Electronics Technology

In technology this term we have been making Emergency Lights. For the front of our Emergency Light we had to choose a disney character to go on the front of our light. As I love cats so much, I chose to do Cheshire Cat. After that, we had to choose three key attributes for making our light. Mine were Parallel Circuit, Bright Lights and Portable. We then had to write why and how the key attributes help when making the light. After that we started making it. We had to drill holes where we wanted our LEDs to be. Then, we had to start making our parallel circuit with the LEDs.
*Many Soldering Burns Later*
After we finished making the circuit with the soldering iron, we needed to connect the 9 volt battery to the circuit. Soon enough, my Emergency Light started working.
Electronics Technology was really fun and I really liked making the Emergency Light, though next time I won't put the LEDs so close to the edge.

Electronics

Conceptual Statement: I am going to design and make an emergency light. I will be able to have it in my bedroom ready for when the power goes out.

Materials Technology - USB Stick

In Hard Technology this term we were making USB Sticks. I decided to make one for myself and do it in the shape of a cat and base it off my own cat. This is the process I went through in designing my USB Drive.

Timbernook

Savage Tree-Snakes

Yesterday our class went on a trip to Timbernook at Stoney Creek Ranch in Maraekakaho. We went there because of our inquiry this term, Healthy Body, Strong Mind. So yesterday morning before 8:45 we got on a bus and drove a half-hour trip to Stoney Creek Ranch. When we arrived we met our hosts, Wacky Wendy, Jokey Jane and Troublesome Tracy. We were then split into three groups. I was in a group with Rebecca, Sophi, Isla, Jack, Jarvis, Oliver, Mekhi, Casey and Cayden. We then got to choose our names. The other groups were called Appletree Shovelers and the Nature Birds. Our group was called the Savage Tree-Snakes. ( Which I

One of the activites

personally thought was the best group ) After this we had to make a group sound and movement. The Savage Tree-Snakes move was a hissing sound. We would then act like a wiggly worm ( It didn't look like a snake... ) and we then would do the sprinkler like the snakes were spitting poison. We would then go HOYYA, and do a karate kick. It was really funny because we would keep on laughing and some of us even fell over! We then did some activities such as built a human body using things we found around Timbernook. (Hay, Stones, Pine Cones, Poles etc ) We also did other activities like passing a hoola-hoop through the group still touching the people next to you as fast as we could. The Savage Tree-Snakes won, of course. I guess we were kinda cheating because of the fact we had less people than everyone else. We also got to cook marshmallows and have some free time, which was spent by me watching people swing off a rope and jump in the mud.

Calvin & Tom after jumping in the mud!

Materials Technology - Key Tags

In Hard Technology this term we were making Key Tags for a person of our choice. I decided to make one for my mum and do it in the shape of an owl as it is one of her favourite animals. This is the process I went through in designing my Key Tag.

Electives

For 3 terms a year at HNI we get to do electives. This term I got to do Flipout. For this elective, every friday a group of 40 kids get to go by bus to flipout. We get to learn how to do flips, backflips, round offs etc.

Redskin Persuasive Writing

Mr Billings asked us to write a persuasive about why we deserve redskins. He promised that the best persuasives got some! I know that he is only doing this so we try do one of our best pieces of writing but still, I want redskins! Here is my work.

Introduction

Redskins are yummy treats. We all love redskins. But Mr Billings is eating them all himself! I want redskins! But I only get fed brussel sprouts at home so the only treats I get are at school. Now I have the opportunity to get some redskins. So I am going to do the best persuasive story ever to get Mr B to give me some. Everyone should love redskins. These are some reasons why I should be allowed some.

Point 1

Redskins are sugary treats that everybody enjoys. But if you have never tried one then you’re missing out. Redskins are as yummy as… redskins? See? They are so tasty I am saying they are as tasty as redskins. Which is true because they are redskins… and they are as tasty as redskins. I want redskins! I haven’t had redskins in a whole term! ( If you call how long it has been since the end of term one a whole term ) Also, when I bought five redskins in the auction I gave three away! And then I gave the other one to my brother. So I bought five redskins and only got one. I miss the sweet taste of redskins!

Point 2

If I don’t get a redskin within next week then I will die! You wouldn’t want that, would you? I’m sure that other people are exaggerating like I am, but I have lots to give! In fact, you are bribing me to write this. So it is quite unfair if I exaggerate and I don’t get redskins. But I swear on my life ( literally on my life, because if I don’t get one in within next week then I will loose my life… ) that I will die if I don’t get one.

Point 3

If my last two points didn’t persuade you then I guess I will have to beg you… PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN I HAVE SOME REDSKINS? I am starving because I don’t eat the brussel sprouts my parents give me. Who would want to eat brussel sprouts anyway, I mean seriously, eat brussel sprouts? Gross. I really would appreciate it if you decided to give me some redskins. Seriously.

Summary / Conclusion

If my points didn’t persuade you then I guess I’m out of luck… At least I tried. Those were the the reasons I want a redskins. I’m actually serious about the death thing… Seriously. I would really like it if you gave me some redskins. Thanks for reading my persuasive which may or may not have persuaded you to give me redskins. Seriously. Thanks. But I am actually really serious about the death thing. So please consider the redskins.

( I am not actually serious about the death thing… But please can I have a redskin or two... or three… or a whole packet of them! )  

Monday Mornings

Monday Mornings is story about a person called Josh Millar. Josh Millar hates to get up in the mornings - especially Monday mornings. In this story it is talking about what Josh Millar does when he gets up in the morning. At the end of the story, Josh stands up and says to the class, "Good morning boys and girls."
And then the other kids reply, "good morning Mr Millar."

