Drum Workshop

Last Friday we had a special visitor come to our school where the whole Middle Syndicate spent a whole hour singing and clapping and beating our drums. Check out some of our sense descriptions about what we saw, heard and felt.

I saw drums in big metal bars, Johnny who told us how to use the drums and my red and numb hands.

I heard very loud drums,

music to play the drums and people shouting.

I felt mad because my hand was hurt and  happy because Johnny told us the Senior’s tune.

- Dawei

I saw wooden drums and the middle syndicate playing drums.

I heard banging drums and loud clapping.

I felt very nervous because lots of people were there.

- Luke

I saw lots of children beating the bass.

I heard the drums beating different beats.

I felt the hard skin covering the African drums.

- Riyan

I saw lots of people playing very loud drums.

I heard people screaming and shouting really loud.

I felt confused because Jonny was making different beats

- Ivan

I saw lots of people beating drums.

I heard people doing the drums.

I felt happy because it was very nice.

- Anica 

I saw kids playing drums.

I heard drum sounds and they were really loud.

I felt my hands and they were sore.

- Petelo

Swimming Carnival

A few weeks ago we had our Middle Syndicate Swimming Carnival. It was a fantastic day and the swimmers did really well so we wanted to document this event. We had already done recounts before which meant that this time we could step up our writing a bit more. We focused on using our senses so that our audience - YOU! - would be interested and would really understand what it felt, looked or sounded like for us. Enjoy reading some of our recounts. See if you can imagine what it was like.

Waiting in line for our turn to swim

The Swimming Carnival

I was nervous because the Middle’s swimming carnival had started. We were all very excited and were all cheering for our friends. It was very exciting and I felt nervous. The winners had to stand at the other side for people to clap their hands for them. When it was my turn I slid into the pool. The water was warmer than the spa. My first race was freestyle and arm stroke. I was the first one to win. My second race was backstroke with arm circles. I was first again. The last race was dolphin dives. Guess what! I was the first again. At the end of the swimming carnival I felt very happy because I always won.

- By Larry

Getting ready

The Swimming Carnival

I was so excited and proud on the 7^th of March as it was the Swimming Carnival. All the middles were excited and I felt strong. I splashed and swam as fast as I could. As I turned my head to breathe, I saw kids and parents cheering. My hand touched the wall and I stood up. I came 1^st place. I felt so strong. I went to the the next round. I came first too but with Smrithi. Swimming in the Swimming Carnival was like saying thanks to the swimming instructors for everything. It was amazing and I loved it so much because I like being in the water.

- By Zara

And off down the lane!

The Swimming Carnival

I was so excited the day had begun. On the 7^th of March it was the swimming carnival. We got changed and we jumped in the swimming pool. The water was warm like bath water. As I put the noodle behind my back I kicked off and I was the first one back. The next race was kicking backwards with a board. I found it easy because I had practised. The swimming carnival was so amazing because it was easy.

-      By Prisha

Standing at the end of our race being cheered

The Swimming Carnival

I was very nervous when I sat at the bench at the Swimming Carnival. I was excited. I felt cold because the wind was blowing on me. When I jumped in the pool I felt like I had jumped into a puddle of ice. When I was getting ready for my race, I splashed inside to keep warm. I liked it when I got up after the race and everybody was cheering. I jumped out and I sat on the wet bench. I wiped myself with my grey towel. I was shivering. I heard Miss Rodger call out my next race and start it by clapping the starter. It was loud so I swam as fast as I could. I was the third one. I got up and helped the teacher get the board that I was using. I retuned to the bench and my damp towel. I enjoyed the Swimming Carnival so I could get better at swimming.

 - By Ivy 

Wrapping up in between our races

The Swimming Carnival

On the 7th March it was the swimming carnival and all of the classes were there and Miss Rodger had the clapper.Then Mrs Roding wrote on everybody’s hands Then Miss Rodger said my number. I hopped in and it was freezing cold so I swam faster to get warmer. I won the first round. The next race was dolphin diving.  Found the dolphin dive hard but I enjoyed it. The final round was hugging a board and kicking backwards. I liked it because I got to lie down on my back. The swimming carnival was fantastic because it had different events.

- By Oliver

Save Our Trees!

This is the last week of our Inquiry Unit about our Natural Bush and Trees. 

This week we looked at how much we use trees and what are some of the dangers that trees face. 

We watched some pretty eye opening videos about some of the things our trees face - both in New Zealand and around the world. You can check them out here: 

Pests

Kauri Dieback

Deforestation 

We then talked about some of the things we could do help protect them and created posters - with recycled paper. of course. Check out some of our posters - what can YOU do to help our trees? 

Ways kids can help

Buddy Class Art

In connection to our inquiry, on Friday we had our buddy class come to do a special art project. We collected leaves and made different creatures that we might see in the bush. We love working with our buddy class! 

List Poems

This week we have been looking at List Poems - which are made with rhyming, commas, a little bit of silliness and a lot of funniness.

Here are some of the list poems we looked at this week. Enjoy and have a laugh just like we did! The last one 'That explains it!' Is one of the poems we used as inspiration for our list poems.

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/bleezers-ice-cream

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/sick

http://www.poetry4kids.com/poems/my-lunch/

http://www.poetry4kids.com/poems/that-explains-it/

That explains it!

I went to the doctor he x-rayed my head

he stared for a moment and here’s what he said

‘’ It looks like you’ve got a, barrel in there

an xbox, an airplane, a peach,a pear,

And also an ape, an arrow, a shoe,

An old pair of sunglasses, and some fake doggy doo,

A t-shirt, some shorts, a table and chairs,

Some salmon, a camora,some old underwear,

A penny, a pencil, pen,

A hairy canary, a hammer, hen,
an oven, a bomb, and a duck,

A missile, a bicycle, a truck

With all that junk that you have in your head

it’s kind of amazing you got out of bed!”

- By Will

I went to the doctor,

he x-rayed my head.

He stared for a moment

and here’s what he said.

“It looks like you’ve got a peanut in there,

an castle, a dinosaur, a pirate, a pear.

I also see something that looks like a shoe,
some maids in a kitchen and a fake tea do,

a crayon, a leaf, some pencils, a chair,

a potato, a mat, some old underwear,

a paper, a scraper, some bottles, a pen,

a triangle, a window,a small baby hen,

some tigers, a plier, a person, a duck,

a bag, and a big red truck.

With all of the junk inside of your head,

It’s kind of amazing you could get out of bed!

- By Smrithi