Inquiry: Hauora Challenge 2

LI: To explain about my learning and how I worked in  group to complete this task. 

The above google draw showcases how I worked in a team and about my learning on Hauora under the topic of inquiry. The table includes a picture of my group with Cassius, Afatia and Liletina as well as a picture of my whare. Hauora is related to a house which also has four walls and are equally significant. If one of the wall falls, it results the collapsing of the whole house. Hauora or health is also something like this, it also has the four walls called the Taha Tinana, Taha Wairua, Taha Whanau and Taha Hinengaro. These walls also are equally significant and if one of the rules are lacking it results into a bad health and a sad life. Completing this task was very knowledgeable and fun as I could work as a team and got different ideas and learning. . 

Inquiry: Hauora Challenge 1

LI: To reflect the connection I have with Hauora through this task.

The above google draw showcases the table with information about my connections with Hauora under the topic of inquiry. The table has four headings which are what I think about Hauora and the parts of Hauora connecting to me, my family and the community. This table was very useful as it makes my information easily visible and separates the four different topics. This table was also very useful because I could recap all my learning and could do a quick summary. I could now easily classify the parts of Hauora for my community, family and me under the four walls Taha Tinana, Taha Wairua, Taha Hinengaro and Taha Whanau. Completing this task was very knowledgeable and I really enjoyed completing it. 

Inquiry: Hauora Circle map

LI: To create a circle map with the information about our learning

The above google draw showcases the circle map with information about my learning before and after the discussion of the topic under inquiry. The circle map was very useful as it makes my information easily visible and separates the two different topics. I didn't really know much about hauora except the fact that it is a maori word for health and is very unique to New Zealand. I came to know a lot about the four walls Taha Tinana, Taha Wairua, Taha Hinengaro and Taha Whanau which are equally significant for a happy life. Completing this task was very knowledgeable and I really enjoyed completing it. 

Writing: 10-5-7-10-10

LI: To use 10-5-7-10-10 to write creatively.

The path of success isn’t easy

In the beautiful spring weather at time of sunset with pleasing blending colors at the back, a girl is stuck. She has been separated when trekking with her group since morning. With very little food left she has loosen hope to reach the peak and the path of success. Lying on a flat surface with many wounds on her leg while drinking her last sips of water, she thinks about the trip and regrets the fact of not listening to her parents. She thinks about the sorrowful future when she is found missing and then dead. Her heart falls to the ground and seeing the burning sun she gets the spirit to reach the top and stops thinking about everything. 

The agony and the incentive could be seen in her eyes which became a turning part in the story. After climbing halfway to the top she finds a bottle which might have been dropped from someone’s backpack and thinks that faith is with her. Crying the tears of happiness she drinks the water and saves some for the rest of the journey. She forgets everything about the group and is only thinking with a rough goal in her mind to reach the peak and thrust the flag. The whole negativity in her mind changes positive until when she notices that the sun is going down and the red sky is turning darker and darker. 

Not leaving a single hope of success she carries on. Feeling the pain in her body with a heart beating faster than something living on the earth, she then pauses for a moment and sees the sun going down completely. Near the top she throws the rope and attaches it to her waist belt and goes up, that is when she feels like the rope is going to tear apart. She pauses for a moment, takes deep breaths and calms herself down. With all her courage she reaches the top and raises her flag waving in the air. Feeling the joy of success and happiness she lit a fire and seeing the smoke a helicopter came for rescue. Now she is a famous traveler and is very famous for this incidence.

This week I worked with Sulia and we made some changes in our writing pattern by making wise choices. After discussing we thought that we could use a new strategy called 10-5-7-10-10 which stands for ten minutes writing all our ideas on a piece of paper, five minutes writing our paragraph on a google document, seven minutes chatting each, ten minutes for the changes we wanted to make in our writing and ten minutes for using the draft method. The second strategy was more efficient for many reasons, some of them were that we could write a little bit more as we had an idea of what we are writing and we also got extra time to read the paragraph again giving us time to check our tenses, spellings, grammar and synonyms. In conclusion we came to learn that the making of wise choices are very important as they can be very useful and efficient for us. 

Math: Negative Numbers

LI: To add and subtract positive and negative numbers.

