Planning for the future

 During the last couple of weeks of term 2 we looked at town planning and planning for the future. 

We thought about what makes a town - what do we need and want in a town? Children worked in groups to plan a town. There was lots of discussion about what's important, what is needed in a town. Then I asked them to think about infrastructure - how will they get around in the town? How do they get water, electricity, get rid of waste? Many of them were interested to see just how much thinking has to go on to plan a town.

Here are some of their ideas. 

The following week we started to think of the future. What things do we like and want to keep? What do we think needs improving? What kids of world do we think will be good for our children and grandchildren? 

Term 2 SUSTAINABILITY

 This term we are looking at different ideas about sustainability. How can we keep our planet healthy for future generations? 

We looked at people who are champions for the environment with David Attenborough's birthday. We were lucky to have Riley and Steve Hathaway from Young Ocean Explorers come in to talk to our school.

 

During Primary Science week we looked at the importance of soil and studied soil helth by looking at samples from around our school. Some got to hear from volcanologist Ben Kennedy via zoom and made playdough volcano models. 

We also looked at clothes and sustainability - how can we reduce, re-use and recycle so that clothes do not end up in landfill? 

Term 1 2025 - CONNECTION

 In Term 1 we looked at the concept of CONNECTION in various ways.

We looked at connecting with others (friendships, creating connections, finding common interests). 

For sea week we looked at kaitiakitanga and how we connect with our environment (the importance of the ocean in our lives to help provide oxygen, as part of the water cycle, food, jobs, recreation etc). Some chose to write letters to the Prime Minister to ask for more marine reserves (they were shocked to learn that less than 1% of NZ waters are protected marine reserves). These letters will be presented at parliament, along with other from schools around NZ, by the Young Ocean Explorers team - Riley and Steve Hathaway. Some children picked up rubbish to help clean the environment. 

We designed and made bridges and looked at the different designs to make strong structures to connect places over rivers. 

Lots of fun was had looking at electrical connections and making circuits. Children enjoyed using our brainbox kits and some even had a go with the EPro8 equipment (which will be used later in the year for a year 5&6 competition).

During neurodiversity awareness week we looked at how the connections in our brains work (synapses) and how some people's brains can work in different ways. We looked at strengths of different brain types and different neurodiversities. We looked at famous people who have neurodiversities - did you know that Albert Einstein was gifted and also thought to have dyslexia. 

Teamwork was an important concept to look at - how we can work with others to  problem solve and support each other. 

While looking at all these different topics it is hoped that children can find something that interests them and also to think about some new ideas and get them talking about and understanding themselves a little more.