A Tangi (Funeral) by Hone Year 4

On a Saturday a long time ago my Uncle Frank died. His son and daughter rang us up and told us he had a heart attack.
My mum and Nana felt sad. I didn't know him but he was really close to us. When we went to his Tangi, we had to kiss my uncle. His face felt like spongebob! He felt cold.
It was the scariest experience of my life.

by Hone ~ Year 4

A Tangi (Funeral) by Ngaio ~ Year 3

Last year my dad's mum died at the hospital while she was having a smoke. We were all in her room at the hospital. She was in Room 42. While she was having her smoke, she just collapsed on the floor. My dad was the first to see her lying on the floor. We were all devastated but we said she has gone to a special place now. She died at 1:30pm and at 4:00pm we buried her at Waimanna. My dad said good things about her and that she was a good mother to him. Then we went to the Marae to have a feed. That was a sad day for me and my whole family.


by Ngaio ~ Year 3

Write an explanation for a Robotic Toy of the Future

My robotic toy's name is Raden 360. Raden 360 can make music and it is an MP3 player. It plays any music you want it to play. When it flies, it sprays out perfume in different colours. When you push a button, you can make it do anything you want it to do. It can grow up to one inch bigger than you. There is a switch that makes the robot's arms bigger. The robot glows at night.
It is a great robotic toy of the future.

by Hone ~ Year 4

Poem by Logan adapted from A.J. Hynard

...And a fly swooping to some rubbish,
And dogs barking loudly at people,
And lovely flowers in a beautiful garden,
And smelly garbage waiting to be picked,
And children dancing outside,
And a plane flying high above the sky,
And birds sing superbly in the blue sky,
And green grass waving at us,
And the sound of music coming from the hall,
And a basket ball hoop ready to catch a ball,
And peoples' tagging by the entrance gate,
And soccer posts watching out for a ball,
And a cat having a nap next to a car,
And dogs barking loudly at people,
And a fly swooping to some rubbish...


by Logan ~ Year 3

Poem by Micheal adapted from A.J. Hynard's Poem

...And a plane soaring through the air,
And children screaming as they run,
And a tree waving at us,
And a park waiting to be played on,
And a sandpit waiting to be built on,
And monkey-bars swinging to and fro,
And logs that have been stepped on,
And music singing through the air,
And birds chirping their cheerful songs,
And a mailbox eating up the mail,
And a car waiting in the driveway,
And children screaming as they run,
And a plane soaring through the air...

by Micheal ~ Year 3

Rainbow's End Recount by Jayden - Year 4

Five weeks ago I went to Rainbow's End. I went with Chase and Papakura Fitness Centre.
When we got there the first thing I did was the bumper boats. We had so much fun spinning on the bumper boats and getting wet. I went on the bumper boats about seven times. Both of our pants were soaking wet! After that we met a boy named Jake and we asked him for a game of bumper carts and he accepted it. So it was a challenge for Chase and I but he said there's a bunch of teens going in there and we should challenge them. So that meant that we were a team. Chase and I said lets do it!
So it was teens vs kids. I was shaking like a leaf! Then we made a plan and Jake said I'm red, Chase is blue and he's green. So the bumping started. One teenager really packed a punch to me and I flung backwards driving in reverse and then it was over! Kids won!
The kids congratulated us for a terrific game. It was a splendid day at Rainbow's End.

Whanau Evening Recount by Britelle - Year 3

On Thursday 8th November, Kelvin Road School had a Whanau Evening at 4pm - 7pm. The PTA was raising funds so we can upgrade our school.

Room 12 made a delicious Boil-up. Some parent helpers came to help. In our boil-up we had vegetables, meat and watercress. Destiny, Rahera and I sliced the cabbage. Some boys and girls scraped the carrot's skins off. There were dough-boys in the boil-up. After we cooked the boil-up we went back to class and we had developmental. It was nearly hometime so we packed up, went home, got changed and then came back to school at 4pm.

At 4pm the Whanau Evening started. There was popcorn, ice blocks, drinks, lucky dip, games, sausage sizzle, boil-up and a darts game. The coolest thing of all was the Kapahaka that was so amazing and great. To watch the Kapahaka, you needed two tickets. I saw it twice. When the boys were stomping their feet it was going bang, bang! I was eating my popcorn as well as watching the Kapahaka.

