Our Special American Penpals

Today Room 1 received a special package from America.  Mrs Stokes and her class sent us some goodies... 
We were sent a Rainbow Gecko, two school t-shirts, lots of lollies, stickers, pencils and some American coins.  The gecko is a mascot for Mrs Stokes school, that's why we have a gecko on the t-shirts and why we were sent a beanie gecko!
Room 1 sent some goodies to our American class too... we hope that they get them soon!

Big Brown Bear

The b focus continued today with Room 1 watching our Berenstein Bear video and then doing a b balloon.  Mrs G took our photo and after we had printed these off, we were able to finish our display... it looks awesome!!!!!  Come and have a look :-)

The Berenstains' B Book - Read Me A Story

We have been focusing on the difference between b and d... it can be confusing! Today we learnt about how our hands can help - ask your child to show you! We're also going to blow bubbles like big brown bear, blue bull and beautiful balloon on Friday - check out this awesome Bb story!
                 

Elmo Doesn't Give Up Song

Whole School Photo Day

Today was the whole school photo day.  Every classroom came out onto the front concrete space and made class lines across the quad.  Nigel the photographer had to stand on the roof of the school to fit us all in... 

Koru Day

Today we enjoyed creating pastel koru designs.  We talked about hot and cold colours and which colours work well together.  Here are some of us arranging our koru like a puzzle on the floor and the finished design on the wall :)

Making Popcorn

Today we made popcorn. We enjoyed listening to a fun popcorn song on You Tube, we read "Pop Pop Pop" as a class together and we also shared a popcorn poem. Here is the clip and our popcorn art!

Safe Sparks Programme

Today Bob from Unison came to talk to us about staying safe around electricity.  We learnt what we should do if we ever found a damaged electrical box, how to ring Unison to let them know if there are any problems (08002UNISON) and also how to identify by number, a power pole!  We even dressed up in a uniform... it was a little big!!!!!!

Olden Day Bits and Pieces

Mrs Perry kindly lent us some olden day kitchen things... we had a look at them, played with them and tried to figure out what their jobs were.  How would you go?

Our Door to Room 1

Next time you are in Room's 1's cloakbay, you will have to check out the art work we created together today (Mrs G got the idea off Pinterest!)...
We used hands to collectively create a super poster for our door.  We were really proud of our efforts!

Our Poem Today

We enjoyed singing A, E, I, O, U today.  After reading it together and then singing it, we all glued a copy in our Poetry book and drew a picture to go with the words.

Sophie's Last Day

Today was Sophie's last day at Mahora School.  We will really miss her lovely, smiley face in Room 1. We all had a yummy piece of chocolate cake at morning tea time and also shared a photo and soft toy with Sophie.
Here is a story that she wrote today at writing time...

Inquiry Focus

We have been looking at how things have changed over time.  Today we looked at how transport has changed, from horse and buggy to cars, and how planes, boats and trains have evolved.  Some of us have also been bringing along things from home.  
Here are two things that were shared with us.  We finally found out that the box was in fact an old cat cage and the scales were probably used for weighing money... very interesting stuff!

New Maths Activities

Check out our new maths links down the side of our blog.  Click on the sites and enjoy the learning!  Have fun :-)

A Visit from Puppies

The A & P Show

We had the best time today... all of the Junior Team went to the A & P Show.  We left school at 10am and travelled by bus.  When we got there, we split into our groups with our adults and then we were allowed to go anywhere and see anything!  There were animals, tractors, speedway cars, magic shows, puppets, putt-putt, photo booths, horse-jumping, insects, birds... SO MUCH TO SEE!
We had an absolute ball!
Thank you to all of the amazing whanau that came along with us... you made the day extra special :-)

Room 1 eating our morning tea

Mama pig and her piglets

Trying to milk the cow

Gorgeous chicks

Holding a weta

Focus on the blend 'fl'

Today for Reading we read "Huggles in School".  We then focused on the blend "fl".  Here are the beautiful collage flowers we made :-)

We Love Our New Classroom!

Today at Writing time we wrote about what we liked in our new classroom.  Here are some of our stories - 

I like the TV in our new classroom.  It looks awesome and we get to learn.  I like our whiteboard table.

