Hector's World Cyber Safety

We have been learning about keeping ourselves safe when we are using the internet.  We have followed the programme "Hector's World."  This is a series of short animated videos that explore how we need to keep safe when using technology.  There are a lot of follow on games that your child may wish to play as an extension to this unit.
http://hectorsworld.netsafe.org.nz/parents

ANZAC Day

M8 have been learning about ANZAC Day and what it signifies for New Zealanders.  We looked at what we would send to our family members if they were soldiers fighting in World War II.
We decided that woollen socks and some yummy biscuits would be a great treat for soldiers.

M8 made Anzac Biscuits - you may like to try them at home

ANZAC Biscuits (Makes about 100 biscuits)
250g butter                          3/4 cup Golden Syrup
1 tsp baking soda                 1/4 cup warm water
1 & 1/2 cups sugar               2 cups flour
2 cups coconut                     2 cups rolled oats

Melt butter & golden syrup together
Dissolve baking soda in warm water
Mix all ingredients together - roll into balls and flatten
Bake at 180 degrees C for 12 -15 minutes

Descriptive Recount Writing

M8 have been learning how to write descriptions and descriptive recounts.  As a class we walked to Victoria Park to collect Autumn leaves.  We then brainstormed what we could see, hear and feel and wrote a descriptive recount.
Our recount needed:              An orientation (Who, where, when)
                                              A sequence of events (What we did, could see, hear and feel)
                                              A personal comment (What we feel about Autumn)

Brainiacs

M8 have been learning about how our brain works during our Unit on "Thinking Like a Researcher".  We made brain hats that showed which part of our brain is responsible for helping us with reading, logic and maths, art and music, thinking, and movement.  We also found out that for our brain to work well we need to have plenty of sleep, our brain needs to be loved not abused with drugs and alcohol, we need exercise, to eat healthy food and to use and challenge our brain - if you don't use it you lose it!

Sign Language - New Zealand's 3rd Official Language

Emjai has been teaching the class to ask someone their name using Sign Language and also how to respond using sign to spell their name.  See if your child can show you how to ask and respond - the NZ Sign Language website is a great online site if you are interested in learning more about our 3rd Official Language.
http://nzsl.vuw.ac.nz

The NZ Sign Language week is 12- 18th May 2014.

Unique Fingerprints

When M8 were reading Harry Hobnail and The Punga People by Barry Crump, the word unique was identified as a word we should investigate for our Word Wall.  We found out that we have unique fingerprints which is why they are used to solve crimes.  To help our understanding M8 made unique fingerprint pictures.