Week 5, Term 4

During this term our art topic is 'Fabric and Fibre'. We have been using all sorts of materials to practise our weaving skills. Many thanks to Karen and Sarah who have come in to school to help us.

Grasshopper Tennis

Over the last four weeks we have been going to Grasshopper Tennis where we have been learning lots of new games and skills. We have had heaps of fun playing with the balls and rackets. Andre has been our cool coach.

Grasshopper Tennis - slideshow with music

Next week.... During literacy time we will be concentrating on punctuation, such as, speech marks.
At maths we are adding on from the biggest number.
It is hard to believe just how much time we have, or don't have left of this year! We have some class trips coming up which I will require some parent help for. We have a trip to the Suter Art Gallery to view a Jane Evans Exhibition, a trip to the Nelson Turner Library and our Kowhai Big Day Out at Founders Park. Exact dates and times will follow in a notice home.
Have a happy and safe week!

Week 1, Term 4

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope you all had a wonderful break and are ready for another action packed term.
 On Friday Funday Major Blunder came in with his troops to share his knowledge about the Agincourt Battle which took place on October 25th 1415. It was a battle that took place in France between the French and the English. We were pretending to support the French so we made blue flags to cheer on our soldiers. The rest of the school had made paper swords and helmets. We had a fabulous time watching safely from the sideline!

Agincourt Battle - flash slideshow

As part of our enterprise learning our next inquiry topic is 'Popcorn'. Our key idea is learning how profitable goods have to be researched, developed and marketed. We have completed out first 'taster' and I suspect we may need to repeat this!
This term for P.E. we will be covering Run, Jump and Throw activities. We also have 4 sessions of Grasshopper Tennis which is a fun and interactive programme to introduce children to tennis. We have experts to come in and run the sessions.

Next week....

We will be reviewing the use of capital letters and full stops.
Our tricky words will be ask/any.
During maths we are consolidating numbers before and after any given number up to 100.

Things to remember...

Library day is Friday. It would be great if we could have 100% library books returned by Friday.
As it is Term 4 it is an absolute must to be wearing a sunhat at morning tea and lunch. The hats need to be wide brimmed to cover neck and ears. Caps are not acceptable.

Have a happy and safe week!

Week 9, Term 3

What an amazing time we have had this term learning about design and technology. Our overall theme was Terrific Trolleys. We wanted to closely link our learning to our community with this topic. The up and coming release of 'The Kiwi Flyer' seemed to be a fantastic opportunity to hook into. Tim from the Nelson Trolley Club has been a wealth of knowledge and support for us, from guiding us with general design, cutting over 100 blocks of wood, constructing a race ramp to finding sponsorship for our wheels. A huge thank you to Sam and all the parents that have contributed to make our topic so rewarding and memorable.

This Monday afternoon around 5.30pm there is an event at the top of Trafalgar Street with a build up to the premier of the Kiwi Flyer movie. We are encouraging children to come along with their trolleys so we can show case our learning to our community. Tim will have the race ramp there set up for us.
Here is a slide show of our journey!

Renwick 3's Trolleys - free slideshow

Next week... At literacy time we are looking at long vowel sounds.
For the next two weeks in maths we will be learning about time, days of the weeks and months of the year. We will be having our folk dancing display in Week 11. A notice will come home to advise the time and place.
Have a happy and safe week!

Week 8, Term 3

Each week we look forward to Tuesdays because it is our I.C.T. day. Last week we had a great time playing on the I.C.T. Maths Games site. Tania helps us work our way around the site.

A free digital slideshow by Smilebox

Excitement is building for this Friday as we are holding our Kowhai Trolley Derby. Our trolley cars are having the final touches put on early next week. Be sure to take a peek!
As a teacher it has been very rewarding listening to the children's discussions in regard to their learning throughout this inquiry unit. They have an amazing understanding of the actual technology involved in their trolley's and the appropriate vocabulary.
Recently a child brought in a large banana box to school. When I asked what it was for she replied "Oh it is my car, but its just that I haven't attached the axle and wheels yet!" I am a bit embarrassed to say that at the age of 21 plus, I have only recently investigated the workings of axles and wheels myself!

Next week...

At literacy time we will be looking at our long vowels and tricky words two and have.
During maths we will adding and subtracting up to 20/100.
Friday is the Kowhai Trolley Derby!

Have a happy and safe week!

Week 7, Term 3

On Tuesday the sun was out and we finally got to have out Futsal lesson. We played tail tag and chain tag. Ashton was the winner of the day for tail tag! We raced around the court chasing one another having heaps of fun.

After Futsal we went to the hall to meet Tim. Tim is an expert on trolleys from the Nelson Trolley Club. He very kindly came to share his knowledge and answer our burning questions about trolley's. We started off watching a locally made movie about the Nelson Trolley Race down Collingwood Street. Then we got to sit in a real trolley called 'Jaws'. We had a fabulous time and now feel totally inspired to make our own trolleys. Tim has designed a purpose built ramp for us to start our race!

Picture slideshow created with Smilebox

Trolley of a kind! Last week Dean brought in some equipment that was used a long time ago in the Antarctic! We arrived at just the right time to get a free ride!

Next week....
Our tricky words will be some and one. We will also be looking at word endings, such as, ed, s, ing.
During maths our focus is working with the number ten.
Many thanks to all those who have sent in their washing powder soap boxes. Please keep them coming and if you have any spare they would be very much appreciated.
A friendly reminder our library day is Friday. Please ensure books are returned by Thursday.
Have a happy and safe week!

Week 6, Term 3

This week we have been learning about fractions during maths time. We have been focussing on equal halves. On Friday Funday we decided to make some toast so we could practise cutting equal halves. Yum!!

Personalize a free photo slideshow

Our Terrific Trolley topic is zooming along nicely. We are starting to pick up the pace now in preparation for the big end of term derby. On Tuesday next week we have got Tim coming to visit us from The Nelson Trolley Club. He is an expert who is going to help us make our trolley's and give us some tips on design features.

Next week... Our sounds will be ea/ou. Our tricky words will be eat and about. During maths we will be working with doubles and halves. On Tuesday afternoon we have Tim coming to visit us from The Nelson Trolley Club. We also have our Futsal skills training. Thank you to those people who participated in Food for Thought. Your money is due back in now. Have a happy and safe week!

Week 4, Term 3

On Monday and Tuesday we got to visit Harold on the Life Education Bus. Of course meeting Harold was a real highlight but we also reminded ourselves how to be a good friend and how to important it is to look after each other.

Customize a slideshow design

On Thursday we put up our doves on the front fence to celebrate Peace Week. We talked about how peace was being kind and caring to each other.

Next week... It is Maths Week! Play lots of games! Be sure to check out the great games on the website 'ICT Games'. Our sounds will be wh/u. Our tricky words will be what and where. During maths we are adding and subtracting lots of ten plus revising adding and subtracting to ten. NZEI are holding a community meeting on Thursday night called 'Raising Successful Children' at Tahuna School. Be sure to put it in your diary. There are some fabulous guest speakers including our very own Dr. Potaka! It is still not to late to register for the 'Food for Thought' fundraiser. Check out the informative blog that Tracy has put together. It is linked to the NCS webpage. Have a happy and safe week!