We're going on a bug hunt - Living Landscapes - Identifying the Current Situation

Room 15 are exploring what lives in our backyard. We were lucky enough to find a true NZ taonga; a tree weta.

We're wondering how we can enhance our outdoor habitat for our wetas and other mini beasts.

Cameron notices a wriggly worry with our worm farm - Action Learning - Reflection

UPDATE FOR THE BLOG BELOW

A massive thank you to Mrs Trembath and Room 14 for our sturdy new worm buckets for kids to put their lunchbox scraps in.

Room 14 do an amazing job feeding and watering our worms each week, so we can return nutrients to our edible garden. You rock!!

Special thanks to Sticky Bambam for the sicker labels!

THE WIGGLY WORRY

Today, while Year One were learning about what to put in our worm farms and why we have worms at school, Cameron noticed a problem; the bins children put their lunchbox scraps in are all cracked and broken. Also, they don't have any labels or instructions. Sounds like an issue for our Going Gold group to resolve. Good spotting Cameron! We're always reflecting on ways we can keep our sustainable practices running smoothly.

Spotting Skinks - Mokomoko - The Action Learning Cycle In Action

IDENTIFYING THE CURRENT SITUATION
Animal Hunt - Our Year 2's and 3's spotted skinks basking in the sun this morning.

Brainstorming - We already knew a little bit about them:

We wanted to find out more about these cute backyard buddies. What do they eat? Where do they like to live? What can we do to help them?

EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES
We found a Youtube video and journal article to answer some of our questions:

Did you know the Maori word for skink is mokomoko?

Room 22 worked out what we'd need to make a skink habitat:

Wouldn't it be great to create a Sunnyhills Skink Suburb?

Ben drew a super skink. You can see its long pointy body and four legs.

TAKE ACTION
We created artwork and a display to share our plan.  You can see it at The Green Room. We wondered how we could buy the materials and who would build the skink suburb.  Perhaps we should ask Mrs Driver...

UPDATE - Mrs Driver likes the plan and shared our ideas in the school newsletter.  Some Kauri Whanau Enviro Monitors created a video application for a $10000 Treemendous Trees Makeover, so we can build the skink suburb!  Fingers crossed we get it.

Watch the video below:

UPDATE - We're through to the next round of the Treemendous Trees Makeover :)

REFLECT ON CHANGE ...

Road Safety Week 2018 Class Lessons and Displays

Road Safety Week 2018 - Belt on, Phone off - Make it a habit

Belt on, Phone off - Make it a habit

This year Road Safety Week focuses on seat belts, child restraints and distractions.


Sunnyhills is supporting Road Safety Week in lots of different ways.  There have been a lot of class discussions around all aspects of road safety.  The Year 1 and 2 classes were able to revisit all the wonderful messages that they received from Constable Merv and the other Auckland Transport staff who visited the school last term

Thank you Room 22 for sharing your fabulous work

Most classes have a display relating to Road Safety Week using the awesome resources supplied to us by BRAKE.

Road Safety Week 2018 - Belt on, Phone off - Make it a habit

Belt on, Phone off - Make it a habit

This year Road Safety Week focuses on seat belts, child restraints and distractions.


Sunnyhills is supporting Road Safety Week in lots of different ways.  There have been a lot of class discussions around all aspects of road safety.  The Year 1 and 2 classes were able to revisit all the wonderful messages that they received from Constable Merv and the other Auckland Transport staff who visited the school last term

Our Patrols have worn the brightly coloured BRAKE T shirts to help draw attention to the week to our School Community.  

The Travelwise group have again done a 'slow down around Schools' campaign.  Watch out for posts on individual class blogs.  

Most classes have a display relating to Road Safety Week using the awesome resources supplied to us by BRAKE.

The Walking School Bus routes had a 'Milo and Biscuit' morning on Friday as thank you for walking to school

We also had a group come in to show us skateboarding skills and they will be starting an after school group on a Friday.  Skating is another way to come to school rather than by car.

More Compost Critters with Year One

Why are worms and other compost critters so important?

"They make nutrients" Ben

 "Worm poo helps plants grow" Milo

 "I made bacteria. It breaks down dead stuff." Dylan

Compost Critters; Gross or Great?

 Today our Year 2's & 3's investigated the creepy crawlies that live in our compost. We learnt about the important job they do.

 "They're cleaning up the dead things and turning it into good soil" Rachael

 "We found a beetle, springtail, worms - lots of things but not a slug or a snail" Carlos

"We can't find bacteria" Joeric
"It's there. We need a microscope" Anastasia

Barking the Western Boundary on Sunday - Taking Action On Our Bird Corridor

A big thank you to all the wonderful families who who joined the Mrs Venville, Mrs Driver, Mrs Knofflock and Miss Fullard to weed and bark our new native trail.  We had perfect weather not too hot and the promised rain held off.  Mrs Steel got our yummy morning tea ready for us and even Mr Venville came and helped.  Many hand make light work as students and parents beavered away.  All done by 11.30 and it looks AMAZING.

Mrs Venville xxx

Creating natural sculptures with Year One

Year One were inspired by the sculptures of Andy Goldsworthy. Have you seen his work? It was a beautiful day to be outside connecting with nature & being creative.

"We made a spiral. We chose colourful leaves to make it beautiful. We did team work" Yihang & Molly

Threading was a creative idea!

"I found a Ladybird leaf" Zoe

Inspired by butterflies.

"It's a 600 year old bite fish" Wyatt
"I made a sword" Sam

A collection of kowhai yellow leaves.

Tapa toru - a triangle

Can you see the palm tree?

How have you spent time in nature today?