By Alize

I like the couch.  I like the writing table.  The couch is comfortable.  I like the new room.  I like the butterflies.  I like the pictures.

By Jamie-Lee

I like the whiteboard table so much in the classroom.  We get to draw and write.  It is so good.

By Logan

I like the writing table.  I like the butterflies.  They are pretty.

By Bailey-May

I like the writing table and I like the couch.  It is soft.

By Eternity

I love the couch and the clock and butterflies.

By Elena

I like the window shades.  I like the couch.  It has sun.  I like the sun.  I like the magic tree.  I see the magic tree climbing the stairs.

By Caleb

Day One of Term 4

Welcome back to all children and whanau!  We had an awesome first day in our brand new classroom ... we love the new learning space, and our learning today was...

RIGHT UP THERE!

Jynav brought back his holiday diary today.  He sounds like he had an awesome time over the two week break.  Check out this super holiday writing - 

Sorting out the Furniture

Hi Room 1... I hope that you are having an awesome holiday!
Today I went into school and started moving around all of our lovely furniture, getting ready for Term 4.  I had lots of fun with our new tables, as you can put them all together or pull them apart.  We also have a brand new teacher table, which is a whiteboard as well.  Aren't we super lucky!
Here are some photos of our room so far!

Thank You to Room 1 Children and Whanau

Cool Flash Comments

Check out Room 1

WOW!!!  Look at Room 1...
Our classroom is now finished and we have lovely blue and green walls!  Today our new furniture arrived and all of Room 1's bit and pieces were moved back into the room, ready to be sorted out...
Check out the photos...
Make sure you regularly check the blog so that you can see the progress being made in our lovely new room over the holidays :)

Look at our lovely green wall

Some of our furniture

Heading upstairs - blue walls here!

Visit to Cornwall Park

Whanau Day on PhotoPeach

Rap-unzel

This afternoon we went to a show called "Rap-unzel".  It was very, very funny.  There were only three people who played all of the characters in the show.  Room 1 got to sit right near the front.  The story was a modern day version of the original Rapunzel, but with a lot more music!  We really enjoyed it :-)

The Ranfurly Shield Visits Mahora School

Today we had special visitors to Mahora School.  Gareth Evans who plays for the Magpies, along with Simon Tremain, brought the Ranfurly Shield for a visit.  All of Mahora School dressed in white and black to celebrate this occasion... our class also got to have a photo taken with the shield.  How exciting! 

Maths This Week

This week you can help your child at home with their Maths learning by focusing on - 

• doubles to 10 - help your child to know the answer to 1 + 1 = 2,  2 + 2 = 4,  3 + 3 = 6,  4 + 4 = 8,  5 + 5 = 10 instantly - that is, without having to work it out.  If they know these, focus on doubles to 20.
• ordering numbers to 10 - e.g.) put 5 2 8 3 9 in order from the smallest to the biggest.  If they know how to do this, try ordering numbers to 20.

Here are two website links that can help your child with both of these knowledge steps.

Doubles to 10

Robin Hood Doubles

Monkey Ordering

Caterpillar Ordering

Have fun!

Focus on Fractions

This week we have been learning to find half of a shape and a quarter of shape.  We now know that it needs to be an equal share and that it has to be fair!
Here is a page of shapes that we cut into quarters...

Puppet Pal Fun

Today Room 1 and 2 had an afternoon of discovery.  In pairs, we explored the app Puppet Pals.  We had lots of fun discovering how to add characters and select backgrounds.  

Thank you to ALL the Fabulous Helpers!

Over the four shows, including three nights of our School Production "Colour My World", we had some 

A  M  A  Z  I  N  G 

Mums, Dads, Nans and sisters who gave up their time to help us in Pop Up Room 1 and 2.
Thank you too, to our lovely Mum who brought along rice crackles for the final night - YUMMY YUM YUM!

THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH!  WE REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR SUPPORT!

After the Show was Over...

Today we had a quiet day in Pop Up Room 1 and 2 after a HUGE week doing "Colour My World".  We were super lucky too as we all got a balloon from the show, filled with helium.  Here we are with our balloons, having fun!

Colour My World

Little White Duck on PhotoPeach

It's Show time!!!!!