It was great fun, amazing and cool. I liked it so much at the Whanau Evening. I really enjoyed myself.


by Britelle ~ Year 3

Duffy Award - Caught Being a Good Grandparent

At this morning's school assembly, Eruera's grandmother, Teone, received the Duffy Book Award for "Caught being a Good Grandparent". The book she got was called "Paradise" which is a photographic journey through amazing New Zealand. Teone was overjoyed and almost in tears to receive the award. I chose Teone because she supports Eruera and Room 12 with our school activities. She accompanied Room 12 on our field trip to Sky Tower and Motat this year. On Thursday 8th November Teone helped Room 12 to cook a boil-up for the Whanau Evening's fundraiser. This morning she surprised the Staff of Kelvin Road School with a scrumptious cake that she baked herself. Teone really deserves the award for being a good grandma - we all could do with a grandmother like Teone.
Thank you Teone :-)
Kia ora
Mrs. Raman & Room 12

Thank You Letter by Britelle - Year 3

Dear Ellen,

I would like to thank you for coming to Motat and looking after our group.

My favourite thing at Motat was the mirror-maze. My second favourite thing was the shadows. I liked making the simple machines. I also liked the earthquake cafe. I liked going into the olden days houses and the jail. I loved it when we took a photo standing by the painting of the Town Hall because it looked like we were really in town. I loved it at Motat and I liked having you with us.

Would you like to help us at our Whanau evening on 8 November? We will be making a boil-up.

Yours sincerely
Britelle
Room 12

Room 12's Field Trip to Motat

Fears & Phobias Recount by Jayden

Two years ago I had a visitor in Australia, it was a snake! I did not know what attracted it to come into my house. I was terrified to have a snake inside.
So I got a broom and tried to get it out but it was no use. It just kept on biting the broom. So I woke my nanny up and she called our neighbour. When he arrived at our house, he had a dustbrush and a bag. He used the dustbrush to put the snake into the bag. Then we took the snake to the animal control and they told us why it came into our house. It was very hungry and it was pregnant.
Being face to face with a snake has made me overcome my fear of snakes.

By Jayden
Year 4
Room 12

Simple Machines Link

http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm

Mrs. Raman's Reflections on Ulearn07 Conference

Hi,
Hope you have all had a good break and are feeling refreshed for the 4th and final term – only 79 days to Christmas J
I spent the first week of my holidays entertaining visitors from South Africa – it was wonderful catching up with two of my neighbours from Durban, who I have known since the age of four. The second week kept me busy with spring-cleaning and the last three days I was fortunate to attend the Ulearn07 conference at Sky City. What a fabulous conference it was with three inspiring keynote-speakers and some amazing NZ teacher/presenters.
I have learned so much and by the last day I was on overload. The biggest message for me was about networking, collaborating and connecting with others in order to prepare our students as lifelong learners of the 21st century. I have learned that one of the aims of teaching is to develop and extend students' thinking and learning by catering for pupils’ individual learning styles, multiple intelligences and providing meaningful assessment which informs learning. Computers and the Internet has revolutionized the world we live, learn and teach in. There are numerous exciting programmes, tools and software for teachers and students that can make learning fun. ‘Many computer applications have been developed explicitly to engage learners in critical thinking.’ ‘…computers should be used as tools to help learners build knowledge…’ If teachers have an attitude of: ‘Please don’t give me any more information; I already know what I think!’ (Longworth, 2003) then I believe today’s classroom is not the place for them because learning is a lifelong process and it is forever changing. According to Tony Ryan, in this Information Age of the 21st century, computers are rapidly overtaking many of our analytical functions. Occupations for future generations will probably require a strong imaginative and personal component that computers are not capable of doing. It is therefore important to integrate a variety of creative teaching strategies into our classroom practice in order to prepare students for success in their learning as well as in their uncertain future.

Below are some links that you may find useful:

Keynote speakers
http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/

Conference Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ulearn/

Kree’s Ulearn Pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreeraman/

Kree’s twitter
http://twitter.com/kree4sai


Kree’s favourites/bookmarks
http://del.icio.us/kree12

Ewan McIntosh’s Blog
http://edu.blogs.com/

http://newzealand.takingitglobal.org/

Tonnes of valuable resourceshttp://www.tki.org.nz/e/tki/

Evolution of Communication
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/evolution_of_communication.php

http://aucklandregion.takingitglobal.org/connections/stories/story.html?MemberID=25064

Free Books on the Internet
http://users.erols.com/jonwill/freebooks.htm

http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=tab_h

Have a great term y’all.

Kree Raman
Room 12 Teacher
Kelvin Road School
Auckland NZ

Developmental - Building Blocks

Trinity & Willamina

Trinity

Chase

Trinity

Destiny

Poem by Douglas

Did you ever

go on stage

to say a speech?

Legs shaking!

Heart racing!

Audience staring.

It's frightening.

