Season Greetings Class 2!

Oscar's class from England sent us some lovely Christmas cards.  We organised a Christmas special of our own and with our very own band! Isabel and Lulu, Isabel is Rudolf, you know the one, with the nose so bright?!

Sorry Class 2 LC 10 isn't usually this camera shy.
We hope you get our Christmas before Christmas.  

We were sharing about some of our favourite Christmas traditions and then Oscar told us he has turkey and black pudding when he was in England. What are your favourite Christmas traditions?

Amy's family buys a special present that the whole family can enjoy

Isabel's family writes their Santa, list then they send it up the chimney 

Isaiah's family puts out a mince pie for Santa (not fruit mince either, yuckk he said)

Ryan's family makes a reindeer runway - this intrigued us and Ryan got asked a lot of questions!!

Gray goes to his Grandparents place in Wellington on Boxing Day

Cam's family is only allowed to open their stocking presents and then has to wait until the rest of the family arrives

Alice's family buys Christmas decorations and decorates the Christmas tree together

Reuben isn't allowed to open any presents until his cousins arrive

When Mrs Poulsen was a little girl, her sisters, Mum and Dad would open up one present on Christmas Eve when everyone were in their pj's and also playing a game of cricket while we wait for the BBQ, yum!!

A lot of the children said they put out food for Santa and some put food out for the reindeer.

What is Ms White's family traditions?

Waiata

Next Friday LC 10 and LC 2 are off to Taumutu Marae.  In preparation we have been learning He Honore, a Maori song.  It has been our weekly poem as well.

Worms!

Worm Farm on PhotoPeach
After visiting the Botanical Garden and learning about worms and their environments we recreated our own smaller ones using old fizzy bottles.  Video will follow shortly, once we learn how to use Explain Everything! : )

Birthday bands first live performance

Lulu and Isabel have been putting their ukulele skills to good use. They are officially LC 10's Birthday Band!

Their first customer was Alex who turned 7! Happy birthday Alex! 

Great job girls. Do you think Morgan will join you? Who said they can play the harmonica?

Not so Incy Weency Spiders!

Have you downloaded your QR app?  Here are some of our favourite sites.

Bradley's Haiku

Isabel's Haiku

Adam's Haiku

Amy's Haiku

Lulu's Haiku

Alice's Haiku

Rosie's Haiku

Rosie's Haiku

Stacey's Haiku

Gray's Haiku

Gray's Haiku

Oscar's Haiku

Alex's Haiku

Charlie's Haiku

s

Iroquois' Haiku

Cam's Haiku

Marshall's Haiku

Isaiah's Haiku

Emily's Haiku

Daniel's Haiku

Lissy's Haiku

Sam's Haiku

Morgan's Haiku

Ryan's Haiku

Mae's Haiku

The 3 R's

Helping us learn more about how we can reduce the amount of rubbish that goes into our landfills we are learning this song as our weekly poem and have been practicing it in our Pukeko Presents every other Friday.

What's black and white and stripy all over?

We are dabbling in QR (quick response) codes.

I love how these smart "barcodes" can show you photos, videos, websites, email addresses and phone numbers.

Using this QR code generator we can make our own QR code using an app like this QR scanner/reader.

Stay tuned for how LC10 is using these.

Spider Haiku

ANZAC Day (belated)

Look what I found hidden away in the vault! A big thank you to all of our experts that helped us learn about Life before and after war. ANZAC Day on PhotoPeach

2 truths and 1 lie

Can you work out which statement is the lie?

I   like motorbikes .  

I  go to hockey  on Wednesdays.   

I go to swimming on Thursdays.                       

By Bradley H  

I like playing on the field. 
I enjoy swimming in the pools. 
I go to gymnastics.

By Marshall     

Meat eating plants!

PAKURAKURA are reading about Strange Plants and asking lots of interesting questions while they are reading. We found this website great for helping us understand what Venus Fly traps look like and how they attract their prey. This site has lots of interesting articles.  This video will help MAWHERO with their "projects" about Mammals.

A video of an unsuspecting fly that is about to become dinner... SNAP!

Let me know if you find anything else that is interesting in the comments below.

Answer this

Maota are learning to use prior knowledge and making connections, to help ask relevant and sensible questions while they are reading. 

This neat widget is called Answergarden, where we can ask our audience a question and respond. Helping us with our learning.

Maota discovered not all animals can be grouped as mammals.  Mammals have special features (characteristics) that make them Mammals.

Warm blooded                                       G.W

Drink Mothers milk

Have fur, wool or hair                           A.N

Mothers give birth to their babies

Can you name any mammals that have these characteristics?  

Making connections

We have been learning how to make connections in our reading.

link to this page http://reading.ecb.org/teacher/makingconnections/index.html  -

• It helps readers understand how characters feel and the motivation behind their actions.
• It helps readers have a clearer picture in their head as they read thus making the reader more engaged.
• It keeps the reader from becoming bored while reading.
• It sets a purpose for reading and keeps the reader focused.
• Readers can see how other readers connected to the reading.
• It forces readers to become actively involved.
• It helps readers remember what they have read and ask questions about the text.

