WALT write an engaging story about an object explaining what it is, how it works and where we would use it.

Introduction
Have you ever wondered how people made butter before supermarkets existed? A butter churner is a tool that people used long ago to turn cream into butter. It might look simple, but it played an important role in everyday life, especially for families living on farms.

Information
A butter churner is a container, often made of wood, with a stick or handle used to mix cream. Inside, the cream is churned (mixed or shaken) until it changes into butter. This happens because the fat in the cream sticks together and separates from the liquid, which is called buttermilk.

You would usually find a butter churner in a farmhouse kitchen or a dairy shed. In the past, families didn’t have shops nearby, so they had to make their own food. Butter was used every day, so churning was a regular job.

To use a butter churner, you pour cream inside and then move the handle up and down or turn a crank. This process takes time and effort. After a while, the cream thickens, turns into butter, and separates from the liquid. The butter is then taken out and used for cooking or spreading on bread.

Conclusion
Butter churners were important tools in the past. This is because they helped families make their own food using simple materials and hard work. For example, farmers relied on butter churners every day to produce fresh butter for meals, showing how essential this tool was in their daily lives.

WALT explain how to add 5 digit numbers using vertical algorithms.

Task Description: This week I have been focused on using algorithms to solve equations including larger numbers. The algorithm I have been using is the vertical method. I have been using this method in unit 2 topic 2 in my maths textbook. I did addition and subtraction for this algorithm. This has been a good refresh for me brain to get a head of the basics in mathematics. When I get to maths I have to make up a 5 digit number and add it with another person’s 5 digit number for a short warm up. – Niah

This week, Aina set us an ANZAC artwork challenge using Google Drawings. The task was a little different from usual because instead of being shown how to create the artwork step-by-step, we were first shown a finished image. Our job was to carefully look at it, figure out what tools and techniques had been used, and then recreate our own version.

To begin, we studied the image closely and tried to break it down into parts. We thought about what shapes, colours, and layers were used and how they were put together. From there, we started experimenting in Google Drawings, using shapes, gradients, and images to build my artwork. We focused on creating a strong ANZAC theme, making sure to include meaningful elements that represent remembrance, such as silhouettes, colours, and symbols.

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out exactly how the original image had been made. Because we weren’t given instructions, it required a lot of problem-solving and trial and error. Sometimes things didn’t look right the first time, so we had to adjust sizes, colours, and layering to get the effect we wanted. Another challenge was learning how to use some of the tools properly, like gradients and transparency, to make the artwork look more polished. – Jess

Assalamu alaikum,

Fractions are part of a set or a whole. E.g. if you cut an apple into 2 even pieces you have cut it in half 1/2

Do you know what nominators and denominators are?

Denominators are not big and bossy, they are the total amount, nominators show the part of the totals.

We also learnt how to add and subtract fractions – the bottom number the denominator has to be the same. Have you tried adding 3/4 of an apple to 1/3 of an apple, it is not possible.

Namaste

On Monday’s we have bikes with Matua Peter, and there a many safety rules we need to follow to be allowed on the bikes.

1. 1. Helmet 2+2=4 – That means the helmet must be no more the two fingers from your eyebrows, or two fingers under the chin for strap and 4 fingers showing the straps that go around your ears in a v shape.
   2. Know the ABC – A=Air – check the air pressure in the tyres, B=Brakes – check the brakes work front and back by squeezing and then rocking the bike back and forward once each. C=Chain- check the chain has oil on it.
   3. On the track if you are having a break move off the track in a safe place so others can go around you.
   4. Always go the same way (anticlockwise on our track).
   5. If you fall off do your best to move to the side so others can get past.

Do you know the parts of a bike?

Namaste Readers,

We have been learning how to write an explanation. To do this we need a title, opening statement that is catchy, sequence paragraphs that give information about the topic with examples. Summary statement.

We had to pick between Passing the Torch which was about the Leader passing the Power on or Bouncing Back which was about your team losing a game and receiving a pep talk to encourage them.

DRAGONS BOUNCE BACK

Dragons I know we lost but we need to stay humble if we stay humble we could go to the finals,
Characteristics.
We need to be positive and listen to the coach.
Listen.
Listening to the coaches instructions will help us get better.
At training.
We need to train hard, We need to help each other and need to get better with our skills,
Skills.
Skills are sometimes hard to learn but we need to train to get better at doing stuff like dribbling, rainbow flick, nutmeg and many more. – by Taurus

Passing the Torch

Leaders don’t always have all the answers, but they always have a team.

Leaders have Manaakitanga. This means that they are responsible role models that always think about the team.How ever even leaders don’t know what to do or just need a break.This means he has to pass the torch on to someone else to give someone a chance to be the leader.

For the leader to pass the torch on he has to build them up first because if he just pointed to you and said you’re in charge now you would be nervous, right. So the leader has to build them up. To build them up the leader needs to build up their confidence and be there for him.

Another reason is that sometimes a leader needs to pass on the torch so that the leader doesn’t have to do all the work by himself. So the leader sometimes has to give power for help with work. Because if he does all the work by himself he might get really tired.

So in conclusion there are lots of different reasons for leaders to share power. – by Melany.

