ANZAC Biscuits

This week we are learning about the significance of remembering the ANZACs.  We have listened to stories, watched videos, created artworks and today we made ANZAC biscuits.  Yum!  The biscuits we make today are much sweeter and chewier than the ones sent by loved ones to the soldiers 100 years ago.

Here we are making these yummy treats.

 

  

  

  

  

Gymnastics Fun - Day 1

This morning we had fun with Abe from Big Air Gym.  We did lots of different gymnastic skills such as balancing, strength, jumping and leaping.  Here are some of us in action....

  

   

  

We had a blast.  So we are definitely looking forward to learning more skills next Wednesday.

It's So Cool to Go Back to School!

Wow the school holidays have flown past.  I hope you all had a great holiday and have lots of adventures to share with each other.

We are going to have such a fun term together with lots and lots of learning happening in VH.

Here are some of the things we are looking forward to...

• School ANZAC Ceremony this Friday
• Gymnastics, Netball Skills and more
• Science Fair
• Symphony Orchestra Trip
• Cross Country
• Cool Spelling
• Super Speedy Basic Facts
• as well as getting better at our reading, writing and maths

We are going to have so much fun in VH! I'm bursting already with excitement!   See you Monday :)

Mrs H

Takapuwahia Marae Visit

Takapuwahia Marae Visit on PhotoPeach

Today all of the Year 1-4 students at Discovery School participated in a special visit to Takapuwahia Marae in Elsdon, Porirua.  We participated in a powhiri welcome onto this beautiful local marae.

We were so so lucky to have students from Aotea College teach us many new games, how to use rakau and patu.  We listened to Maori legends and even acted out some too.

Big big thanks to all the amazing mums and dads who came along with us.

What a lucky bunch of kiwi kids we are!

Discovery Time - Problem Solving

For the last two weeks our social skill has been 'Using My Initiative.'  We have learnt that using your initiative is solving a problem by ourselves, without being told what to do.  Using our initiative is about having a positive attitude and being proactive, to make the most of all opportunities without giving up.

Initiative is a trait that will serve our children well all their lives.

We can use our initiative in lots of different ways like....

• tidying up after ourselves at school and at home without being asked,
• starting my reading and other homework at home without being asked,
• getting the equipment I need ready to start my learning straight away, and
• asking for help if I need it.

Today we practiced using our initiative and problem solving at Discovery Time.  We had loads of activities to choose from and we had so much fun!

Here are some photos of our Discovery Time.

Science experiment with Miss Bradley - what do you think will happen?

Marble run - How can you make the marble travel the furthest

Problem solving - completing the jigsaw puzzle

Problem solving using the i-pad app Trace. 

Problem Solving and thinking outside the box....

the results... 

Domino fun - problem solving to make a domino trail

Problem solving to fill an area.  J showed great perseverance and completed this activity so well.  He was very proud of himself :) 

Problem solving to make the longest paper chain 

Some creative garments made from newspaper 

Super Readers!

Wow these six are the first to achieve 25 nights reading.  Well done!

It's Raining Taco's

Today we had school assembly hosted by SW Class.  It was such a fun assembly.  We sang a really funny song called "It's Raining Taco's."  Just click on the picture.

Sing-a-long to this fun song with us :)  The kids love it!

Buddy Time fun with HR Class

Today we had buddy time with HR class.  They had been working on some presents for us.  The Year 5/6 kids made a small present, poster, slideshow and even one buddy made up a puppet show for us.

We love spending time with our buddies.

Our Cool New Slide!