The above google draw is created by Fau, Sulia and me as a challenge for math negative numbers. We first learned about negative numbers and solved basic questions through the help of a number line. Then we solved the questions with a higher level in our Math workbooks. I added the picture and found the strategy where as Sulia and Fau made the google draw. The question solved above is one of them and to explain it we wrote the question, main information, strategy and answer. We came to know a lot about negative number and enjoyed to work as a team to make the google draw. 

Inquiry: Experimenting about Ultraviolet Light

LI: To find the most effective Ultraviolet filter.

Learning Space 2 has been trialing the ultrasonic sensor for the Kiwrious project. We are working with Suranga, Sonia, Evan, Dawn and Xane from the Auckland University. We made the above google draw which has collected the data about the different materials and the blockage of the Ultraviolet light. I have added some pictures of the sensor with the paper and green cellophane blocking it. Then I created a table showing the UV Index and the LUX record so it can be compared. I wrote an explanation and conclusion telling that the green cellophane was the best material as it had the least UV Index and an accurate LUX record. This activity was very knowledgeable as I came to know a lot about sensors, ultraviolet light and its blockage. 

Writing: 5-7-10

LI: To use 5-7-10 to write creatively.

Lightning never strikes twice, does it?

That was the question that occupied their frightened minds as they crouched, huddling together, next the pile of dusty sacks in the base of the windmill.

All scared about the lives of their loved ones which are left behind in the village. Many thoughts in the mind and the main thing is what if the lightning strikes back when we reach the village? The windmill with many families from the village who ran to save their lives leaving all their important belongings. Some think that the decision was wrong as the windmill is made of hay and the lightning can also strike causing fire but many think that it is a better place rather than staying in the village. Many curious minds are thinking about what will happen next, will they even get their home back or do they have to start everything all over again. The children are frightened and sitting in the corner and waiting for the moment when they go back and play with their friends and have dinner with their family. 

Well I have seen a thunderstorm, it was not really a good experience. We were in our house and seeing the ferocious winds and the strong lightning causing huge trees to fall which made my heart beat faster than it usually does. When I read the newspaper the next day I felt so bad and sad for the families who had lost homes as well as the ones they loved the most in the thunderstorm. I can't even imagine what it would be like to start a life again with no home, no money and the loss of their family members.

Thunderstorms are scary and the reason why they are caused is because of lightning as it leaves a small hole in the atmosphere called a channel giving a loud sound known as a thunder. Thunderstorms are then formed by the layers of warm and moist air causing heavy rains as well as strong winds. Well, I wish I never come in this type of situation ever again.

This week me and Lily worked together to do the 5-7-10 writing challenge. It is given this name because we first set a timer for five minutes and then write after the starter of the paragraph above. Then Lily and I set a timer for seven minutes each, and give a feedback on each others paragraph. Then we set a timer for ten minutes and complete our paragraph. Once we have completed our paragraph we use the draft method which stands for delete, rearrange, add, fix and talk. I really liked the different way of learning through the 5-7-10 strategy and it was very efficient.

Tech: Coding for Infrared Sensors

LI: To code for the mBot robot so it could move around the track.

This week for our year 8 robotics session we went to Tamaki College and worked with Ms. Ferguson. The above google draw showcases the pictures of our learning. Florence, Ellenora and me first measured the track by a ribbon and the length was 8.90 meters. Then we learned about the formula which was speed is equal to distance divided by time. We then coded for the robot so it could sense the black line with the infrared sensor. I was given the responsibility to use the stopwatch to see the time for each person and measure the speed. The final scores for the race were Florence as first, Mathew as second and me as third. I also received a chocolate for coming third. I really enjoyed this week's tech class and also enjoyed working with Ms. Ferguson.

Literacy: Matariki Harvesting

LI: To make a google draw on how the crops were harvested in the past.

The above google draw is created by Sakina, Florence and me and showcases our learning on how the crops were harvested in the past. We included the tools used by the cultivators or farmers at that time and also included the information about their mechanism. If we have a look the way harvesting is done today then we will see a huge difference. Now days farmers use the technology and use high tech machines which sow the seed, provide them water, add pesticides, harvest them and also thresh them. This reduces the labor and a lot of hard work. I enjoyed learning the different name of tools in Maori which are used to harvest crops.    

Literacy: Matariki Stars

LI: To create a google slide that covers all the important points on Matariki stars.

