Year 6 Make Meaning and Connections for our Local Birdlife

 Today Year 6 used our Anual Bird Survey Data and local Bird Watchers websites to compare and contrast the bird populations at school and the estuary.

We discovered some birds live in both places like the sparrow, spotted dove, starling, tui, plover, myna and swallow.

Birds are an indicator of how healthy the enviornment is so we want to take action to increase our bird populations.  To do that we need to research what our local birds need.

We worked in groups to find out about the bird species and come up with a list of things we can do.  Our mahi was presented in posters that we can display in The Green Room.

Next time we have Enviro we'll be potting up tree seedlings to create new habitats for birds.

Year Four Wheke Wheke

 

Today we began our lesson with some guerrilla art. We wanted to spread the word to parents about the importance of bringing litterfree lunches. 

Afterwards, we learnt about fascinating wheke / octopuses. 

What do we already know about octopuses?

Milana "They camouflage against anything they touch to stay safe from predators"

Flynn "They have nine brains"

Awa "They can fit in small spaces"

Allan "They have a beak like mouth"

TJ "They have suction cups under their tentacles"

Jessica "They can mimic predators"

Payton "They can breathe under water"

Ruby "They have eight long tentacles"

What we found out many more amazing facts like how them use their siphon to propel themselves forward, their body parts in Maori and how to draw a realistic octopus.

Next time we're looking forward to taking more action for environment and learning about mango / sharks.

Year 3 Mahi in the Mara - Thank you Kings Plant Barn

 Today Year Three had a big job planting our spring Mara Kai.  Kings Plant Barn gave us $200 for seedlings.

"First we had to dig up weeds and loosen the soil to help the plants grow" Lucas

"We picked broad beans" Shyloh

"We picked and ate cabbages" Azara

"We pulled out the broad bean stalks which was hard" Ella

We fed the soil with our own compost and planted flowers for the bees, herbs and vegetables like cucumber, courgettes and spinach.

"When we found slugs and snails we put them in the cold compost, so they doen't destroy our plants we use for food" Koen

"I planted chives" David

Next time we are looking forward to finding out how long things take to break down with Mystery Science.  We will check on our plants too.