What is Culture?

We have a new topic this term. We are learning to explore and communicate through the arts. To do this we are learning about different cultural practises. We will be appreciating the arts of other cultures as well as our own. Yesterday, we asked "what is culture?". After lots of discussion and a little research, our learning buddies came up with these suggestions.
 

Created with Padlet

Wildebeest Writing

Yesterday we used this animated video as a writing prompt.

We discussed ideas about the structure of the story.

There was a lot of direct speech coming through in our writing, so we had a mini-lesson on punctuating direct speech.

The students' writing is very entertaining so far. Many have chosen to completely change the characters. Look out for their presented writing on the student blogs (links on the right).

Holiday Toontastic Fun

Estelle and Abby created this amusing animation on Toontastic.  Iris was watching them closely. What creative things might you do in the holidays?

Book Character Day

The Book Characters from Kieren Moriarty on Vimeo.

Today is Book Character Day! Check out the great trailer Hannah and Lily made, showcasing the characters in Room 16. We sure like to dress up!

A Digital Classroom

A Digital Classroom from Kieren Moriarty on Vimeo.

Room 16 talk about one thing they like about being in a one to one computer classroom. Learn, create, share!

The Alaskan Adventure

Mr Simon Evans taught the class the other day, while I was learning and sharing with enthusiastic teachers and the "rich kids" in our ICT group at Richmond School. He guided them through the fantastic shared writing activity which produced this story. As he messaged me on the day "Collaborative writing in real time. You should hear the discussion as they type." I have put it together into an e-book using the students' illustrations. Please read Room 16's adventure story!

Here are Simon's rules of participation:

• Stay in your own chapter area
• Work together with your group
• Make constructive comment when you need to
• Check the language you use
• Leave the SHARE option alone

Room 16, A Ship of Friends

Earlier in the term, Room 16 created topic art based on friendship. Some students found excellent friendship quotes through  research, some created their own quote or used a quote from their reading. The art lesson was inspired by this site and is based on the artwork Over and Above, by Clarence Carter. 

I finally got around to finishing this video about the artwork. I am proud of it because I have learnt and practised some new techniques using the iMovie app on our iPad, including creating my own music on GarageBand. I was lucky to be in a lesson by the fantastic music teacher, Ieremia at Richmond School. Afterwards, I tried the techniques he taught us, until it sounded okay.

The students' artworks look fantastic on the wall together. I love the idea of us all learning to be friends together as a class, celebrating our differences and helping each other grow as individuals. When things go wrong, the artwork on the wall reminds us how we can fix it and get it right.

Ship Of Friends from Kieren Moriarty on Vimeo.