The Amazing Astro-Physicist Squad

During concept time the AAPSs (Amazing Astro-Physicist Squad) were learning about planets in our Solar System. They set themselves up to represent all the planets and how far away from the sun they orbit. The sun was the gate at the far corner of the field and Neptune was on the hill by the sports shed.

We then explored the impact gravity has on us by rolling down the hill!

And then we made are our arms "weightless."

Finally, we used our Sequencing skills and sequenced the planets by distance from the sun, temperature, length of a day and size.

During concept time we tinkered to find out what we wanted to explore in more detail.

Celebration with Lights, Messages and Sculptures

Pounamu wanted to say a huge thank you for all your support during our celebration of our student's amazing work about the brain. It was so wonderful to see so many parents enjoying their awesome sculptures. 

We are particularly proud of the diversity of ideas on show. The students spent a long time learning about the brain and how they could create the best sculpture to share their message. We gave the students the opportunity to create their sculpture in the way they wanted and we think the wide variety of models proved that. Some students even learnt how to use Google Docs so they could create their own message boards - now that's ownership!

A fantastic effort from all students and there was a lot of fun on the way! :)

Luma

This is the video made by Alfie, Ollie and Phoenix that was in the brain box at Luma. Here are some other photos;

Being a Scientist

This term we are going to become Scientists. During Week 1 we explored some of the skills a Scientist needs. In these photos we are Observing and Sequencing.

Having decided on the order (sequence) we had to carry out the experiment. We made milk move!

Welcome Back to Term 2!

What an awesome start to the term. The Pounamu students have arrived full of enthusiasm and a thirst for learning! We have been particularly impressed how they have quickly returned back to great learning habits of making good choices of where they sit and who they sit with. 

We have introduced our new concept for this term, Undiscovered.  The students have been discussing lots of different topics and decided whether they felt they were discovered or undiscovered. We want to explore the areas of undiscovered which interests them and we were surprised by their choices. The areas they want to explore are space, under the sea, shadows and, in particular, bacteria! Yikes, I think the mentors are going to learn a lot too! :)