Discovery Time

A few weeks ago we 

read a post by our blogging buddies, E7,about their Discovery Time.

The B4 students were quite taken with this idea. 

On their own initiative, they wrote some persuasive letters and the result is 

we now have Discovery Time in B4!

It's a great time to practise our Key Competencies - 

Thinking

Managing Self

Relating to Others

Using Language, Symbols and Text

Participating and Contributing.

What do you love about Discovery Time?

What new activities could we try?

Our Fractions Party

Two of our B4 students are shifting away this week, so we had a small farewell for them.

We are also learning about fractions in maths, so we made it a 'fractions' party!

We had to work out how we could cut up or share out the treats so everyone got a fair share.

Is it a fair share?

Half each!

Making sure each person gets a third of the Pebbles.

Each person gets one third of the Pebbles.

One third of 21 is seven.

Goodbye Korbyn and Ethan. 

We hope you have a great time at your new schools.

How many sweets were in the packet if my half share is 8?

How many sweets were in the packet if my third share is 6?

Sporty Stick Figures

This term's art topic 'Sporty Sculptures' was inspired by the recent Commonwealth Games.

In the first activity, we started by looking at each other in sporty poses then used pipe cleaners to form our 

sporty stick figures.

Sporty Stick Figures on PhotoPeach

What sports do you think our figures were taking part in?

We're Proud of our Reefton Area School Kapahaka group!

Korbyn, a Year 2 from B4, is a member of our school 

kapahaka group. 

With the help of coast iwi, community members and some teachers, the students have trained hard to learn 
haka, poi and waiata ringa ringa (action songs).

The boys have even given their time some weekends to learn some haka.

Recently the group took part in the Tai Poutini Kapahaka Festival in Westport. 

(video courtesy of Martini Kira)

Leave a positive message for our kapahaka group telling them what you enjoyed about their performance.

Giving It a Go, Even Though You Might Not Win

This term we are working in inquiry groups to find out more about our neighbouring countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Like New Zealand, some of these countries are 

members of the Commonwealth, 

so we followed each group's 'country' as they took part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Some of the countries we followed have small populations, and only sent small teams to the Commonwealth Games.

Some of those countries didn't win any medals. 

We were impressed that even though the athletes probably didn't expect to win a medal, they came to the Games and competed to their best ability.

Why might athletes compete even if they don't expect to win?

Loom Bands - What Do You Think?

Do you have a loom band craze at your school?

These colourful little rubber bands are used to make bracelets, necklaces and have even been used elsewhere to make a dress!

Here are some of the beautiful creations made by 

students in B4:

But could loom bands also be a problem for our environment, our animals and even our younger brothers and sisters?

Take a look at this video from Hamilton Zoo.

Have you joined the loom band craze?

What do you do with all of your loom bands?

How can we keep babies, animals and our environment safe?

What do you think?

Firewise!

We've been talking about being 'Firewise' - knowing what to do in the event of a fire.

Here are the key messages from the Fire Service:

Fire spreads very fast.

The smoke from a fire is poisonous and people must not breathe the smoke. If they do, they will not get out of the room.

You need to get out of the room by staying UNDER the smoke! 

Go to the safe meeting place.

Where is your family's safe meeting place outside of your house?

What should you do if you hear the smoke alarm?

How many working smoke alarms do you have in your house?

What happens if there is a fire alarm at school?