As part of the Pukeko Maths work on measurement, we investigated capacity. We worked with some buddies and there was lots of talk and comparison of the capacity of various objects.
How long can you make a piece of A4 paper ? That was the challenge for our hands on Maths learning …no gluing or stapling allowed but lots of discussion and problem solving.
The EPro8 Challenge is the inter-school science and engineering competition. Every year over 25,000 students from throughout New Zealand take part.
Students participate in a series of events: firstly within their school and then inter-school.
This year we sent two teams to the year 5/6 and the year 7/8 inter-school. The students were very excited and all worked really hard to overcome some really challenging hurdles to gain points.
We are really pleased that we were placed 2nd in the Year 7/8 and a first in Year 5/6. These two teams will be off to regionals in term 3.
OUR main focus was Material World but with all great STEAM there was plenty of cross curricula things to discover and learn.
Two terms of learning has resulted in the sharing of this with our community. Every whanau have been busy listening, looking, learning, asking questions and coming up with topics to research. Lot’s of cool experiments and science skills have been developed.
Well done to everyone.
This term, our focus for STEAM has been on Bushcraft.
We started with listing what we needed to build a fire, the tools/materials we needed and the “Fire Triangle” – oxygen, fire, and fuel. Take any of those elements away, and you won’t get a fire started. The basic materials to start a fire are most preferably rocks, wood (tinder, kindling, fuel), or flint and steel when you’re in the wilderness.
Camp is quite similar to Bushcraft because both things are outdoors and there is a lot of physical activity and searching involved, and in both places we are all collaborating together and working as a team. Although it is quite similar, camp is more relaxed and more comfortable than Bushcraft, where it tends to be more of a survival situation and style, rather than running around with your teammates at camp.
So far in STEAM we have also been exploring first aid, signaling methods, and our survival kits with our groups, testing ourselves to think over different scenarios and how we would react to them. Afterward we headed over to Tōtara Park to build a small shelter to cover one of our teammates. We had to use the objects surrounding our assigned space in order to make it, with both small and thick pieces of wood to overlap each other in order to build a low but “dark” shelter — the darker it looks when inside, the more covering it has, and the better it is.
Bushcraft has been really exciting and enjoyable so far, and we all hope to learn more, do better, and learn more from Ms Rowland.
Angela, Arsh, Saskia.
After receiving a crash course in using, our students were divided into 2 teams. To familiarise themselves with the kit, the 2 groups competed to build the tallest tower during block 1.
They had to consider stability, rigidity, resource management and delegating responsibilities. For the rest of the day, the 2 teams received an official Epro8 challenge – building a Caveman Car!
Their structures evolved from rope and rubber band propulsion to a motorised car with gearbox! Great fun and hands-on learning was had by all. We hope to see many of them participate in the Official Epro8 competition next year…
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Student in Piwakawaka whanau are having a fun end to term. They are participating in a STEAM rotation of 1 day activities.
Yesterday in block 1, one group worked on learning to code the sphero to roll forward and turn different angles to make shapes. Then in block 2 they researched the Roman Chariot races and created a chariot using recycled materials, that the sphero could pull around the fire pit track. The afternoon was spent coding them to go around the fire pit like the chariot races of Rome. Then we did some races using the drive function.
Y3 pukeko have been investigating chemical reactions.
We made Hokey Pokey and saw a chemical reaction with the baking soda.
We made an ‘exploding’ volcano using baking soda also. We remembered this had been used
in Hokey Pokey making. We made 2 different volcanoes and compared the results
When it was sand and a flatter shape the mixture foamed and oozed.
In the bottle there was an ‘explosive’ reaction. The mixture shot into the air fast!
The students did a mini experiment to investigate the relationship between the amount of baking soda reacting with vinegar, and the amount of gas produced.
This was done as a taster for next term where we will be learning about volcanoes, building functional volcanoes that will erupt using the principles that we explored in the experiment, and linking it to our camp at Motutapu island.
Later in term 4 we are planning to get Auckland Museum to come in and do a programme on volcanoes with the entire hapori.
In Kakapo they have been learning to give directions.
Today they had to code the Beebots and mTiny to move around on the roadways.
We have had so much fun coding down in Kakapo today!
Kahu students have been learning how to cook and bake in food tech. They are learning skills that will help them be helpful in their homes and to feed themselves when they leave home.