Woosh!  Today we went down the slide.  The slide is silver and grey and it's popular too.  By Jack

Whee!  I went to the slide.  It was fun.  I liked it very much.  It is long and grey.  By Xavier

I went on the slide and it was fun.  When I had my turn I saw 2 people being like a fish and I said 'Whee'.  By Kate

Woosh!  VH class went on the new slide today.  I've been on the slide 6 or 19 times.  It's very slippery.  It is very fun.  By Jessyka

Yeeha!  I went on the silver slide and we had the whole class go down the slide 5 times.  The slide is slippery when you go down.  By Sofia

Whee!  VH class likes the slide.  Its slippery and fun.  All of us went on it.  By Harlow

Whee!  I like the slide.  I liked the slippery slide.  It is so much fun.  By Anthony

Woosh!  I went down the slide.  It was very slippery.  I think the slide is fun.  By Logan

Splish Splash! Swimming Fun!

Today VH class had our first swimming lesson together at Ally Todd.  Over the next couple of weeks it will be amazing how much progress the kids will make in their swimming skills.

After lunch VH class went swimming.  I splashed in the water.
By Tairi

Me and VH class went swimming at Ally Todd to do swimming.  We did kicking.  We did it on Tuesday.  I had fun.  By Jazmyn

Today I went swimming.  I did rockets and arm circles.  I did the dolphin too.  Mrs H was proud of us and nobody got out of the pool.  By Marcus

VH class went to Ally Todd.  We went there to do arm circles.  The water was warm.  I moved to the second group.  Mrs H was proud of us.  By Abigail

Counting to 100

This week we have been practising counting to 100 whilst shaking and a groovin'.  Here is the video so the kids can practise at home.

Just click on the picture to take you to the video.

Our Week in VH Class

Room VH and the rest of Endeavour Syndicate had a great fun at Discovery Time.  We were practising our skills at being a good friend and including others.

The kids had fun making, creating, building and even splashing!

Watch our 'Being Friends' movie to find out what we learnt.

This week was also the beginning of Chinese New Year.  The kids also had fun creating some stunning Chinese Dragons to brighten our classroom.

This week we also said goodbye to our friend Devlin.  Have lots of fun on your adventure to Myanmar - we'll miss you!

Butterfly Writing

Today in VH class a monarch butterfly hatched.  It is in our class.  I like it.  The chrysalis popped open and out came a butterfly.

By Jack

Xavier's cocoon hatched.  It is on a stick.  It's a monarch butterfly.

By Anthony

Today a monarch butterfly came out of a cocoon.  It was cool.  It is a baby.

By Harlow

Flutter, flutter, flutter!  Today in VH we saw a butterfly hatch.  It is so beautiful.  It ate her chyrsalis. It has white spots.

By Jessica G

Today a cocoon hatched in VH class.  It was amazing and its a monarch butterfly.  The butterfly is drying its wings.

By  Sofia

Today a butterfly grew in VH class.  It looks so cool and beautiful.  The chrysalis opened.

By Jack

The Amazing Butterfly

Today Xavier brought in a special little cocoon.  We were amazed all day watching the beautiful butterfly emerge from its temporary home.  We talked, watched, wrote and then talked some more about this amazing act of nature.

Here are some of the photos....

Fun Butterfly Facts

• Butterflies are insects.
• A butterfly’s lifecycle is made up of four parts, egg, larva (caterpillars), pupa (chrysalis) and adult.
• Butterflies attach their eggs to leaves with a special glue.
• Most caterpillars are plant eaters (herbivores).
• Fully grown caterpillars attach themselves to a suitable twig or leaf before shedding their outside layer of skin to reveal a hard skin underneath known as a chrysalis.
• An adult butterfly will eventually emerge from the chrysalis where it will wait a few hours for its wings to fill with blood and dry, before flying for the first time.
• Butterflies have four wings.
• Butterflies often have brightly coloured wings with unique patterns made up of tiny scales.
• Most butterflies feed on nectar from flowers.
• Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet.
• Scientists estimate that there are between 15000 and 20000 different species of butterfly.
• Monarch butterflies are known for their long migration. Every year monarch butterflies will travel a great distance (sometimes over 4000 km), females will lay eggs and a new generation of monarchs will travel back, completing the cycle.

Welcome back to school everyone!  It has been a great day in VH class seeing our old friends and making some new ones too!  

We are going to have a great year together and do lots and lots of learning.