Raglan trip

We had a brilliant day at Raglan last week with Room 16.

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We went to Wainui (or Ngaranui)  beach and walked down the hill to the sea.

We looked at the black sand and learned that it is black because it is made from iron.
It is volcanic.
The iron sand  probably came from Mount Taranaki. when it erupted many centuries ago.
It has drifted all the way up the coast to Raglan.

The iron sand is never still. It will probably keep drifting further up the west coast of New Zealand.

We found shells, and stones and many interesting things on the beach. 

Miss Scott and Mrs M, our Masters student teachers came with us.

The iron sand sticks to our skin.

This piece of driftwood spent a long time in the sea. It is covered with barnacles.

The sand collects in big dunes then after a storm washes back into the sea.
The sand is  constantly moving.
We might even end up playing in the same sand next year in Auckland!

It was great fun playing in the creek.

We made rivers and canals.

There was a sandcastle competition.

Everyone enjoyed finding things to decorate their sandcastles.

We learned how important it is to look after our beaches and dispose of our rubbish carefully so it doesn't end up in the sea, where sea creatures might eat it thinking it might be food.
We picked up all the rubbish we found amongst the seaweed and shells.

Each sandcastle had to include something from the sea, something from the land and something man-made.

This one was made by Luke and his mother. It won an award for the best scultural use of materials on the beach.

After the beach we went back to Raglan and had hot chips.

Then we got to play in the playground by the chip shop before getting into the bus and returning to school.

It was a tiring day. ....
But lots of fun!

October the birthday month

Phew, its been a month of birthdays in Room 13. Devon, Carmelo, Zaria, Blair, Taine, Roxy and Ms Jones all celebrated their birthdays.

Ms Jones came to school on her birthday riding her brand new bicycle.

We decided it would be a great object to sketch. Here is the bike, and some of our sketches.

 

 

Term 4

Welcome back to school. 

Its  the last term of the year.

       

Room 13 are off to a busy start. 

It's spring, so we are  weeding, growing seeds, and preparing the school gardens for planting summer gardens.

We grew sweet peas. Here they are ready to plant.

We cut some bamboo to make a frame for the sweetpeas to grow up.

Here they are in the ground.

This is the bamboo climbing frame for the peas to hold onto when they grow tall.

Remember the giant pumpkin competition last year?

                                                                  (Room 13 won)

Well, we have started germinating the seeds we saved from the pumpkins last year so we can run the compeition again this year.

Here they are, breaking through the potting mix. Come and check them out as they grow on Room 13's windowsill.

Last term we made clay pots and masks. It was a very popular activity. They are drying and waiting to be fired. We will take them to Cathy's place laster this term. Cathy's husband is a potter and he has a kiln.

Operetta

Our item in the operetta was all about how greed for money can destroy the environment.

Countdown to the operetta

Next week is the operetta! 

It's called Money Doesn't Grow on Trees

Room 13 and Room 16 are practising hard to perfect our item for the operetta.
We are  putting the finishing touches to our costumes and the actions to our songs.
We are learning our words and remembering to make BIG actions.
We are learning  to be dramatic and wow the audience.

Here are the garden nymphs

Some car drivers preparing to start their engines.

Musicians and Property Developers

We wanna be billionaires!

We hope all our families can come and see the operetta.