning some named of animals. We are going to camp in week 11 and I can't wait!!!

Week 7 Term 1

This week has been really busy! In class for maths, we took a test about number to see how much we have improved and we also took a test about geometry to see what maths groups we would be in. For writing, we are writing about the water cycle. Precipitation, Infiltration, run-off, evaporation, transpiration, condensation and it's due next Wednesday. In tech arts, it was the last session of wood for our first cycle and I finally finished my speaker and it works! This Tuesday the makuhari/japanese students left. Even though I didn't have a student it was still sad to see them go. We finally had French this week after waiting so long. We are all a little rusty, but hopefully we will get better and more fluent by the time I go to Noumea.

Week 6 Term 1

This week we have learnt a lot. I haven't done any maths this week because I finished it all last week, but I have been on mathletics. I have handed in my Treaty of Waitangi explanation although I don't know if it's an explanation or a report. Lots of people handed it it after the due date, but luckily I stayed in the lunchtime before and got it done. We have also started our student led conference reports as well and I already have that done. In tech arts I have finished my phone holder and it looks so cool! I have nearly finished my stereo, but next Tuesday is our last session for hard materials (wood), and hopefully I will be able to take it home. This week all of the makuhari/japanese students came and we had a powhiri this morning which is a formal welcoming ceremony. The student's in our class are Masayuki, Maho, Mai, and Mei. The whole school also had a lockdown practice so when we have a real emergency we know what to do. We didn't have French this week either, but we will hopefully have it next week!

Week 5 Term 1

This week has been really fun. For maths we have learnt how to add and subtract integers, how to multiply and divide integers, how to solve problems involving integers, and also learn about and use standard form. For writing I have halfway done my Waitangi explanation and I am really stuck. I still don't get it so I still have to do a bit more reading about it because it's due next Friday. Next week we are also starting are student led conference reports about reading, writing, maths, and we have to write about what our goals are and how we will achieve them for each subject. In tech arts we have started making our cell phone holders and I am doing mine a see through fluro yellow/green one. So far I have only drawn the lines and marked up where to bend it and where to cut it. Hopefully I will get it finished week. We had swimming sports on Friday and I was in the year eight 25 meters championship race with five other girls out of the whole school which I think is pretty good. I was also in the relay for the year eight girls with three other people and we were so close to winning against the other house. We were like 10 milliseconds apart. So far we haven't had French but we are definitely having it next week.

Week 4 Term 1

This week we have learnt a bit more than last week. For maths, I learnt how to find factors, primes, and prime factors, and also how to use factor trees to find prime factors of numbers. For writing we have been watching films about the treaty of waitangi, and we also went to the museum. To me it is still so confusing, and we have to write a report about it and why it was written. We also have had a spelling test this week and it wasn't that hard, but then it wasn't that easy. In tech arts we have used filler to fill in all of our gaps and then we put it on the sander to make it really smooth. I have painted my first coat of paint which is just on of the under coats and it is white. We have to have three coats, so we can then sand the paint to make it really smooth, and then paint the good coat in the color of our choice. I still have to do all of the wiring with the speakers and the rest though. The year sevens got to do their french on Wednesday and we were supposed to have our french of Friday, but we didn't. Hopefully we will definitely be able to go next week!

Week 3 Term 1

This week has been great. We got put in our maths groups and who would guess I got in the highest group with only two other people! I have a lot of practice to do though. We have started doing our PAT tests and I got a stanine 8 on maths, 6 on reading comprehension, and a 7 on grammar. Reading comp is probably my worst. I finally finished my visual language about what I want to do in the future then wrote an explanation about why I chose the pictures and the words, and think I did a really good job. The only thing is that it have a few gaps so you can see the black piece of paper beneath it, but overall it looks really cool. Tech arts this week has been great. I have made the box shape and have started the wiring the speakers, but I am no where near finished. We still haven't started french yet, but I can't wait!!!

Week 2 Term 1

The first two weeks have been great. We have been doing basic fact tests and I always seem to be getting 99 out of 100.  I handed in my letter for class councilor and I am SO nervous!!!! I can't wait till Friday in week 3 because we find out who it is. We have also been doing swimming on each day of the week except Fridays and we have the same timetable as room two so we have half of the pool and they have half a pool. Tech arts really fun in design and I'm really enjoying making the speakers so far. I have nailed the two pieces of wood together which is the side and the top and then the side and the bottom. We started jump jam an we still do it with the same classes, but it gets so hot. The next few weeks are going to be crazy because we are starting all the testing and hopefully starting french again.

Week 1 Term 1

I am so glad to be back at school! This week we have had all of the new year sevens come into our class and they are all really friendly. In class this week we have only done writing and visual language. For writing we have to write an application letter for class councilor or for house captain. I don't really want to be a house captain but I really would like to be class councilor. For visual language we are creating a dream board of words and pictures about what we would like in the future. For tech arts we are starting with design (wood), and I can't wait!!