Huarapa 1 & 2
Fun Run!
There was so much fun to be had at the Fun Run on Wednesday last week. We are so proud of everyone for giving it a go and doing their best, as we know there were some nervous tummies on the morning of the event. Thanks to the parents who were able to come and watch, and to those parents who sent their good thoughts from their workplace.
Visit to the Art Gallery
On Monday we visited the Christchurch Art Gallery to see the exhibition Te Wheke and to make some prints with the gallery's education team. We had such a lovely time! We looked at a tapa cloth by Robin White that combined contemporary and traditional Polynesian imagery to tell stories of navigation and migration. We recreated our own stamps to make Polynesian-inspired prints, which are now on display in the classroom. After the visit to the gallery we walked to see two public art works with tuna (eels) as their theme, followed by a vist to the Ōtākaro (Avon) river to feed the real thing. A big thank you to those parents who were able to help, we really appreciate it.
Goldilocks...
For writing last week, the children have been exploring descriptive writing. Matua Lawrence has been reading us Goldilocks and the Three Bears. On Thursday we tasted some porridge. Some was too hot, some was too cold and some was just right! We loved tasting this and writing about this together afterwards.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
This week is Māori Language Week - an opportunity to celebrate and practise the Māori language. Below are some links to websites with ideas for how to celebrate at home.
Kia kaha ki te kōrero Māori!
Author of the Week!
Each week Whaea Chloe chooses an 'Author of the Week' from her writing class. Last week, Jacob was chosen for the way he thinks of an interesting idea, listens to and records sounds at the start of each word, and uses finger spaces. Ka rawe Jacob...I wonder who will be Author of the Week this week?
Tuakana/Teina
The Year 0 children in Whaea Chloe's ako class each have a tuakana from the senior classes. Tuakana means 'big brother or sister' in te reo Māori. Once a week the tuakana join Whaea Chloe's ako class for sharing, buddy reading, and games.
Life cycle of the tuna (eel)
Last week we learnt about the life cycle of the tuna. We made this with loose parts. We had such fun!
A visit to the dental van
This week some of the children visited the dental van. We asked the dental nurses lots of questions. The children then went back and wrote about their experience.
Learning through play
DECONSTRUCTION
Last week we explored an old printer. We looked at the parts, what it is made of and we discussed how it may work. We even had a go at putting paper into the printer and imagined what would happen!
This week we were given some tools (after a safety briefing) and we are busily spending time pulling this apart. We have found all the different cogs, wires and pieces of plastic and metal very interesting. This station has been extremely popular!
Daffodil Day
Thank you for your donations!
Trip to Liffey Springs
On Tuesday we walked down to see the tuna (eels) at Liffey Springs. We fed them raw eggs and meat.
We will continue to learn about our local tuna as part of our Inquiry of Living Landscapes. A big thanks to our parent and grandparent helpers for coming!
Welcome Gracie!
Welcome Gracie, who started in Huarapa 1 this week. We are so excited to have you at our kura, and you have got off to a great start.
How's that?!!
This week we welcomed Tim from Canterbury Country Cricket to run a morning of cricket skills and games. We had a lot of fun!
Traditional Māori games
This week we were lucky enough to have Hugh from Kelly Sports to teach us some traditional Māori games. We were taught the game: Tapu Ae. Tapu Ae is an adaptation of the traditional Māori game, Kī o Rahi and is one of many kī (flax ball) game variations.
To play this, we had a player in the middle (kaitiaki) protecting the tennis balls. The rest of us tried to knock the tennis balls off the cones with another ball, by working together as a team. We had a great time and we are looking forward to having him back next week.
Caring and manaakitanga in Huarapa
We started Term 3 off with a focus on the values of caring and manaakitanga. Our tamariki in Huarapa 1 & 2 are all able to identity was caring behaviour looks like in our classroom. Each week we are working towards filling a harakeke (flax) bush with leaves that record the caring things we do at school. In Māori culture, the harakeke plant represents a whānau (family), and as a school whānau Huarapa children work together to be kind, helpful, and respectful of one another. When the children fill a harakeke bush, they earn a whole class reward on Friday. Last week, the tamariki filled the harakeke bush easily, and enjoyed ten minutes free time on the playground. Ka rawe Huarapa!
Fun in the sandpit!
Huarapa 1 have been spending lots of time playing together as a class, practising the skills of sharing, taking turns, listening, collaborating, and showing patience. Last week we went to the sandpit together. I loved the way the Huarapa 1 tamariki shared the tools and worked together to build castles and volcanoes, and dig holes and channels.
Numeracy
This week we have been exploring the numicon equipment and also making different patterns.
What patterns can you see around you at home?
Learning through play
The children are discovering and creating buildings from around the world. Some children have made the Eiffel Tower with cubes and we even had a Leaning Tower of Pisa made from reels!
Whaea Chloe has acquired some new dress ups, so we are enjoying playing with them.