Inquiry books home

Room 12 children have taken their inquiry (topic) books home for the long weekend. Some need to complete their research on their chosen focus area with their discrimination topic. I would be very grateful if you could assist them with this if necessary. They will then decide how to present their findings.
This is a very exciting time in the inquiry process, thank you for your support.
Happy holidays!
Ms Saxon.

Amazing Egg Painting

This is Max C reporting.

On March 28th we painted the eggs which we blew yesterday. It was really, really fun.

"It was quite hard but I enjoyed it." Sam C
"Fun and awesome." Molly
"Really fun, really hard." Holly
"Good!" Daniil
"Awesome!" Tuhuru

Here are some photos.

Exciting homework

Today we shared some of the most exciting homework we have ever done! Many of us found out lots about our grandparents.

Did you know they used to get whipped with a cane or a strap?!
Baxter's Nana had a Hillman Hunter!
Giles' grandad helped invent the pulley for the gondolas.
Sam C's grandad went to military school.

We also got ultra-creative with our futuristic inventions.
Max C thinks we will sleep in learning helmets so we will learn everything we need to know overnight!
Madoka thinks there will be magic doors where you type in your destination then open the door and you will be there!

We found out that homework can be really fun!
Check out some of the samples below.

Egg Blowing Chaos!

This afternoon there was chaos in Room 12 while we blew eggs. Most of us hadn't ever done this before.

"That was really fun because I hadn't done it before." Evie
"TOTALLY AWESOME!" Sam C
"I really enjoyed it and would probably do it again." Lydia
"It tasted disgusting but was fun!" Sam D
"It was a very good experience and I was really hot at the end from the blowing!" Rosie

Nits!

Oh dear, yes, nits have returned to Room 12. We know they are an ongoing problem and that they love clean hair. Please check your child's hair often. Thank you for your support.

Here are a few tips:

• Use a leave - in product in your hair.
• Comb often.
• Use a known product / shampoo - one of our parents has recommended Moov Headlice Solution which comes in bright green packaging.
• Or, yes, there is the final option..... 

Room 12 Poets

Room 12 is a class full of amazing poets! Each Monday we try to write poetry that makes the reader feel something. We use some pretty powerful language that is full of imagery
Here is a sample of today's writing...

SOUNDS LIKE MAGIC

Room 12

I listened to the whistling wind

Racing through the trees

And thought I heard howling wolves

Hunting for Prey.

Lying in my bed

I hear the raindrops

Like fingers tapping on the roof

Playing a tune.

I walk along the sand

And hear waves crashing angrily

While clouds thunder overhead

A storm is brewing.

As the storm abates

Sun emerges

Birds chirp with delight

Like a symphony of magic.

SOUNDS OF THE STORM

Evelyn

I hear the wind calling, calling my name

"A storm is brewing" it screams

Whistling a tune of destruction

The wind blows itself away.

Now I hear a tapping sound

Fingers on my roof

Rain is plummeting down

From the dark skies.

The waves start crashing

Angrily against the rocks

The sea is throwing a temper tantrum

A storm is coming...

A boom of thunder fills the air

Destruction hits

Cracking over nature

Destroying all in its way.

The storm abates

But the sun has disappeared

Banished

To silence.

 

SOUNDS LIKE MAGIC

Baxter

I lay in my bed listening to the rain

Sounds like bullets reflecting off the roof.

The wind is whistling in my ear

Mumbling nothing that makes sense.

There is a storm brewing

Above my bedroom roof

The corner of the roof is flapping

Branches scratching against the window pane.

Gates slamming

Trees falling down like dominoes

The wind and rain leaving a path

Of desctruction.

 

MAGICAL SYMPHONIES

Evie

I listen to the soft music of birds chirping happily

Dancing against the sun

Drifting gently

Floating with the wind.

Sitting under a tree

I can hear cicadas

Making a duet

With the whistling wind.

