The power of google docs.

This term, through our Science Fair unit, we have been learning about google docs and how to use them.

The children all know how to open a doc and give it a title.  They also know how to share others into the doc.  As we work through the unit we are adding information to the shared group document, this will later become the information we present on our science fair boards.  

Today we looked at 'commenting' and I added comments to each document and the children were able to look at my questions and answer them or change their document accordingly.  This is wonderful new learning and they really enjoyed the instant feedback that was possible without actually waiting for a conversation.

  

The group work is also coming along really nicely with groups well and truly gelled now.   

Editing Checklist.  

Last week as part of writing, 2 of our groups compiled an editing checklist.  

Here is the list they are going to work hard to achieve during editing time in writing each day.  

EDITING SUCCESS CRITERIA

ü Re-read, does my writing make sense?

ü Have I used correct punctuation?

(full stops, commas, questions marks, speech marks, apostrophes, exclamation marks…)

ü Sentences –  

o  Have I used a range of sentence types? (simple, compound and complex). 

o  Have I used a range of sentence starters?

ü Have I used PASSAMOA?

ü Have I used paragraphs?

ü Have I used consistent tense?

ü Have a created MOOD?

ü Have I checked and corrected some of my spelling errors?

ü Have I achieved my WAL?

What do you think of their list?  We would love your feedback.

WRSN Cross Country.

Last week we had the pleasure of travelling to Five Forks School to participate in the Waitaki Rural Schools Network Cross Country event.  
This was so well supported by the WRSN communities and the children were awesome!  Thank you all so much.

Here are a few photos of some of our runners...
We wish everyone competing in the upcoming North Otago event all the very best!

Today at writing time "Wonderland" was looking at PASSAMOA language features.

Here are some of our examples.

P -  personification
The tree danced.  Jed
The wind yelled.  Toby
The cloud cried.  Poppie
The waves leap over the rocks.  Zayvyer

A - adjective
The spiky branches.  Jed
The bright sun.  Toby
The angry bull.  Poppie
The enormous sun.  Zayvyer

S - simile
The tree is as hard as a rock. Jed
The sheep is as white as a cloud.  Toby
The sheep is as fluffy as candyfloss.  Poppie
The people ran like lightning.  Zayvyer

S - strong verb
She limped to the shop. Jed
I strolled at the park.  Toby
I strolled down the path.  Poppie
I gazed at the sun.  Zayvyer

A - adverb
I fell quickly. Jed
I grew quickly.  Toby
She sang beautifully. Poppie 
The cars drove slowly. Zayvyer

M - metaphor
The sun is a yellow button. Jed
The light of the sun is a gold bar. Toby
The sun is a gold coin. Poppie
The snow is a blanket. Zayvyer

O - onomatopoeia
Smash!  Jed
Poof!  Toby
Boom!  Poppie
Roar!  Zayvyer

A - alliteration
The popcorn pops like peanuts in a pan.  Jed
The sea silently sparkled.  Toby
Seven sizzling sausages on a sunny saturday.  Poppie
The trees wave and whoosh in the wind.  Zayvyer


We look forward to sharing some writing later in the term with lots more examples of PASSAMOA.  
Keep checking our BLOG so you don't miss out!

Science Fair.

We are off to a great start for Term 3.  

This week we begin our Science Fair topic, to get used to our new groups and work on cooperation within our new groups we had a task today that helped us to get a better understanding of science fair vocabulary.  

Children worked well in their groups and although this task was hard they persevered and completed this.  This is something that we will do again at the end of the term to see if there is a better understanding of the vocabulary used in science.

We look forward to sharing more of our science journey with you throughout the term.  

  

Big Buddies!

Last week we spent some time with both of the junior classrooms.  

We did some buddy writing with Room 6.  

We were were looking at a 

ROYAL CHARACTER  

like a prince, princess, king, queen or guard,

and describing them using different language features.  

We are going to publish these amazing pieces of collaborative writing on the computers and make them into a published book for Room 6.

We look forward to sharing our published book with you all later in the term.

TeChNoLoGy HoMe ChAlLeNgE 2018!

The following challenge was set for the children:

Just like seeds that are adapted to ‘fly’ when released from a tree, you are to make a device that will allow an ordinary table tennis ball to fall as slowly as possible (“flight time”). 

The following were the only restrictions 

on the challenge:

There is only two restrictions on what materials may be used in construction. 

No lighter-than-air gases or powered flight to be used.

We had some very creative entries and were very proud of the students who took the time at home to make these.