Go the All Blacks!

Haiku Poem by Room 12

Shared Writing

Birthday Party

2007 Senior School Speech Winner 3rd Position

Birthday Party

Shavanah Raumati Room 12

Have you been to a birthday party?
I have been to a birthday party one Saturday.
I had to be there at lunch time. I went to the birthday party by car.
My little cousin invited me to his party. I went there with my Mum, my Dad, my sister and brothers. The party was at Kelvin Road. There were so many people. Sometimes I carry my cousin. His name is Jeffrey. He is 12 months old. He can say Nan and mum. There were balloons and races, pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs. All the treats came pouring out of the kangaroo piñata when we hit it. While we were eating at the table we were talking but we are not allowed to talk while eating. We had pizza, drinks, chips, lollies cake and all the other delicious food. My cousin was not well when it was his birthday. Some mean person picked him up and sneezed so he caught a cold. We sang the happy birthday song. We enjoyed the birthday cake.

Geometric Patterns - Shania, Ariana, Kereama

First time at the Dentist

2007 Senior School Speech Winner 2nd Position

First Time at the Dentist
Ngaio Tamiana Room 12

Do you remember your first visit to the dentist? When I first went to the dentist I was in a panic. The dentist told me to lie down on the seat. Then I had to put some glasses on. At first I was calm but when I saw the needle I started to panic. When I am afraid I always believe that I am not. I tried to be brave and strong. But I cried when the dentist put the needle into my mouth.
It was bleeding when she pulled the needle out so she put a cotton bud to stop the bleeding in my gums. It was scary. When I got off the dentist chair she showed me my tooth. It was kind of yucky and small. I saw a little bit of blood on my tooth. It looked strange to me. The dentist put my tooth in a plastic bag and wrapped it up in tissue. When I went back to class my teacher told me to show the children my tooth. I will never forget that first visit to the dentist but next time I will be prepared.

Independent Writing by Room 12 Target Group

A visit to the dentist
By Ariana ~ Year 3

I don’t like going to the dentist because they put cotton buds in my mouth. They open my mouth too wide. I don’t like the clips in my mouth. If you have a hole in your tooth they will help you. They inject your gums with a needle. When they put that spinning thing (saliva suction) in your mouth it feels funny. When they pull your tooth out, it is very very painful. Dentists are good because they help look after our teeth.





Going to the dentist
By Micheal ~ Year 3

When I went to the dentist I was shocked and frightened. A doctor came and talked to me for a long time. A few minutes later they put my gums to sleep and pulled my tooth out. It was painful and I was bleeding. My gum was numb and sore. I got a lollipop and I stayed there for a while and talked about my tooth. They gave my tooth to me and gave my mum coffee and a card to call if any other teeth are coming out. I was pleased and so was my mum to see that my tooth was gone. I couldn’t eat anything at all. I was starving to death.




Causes of fire in the home
By Britelle ~ Year 3

Do not play with matches because it is dangerous. If you light one up, it could slip out of your hand and it could go onto the floor and burn the house down. Lighters can cause a fire when children play with them. They could be sitting on the couch and if they light it, they could burn the couch. Candles are dangerous because if you take a candle in your room, when there is no electricity and you fall asleep, it could tip over and burn your bed. If someone was cooking a bbq and they leave and not watch the bbq, it will burn.

Steps to fire safety
By Jayden ~ Year 4

1. My family makes an escape plan. We draw the house and exits.
2. I hear the smoke alarm so I yell, FIRE! FIRE!
3. I get down low and go, go, go!
4. I go to the safe meeting place.
5. I ring 111 and ask for FIRE.

What if there was no electricity
By Moala ~ Year 4

If there was no electricity you would not cook and not watch TV. You can’t wash your clothes and you would not have food in the fridge. There will be no lights. The game will be off too. If you have a computer, and you were busy with a game, your game will not be saved. The play station will also be off but if you have a memory card your game will be saved.

READING ONLINE Links

"The more you read - the more you know.
The more you know - the more you grow."



New Zealand children’s books in the ICDL published since 1970
http://www.natlib.govt.nz/collections/digital-collections/icdl/recent-books



International Children's Digital Library
http://www.childrenslibrary.org/

Science Experiment - Volcanoes

A pot of boiling water...

...is like a volcano...

...because it blows its top off!

