Christmas Wonderland

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! We will be back next year, blogging from a new classroom with a different look. I look forward to it. A big thank you to everyone who has read, followed or commented on the Tree of PRIDE in 2013! Have a great holiday and hope to see you sometime in 2014.

Our last post is inspired by a task set by our Twitter friends, Palmy Kids. Some of the students used Minecraft, others found their own app to create with.



Here are our Christmas Wonderlands!


Christmas Wonderland from Kieren Moriarty on Vimeo.

Year Six Break Up

Last week, the year sixes of Parkvale had their annual rock n' roll social. It is one of our finest traditions.

Looking sharp, Josh and Sam!

It really was a fantastic night! All the students looked amazing and danced with enthusiasm. The parents even got on the dance floor at the end. Congratulations to Tyler from Room 20 and Charlotte from Room 19 for winning the cup!

Hannah and Olivia have created a great little movie to share some of the fun with you...


 
Social Movie from Room16 Parkvale on Vimeo.

The Recovery of Chips

Chips on the left, Fish taking the limelight as usual

This morning we got a scare. Marcus discovered that Chips, the smaller half of the dynamic duo, Fish n' Chips was stuck and injured. I got him out from behind the pump, but things didn't look good. However, with a little TLC it seems our fishy friend is on the road to recovery. Thanks Marcus!

 
The Recovery of Chips from Room16 Parkvale on Vimeo.

Remember the PRIDE award? Good times!

Can I get back to you on that?

Today, we read the last two chapters of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos. Here are our thoughts on the book and our favourite parts. Can we get back to you on that?

 

Created with Padlet

Here is a Lego stop motion video created by an American student about the book. We have enjoyed watching this in class.

 

2013 Collage

The students have been creating collages of their 2013 year at Parkvale School. Elijah and Lily put this collage together from pictures chosen by each student from their own blogs. I think they did a great job. They even managed to include a Movember mustache! Each student chose two pictures: one of the pictures had to show their face. The collage will appear in the school magazine.

Our learning adventures continue tomorrow with the Year 6 cycling camp and the Year 5s cycling on the road for the first time! Check out the NZ Cycling Road Code and a neat safe cycling post by Room 17.

Mathletics 2013

Here are our five finalists from Room 16 for Mathletics 2013.

We were learning to use geometric designs to create a poster. It involved a lot of accurate measuring and drawing.

Create a Symmetrical Mathletics Poster:

We will know we can do this when:
 Used a ruler to accurately measure and draw all straight lines
 Our design is symmetrical (balanced) from the centre or rotated
 Any curved lines are drawn with a compass
 There are no free drawn lines
 Has Mathletics 2013 carefully drawn 
 Black and white only- (sharpie)
 All unneeded pencil lines are rubbed out. 

Joshua, Year 6

Tyrone, Year 5

Elijah, Year 5

Hannah, Year 6

Cameron, Year 5

Imaginary Cycling

We are learning about safe cycling. These pictures are not examples of safe cycling! Instead, we are using them to motivate some creative writing. Which one is your favourite? Why?

Sky Rider

My First Training Wheels

Your Turn First

Here are some entertaining sentences:

I get pushed on my way! “AHHHH you idiots!” I scream. Ben

I closed my eyes and found that my tummy was feeling a little sick. It felt as if the food and stuff inside it was floating amongst the gravity. Hemani

‘I want to ride my bike, mum,’ I said. ‘Well... ride off a cliff then,’ she replied. ‘Ok, I will then’. Zach

My tummy feels weird like its got butterflies flying around. Imaan

I waited to go to the toilet.4 minutes later. Hurry up! Hurry up!!! Come out. NOOOOO! Shivom

I hope I don’t fall down and get hurt. Emma

This is awesome! Nikitah J.

“Hey,” I say to Elijah, “Do you want to play? ‘I dare you’.” 5 minutes later... Tyrone

I knew I shouldn't of put the helium in my tyres. But there was 10 bucks on the line. Do you know how many cool things you can buy with 10 bucks? Not many, but still it’s 10 bucks. Elijah

Adrenalin rushing. I've just invented the new  MAGIC flying bike!!! Let’s GO! Zeb

“Ahhhhhhh!" I can't believe what I am going to do! Am I crazy? Nakita

I am getting there, I am trying my best to get there. Tracey

Wow this is amazing but there is one problem, how am I going to get down? Bree

I feel like I am going 100 miles per hour! Not. Hannah

I finally reach the top of the ramp, 1km above the ground, adrenaline was pumping, my heart couldn't stop beating. Inderpreet

So I take some deep breaths and say “hasta la vista, baby” as I push off. Marcus

It’s now or never! Cameron

New Trailer for Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key!

We have been reading the book Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos. It is a very special book because it is funny, moving and really makes you think. It also helps us understand the challenges that people can face.

Bree is a fantastic Joey Pigza!

Last week, Hannah, Bree, Olivia and Lily created a trailer about the book so far. I thought it was great and it really showed their creativity and how much they understood about key events in the story.

Joey pigza Swallowed The Key from Room16 Parkvale on Vimeo.

How Much Science Can You Fit Into 6 Seconds?

Watch the video below. Which experiments would you like to try? Have you got any ideas to create your own six second science video? Have a try!

 

Race a Speedboat

Goal

Can you make a paper boat race across the water just by gently touching the surface of the water?

Gently does it...

Hypothesis (What I think will happen)

Crighton: "The washing liquid will make bubbles and push the boat along the water."
Hemani: "I think that as you touch the water gently with a little dish wash on your finger the water might get a little bubbly and it might make the water push away. Just like how I wash the dishes at home. As I put the dish wash on any plate or glass the soap starts getting bubbly."
Marcus: "I think that the dishwashing liquid would make bubbles and when the bubbles pop it would let out air and then the air will push the boat."
Bree: "I think the dish washing liquid will make bubbles and the the bubble will make wave and the boat will move."

Materials

Coloured card, washing up liquid, pencil or sharpie, scissors, large container of water.

Method (What we did)

1. Drew and cut a boat shape (bird's eye view) out of the cardboard.
2. Teva: "We gently put our boats on the water, and tapped the water with washing liquid on our finger." 

Observation (What happened)

Elijah: "When we put our fingers in the water, the boats moved." 
When I did it with Room 18, the boats moved across to the other side.

Speedboat from Kieren Moriarty on Vimeo.

Conclusion (Why I think it happened)

The water surface tension is broken behind the boat. This means the surface tension is stronger in front of the boat and it pulls the boat forwards.

Short Experiment to Follow Up: Make Metal Float

Gently place a paperclip on the water’s surface.

Heavy metal?

What will happen? Will it sink or float?