DRAGONS BOUNCEBACK
Dragons I know we lost but we need to stay humble if we stay humble we could go to the finals.

Working together stronger relationships with the team. Sharing ideas with your team, including your team.

Listening to instructions, listening to the coach, hearing the ideas, being determined, showing the championship, being responsible, showing Manaakitanga. Do not be afraid to catch or pass the ball make sure to show confidence.

At training make sure to pay attention, We need to show respect and support. I know that we lost but when we versus the Bulldogs, Viking, Drury, and Ruru. We will try to beat the finals we will achieve.

We enjoyed brainstorming with the teacher as it helped to organize our paragraphs. The challenging part was putting our ideas into sentences and it making sense.

WALT: Write a piece of writing to describe what reading means to us.

I used to think reading was just something teachers made us do. Sit down, be quiet, and turn the page. It didn’t feel like it had anything to do with me until one book changed that.

I remember picking up a story about a kid who felt like they didn’t quite fit in. They were nervous speaking in class, always second guessing themselves. Honestly, it felt like reading about my own life. But as the story went on, that character started trying new things, even when they were scared. They messed up sometimes, but they kept going.

Somehow, that stuck with me. It took me back to the bullies, who pulled my long braids, and those who called me names, but reading took me away from all of that outside noise. Here was my turning point.

After that, reading didn’t feel like a chore anymore. It felt like a place where I could learn things without anyone watching me or judging me. Every time I understood a tricky word or finished a chapter, I felt a little bit prouder. Like, “Hey, I can actually do this.”

And then something weird happened; I started putting my hand up in class more. Not all the time, but more than before. I wasn’t as scared of getting things wrong, because in books, characters get things wrong all the time and still turn out okay.

Reading didn’t suddenly make me super confident overnight. But it helped, bit by bit. It gave me ideas, words, and courage I didn’t have before.

Now I think reading isn’t just about stories. It’s kind of like practice for real life, but helping you believe in yourself, one page at a time. – Whaea Lorraine

We have been learning about the signing of the Treaty.

We had some cards to read and find the main ideas and decide if they were Positive, a minus or Just Interesting facts.



Talofa Lava

Thank you  for the presents we received today.  We enjoyed opening the gifts it made us feel joyful and special as we are extremely grateful. We missed you at Whanau Fun Day and look forward to seeing next year. I wonder what we will get?

Kia Ora Bloggers,

We have been learning through the Ice Cream Challenge how food scientists use flavour chemistry to mix ingredients that taste good together and help each other shine. This is called flavour pairing. As a group we have created an ultimate ice cream flavour. Check it out below.

Salted Caramel and Crushed Pretzel

This flavour is all about balance — smooth, buttery salted caramel mixed with crunchy, golden pretzel pieces. Every spoonful brings a mix of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, making it a favourite for all.

Inspired by the way we blend tastes, this flavour feels comforting and fun. Perfect for hot days, whānau treats, or a simple moment of sweetness.

If you love a scoop with personality, Salted Caramel and Crushed Pretzel is your match. Enjoy!

This term, I’ll be implementing some of the wonderful learning content from my Term 3 DFI course. Room 2 has been writing their own content and has utilised the Storybook platform, turning their Description drafts into published books. I invite you to check out Room 2’s ‘Storybook’ blogs as they familiarise themselves with this AI tool.

A challenge I encountered was obtaining the direct share link, hence the slides.

Click on the image for ‘Elara’s Story’ or this link, Working with AI,  perhaps you can have a go at creating some content and describe any changes to the illustrations as you wish.

I look forward to your story creations.

We have been learning how to write an explanation. Specifically looking at the structure going beyond beginning, middle and end.

I was at the Google Summit in the holidays and we learnt ways to create games using Gemini Canvas. This one was a drag and drop relating to the structure of an explanation and what words you might use time connectors and linking words.

Tēnā Koe, Reader!

Recently in maths, the year 8 has been focusing about the fascinating world of angles! We’re moving beyond simple measurements to truly understand their–the angles–properties and how to describe them accurately. The key to our success has been mastering the three-letter notation, like ∠ABC, which has allowed us to comprehend communicate our geometric findings. That brings me to my question.. what are you learning about in Maths? I’d be intrigued to know if I’ve learnt about something similar or not!

What’s The Deal With ∠ABC?

We are learning about Fractions, we have been learning how different fractions can mean the same thing – equivalent fractions and simplifying fractions. What do you know about fractions? This week we have started to add and subtract fractions the most important thing to remember is To add or subtract the denominator must be the same.

Kia Ora Reader how is your day going? Join me on an adventure to get to know our namesake, Sir Ed.

Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Edmund Hillary wasn’t just the first man to climb the tallest mountain in the world, he was a real New Zealand hero. He was brave but also humble and kind. In 1953, with his climbing partner Tenzing Norgay, he reached the top of Mount Everest. Lots of people thought it couldn’t be done, but he showed it was possible.

But the best thing about him wasn’t just climbing Everest. After that, he used his time to help people in Nepal. He helped build schools, hospitals, and even bridges so their lives could be better. He didn’t care about being famous, he cared about making a difference.