The above google slide showcases a group task by Florence, Sakina, Afatia and me on the topic of Matariki stars. It is a mixture of all the other google draws related to this topic and is a more advance version. First we included all the legends and beliefs related to the Matariki stars which were practiced in the past. Then we included the meaning of each star in the Matariki or Pleiades cluster which are Waiti, Waita, Waipunarangi, Tupu-a-nuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Uruarangi and Matariki. Then we added the information that how Matariki or Maori new year is celebrated now and then. We then finally added the information that how crops are harvested now days and ended our presentation. I learned a lot about the Maori New Year and many facts about Matariki and would love to learn more fun topics like this. 

Inquiry: Optical Illusions

LI: To explain what an Optical Illusion is.

The above google draw showcases my learning on what an optical illusion is. This week Mr. Johnston taught us about optical illusions and the reason why our eyes get easily tricked. We also learned about camouflaging during the wars and the weakness of the British soldiers as they were shot easily due to their bright red color. We also learnt about a very famous mathematician artist who created optical illusion also known as Mc Escher. I really enjoyed seeing various illusions from this website which was recommended by Mr. Johnston. I would love to learn more about light in our Inquiry session.  

Literacy: Matariki Venn Diagram

LI: To compare and contrast on how Matariki is celebrated now and then.

The above google draw showcases the learning of Florence, Sakina, Afatia and me as a form of a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast our learning. This Venn Diagram is comparing what people did in Matariki back in the days and what they do now which is different. We also wrote what people did same for Matariki. We all worked collaboratively to get four facts for each section. We enjoyed this activity as we could learn more about Matariki.  

Literacy: Navigation and Harvesting through the sky

LI: To use our smart searching skills to find the way sky was useful for the farmers and the navigators.

The above google draw showcases the learning of Florence, Sakina and me on the way the solar bodies like sun, star and moon help in harvesting and navigation. We have included the importance of the sun, moon and the star for both harvesting and navigation. We found interesting that the stars brightness was used as a way to find the coming seasons. The farmers believed that if the stars were dull then winters were going to come and they delayed their harvest but id the stars were bright they thought it as the right time for planting crops. The scientific reason behind it is that during winters the sky becomes foggy and during summers the sky is clear thus they see stars like that. We came to know a lot about the ways of navigation and farming, when people predicted it through nature in the old days after completing this google draw.  

Literacy: Summary of the Matariki stars

LI: To explain my learning on the Matariki cluster in a fewer words.

The above google draw showcases the learning of Florence, Sakina and me on the Maori New Year.  I think the system of making a summary is very innovative as we first remember all the important words while thinking of its sentences, then think about the most important among them and then develop the skill to create a sentence related to the topic and making sense out of the six words. We also came to know more about the topic and get an idea of the basic points. We found new that the Matariki cluster is also called the tiny eyes or the eyes of the god. I also liked working with Florence and Sakina as we could get a chance to discuss are point of views and ides to add in this google draw. We came to know a lot about the seven stars of the god after completing this google draw and would love to work together again.   

Literacy: Introduction to Matariki stars

LI: To use my smart searching skills and make a google draw on the Matariki cluster.

The above google draw showcases the learning of Florence, Sakina and me on the Matariki stars. We have included the meaning, celebration and the various legends related to this topic. We also came to know the names of the seven stars starting from the mother which is Matariki and the then the seven surrounding daughters which are Ururangi, Waiti, Waita, Tupu-a-nuku, Tupu-a-rangi and Whaipanarangi. It is called the mother with the seven daughters because they once visit their country or grandmother which is New Zealand during the month of June and that is when this festival is celebrated. We came to know a lot about the Maori New Year after completing this google draw.   

Te Reo Challenge: Matariki Cluster

LI: To make a drawing showcasing the seven Matariki stars.

The above google draw showcases the drawing on the seven Matariki stars as my Te Reo Challenge set by Ms. Pryde. The topic of the Maori New Year was something new for me and I came to know a lot about the beliefs and celebration done on this day. I loved the thought that it is a day when the people forget their past and plan for their future. It is also a day when the family meets together and also tell others about the struggles and life of their ancestors. The best part is that it is a day when the people respect each others culture, traditions and beliefs. I would love to complete more challenges set by Ms. Pryde as I come to know about new topics.