45 min Inquiry - Curling

Today we did our inquiry on the sport curling, before today I never knew there was a sport curling and now I know so much about it. This is what I learnt.

The History of Curling - Curling is thought to have been invented in medieval Scotland. It had a record in february 1541.

About Curling - curling is a game on ice, mainly in Scotland & Canada, Where you slide large round fat stones towards a mark. Everyone in the team has to use a broom to push their stones across there ice.

What equipment do you use? A curling sheet, curling stone, curling broom & curling shoes.

The rules are - The highest number of accumulated points wins. When each team has thrown its eight stones, the team with the stone closest to the button wins that end.

Some facts are Curling is quite an expensive sport. All of the equipment can cost you more than $1000.00 in total. The curling granite stones cost at least $600.00 or more and weigh at least 26 kilos.

45 min Inquiry - Port of Tauranga

Today's 45 minute Inquiry was on the port of Tauranga pacifically the logs. We had to research and answer these questions 

Where did they come from, where are they going and why?

The logs in tauranga have came from Asia, Australia & pacific, Americas, UK & Europe, Middle East & Africa, NZ Coastal. If they are from over seas they come on a container ship and if they come from NZ they arrive on trains or trucks.

The logs are going to the same places as where they came from: Asia, Australia & pacific, Americas, UK & Europe, Middle East & Africa, NZ Coastal. They are made of pine from trees.

The reason they are here is because we are the biggest port in NZ.

Year 9 Orientation Day!

Today we went to Tauranga Girls College for year 9 orientation. We learnt the ropes of the school and what sorts of things we need to know for the starting year next year. We first meet in the old gymnasium to listen to some of the important people of the school. Mrs Ferguson is the deputy principal and she spoke to us about the coming year and the school moto "Pergo et Perago" laten for "I go on and Finish". We then got introduced to the head girl for 2014 Adriana Bird. Also we got to meet our year 9 deans Mrs Glaser-brown & Mrs Keightly. I really enjoyed it and cant wait for starting next year.

45 Min Inquiry

Today for our 45 minute inquiry we had to research and find out about four photos given to us by Mrs Mills.

The first photo we had to examine is the totem pole, Did you know that the totem pole was originated from North America, If you are wondering what exactly is a totem pole well its a carving made from large trees to tell a story. If you want to find out more here is a link for more information.

The second photo was a boomerang. Boomerangs are very fascinating pieces of wood. One of the questions Ive always wanted to know is how do boomerangs come back? well I did some research and I found that as the boomerang spins the direction takes it and turns it in a circular motion.

The third photo is a maori carving. They are found at the front of marae as you walk in. They also have a meaning behind each carving.

Lastly the picture at the end is a picture of wailing boots. Before today I had know idea what there were but now I know that wailing boots are made of gray leather with white ribbon at the top. Also they are brought back from a wailing voyage as an arctic souvenir.

They all have something in common which is they are all from indigenous cultures.

45 minute Inquiry - Bow Hunting for Koi Carp.

On Saturday Mrs Mills went to Lake Hakanoa to go bow hunting for Koi Carp. She asked us What was she doing there? Where was she? and Why was she doing it?

Mrs Mills went bow hunting last weekend because the Koi Carp was spaning (breeding) and they come to the shallows to do this.

Lake Hakanoa is a lake in the middle of Huntly full of Koi Carp.

Mrs Mills went out to bow hunt because Koi Carp are pests and we need to get rid of them.

If you are wondering what Bow hunting is well it is a sport that requires a bow and arrow. You also need a line attached to the arrow so you can retrieve it. You do not need a license in NZ to bow hunt. 

It has been around since the Victorian era.

Mrs Mills caught 6 koi carp. She didn’t throw them back into the water because you can receive a fine.  She left them on the side of the lake and they were taken by some fishermen.

Which button would you choose and why?