What does the author do to make Josh seem like a boy?
1. Wants to throw his alarm clock.
Not very mature
2. Took his lunchbox and grabbed his school jacket.
Only kids usually have school jackets
3. Eating chocolate in the morning
Adults don't eat chocolate in the morning.
4. "Josh Millar has scored"
Plays soccer. Kids play soccer.
5. Smashed a window and runs away
Not very mature
6. Walks to school
Teachers take cars
7. Victory dance.
Not very adult thing to do.

Class Licenses

In class this term we have started this thing called licenses. These licenses give us the right to move around the class. The first level, which everyone is on because we have only had it for a few days, is the Learner License. In the learner license we have to stay at our desk. We are not allowed to move from our desk while we are supposed to be doing our work. The next level up is Restricted License. In Restricted License we are allowed to move from our desk, but only if the teacher approves. The third license up is the Full License. In this license we are allowed to move around the room freely without needing to ask anyone. ( You can't just go and plonk yourself down on the person who sits next to your best friend and just carry on with your work... that would be rude! ) But the highest and best licence is Passport. If you get to Passport, you can move around the class without needing to ask ( just like Full License ) but with Passport, if you ask the teacher, they might let you work outside ( close to Sheppard ) but near the class. So far nobody in the class has moved up once, but I bet that in a few weeks loads of people will have moved up.

Character Trait Description

Over the past few weeks for writing we have been focusing on character traits. Mr Billings set a task for us on character traits, when we had to describe three emotions - happy, angry and an emotion of our choice. Here are mine:

ANGER

His eyes blazed. His friend had lost another rugby ball! This time he had taken it too far. “Umm… You ok?” His friend had said. No, of course not! You lost my favourite rugby ball! I just stared at him. I clenched my fists and picked up a rock. I glared at him and turned away. Lifting up my arm, I threw the rock at the wall. My friend winced behind me. “I need to go, but… I found the ball…” He placed something on the ground and ran off. I didn’t turn around until I was sure he was gone. When I did, my face went stony. I turned around again and picked up my rugby ball. It was flat. And broken. And I didn’t know what to say. I was just too mad to know.

Happiness

Jessica smiled her cheesy smile as she skipped down the pavement. She reached her arms out and hugged a tree. Nothing could get her down. Today, she was getting a kitten! She laughed. “Today is the day!” She sang. She jumped into her mums car and they drove to the pet store. As they strolled down the many isles of cats, she finally stopped at a grey and white fluffy kitten. Her smile grew from one ear to the other.  “This one!” Jessica announced. She and her new kitten were inseparable. Nothing could tear them apart.
Jovially

Perry smiled cheerfully as he opened the door for his teacher. “Thank you Perry! You are a very kind boy,” she would say every morning when he opened the door for her.

Perry would reply, “the pleasure is all mine!” He would then follow her into the class and help her carry things. Perry is a very friendly boy. He had lots of friends and was very perky. He would always try hard during class, and he had tons of gold stars! He would always help. He would return money to people, open doors, carry things, clean things and many more.

Catapults

Lately we have been making catapults. We originally wanted to do something with the catapults that I am not allowed to mention, ( When I say that I mean try them out on Hillary ) but instead we decided to measure the distance our catapults can go. We had to fire two different coloured beads, a stone and one other object. We needed to measure them in metres and centimetres. After we finished measuring, Mr Billings said we needed to make a graph on Google Sheets about how far the objects went, converting it into centimetres. Here is how my Graph turned out.

House Design

As part of our aim in maths, measurement, Mr Billings set us a task. We had to design a house! He shared a doc with us that showed the minimum of what we had to have in our house:

1 Living room  

1 dining room

1 Kitchen

1 bathroom

1 laundry

2 bedrooms

A hallway of some sort to join rooms together.


After we drew it out on a draft we drew it out on a piece of gridded paper. We showed our working out on another piece of paper. We finally had to work out the final area of our house. It was really fun, though it took a few weeks to make! Mr Billings also set another challenge for us -  to use triangles! Just to make it easier for us, he taught us how to work out the area of a triangle. But the biggest challenge
he set, which was for the very good mathematicians, was to use circles! As much as I would love to learn how to work out the area of a circle, I don't think I would like to learn it just yet.

The Great NZ Road trip!

Lately in Room 11 we have been working on our inquiry - The Great New Zealand Road Trip. We could choose one New Zealand Tourist Attraction. It was either Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, Napier Art Deco, Cape Kidnappers, Rotorua, or the Weta Workshop. You could also choose something else with Mr Billing's permission.  I chose Waitomo Caves. Next we did Flora and Fauna, when we had to choose and endemic ( Meaning only in one place ) animal or plant of New Zealand. I chose a Grey Warbler. The week after that, we had to do one about NZ History. We could choose between Pink & White Terraces, New Zealand Wars, Cape Kidnappers and ANZAC day. I chose to do Pink & White terraces, which I am still finishing.

Art

Lately in room 11 we have been working on some art. It has been really fun and I really enjoyed this.
Here are some photos of my art. For my first piece of art, we drew something kiwiana on a white piece of paper. Then we sellotaped a piece of black paper behind it. Then, using the sharp end of a compass we poked holes over our drawing. Then we cut the sellotape off and stuck the black piece of paper on the window. When the sun is out, light  shines through the holes in the paper and you can see our art.

My stabby art of a Pohutukawa leaf:

My sketch of me:

My emoji art:

My acrostic poem:

Mihi

Lately we have been working on our Mihi. We made them on google drawing, so we could add images of our river and mountain. These Mihi are about our Mountain, Te Mata Peak, and our river, Tukituki. They are also about our Whanau.