Text-to-self:
What does this remind me of in my life?
What is this similar to in my life?
How is this different from my life?
Has something like this ever happened to me?
How does this relate to my life?
What were my feelings when I read this?

Text-to-text:
What does this remind me of in another book I’ve read?
How is this text similar to other things I’ve read?
How is this different from other books I’ve read?
Have I read about something like this before?

Text-to-world:
What does this remind me of in the real world?
How is this text similar to things that happen in the real world?
How is this different from things that happen in the real world?
How did that part relate to the world around me?

Choco bomb

My holiday snaps

As promised photos of Bruce's and my holiday to Thailand. 

Having a fish spa treatment with fish nicknamed "doctor fish." These hungry fish were nibbling away even though they have no teeth. 

Who says you can't play with your food? One thing I indulged on was the fresh fruit including these rambutan. This hairy spiky ball was hiding tasty and sweet fruit     

A memory of a life time! We were careful with what company we rode with as some treat their elephants (Cĥāng). 

Our lady Dacom, was 65 years old and eats 300 kilograms of pineapples, leaves, bananas and other vegetation. 

Finally we popped over to Phi Phi Island for a couple of days. We quickly realised that this wasn't enough time to explore these remote islands. Another first was snorkelling at night with illuminated plankton! 

Have you got any holiday snaps you would like to share?

Times tables, Multiplication, Groups of...

We are learning about multiplication and division in maths for the rest of the term and a little bit into next term.  Below are some games we play to help reinforce what we have been learning.  Stay tuned to see our progress.

Parents, what are your views on using online educational games to help your child learn?  Do you see the benefits of children playing online games to help consolidate their class learning? Or do you think we run the danger of children becoming to reliant on technology to help their learning? Do you prefer your child to use pen and paper and other traditional 'homework' tools?

I would love to know your thoughts.  Please vote on our poll and leave a comment below this post.  When you have voted your child will receive a Dojo point (Whanau points) and it will help me understand your perspective on this hot topic.

Here are just a few of my favourite games to help children learn their times tables.  Have ago yourself and find out how addictive and fun these games are.  Who knows, it might even refresh your own knowledge of the times tables.


ICT games has many educational games to help teach maths concepts.  This game is my favourite as I can set the times tables I would like to the kids to learn or they can choose the ones they need some extra help with.

Splat Facts upgrades your car when you have gotten 8 correct answers.  Also you can chose which fact to practice.

When helping your child learn their times tables, start with one fact at a time until it's completely mastered.  We are are learning our 2's then 5's as we know how to skip count forwards and backwards.

Mathmagician is a game where you race the clock.

Johnny's Math Page has plenty more of games to help practice those basic facts.



Don't forget to leave a comment on your views about online educational games.

Thanks

Empty the basket

Using some of our skills we learnt during PE interchange, we played empty the basket. 

Matariki

For our Matariki Celebrations we learnt what Matariki means to the Maori.

ChocoBomb's Great Adventure

Adventures of ChocoBomb!

A Queens Birthday weekend ChocoBomb came to stay at our house and what adventures we had, just like the Famous Five but way cooler because we went to Arthur's Pass, it is 1030 metres above sea level at Porters Pass!  It took 2 hours to get there.  When we arrived it was pouring with rain and the wind was so strong it nearly blew us over!

Sadly it was to wet to walk to the waterfall, we tried to cross the bridge but we didn't make it as the wind was to strong. There was mist coming off the waterfall, it looked like fog. On the way home we stopped at Springfield to see the giant donut and to have an ice cream. ChocoBomb was eating my ice cream and he climbed up in the donut with me!

Lastly we went to a lake where ChocoBomb and I made a rock pool then I felt ravenous so Dad cooked a BBQ in the truck it was delicious.  Off home to bed for me and ChocoBomb zzzzz. 

Fun in the sun

Hey Lissy, you're upside down  hehe

Lulu had ago at block lettering her name. Didn't she do well?

For Goldentime some of LC 10 popped out into the sun and drew on the concrete with chalk. A few grated knuckles happened, but mostly giggles were able to be heard from inside. I popped out to take photos and also join in on the fun 

Wheely party

Choco Bomb going for a ride with Mae

Marshall showing us his tricks on his skateboard. 

Alice and Lulu weaving in and out of an obstacle.  

Look how high Sam can jump!

Isaiah has ago at going down the ramp. Well done Isaiah, it was scary at first but you had ago! 

Bradley on his wheel cart. Looked like so much fun Mrs Poulsen wanted a go. 

Alex comes whizzing around the corner. 

Gray navigating a chalk obstacle.  

We celebrated our Green term for term one today.  Our entry to all of the time to the Wheely party, was to have 11 weeks of staying Green. 

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who stayed green for term one. 

Did you know ...