I would choose the red button invisibility because it would be awesome to pull pranks on people while they cant see you. Also you can go and listen to convocations with out them knowing. You can scare them. You can go to concerts and go backstage. Some of the pranks I would do is Lie on a park bench and when someone sits on me it looks like there in mid air, you can flick the light switch on and off, lift things up slowly, read a the paper, you could go through the drive through and know one can see you and soo much more. You could steal CANDY!!! Pull pranks on teachers and students. If someone wants to kill you, you can hide. You can rob the banks. Thats why it would be awesome to be invisible.

Tennis

  Today for p.e we played Tennis It was really fun my partner was Sattori and she is quite good for her first time. We played Adopted games, we made it the first 3 points. It was hard to hit the high balls. Sometimes I hit the ball and I swung my racket and it went to far over the side as I swung it. I need to improve on keeping my racket facing the net. 

Beyond the story competition

We were traveling on the final leg of an amazing South Island holiday and we were counting all the exciting things we had done. Just then we drove into a terrible snow blizzard. “Gosh this holiday has been a thrill, it couldn’t be more exciting could it?” Dad said. Little did we know how wrong he could be.

At the hotel room I was so tired after a long holiday I could barely stand up. I rest my head on my soft, sweet smelling hotel room pillow. I just can't wait for my dreams to come as I fall into a deep sleep before a big trip home tomorrow. As the night went on the still air started to turn.

CRASH! BOOM! BANG! I wake up to my burning side rubbing across the carpet; I look up only to see the blurry figure of my mum. Screaming and booming taking over my ear drums; my legs wobbling like jelly as they sway with the room. My frantic mum organising my brother and me to get safe under the doorway, while dad saving himself running to the other doorway. Still not knowing what’s going on I make my way over to the doorway and hold on for dear life. My eyes so dark. Not being able to see a thing as all power is out. Dad’s phone beeping as his Twitter is going off like crazy. Smashing glasses crumbling on the ground. My heart beating out of my chest. I didn't know if the shaking was going to stop, didn’t seem like it.

Finally, as the shaking calmed down, we stepped out of our hotel room and it was frantic. Everyone literally shaken. As we all approached the main hall the small shakes come on and off every couple of minutes. It was frightening! Tourists madly panicking not knowing what’s happening, one of the last experiences I was hoping for.

The hotel we stayed at was very helpful by supplying us all with a free BBQ breakfast, but even the staff were freaked out by the aftershocks. Every so often there is a BIG aftershock and the screaming starts again. My brother Malakae gets up for his breakfast when a big shock comes. As the water is out, my Dad and I go around collecting water to help, but at 5:30 in the morning with no power which means very little light, we have to wait for the sun which hasn't quite made it's way over the hills.

At the airport it's manic. I've never been to an airport as busy and crowded as this. People just wanting to get out of Christchurch, including me. As I sit waiting in the airport with the shaking, shaking my seat I look through the glass door waiting to get off this shaken up town, wondering if it will ever happen.

Life education

What did you learn?

I learnt alot, The names of drugs and the effect on the body when taken a drug. It is horrifying!

How will you use this new learning?

I will definitely delay the decision and influence my friends to delay the decision

How could you help someone else?

By telling them the consequences and the effects on the body.

Here are some ways we learnt to either help our selves in this situation or what gets effected when you use drugs:

Greater           Greater           Faster            Memory                   Reason

Impact of        Addiction        Absorption      Reason                    Excuse 

Brain,             Potential,        Rate               Judgement               Change subject

                                                                 Mechanical Skills     Humor

                                                                 Intellect   

                                                                 Concentration           Walk away 

                                                                 Emotions                  Ignore

                                                                                                Tell someone

                                        Say no      

12 Hour Relay

On Friday the 1st of November was 12 hour relay, It starts at 7am and ends at 7pm. I ran 11 laps and every lap I sprinted my hardest. It was so fun just hanging out and enjoying the environment  Im gonna miss not doing it next year when I leave to go to college.

Homework

Life Education

Addiction associated with drugs means:

Using drugs constantly to make you feel normal.

