Year 3 Kumara Kids

 

Year 3 are ready to put their delicious compost into action, by growing kumara. Now is the time to start feeding the garden soil ready for spring planting. We want kumara to harvest for our whole school Matariki Hangi 2025 so we need to start them now.

First we warmed up by creating a fruit and vegetable alphabet and exploring the changes in our koanga Mara Kai. 

Next we learnt about Whakaotirangi, who brought kumara to Aotearoa NZ and started the first gardens. This meant iwi could settle and thrive in the new land of Aotearoa. 

https://instructionalseries.tki.org.nz/Instructional-Series/Connected/Connected-2020-Level-2-Digging-Deeper/Whakaotirangi-and-her-Kete-of-Kumara

We drew Whakaotirangi in a traditional poupou format. 

Then we learnt how to grow kumara slips.

We can't wait to see if our kumara tipu have sprouted in two weeks time.

Fun In the Mara Kai - Thank you Kings Plant Barn Botany

 It's koanga and a beautiful sunny day, so it was the perfect time to get out in the Mara Kai.  Thanks to donations from Kings Plant Barn Botany, we had LOTS of seeds and vegetables to plant.  First we worked together to pull the weeds and feed the soil. Then we planted marigolds, wild flowers, sorrel, zuchini, cucumbers and basil.  Next term we'll also plant sunflower seeds.  We can't wait to harvest the kai we've grown in Term One 2025 when we are Year 5.

What do you want to do next term Year Four?

Richie "Plant more seeds to grow more food"

Peyton "A scavenger hunt to learn about plants or birds"

Maya "I want to do some more cooking like tea or soups"

Renee "Learn more about the Hauraki Gulf and The Young Ocean Explorers"

Hunter "Learn about more trees"

Fiona "Learn more about birds"

Tasha "Do more drawings of sea animals"

Emersyn "Go to the beehive and look at the bees"

Lucy "Eat food from the garden"

Cyrus "Play Sustainable Shaun"

"Make tea"

Sharing Our Estuary Mahi at the Tamaki Environmental Expo

 

Check out this video showcasing all the work our tamariki have down to study and promote the Tamaki Estuary.

Year Five Explore the Secrets to Happiness

 Year Five continued our inquiry into active travel today.  We know it's great for our fitness but did you know exercise is one of the secrets to happiness? 

Our brain releases endorphins, sometimes known as ‘feel-good’ chemicals, during physical exercise which improve our energy levels, mood and help us to sleep better. When we feel energised, happy and have had plenty of sleep our self-confidence increases and our resilience improves when faced with challenges.

We read about the science behind excercise and mental well being then went on our own mood boosting brisk walk in nature.

Lastly we designed stickers to encourage children to get out and active.

Fabulous Whio with Year Three

 Today Year 3 explored the special adaptations and threats of NZ's very unique blue duck the whio.  We researched, sketched and recorded our findings.  Then we played a Whio Forever board game called Stoats & Rivers and an online bootcamp.

Flowers for Bee's with Year Rua

 Today Year Two took action for our bees. 

What have you learnt about bees?

Kasey "Bees can sting you."

"When the bees sting the sting comes out of there body" Yeja

Azara "When bees move the pollen it sticks on their fuzzy body"

Aila "Bees make honey with nectar from the flowers"

Mila "Bees spread the pollen"

Archie "Bees pollinate flower to flower".

How can we help our bees?

"Don't let them sting you or they die" Lucas C

Azara "Don't shoo them.  Just stand still"

"Don't kill the plants" Kenny

"Water the flowers so they can get the pollen and nectar when it grows" Marcus

"Plant more flowers" Allan

We decided to grow flowers for the bees. First we read the seed packets.  

What do the seed packets tell us?

Joshua "We can plant the seeds in the ground to make flowers for the bees and butterflies"

Chace "They will attract bees and butterflies"

Clara "The flowers will appear after 10weeks"

Archie "You have to plant them in well drained soil

 Last year we learnt how to make seeds grow, so first we collected compost to give the soil nutrients. We saw lots of fungus and bugs!

Each of us helped to sprinkle the flower seeds on our new garden. 

Alyssa "The seeds were tiny and all different" 

While we were in the Mara Kai we also tasted broad bean leaves. 

Leo " They taste minty"

We saw little bumble bees on the flowers.

Hopefully next term we'll see our flowers and even more bees!

Year Four & Terrific Turtles

 

Following our visit from Riley Young Ocean Explorer, Year Four found out more about the animal that inspired Riley to become an ocean champion - TURTLES

Plastic pollution is a big problem for turtles. Do you bring a litterfree lunch? Do you pick up litter everyday?