Year 0/1 Eco Warriors

 

Look at all the plastic lunchbox litter that has been found around the school 🫤

Today in Education for Sustainability Year 0/1 thought about how to keep rubbish out of the ocean. 

When we bring litter in our lunchboxes, sometimes it can fly away in the wind and can end up in the storm drains, which lead to the ocean. 

When litter reaches the ocean, animals like turtles can accidently eat it! 

We wanted to send a message to our school to remember to bring litter-free lunchboxes. We made fantastic turtle posters to help others remember what to do. Check them out by the library. 

Please pack a litter-free lunch! 

✨💧💙🐢💙💧✨

Year Five Rangatira

 In the last two sessions Year 5 have been showing their leadership skills. 

We have been creating picture books to share with the Year One's to the knowledge we've gained about how to get to school safely. 

As well, today Year Five created presentations to promote Wig Wednesday and went around the classes. 

Next term we're looking forward to sharing our picture books and taking part in the Food for Thought program. 

Year One - Litter Less

 

Today Year One investigated the issue of plastic pollution.  First we watched a video about how plastic rubbish moves down the outside drains to the sea. 

Bianca "People drop the rubbish and it goes down the drain. It goes to the beach.  There's a pipe and it goes all the way through the pipe."

Erin "We can help pick up rubbish"

Eden "It's not good because the animals can eat it and they can die".

We collected litter from around the school and analysed what it was made from.  We wondered where all the  plastic packets came from.

Sam thought "Lunchboxes"

What can we do about it?  

"Take the food out of the packets at home" said Faye

"We should look around and pick up any rubbish"

"Bring a litterless lunch" Eden G

What a great idea.

We wondered how we spread the word about the problem and its solution.

Posters!

We got creative. First, we drew a turtle straight in permanent marker! Very brave. Then we created our turtle's environment. We ripped paper for the seaweed and we used PVA glue as bubbles. We can't wait to see what they look like finished 🐢🌊

YEAR 2 - NZ NATIVE BIRDS - WHIO

In the run up to the globally renowned Bird Of The Year Competition, Year 2 are learning about one of our fascinating NZ native birds... 

Today we focused on The WHIO!

Whio are also known as our Little Blue Duck. Have you seen them on the $10 note?

They are only found in fast flowing river rapids with crystal clear waters, trees, plants and loads of stones.

Unfortunately whio are hunted by stoats and are now endangered. 

Firstly we researched and sketched and then we wrote the facts we had learned. Afterwards we played a board game to see what threatens the whio.

Last of all we read the Little Blue Duck book.

Next time we'll learn about the Pukeko vs Takahe. Until then can you go on a walk with your family to spot pukeko down by the Wakaaranga Creek?

Year 3 Research Extraordinary Earthworms

 

Today we buddy read and researched all about earthworms.

What did we learn?

Hugo "The North Auckland worm can grow up to 1.3metres long"

Rosemary "The grey worm is the most common"

Isabelle "Earth worms can breathe through their skin"

"Tiger worms prefer to live in compost heaps and worm farms" Leleya

Austin "Casts are worm poo.  Some people collect them to upgrade the soil"

We went to the worm compost to get the soil ready for planting kumera next week. 

Step 1: Get leaf compost

Step 2: Take food scrap compost

Step 3: Get WORM WEE!! 

Once we were ready we took our compost mix to the garden beds and scattered MILLIONS of microbes into the garden beds. 

We noticed: 

The worms wriggled straight into the earth to get away from the sun. 

There was a lot of plastic that couldn't decompose. 

There were so many worms! 

See you next term Year 3, when we can see the kai that is growing in the garden beds we have just fed. 

Room 2 - The Wednesday Challenge

 

Today Room 2 couldn't compost because of the hail, so we learnt about the Wednesday Challenge instead.

Firstly, two Year five students came and did a presentation about the Wednesday Challenge. Esther reminded us that on Wednesdays at Wakaaranga we try to walk, bike, scooter or park and walk further to school. It's good for our bodies and good for the environment 

Each class log their results each Wednesday.  We compete against other classes and other schools for prizes. Room 2 is 22nd out of 24.  Can we help to improve their ranking?

Tomorrow there is a spot prize for someone in Room 2, who walks, bikes, scooters or parks and strolls to school.  Who will be the winner?

After our presentation we created 'Walking School Bus' posters. Well done Room 2.  Hopefully we can compost the Mara Kai next time.

Year 2 BUSY BEEEES

 

Room 11 and 10 are learning about bees and what they do in winter. 

Beatrice the Bee shared some interesting information with us.

What did we learn from Beatrice the bee in winter?

Emelia - The older bees huddle around the younger bees to keep them warm and protect them to stay strong in the cold.

Cooper - They hibernate

Emile - At under 10deg they have to hibernate

Joan - They only leave the hive to go to the toilet! 

Lily - They hibernate together like a cluster of grapes

Nico - It reaches 32deg inside the hive in winter!

We investigated our winter mara and what the Waka bees were up to. 

There are not many flowers in the winter, but we saw some kowhai, camelias and a few other flowers. 

When we went to check the hives, it was only 9deg. We only saw a few bees in the entrance. The rest must be hibernating in their huddle.

We recorded what we learnt in our Bee books. 

Afterwards we spent mindful time creating mandala.