Our first SHIELD CHALLENGE v Room 10

What an exciting game! Great sportman/womenship, some good skills, lots of encouraging and getting as many team mates up on the bench was what the shield challenge was all about today. What was your highlight - leave a comment below.

Science Fair Idea Conferences

Next week we will start our Science Fair Log books (inquiry 2 clearfiles).   It is great to hear that some of you have a couple of ideas up your sleeve. Tomorrow I will start conferencing with you (I will have spoken to each of you by next Friday) - the questions I will ask you during the conferences are the following...
* Is there science behind your idea? (or is it more a maths investigation?)
* What is the science behind your topic? (roughly - of course you'll do research later in your science fair inquiry.)
* How are you going to measure your results?
* What is the aim - why do you want to investigate it?
What are your science fair ideas? Post a comment below.

Simple, Compound and Complex sentences

Just in case you need a helpful reminder. Today we looked at three types of sentences - Simple, Compound and Complex. Here is an example of each type to help you with your spelling sentence homework.

Simple - Tony and Caleb were the first to call bingo.  
Compound - A compound sentence has two ideas and a simple sentence only has one.  
Complex - Since we have a Shield Challenge on Friday, we need to practice our large ball skills.

A complex sentence has one independent clause/idea (something that makes sense on it's own) and also a dependent clause/idea (doesn't make sense on it's own, needs another clause with it).

Great first day back today Room 24

Well, what a busy day!
 * We had our first shield challenge request from Room 10. So get out there and practice your large ball skills ready for Friday!
* We learnt a lot from four marvelous ASPIRE presentations! Well done Jamie who presented an interesting powerpoint on clothing, Angus had prepared a well organised speech and taught us a lot about how splitting the atom has shaped New Zealand and the world, Sophie who very creatively (via a washing line) explained how Johnie Jones has shaped Otago and her own family and we finished with Caleb who presented a poster on how farming has shaped New Zealand. What a start! I can't wait to hear more of them tomorrow. Remember to also organise your folder so I can see the process behind your presentation.
* Maths we looked at measurement. Remember to change your digital watches and/or cellphones to 24 hour time. (We are operating in army time this week!) Great start Room 24! We're going to have a great term!!!

Science Fair Term 2

Yahoo, Science Fair next term! Here are a few of the goodies over the last couple of years to inspire you. Have a think about it over the holidays - we will talk more about it in Week 1 Term 2.

The Freshman Shield

The Year 7 students have been competing in a small ball skills tournament. It has been great fun! All teams played 9 games involving - speed, skill and accuracy with a small ball. Mrs Tasi-Cordtz announced the shield winner today.... Yahoo Room 24!

Easter Egg Hunting on Balmacewen Heights

Fred - really searching in the 'small bush'...  What was your best clue?

What's happening in ASPIRE this week and over the holidays...

Great work Room 24 - you are on target to present what you have found out about your topics straight after the holidays!
Most students have:
* Arranged their interviews.  Some students have already had their interviews.
* Gathered and sorted through their background information.
* Answered all their questions.
* Can now answer the BIG question - 'How are we shaped by our past?'
What's on for this week:
1. Complile all your information, notes, photos, interview questions etc into your ASPIRE folder. (Remember you need to show the process behind your learning - marks are given for your questions, sorting (highlighting keywords), planning etc.
2. Plan how you are going to share your learning. Check the first page of your ASPIRE for ideas. We have also brainstormed these in class.
3. Remember to turn your questions into paragraphs. We have talked about this in class. Ask me if you aren't sure what to do.
4. Be ready to present your learning in class the first week back after the holidays. Some students have indicated they will be ready before the holidays - this is great!
5. If you choose to present via powerpoint - we will discuss this is class -use bullet points.
Yahoo! I enjoy hearing what you present to the class - we learn a lot of interesting things.
If you are having difficulties - it is really important that you come and chat to me. I'm here to help but you must come and talk to me, to let me know.
If you are not up to this stage yet - check the post below to get yourself up to date.

ASPIRE UPDATE - what should have happened so far...

In class last week we reviewed how to sort your information. (If have forgotten - we learnt about it when we highlighted keywords in the Early Maori task.) Most students had accumulated some background information. If you haven't done this then make sure you get it sorted tonight.
A reminder on how to sort through your information...
* Using the information you have collected and armed with a highlighter and pencil you need to read through the information and highlight information that helps answer your research questions.
* You will need to have your research questions out in front of you when reading through the information so you know what you are looking for.
* We also reminded ourselves about writing a note alongside the highlighted information so when you look back over your notes you know what question it helps to answer.
* Be careful not to over highlight.

Your weekend homework task was to organise a time for your oral interview. Make sure you have contacted your interviewee and arranged a time.