Our Inquiry Process

This term we are looking at Animal Adaptations.  For the past 4 weeks we have been looking at  what animal adaptations are and how they help animals survive.   We went to Orana park and learnt a heap about the animals that are at the park.

So now we have some knowledge of adaptations its time to take for us to go in different directions and find out  what we think is really interesting or something that we are passionate about.  Our Inquiry has begun.

We all have a "Big Question" about our chosen topic and today we are searching for sources of information that will help us answer our big questions.  We have to find an expert, sites, multimedia resource and a book.

THe challenge for us is to work out what information that we are looking at is helpful to our Inquiry and what people can help us too.  We also want to connect with experts not just in NZ but all around the world.

Watch this space!

Check out these maps!

This week we have discovered a new Chrome app for organising our ideas into a brain storm or a mind map. The children have been really focused and have done an outstanding job of using 'Mind Mup' to create brainstorms about an animal that they are become an expert in. These are just some of the amazing maps that have been created.

Abbagale's map about dolphins

Trisha's map about Komodo Dragons. Trisha also found ways to add video links!

Zayd's map about Moose.

Samyog's map about Komondo Dragons

facts, facts and more facts

Over the last week we have been reading for information and have been looking for interesting facts about animals. Our next job was to write the facts into our own words so that it makes sense and that other people will understand what we have written. Sharlisa has done an amazing job on her ABC animal facts and as you'll see it is really easy to read!

Sharlisa ABC animal facts

Ranit explaining it like a maths wizz

Ranit has made a great wee video explaining a strategy that he has been working on in maths.

Cross Country

Congratulations to Lyan for coming first in the Year 5 girls race and Dakota who placed first in the Year 6 races. Well done to everyone who participated, we are very proud of you!

Life in the Trenches - Day 3

We didn't have a lot of time today to spend on our trench because of cross country but we did manage to get our two trenches finished! Tomorrow we are allowed to bring water guns and nerf guns for a battle.

Crumble Recipe

Girls, I must say the apple and rhubarb crumble topped with walnuts was very yummy, in fact I just want more! If you would like to have a go and making this crumble here is the recipe that we used.

• Fruit (apples, rhubarb, berries, peaches, plums... the choice is yours!) For the topping I would suggest about the same amount of fruits as 6 apples. Fruit will need to be peeled, cored and sliced.
• 2 Tablespoons white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup of rolled oats
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cold butter

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C.

Prepare the fruit and toss with white sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl to coat; pour the mix into a oven safe dish.
Mix the brown sugar. rolled oats, flour 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a separate bowl. Use a fork to mash cold butter into the oats mixture until the mixture looks like course crumbs; spread over the fruit, right to the edge of the baking dish. Pat the topping gently until even. Don't worry if you can still see a bit of the fruit. Cook in the oven for about 40 minutes. Yum-my!