I listened to the rustling leaves

And thought I could hear

The sounds of nature

Flowering into spring.

In the park

Children are frolicking around

Bursting with laughter

Delight glued to their faces.

In winter I can hear

The silence of the snow

Drifting softly

Onto the blanket of peace.

 

MAGICAL SOUNDS

Sam C

When I listen carefully

I think I can hear

Piglets squealing

Like they are joyous.

I hear thunder

Quenching out the sunlight

Also the soft pitter-patter

Of the rain on my roof.

The storm abates

The sun appears

Birds sing in harmony

As vultures screech for fear.

But listen,

The rumbling of a tsunami

Water rushes over me

I drift into oblivion.

 

THE FEARSOME SOUNDS

Leighton

I hear joyful laughter

Coming from nearby

Sounding like friends and family

Giggling to happiness.

I hear the swoosh of air whistling

Throughout the water land

With a dramatic kiss of air

Giving love to nature.

Snow falls

Towards the land

Bringing silence

All over the kingdom.

Time falls

Until the end

So enjoy

The little things.

 

MAGIC SOUNDS

Max C

I look up into the stars

I long for sleep

The wind starts playing a lullaby

Dancing between the trees.

I crawl into my tent

And listen to the rain

Plummeting onto the tent

I fall asleep.

It is morning

I walk along the beach

The waves smash against the rocks

Furious I won't join them.

I sprint to the tent

Because the clouds are meeting

Thunder roars at me

Its deep, dark song.

 

MAGICAL SOUNDS

Madoka

I listen to the birds

Chirping with delight

And thought I could hear

Children rolling away with laughter.

Sitting under a tree in a forest

I listen to the mysterious wind whistling to the mythical land

And thought I could hear

Fairies whispering to each other.

Staring outside from a window

I listen to the rain playing a tune

And thought I could hear

Fingers gently tapping on a piano.

Standing outside all alone

I listen to snowflakes falling to the ground

And I could hear nothing

Nothing at all

Leaving this world with silence.

 

Egg Blowing and Painting for Easter

 

This Wednesday and Thursday Room 12 is going to have a blast blowing and then painting eggs for Easter! Yes, some will break, yes, our room will smell, yes, it will get messy!!

Please send your child along with a raw egg (or a few if you think they may break it!) and some cotton buds.

This can be a reward for some of the fantastic learning and attitudes happening in our room.

Thanks for supporting your great children.

Ms Saxon.

Inquiring minds

Room 12 is getting stuck into their inquiry projects based around discrimination. It has been wonderful to receive so much positive feedback about conversations that are happening at home and the increased awareness of these children. Some have some exciting research underway - Hungarian refugees to New Zealand, why many girls miss out on education, religious discrimination. Please have a chat to your child about their inquiry focus and how they are progressing.

Any questions?!

Today we were introduced to the website
www.anyquestions.co.nz
A real librarian talks to us online and gives us tips on finding reliable information to answer our questions. We can go on this website from 1pm-6pm Monday to Friday. It was really helpful.
We had an interesting discussion about 'pecking order' in our class, what is the pecking order in your family?!

United Nations class!

Room 12 is becoming the United Class of St Martins School. Today we welcome Daniil who was born in Latvia. We also have Lyndon from Papua New Guinea, Madoka from Japan and many other children who have family from different parts of the world. We are lucky to be so multi-cultural!

Purple Cake Day

Room 12 were extremely proud to initiate a fundraiser for Purple Cake Day at St Martins School last week. This charity focuses on ensuring children are educated around the world, the most effective way out of poverty. Room 12 made posters and baked delicious cupcakes, as well as getting the rest of our syndicate on board. We were thrilled to raise $912.10 that has already been sent to the foundation.

Congratulations on making a REAL difference in our world!

Welcome!

Welcome to Room 12's blog! We hope that this will keep our followers updated with some of the exciting learning we are part of. Please feel free to visit often and leave a comment.
Many thanks, Ms Saxon.