Year 2 Crazy for Kereru

 Year 2 focussed on the Kereru, our very special wood pigeon. We went on a walk around our kura in search of native trees that Kereru love to eat.

We found Kowhai, Karaka & Puriri. 

How wonderful to have these trees at school!

Only the kereru has a mouth big enough to gulp down the big berries of

the puriri and then spread the seeds in their poop.

We spotted the pink flowers on the big puriri trees.

Can you see the beautiful kowhai flower?

We shared this picture book and learned more by 

watching a Meet The Locals video. 

Next, the tamariki drew kereru.  We worked hard to blend pinks, purples, greens and blues to show the special colour of their plumage.  

Can you see the big white bib?

After morning tea we did Pigeon Cosmic Kids Yoga 

and went on a litter hunt.  

Some things are a threat to the Kereru. Riley bought in a skull he found at the beach on the weekend. It could be a possum skull.

Next time we are looking forward to finding out about NZ seagulls.

Year Four Find Out About Kawakawa

 Today Year Four continued their inquiry into herbs and tea. Today we were focusing on kawakawa, an important Rongoa (medicine) for Maori.

We looked at, sketched and smelt kawakawa leaves. We read one story and one article about kawakawa. Did you know it can be a tea, poultice or balm? It's a numbing agent and anti-inflammatory.

We all tried kawakawa tea with Waka honey.

We made labels for Waka Kawakawa tea. You can look at these using the link below. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12rNtl4BUZjiZxpTrZySJzclIPxptXL82Zvi_OnFRRnE/edit?usp=sharing

Year 3 Kumara Kids

 Year 3 are ready to put their delicious compost into action, by growing kumara. Now is the time to start feeding the garden soil ready for spring planting. We want kumara to harvest for Matariki 2025 so we need to start them now.

First we warmed up by creating a fruit and vegetable alphabet. Next we learnt about Whakaotirangi, who brought kumara to Aotearoa NZ

https://instructionalseries.tki.org.nz/Instructional-Series/Connected/Connected-2020-Level-2-Digging-Deeper/Whakaotirangi-and-her-Kete-of-Kumara

We drew Whakaotirangi in a traditional poupou format. 

Then we learnt how to grow kumara slips before composting our Mara Kai. On the way, we made sure to add sand to the compost just like Whakaotirangi.

We can't wait to see if our kumara tipu have sprouted next week.

Year 4 Explore

  Welcome back for Term 4 Year 4! Today for a fun warm up we used our senses to take part in a quiz identifying fruits, herbs & flowers from Mrs Daniel's mara.

We also visited the school’s mara kai to see how it has changed in koanga / spring.

We thought about how we can use the herbs we grow at school. 

Lastly we explored the amazing history of tea - a beverage made from brewing leaves. Did you know it was invented in China?

Next time we'll be learning about Maori traditional tea and herbal medicine.

Room 5 Keep the garden alive

 Today Room 5 learnt about bugs that are helpful in the Mara Kai and those that are not. We watered the garden, drew helpful and unhelpful bugs, did mindful yoga and lastly shared The Lorax in preparation for the Tread Lightly Caravan next term.  The tamariki were amazed to learn that trees give us the air we breathe.  Why else should we protect the trees?

Room 29 Garden Time!

 Thank you to King's Plant Barn Botany & Enviroschools for the beautiful new plants for our Mara Kai and Junior Playground garden. And thank you to Room 29 for helping to plant them.

More photos here