M emory
R eason
J udgment
M echanical skills
I ntellect
C oncentration
E motions

Life Ed-Beyond The Shadows

Aims Games 2013

Term 3, Wk 8, 2013 the week everyone had been waiting for it was the week of THE AIMS GAMES!!! Luckily I was chosen to compete in Gymnastics and Trampolining for Tauranga Intermediate, Our school did really well and took out the whole competition including winning the gymsport competition. In trampolining I got a silver for team. I did my best and had an awesome week, I sad that I cant do it again as Im off to college next year.

Heres day 2 of Aims Games 2013 

Cities of NZ

Setting writing

Grace was my partner and she assessed my writing

Homework

Dangerous Decibels

Today we went to listen to a lady talk to us about loosing our hearing. This programme is called Dangerous decibels. An interesting fact I learnt is it is very easy to loose your hearing and it is a disability, once you have lost your hearing you can never get it back. I learnt a lot of new facts this one I learnt is very important, Anything under 85 decibels are safe to listen to. Next time when I go down stairs to see/help my dad with his building stuff when hes using his power tools, Im going to protect mine and my dads ears. I really enjoyed this programme I learnt a lot that will help me for when Im older and my decisions.                                                                                                                                                                    

Homework Powtoon

How to video

My Reflection

Plus - That Brooke did it by watching my video and it worked 

Minus - When I was doing my voice over there was a machine working in the background 

Improve - Better pictures 

Did I achieve the success criteria? I achieved all of it except but I dont have a title.

What would I do differently next time? Get it done quicker so my voice over was more relaxed and easier to hear.   

My feelings in a disaster.

1989 the year of the worst disasters of all time. There were Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tornados etc. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I used to go to my favourite place of all time (The mountain that looks over the town) it was beautiful I went everyday after school to get away from all the nasty stuff at school. It all started on the night of new years eve I went to my same spot on the same mountain to watch the fireworks at 12 they looked amazing but as they went on I knew something was not right, then all of a sudden the fireworks started shooting everywhere people had their guns and were shooting, It was like my brothers playstation game but in real life. My mind was buzzing as I watch the lives of the people who once were the helpful people that made this town became a town. Before I could blink this big swarm of wind (hurricane) took the houses in front of my eyes off their feet before I knew it they were taken miles away looked like it was so strong it took it around the world three times. But this was just the beginning.  

Cemetery Investagation

Today we went to the Anglican Cemetery down Grace Road to look at gravestones to find out a bit people.

The oldest gravestone that we saw, was put there in 1884.
The newest gravestone that we saw, was put there in 2003.
3 special gravestones caught my eye, there was Ivy Elizabeth Tanner she died at the age of 5 she died in Katikati. Innes Ruby she died at 6 months. Also 6 year old Gale.
There was also William Thomas Dobson who accidentally died in the Kaimais.

Camp Graph

WALT: Create data displays using appropriate tools on the computer.

Success criteria
- Title
- Space between bars
- Labels of x and y axis
- Whole number on they axis
- Keys

Do you think I have meet the standard of the success criteria ?

Maths Reflection

This term we have done order of operations & multiplication. I really enjoyed doing multiplication and If I did them at the start of the term I wouldn't have known how to do it like I can now. These are the ways learnt how to do them.

Surfing

P5. Compete in a sport for an entire season

I have been doing surfing this whole term, I have done surfing competitions and have done quite well. I have really enjoyed doing this and cant wait until term 4.

Heres me at a competition.

I am in the production for the school A most Triumphant tale. I am a dancer in two scenes. I tried out for acting, singing and dancing. I got in to singing and dancing but they needed me for dancing so I couldn't do singing. This is our music blog which tells us who is in the production and about it.

Student led confrences

My parents came to my classroom yesterday (4 April 2013). I had to show my parents how Im doing in class they said that Im doing really well. I like how my parents got to meet my teacher and they really liked her. My parents said that I am doing well and am where Im supposed to be so they are happy. I would have liked more time to talk to the teacher otherwise I think it went really well.

The Majestic Plastic Bag

Midway

Water Cycle in a tent

I learnt about how the water cycle goes in a tent.

