School life

What are schools in other countries like? We explored pictures and discussed what we thought it would be like to learn at that school.

We also shared our ideas about the most interesting things we've learned, and the most important things we've learned. Interestingly, lots of kids thought art was one of the most interesting things they have learned. And I was pleased to see some thought going in to the ideas they think are most important to learn - values, respect, manners, maths, reading, writing, being kind to each other, being nice, how to keep yourself safe, how to make money, how to enjoy your life, how to bake. Nice thinking kids!

We explored what helps us learn (and we're all different - although lots of them said google! ), and what might get in the way of learning. Some good discussions and thoughtful ideas. Some of my favourites of their ideas for helping us learn - quietness, happiness, being willing to learn, imagination, my own way of doing things, sleep, perseverance.

Choices included a range of activities, but the most popular was designing a dream classroom. If only we could try some of the ideas - slides, pools, ice cream machines, pets, sofas etc. It's fun to dream!

Sea Cleaners

Quest kids have been learning about the Hauraki Gulf and thinking about the benefits of it, as well as looking at problems and possible solutions. This week we donned gloves and explored areas of our school and Edith Hopper Park and picked up rubbish to stop it blowing into the stormwater drains which flow to Manly Beach. We were surprised at how much rubbish we found - it didn’t look that messy, but when we looked we found quite a bit - plastic bags, lots of corners of plastic packaging for bars and chip packets, plastic bottles, toys, lollipop sticks etc. Some children also thought of other actions, such as raising awareness through posters, speeches, stories. Thanks Quest kids for making a difference in our area and keeping lots of rubbish out of the Hauraki Gulf!

ONLY YOU CAN STOP RUBBISH

By Charlie G

If everyone in this school picked up at least 1 piece of rubbish a day then that would be seven hundred and fifty pieces! and in a week 3,750 pieces! And even better a full term! 37,500 Pieces! Lots of rubbish goes in the Ocean every day. In fact so much it's as much as ONE RUBBISH TRUCK PER MINUTE! But if we try we can stop that! If we do we can have a beautiful happy future and a beautiful  happy future is what we need! So if you want to make a difference try 1 + a day!

Hauraki Gulf Sea Life

Whangaparaoa Peninsula is surrounded by the Tikapa Moana - the Hauraki Gulf. We thought about what might be found in, on, over and near the water of the Hauraki Gulf.

Next we discussed why the Gulf is important to us and how we could help looked after it. We learnt about being kaitiaki (people who care for or look after things - guardians). Our ocean is so important as it gives us food (kai moana), water (evaporated water forms part of the water cycle), and oxygen from the plankton etc. As well as this the ocean provides us with recreation opportunities such as surfing, snorkelling, swimming, sailing; and it provides transport for cargo and people.

There are many great videos on Young Ocean Explorers about creatures in the Hauraki Gulf and how we can look after them. We looked at 1+ a day - if we all picked up one piece of plastic a day we could make a difference. 

Here is what kids think is in the Hauraki Gulf at the start of our learning...

Biospeliology

Biospeliology is the scientific study of cave life (speliology = the scientific study of caves).

Kids arrived at Quest to find it had changed into a dark cave with various creatures inside (pictures and models).

They learnt many new words as they explored the topic of cave life - Stalactite, Stalagmite (can they remember the difference?), Arachnocampa luminosa (Scientific name for the NZ glow worm), troglos (Greek for cave), tomo (maori for hole), ana (Maori for cave), troglobites (Creatures that spend their whole lives in a cave).

We looked at adaptations creatures have to enable them to live effectively in the dark - heightened senses of touch, and hearing, lack of eyes and colour. We looked at some NZ cave creatures - bats, Cave weta etc.

Did you know...?
There are glow worms by the waterfall at Shakespear Park. Take a trip out one night, walk the short track to the waterfall, turn off your torches and see if you can spot any.

Imaginary Life

We had a creative session using our imagination to think up new lands. We looked at the book 'Weslandia' and also at Martyn's great ideas to give us inspiration. In the book Weslandia, Wesley is a creative boy who spends his life dreaming up new ideas rather than worrying about conforming. His parents worry about him, but he spends the Summer creating a new land, and all his class mates want to join in when they see the great ideas he comes up with.

We thought about what civilisations have (food, language, clothes, games, medicine, shelter etc) and created something for ourselves. Some created a new language using a new alphabet, some created interesting new lands, some invented new food or games.