That’s why people remember him as more than a climber. He showed that Kiwis can be tough and determined, but also caring and helpful to others.

Video of life story  Everest’s First SIR EDMUND HILLARY · BIOGRAPHY 

Music Sir Edmund Hillary song

These are the links from my Sir Edmund Hillary DLO.

• Bella-Rayne – For the original blog: Link

Kia ora, my name is TJ

Transporting Water

This week we got to learn more about engineering. We learnt about transporting water, and we also had to design and make an island that could survive tsunamis and rising sea levels.

For the first activity, we had two buckets. One had water and the other one didn’t. The empty bucket had a hole in it. The point of the activity was to take water to the cone and back to our team. First we got told what to do in the hall, then we chose our teams and took off our shoes, socks, and jackets. Then we went outside and lined up.

When the game started, me and my team picked up the bucket and ran to the cone and back. When we poured the water into the empty bucket, some of it came out from the hole, so one of us put a finger on the hole. We did that a couple of times, then a teammate told us the instructor said we only had to touch the bucket once and then one person could run. So we changed our plan. Everyone touched the bucket once, then one person ran.

After the round, the instructor checked how much water was left in each bucket. The team with the most water got an advantage for the next rounds. We did a few rounds, and I don’t know who had the most water, but that team won.

Safe Island

The next activity was to make an island that could survive tsunamis and rising sea levels. My team wanted to make a floating island. We used clay, Popsicle sticks, paper straws, and a piece of blue paper for the bottom.

For the island, we put Popsicle sticks on clay and broke some into smaller pieces to make houses and buildings. We made seawalls too, to protect from tsunamis. We used paper straws as chains to stop the island from drifting away. The chains were long enough so the island could rise when sea levels went up, but short enough so it didn’t float away.

We also made different buildings. Small sticks for houses, bigger sticks for taller buildings, and the tallest stick for a laboratory. The lab is for figuring out how to make the island better. There’s a control room for the rulers of the island. In the control room, there’s a security panel and two buttons. Both buttons have to be pressed by two people to release the chains if the sea gets too high.

• TJ – original post link

Kia ora,

We have navigated our way through the shimmering waters of Whanganui. Exploring the dusty hue upon the West Coast of the North Island, where we came across the monstrous buildings of Rutherford Junior College.

We have found the whēnua of our Tuhi Mai Tuhi Atu whānau, Mātāmua. We are exploring what we have found in and around their school and what we notice. Come and explore more!

We noticed that Rutherford Junior College is right next to another campus called “Arahunga School”. Here’s our photo to help you learn more.

We noticed they have a large field and 4 tennis courts. There are a lot of houses around it, and they have a car park and trees on the boundary. Here in Papakura, we have a marae only 500 m down the road where they hold community dinners and courses, and they have a medical centre for our community to go to.

We saw that there is a large river in Whanganui, and we have Koiwi Creek, which runs out to Paahurehure Inlet.

Our school is small, and their school looks big. We have several schools here in Papakura.

We look forward to learning more about our buddies.

Ngā mihi.

This term we are navigating the journey of ‘Tuhi Mai, Tuhi Atu,’ where we are commenting on the blogs of students from schools around the country. We endeavour to learn more about the schools and their communities to see what connections we can make.

Take a look at our ‘Google Earth’ voyage as we learn more about each school:

• We dock in to the wharf and tie off the mooring of  St Max at St Joseph School, Levin
• Navigating back under our own power of Mātāmua at Rutherford Junior College, Whanganui

What an exciting voyage we are on! Keep up to date with our journey as we learn more about our ‘Blogging Buddies.’

Click Google Earth to explore each of the schools’ grounds and the surrounding area.

Links to our Tuhi Mai, Tuhi Atu team

(A) St Max -St Joseph School (Levin)

(B) Room 9 -Edmund Hillary School

(C) Mātāmua-Rutherford Junior College (Whanganui)

Kia Ora,

To be honest we are still getting better at telling the time. What a strange phrase, telling the time, it is not like we can tell a clock what to do!

Here are some tidbits to help with learning about time.

Kia Ora

As of this day, we went to the hall and built bridges and designed them, but at first we watched videos on how they were controlled. Then we had to choose to be in a group of four, Next we looked at videos that presented bridges like the Bascule bridge in Whangarei that moves for boats, The next instruction Whaea Ruth gave was building the longest tower out of Jenga blocks without it falling , As a team of four we managed to make a tall building but we weren’t the tallest because we didn’t know you could also stack up the box containing the Jenga pieces.

After we finished that challenge Whaea Ruth gave us we were instructed to do the same thing but we had to the the pieces on an uneven terrain, Which means we had to stack up the pieces in a scrunched up cloth, It was hard and our tower kept falling down. In the end we didn’t make it work as it kept falling into pieces.

The last challenge we had to do was making a stable bridge out of cardboard, We were given scissors and the cardboard and 30 minutes too make the bridge, We made the bridge by ideas and no use of inspiration or reference, We ultimately built a steady bridge but we couldn’t build the entrance of the bridge with the limited time we were given.

Overall it was a fun learning experience that we had, Thank you for reading my blog.