Year 3 have been looking at the FBI and the Carbon Cycle. Today we discovered the FBI can't break down all our waste. Humans have made plastic that's junking up the Earth. We wondered if this is a problem at Sunnyhills.
We began our lesson with a litter hunt. We divided the waste into biodegradeable and non biodegradeable.
"I noticed that glass will break back down into sand" David
"I learnt what biodegradeable and non biodegradeable means" Lucas
"I noticed there was lots of litter" Shyloh
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.
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.
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.
Today Ms Daniel attended Te Ao Māori Wānanga Taiao ki Papakura High School,
It was an inspiring event connecting Te Ao Maori and sustainability.
Takeaways:
- E Tu Rakau Charitable Trust
- Rongoa - kombutcha, foot scrub, dry the peppermint and kawakawa
- Pou for PE
- requested House names from local iwi
- Climate Resilience Funding
- picture books from Auckland Emergency Management
- Maori musical instruments
- Te Ao Marama app
- Sandy Shore Hangi for events
E aku nui e aku rahi, nei rā te mihi matakuikui ki a koutou katoa i tae a tinana mai ki tā mātou wānanga ki te Kura Tuarua o Papakura.
Thank you all so much for attending our Te Ao Māori Wānanga Taiao for 2025.
We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we enjoyed hosting you.
A few special mentions, firstly to Ngāti Tamaoho te mana whenua, who opened our kaupapa with a karakia, pōwhiri and kōrero. Also, for your support to organise our wānanga and in particular Whaea Monique for your dedication to see our wānanga blossum. No mātou te whiwhi.
To our South African brother Matua Chris Matthews (Tumuaki Tuarua), Matua Simon Craggs (Tumuaki), Whaea Mardi, Whaea Rangi and all the whānau of Papakura High School, thank you for sharing your lovely kura with us and showing manaakitanga and whanaungatanga. Nei rā te mihi.
Ki ngā ringawera Whaea Sandie Shaw and your crew, thank you for all our kai and the hangi almost put me to sleep. Aue te reka.
To our tohunga, our wonderful facilitators and guest speakers, we are extremely priviledged to have you share your many taonga and passions with us. Many have already expressed how wonderful your workshops were and we are truly grateful.
If you would like to contact any of our facilitators or guest speakers for future opportunities here are their details below:
Ayla Hoeta (Maramataka) – ayla.hoeta@auckland.ac.nz
Some cool rauemi:
Maramataka Dial for Tamaki Makaurau
Tohu framework
Planting seeds podcast: Maramataka Ayla Hoeta
Maramataka expert Rereata Makiha on Waka Huia
Maramataka monthly korero - the Spinoff
Mikaere Berryman-Kamp (Taonga puoro) – mikaere.bk@gmail.com
Mia King (Rongoā Māori) – mia@eturakau.org
LeRoy Paul (Taonga Tākoro) – leroy.paul@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Ngā kēmu: Tī kōuka, Hakariki (Haka o ngā Ariki), Poi Toa
Renee King (The Wonder Project for Year 5-13 ākonga) – https://wonderproject.nz/
Mana Ora Youth Resilience, Student Led Project Funding – sustainableschools@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz (powerpoint slide attached)
Hazel Meadows (Kia Rite Kia Mau) – Hazel.Meadows@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
We hope you enjoyed the wānanga e te whānau. It was lovely to have some of our tamariki enjoy the activities with the whānau too 😊
It would be greatly appreciated if you could take 5 minutes to fill in a short survey. This will help us improve future wānanga opportunities.
Enjoy the rest of your well deserved holiday and all the very best for Term 4.
Ngā manaakitanga
Anaru Hetaraka and The Sustainable Schools Team
Anaru Hetaraka | Senior Kaupapa Māori Sustainable Schools Advisor
Environmental Services | Ngā Ratonga Taiao
Ngātiwai/Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāti Whātua/Ngāti Hine/Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Maniapoto
Mobile 027 308 3650
Auckland Council | Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau
Level 19, Auckland House, 135 Albert Street, Auckland
Visit our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Today Johnny & Hazel from Auckland Emergency Mangagement explored the Kia Rite, Kia Mau programme with Year Six. We used Maori values and atua to think about how we can prepare for natural disasters in Tamaki Makaurau.
Firstly we related our GEMS school values to the Civil Defence values:
Growth relates to Ako (learning)
Empathy relates to Manaakitanga (support) and Kotahitanga (unity)
Mana relates to Oko (alertness) and Ramgatiratanga (leadership)
Self Belief relates to Manawaroa (resilience)
Next we focussed on the Maori Atua that represent the natural disasters that can occur in our city:
Whiro represents Pandemic
Tawhirimatea represents Floods and Storms
Tangaroa represents Tsunami
Ruamoko represents Earthquakes
Mahuika represents Fire
We split into groups and worked through an activity that identified issues that can arise from natual disasters and how our whanua can prepare for them. For example, if the internet goes down we need to have a way to listen to the radio.
Lastly we practised:
'Stop, drop and hold' for earthquakes
'Get down, get low and get our' for fire
'If it's long and strong get gone' for tsunmai evacuation
We will be bringing home a picture book and plan to share with our whanau so we are all prepared. You can also find out more here: Auckland Emergency Management https://share.google/9T0lwF0ftIBJclO8y
