India and New Zealand

After learning all about different countries, we then compared them to New Zealand. We worked in pairs and small groups to look at the similarities and differences - and at what makes each country so special.

Here are some of our comparisons between New Zealand and India. Veronica joined our class around this time and wrote an amazing comparison between New Zealand and China. Enjoy! 

Maddox, Ayden and Luke

Prisha, Ivy, Anica

Ivan, Riyan

Our Art!

This term we have done lots of art using nature and trees as our inspiration. Have a look at some of our masterpieces - and then come check out our gallery in our cloakroom. 

We love drums, We love drums, We love drums, drums, drums!

After our amazing drum experience we have been looking at how music and drums have and still impact our society. We have been researching drums and have even had the chance to make our own.

This week we took our drums and we practised making beats - some that we have learned in class, some we learned at our Drum Experience and some we made up! Check out some of our videos of our beats

Will, Blaze, Maddox, Ayden

Eve, Zara, Smrithi, Anica

Breanna, Mone, Ivy

Mika, Anne, Hiroto, Sophia

Ayla, Molly, Prisha

Ivan, Felix 

Dawei, Riyan, Kaleb 

Larry, Luke 

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

Swimming Inspiration

For the last few weeks we have been having swimming lessons with Skills4Life. We have 3 sessions a week and it is an important and exciting part of our curriculum. Because of this we have been using it as inspiration for a lot of our writing. We have written recounts, sense poems, learning logs etc. Enjoy some of our writing about our experiences in the pool!

For the last four weeks we have been taking swimming lessons from Skills for Life. Something I enjoyed was kicking, bubbling, arm circles and the rings. The kicking was splashy, the water went everywhere! The arm circles felt like a whirlpool.

When I first got in it was cold but then I got used to it, then it was warm. Then I got hiccups because I stayed in too long.

It was so fun !

- By Ivy

I see children playing in the pool.

I hear children shouting.

I feel the waves coming over me.

I taste the water, it tastes like salt.

I smell dirty water.

- by Sophia

It looks like prison gates as you walk in. 

It sounds quiet while you are under the water. 

The hot sun feels burning on my back. 

It tastes like disgusting chlorine on my tongue. 

The changing room smells like old pee. 

- By Maddox 

The water in the pool looks like blue jelly swimming in the water. 

In the pool it sounds like silly monkeys splashing in the water. 

It feels like bouncing on yummy jelly. 

It tastes like chilly water in the pool coming into our mouths. 

It smells like smelly togs. 

- By Ivan 

'Splish, Splash!'The pool was so cold! 

It was Wednesday the 7th of February and it in the Sunnybrae School pool. I went with Room 17 and Miss Roding and the swimming instructors. 

We lined up and did our arm strokes. That is how the swimming instructors put us into groups. We did bubble breathing, back stroke and other things that were so much fun. At the end we did the plastic rings. Our instructors threw the rings and we had to dive under to find them. After we hopped out and put on our towels , we went in the changing rooms to get dressed. Then we came out and went to morning tea. I had a great time with our swimming instructors. 

- By Breanna

Brr, it’s so cold in here! On Wednesday the 7 of February in the morning 10:30 am we did our first swimming lesson! There was Miss Roding, me, Room 17 and the instructors. We went to the school pool to go swimming so that we could learn how to swim. First  we lined up and went to the school swimming pool. Next we got changed and lined up on the side of the pool so that we could go and do our assessment . After we did our assessment we got into our groups and they taught us things like: arm circles, dive for rings and much more! When we left we got changed back into our school uniforms, and went back to class for morning tea. This was room 17s first swimming lesson.

- By Smrithi