State of matter.

Today we have been learning about the three states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) and the changes of matter. In this experiment we first melted the chocolate in the microwave . This meant that the chocolate changed from a solid to a liquid. Then we left it to cool down. This meant that the chocolate changed from a liquid to a solid.

Winter learning journey:Day 4 activity 1

Task:

When you arrive in the south island, Curious Kiwi rents a shuttle van and drives your group from Picton (the town where the ferry dropped you off) to a beautiful beach on the opposite side of the island. The beach area is called Golden Bay and, at one end of the bay, is a stunning area called Farewell Spit.

http://www.kiwidaydreaming.com/p/new-zealand-maps.html

Farewell Spit has been in the news recently as a number of whales accidentally swam into the spit and became stuck on the beach. They were unable to swim back to the ocean because the water was too shallow. Many local people tried to save the ‘beached’ whales. Please follow this Farewell Spit link to learn more about what happened. On your blog, describe what the local people did to try and save the beached whales.

Work:

The local people tried to help by pouring water onto the whales to keep the whales alive.

Winter learning journey - day 3 activity 2

Task:
After your great visit to the Otorohanga bird house it is time to hop back onto the bus and head towards the Hawke’s Bay – your resting place for the evening. Hawke’s Bay is a beautiful region of New Zealand. It is known for its wineries and gorgeous scenery. When you arrive in Napier, the largest city in the region, you go for a walk through Waitangi Regional Park and notice that many of the leaves on the native trees have been damaged. Curious Kiwi tells you that they were damaged by possums, non-native predators, from Australia. People in New Zealand are working hard to trap and kill these predators. Their goal is to remove all of the possums (and other predators) by 2050. Go to the ‘Predator Free 2050 website’ to read more about their work.

On your blog, tell us whether you agree that New Zealand should be predator free. In your opinion, is it right to kill all of the predators (eg. possums) or should we just leave them alone? On your blog tell us what you think and give us, at least, three reasons why you think this way.

Once you have finished your blog post, it is time to relax for the evening. You and your friends have a nice dinner and then head to bed. You are just about to fall asleep when you hear something moving around outside your hotel. It sounds like a large bird. Maybe it’s a Moa…

To learn more about the Moa bird go to the bonus activity for today!

Work:
Possums are a threat to our forests and native wildlife because Possums eat about 21,000 tonnes of leaves and flowers in just one night.  Possums carry a disease called bovine Tb (tuberculosis) which they spread to cattle. The damage done by possums costs NZ farmers about $35 million every year.

In my opinion, we need  to kill all of the predators (eg. possums).  I agree that New Zealand should be predator free because we can all see some of the facts that I have found out about the possums.

Winter learning journey:Day 3 Activity:1

Task:Curious Kiwi, a native New Zealand bird, is your tour guide for today. He is going to take you to visit the Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park where many of his aunties and uncles currently live. The bird park is a five hour drive from Dargaville so you hit the road right after breakfast and arrive in Otorohanga at lunch time. As you walk through the birdhouse you learn about the work being done to conserve and protect the native birds of New Zealand. Let’s imagine that you decide to help out by ‘adopting’ a native animal. Visit the Adopt a Critter page on the Otorohanga bird house website to choose one animal to ‘adopt.’ On your blog, tell us the name of the animal that you chose and a little bit about them. What kind of animal are they? What do they eat? Where do they normally live? You can use Google to help you with your research.

Work:

Animal I’m going to Adopt: Tuatara

Facts about the animal:

I have chosen to adopt a Tuatara because it is one of New Zealand’s most common native animal. The Tuatara is  known to be the longest reptile that lives in comparison to the remaining reptiles that lives in New Zealand. Most reptiles live on land.

Winter learning journey: Day 2 Bonus Activity

Task: When you finish your interview with Laura, you decide to keep on interviewing people. For this activity, your task is to conduct a real interview with an actual member of your family. Please ask them to think about their five (5) favourite things to do in the out-of-doors. They can be things that they enjoy doing on land or in the water. Post the list of outdoor activities on your blog.

Work:

Who I interviewed: Caroline (Sister)
What do you like inside and outside?

5 Things Outside

1. Play
2. Walking
3. Exercise
4. Go Movies
5. Shopping

5 Things Inside

1. Babysitting
2. Eating
3. Watching movies
4. Reading
5. Doing Maths problem

Winter learning journey: Day 2 Activity 2

Task: As an island nation, New Zealand is completely surrounded by water. It is the perfect place for people who like to swim or to sail! While in Dargaville, recovering from your busy day of sightseeing, you notice a number sailboats going by. One of the boats is manned by a young German girl named Laura Dekker. At the age of fourteen she sailed around the world the entire world by herself. You can watch a short video clip about her adventures here: Laura Dekker sailing trip.   

Let’s imagine that you had the chance to interview Laura while in Dargaville. On your blog post five questions that you would ask her.

Work:

Question one: Who encouraged you to become a Sailor?

Question two: If you had to give an advice to someone who wants to be like you, what advice would you give to them?

Question three: Why did you pick to become a Sailor?

Question four: Did you struggle on becoming a Sailor?

Question five: How old were you when you started you career?

Winter learning journey:Day 2 Activity:1

Task:Activity 1: After a very busy day of sightseeing you and your group drive from Tane Mahuta to your hotel in Dargaville. When you arrive you decide to sit down and record your thoughts in your travel diary.

http://www.kiwidaydreaming.com/p/new-zealand-maps.html

Before you start writing, take a minute to read more about Rangitoto island, Karekare beach and Tane Mahuta.  On your blog, tell us which of the three places you most enjoyed visiting and why.  

Work:
My favourite place was Tane Mahuta. This is my favourite place because I've been there with my school also that's where the largest known living Kauri tree is.

Winter learning journey: Bonus Activity

Task:
Last year, the Prime Minister of New Zealand suggested that we should replace the flag with a new, updated design. He invited everyone in New Zealand to come up with their own flag design and submit it.

For this activity, it is your turn to design a new flag. Use any drawing programme that you wish. I would recommend the Flag Designer website. It allows you to create a flag in three easy steps. When you are done, take a screenshot of your flag and post it on your blog. Here is an example:

Source: http://flag-designer.appspot.com

To earn full points you must describe the flag, in words, below the picture. Please tell us what is on the flag and what inspired your design.  

Work:

I chose the seven stars because it is related to the Matariki.

I chose a kiwi because we are kiwis.

I chose green for my background because it represents Nature of New Zealand.

I chose the ferns because that's the symbol that our Netball team uses.

Winter learning journey:Day 1 Activity 2

Task:
Your tour of New Zealand is going to start right here in Auckland. Watch the Tourist video for Auckland to learn about the awesome things that you can see and do in the city. Once you’ve finished, choose your favourite five activities from the video and list them on your blog.  

Work:
Sky tower - The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located at the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets in the Auckland CBD,  Auckland, New Zealand.

Rainbows End - Opened in 1982 on the site of a former skate park, the park extended its lease in 2010 for another 24 years, after five years of discussions with the former Manukau City Council.

 Auckland zoo - Auckland Zoo opened in 1922 experiencing early difficulties mainly due to animal health issues. By 1930 a sizeable collection of animals had been assembled and a zoological society formed.

Mission bay - Mission Bay is a seaside suburb of Auckland city, on the North Island of New Zealand. The beach is very popular
/


native rain forest - Rain forests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with annual rainfall in the case of tropical rain forests between 250 and 450 centimetres (98 and 177 in),[1] and definitions varying by region for temperate rain forests.