I learnt what Humid is. 

I also learnt how to put an imovie on youtube.

The benefit of working with a partner is you can bounce ideas off each other and you can help each other when you are stuck. 

My difficulty that I overcame is I exported a imovie to youtube.

My Tasks I have completed

I have already completed a couple of challenges here they are:

 

Improve your confidence and skill: Prepare and present a speech on a topic of your choice at a Rimu Hui : I did this the other day, I wrote a speech about being a leader because I wanted to be the Rimu house leader here is the the speech I wrote:

Do you ever just ask yourself what is the meaning of leadership ? Well Ive been giving it a lot of thought Ive asked my parents, Ive asked my mates, Ive looked it up on the internet gee i even asked my younger brother. I considered all the things I have done through school,

• Hockey 
• Young Leaders 
• Younger designers 
• 3 sports in aims games 
• Gymnastics 
• Surfing 
• Volleyball 
• 12 hour relay 
• J rock 

But these are all just activities not really examples of what it takes to be a leader.  

It seems to me that while there are lots of qualities that good leaders have in common it struck me the most important quality is a belief., that you can achieve what others may see are impossible, the knowledge that you cant achieve the impossible alone and the ability to inspire confidence in others that they can also achieve the impossible with you. In short great leaders: 

• Un shakable self belief 
• The knowledge that the seemingly impossible can only be achieved through team work 
• For a team to achieve the seemingly impossible the leader must choose best method is to communicate his belief  

If you want some proof I got a couple of examples look at what Richie McCaw did in the rugby world cup. The french had us on the ropes. Dan Carter was injured so was Aron Cruden, Piri was having a shocker. But even with an injury Richie lead from the front and provided the inspiration and the belief in the team so that the boys ended up winning the rugby world cup.

The quirky Sir Peter Blake and his red socks inspired a whole nation to get behind New Zealand's first ever successful challenge for the americas cup.

And that bring us to me Im probably not that useful at the bottom of a ruck or winding a winch on an americas cup yacht but leading Rimu Ive got the three qualities that my research show a leader should have I believe that Rimu is the best house in this school, I believe that whatever goals that Rimu sets we will excel not through the effort of any one person but through Rimu’s awesome team approach my leadership skills:

• My sense of humor 
• My empathy for others 
• My listening and communication skills 
• My energy and drive 
• My can do attitude 

Are exactly the qualities a Rimu leader needs.       

Join the production, choir, a band or Kapa Haka participating in all rehearsals and performances for the year: I tried out for production for singing dancing and acting. I am definitely in the production but don't know what for yet. I will keep you updated on whats happening. I am also in the school choir for 2013.

Homework

I have some very cool homework to do over two terms we have a variety of challenges to complete here are the activities I have chosen:


G2. Give to your family: Prepare 3 formal three course meals, including the menu, cooking and presenting, photographs of the meal and feedback from your guests.
G1. Give to children in need: Participate in the 20 Hour famine. Raise a minimum of $40.00
G6. Knit something for one of these charities
P1. Improve your fitness: Over a 12 week period run or walk at least 60km or cycle 120km
P5. Compete in a sport for an entire season
E5. Improve your confidence and skill: Prepare and present a speech on a topic of your choice at a Rimu Hui
E4. Perform (at a Rimu Hui) a dance that you have learnt
E6. Join the production, choir, a band or Kapa Haka participating in all rehearsals and performances for the year
A1. Improve your maths ability: Complete a random 10 x 10 grid in under 2 min
A7. Complete at least 3 of the ICAS competitions
S5. Join a community group and show how through this you have
helped others. (Cubs, Guides, Keas, Church group etc)
S5. Design my own challenge - Help coach little kids.

My First Post

In my first month at school......

I have made heaps of new class mates. We have the best homework. I love my teacher she really cool. We have new house leaders Jessica and Lachlan. I have tried out for production. I now do Golf, Singing, Volleyball. We have been doing orders of operations for maths and I have learnt heaps. I am absolutely loving being a year 8 and have amazing friends.