The Pukeko Team have a team blog too!

Here is a link to some wet day fun Pukeko Team Blog.

The game Cam and Ryan are playing is called Manacala.  I found this online version here, Manacala had a few games myself!

Have you played this game before?  Tell us how you went, did you have a strategy? What was it?

Update the computer has beat me 5 times!!!!!

Class Dojo's

After my return from some PD (Professional Development, not to be confused with Periodic Detention!!) this week I couldn't wait to share this with LC 10.  Sure enough they have taken to this like it's their own.

Class Dojo's http://www.classdojo.com/ is a clever idea, where parents can get a snap shot of their child's behaviour and to help bridge that home - school link.

The BEST part is ICT is naturally integrated, as quick as a push of a button, individuals, groups or whole classes can be rewarded with a Dojo point.  It has made me be very specific with the reason why a child is receiving a Dojo point.  Also I don't interrupt the flow of learning.  The kids know by a 'ding' sound that points have been awarded.

With some critical thinking on day one, we problem solved some minor issues.  By Friday, children were asking if they could reward other children because they were being self managers.  Too cute!

These Dojo points get transferred to Whanau points.  The points are accumulated for the whole week so parents will be able share their child's behaviour successes.

Students have their own unique login (just like matheletics) where they can change and personalise their avatar.  

Have ago at home using Dojo points, let me know how you have been using them.  I love success stories.

Grab the APP!

Happy Dojoing!

Points collected after 3 days! Wahoo LC 10

Morgan the builder

Morgan has been busy making a tower.  He showed perseverance as this was third try.  

   
"I had to make a square base to make it steady.  I used a big book.  My Dad helped me build the bottom but I built it until I ran out of blocks.  This was my third attempt!"

Next Monday Morgan will share this for Make and Take news.  Have you made anything that you could share?

X country

Despite the weather our cross country still carried on. We eagerly were waiting for our year level to be called. It was finally my turn. I nervous, could I run down that slippery hill without falling over? I thought to myself "here goes nothing."  Mrs Poulsen started the race, the clappers went off with a bang...

For more recounts of our cross country stay tuned. 

When  I ran around the corner and I felt nervous.When I passed Bastie  I thought  I was 9th place.At the end.  I almost  fell over running up the stairs.by Alex.

When  we   heard   the   clappers   I   ran  as  fast  as  I  could. I  was  the  first  year   2  boy  to  get   to   the front  But then I got the stitch and I had to walk.  I was feeling sore and disappointed that I wasn't in the lead, but I came 6th.  By Iroquois

 My  heart   was  beating   faster   and  faster  and   faster. I   thought   I  was   going  to  collapse 

because  I  was  tired.  but  i  didn't   I kept on   going  .   Then I  heard  my  brother   cheering.   I  went faster and faster till I crossed the finish line.  By Isabel

I was feeling my body might explode and I had a rely rely bad stitch.  I was excited because I came 5th. I did not want to come last so I ran as fast as I could. BY MARSHALL BELL

On Monday the 13/5/13 the school did the cross country. We did the cross country in Preston Downs. It was a cold day. There was some mud on the track. My shoes were soaking at the end of the race. Alice came first and I came second and Lissy came third. Only first, second, third, forth and fifth got their number on their hand.  My feet were going really fast. At the finish we had to run up the stairs. I felt like my heart was about to explode out of my chest. 

By Lulu.

Lulu sprinting to the finish

    

Butterflies

Butterflies on PhotoPeach

Golden Time

You may have heard your child saying they had a "green week" and wonder what that was.  As part of LC10's behaviour system, we have a traffic light system.  For children who have stayed on green all week they get Golden time on Friday afternoon.  For those who move to orange they miss out on some Golden time and those who move to red they miss out on Golden time completely.

As we were reading and breathing Dr Seuss some of the children wanted to make Oobleck from the Dr Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck.

Emily, Mae, Isabel, Leaha, Amy, Lulu and Yousef had a ball playing in the Oobleck and discovering what happened when you hit this liquid really hard.

I have videos of the fun, but they are proving difficult to upload.  Anyone have anyone tips?

LC10 gets a make over

Popped in to have a look at the progress of our classroom. Boy those contractors have been busy. Can you see any new additions or changes?

Walkathlon

Did you know that LC10 collectively walked over 310 laps for our school Walkathon!  That is a lot of books for the library and our school reading books.  I was very proud to hear LC10 setting goals and saying "I can do 1 more lap, then I will stop," or "I can walk a little bit faster so I can get more laps," and of course many were saying how fun it was and they were passing lots of Moa kids.
WELL DONE LC10!

Sam and Bradley ready for another lap

Isabel going solo

Love that smile Ryan!

Alex striding it out

On their fourth lap

Louis has a great pace

Mrs Herring with LC6

Ms Cider with LC7

Mr D stamping Rhys' lap card

Some of our fantastic parent support

Ms McKendry armed with a stamp

Mrs Busch giving us a high ten