Haiku Poem Shared Writing

1.
Yell fire, fire!
Get down low and go, go, go!
Get out and stay out!

2.
Fiery volcano
Blowing the top of the vent
Bubbling hot lava!

Shared writing by Room 12 - 02/05/07

Volcano Links - Earths Amazing Fireworks

1. National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html?section=v


2.
http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC052370/composite.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC052370/types.html&h=1400&w=1700&sz=996&hl=en&start=13&sig2=FS-HxC0jjOLhUz1XSB72zw&tbnid=OpxZvz8LIJp_sM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=150&ei=j-MyRtjyLJ_WggPB5vyHAw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomposite%2Bvolcano%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den


3.
http://volcano.und.edu/


4. Cybersleuth Kids
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Science/Earth_Science/Volcanoes/


5. USGS Volcano Lessons
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/volcanoes.htm


6. Nat-Geo-Kids (Mountain of Fire!)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0312/

Shared Writing - Iron Brion Show

On Tuesday 24th April Iron Brion came to Kelvin Road School to talk about healthy foods.
The juniors went to the hall first and the seniors went at 11:30.

Mark and May-Lee were the presenters. They introduced Iron Brion who was hiding outside and popping his head up through the window. We counted down loudly to 10 and then he appeared. He was dressed in a grey metal suit with gigantic blue shoes and he had blue spiky hair. He was a funny character who made us laugh a lot. He sneezed loudly “Aaahshoe!” He made a farting noise and blamed May-Lee. He pretended to be a clock and made the tick tock sound for 60 seconds. It sounded so real.

Iron Brion taught us about healthy eating and the four food groups. The meat group has red meat like lamb and beef. Red meat has iron which moves the oxygen in our blood to all parts of our body. The bread and cereals group is important for breakfast. It has fibre which is good for us. Some good cereals are Weetbix, Skippy, Cornflakes, Coco-pops and All bran flakes. Fruit and vegetables have anti-oxidants and free radicals which we need to fight off sickness. Milk and dairy products, like cheese and yoghurt, have calcium which is good for our teeth and bones.

Jayden and Cherieamour were the winners for the stage dance. Iron Brion taught us a song and dance. We had a competition, our Zinc team won so we got the free hamburgers first. The beef burger had lettuce, tomato and sauce – they were delicious. It was a joyful day.

Shared writing by Room 12 - 26 April 2007

Links for Teaching Time

http://www.teachingtime.co.uk/

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/clocks.html

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/calendar.html

http://www.teachingtreasures.com.au/maths/FlashcardClock/flashcard_clock.htm

http://www.interactive-resources.co.uk/mathspack1/clock/clock.html

Power Generation Link

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html

Rabbit visit by Moala

Recount ~ Rabbit Visit

By Moala ~ Year 4

Yvonne came to Room 12 last week Friday. She brought her rabbit to Room 12.

She got the rabbit out of the box. She put it in the middle of the circle.

Yvonne gave the rabbit to Eruera to feed it. It lives in a house called a hutch. The baby rabbits are called kittens. It hops to run. Yvonne talked to us and she asked questions. The rabbit goes to toilet in a tray. It felt soft when we touched it. It has red eyes from a distance.
Everybody had a photo holding the rabbit. The rabbit is three months old. Kereama thought it was going to bite him. I was happy when I felt it. Its name is Cinnamon.

It was marvellous when Yvonne came to Room 12 with her rabbit.

Shared Writing by Room 12 21/03/2007

Did You Ever Look at . . .

by Room 12 2007

Did you ever look at the rainbow?
What did you see?
I saw beautiful colours stretching its arms around the world.
Sometimes, if I look very closely, I can see the reflection of my lovely smile.

Did you ever look at the moon at night?
What did you see?
I saw a giant banana shining brightly.
Sometimes, if you look very closely, you will think it is smiling down at you.

Did you ever look at the wet green grass?
What did you see?
I saw a slippery soft mat under my feet.
Sometimes, if you look very closely, you will see the teardrops from the sky.

Adapted from Writing Model below
Did You Ever Look at . . . By Trista

Did you ever look at the stars in the sky?
What did you see?
I saw the Big Dipper, and the Little Dipper.
Sometimes, if I look very closely, I see the shape of my face.

Did you ever look at the sky on an afternoon?
What did you see?
I saw children in a train and a very big castle.
Sometimes, if you look very closely, you may see your beautiful face.

Did you ever look in the mirror?
What did you see?
I saw my beautiful skin, blond hair, and hazel eyes.
Sometimes, if you look very closely, you will know that you are truly beautiful, too!

ONLINE READING LINK

(-: Fairytales :-)

http://www.reading4kids.com/

ROOM 12 CLASS PHOTO TERM 1 2007

My day at school - Ariana

My day at school

On Monday I did not go to Massey pool, I stayed at school with Britelle, Stacy and Adrian. While they were gone we were in Room 8 doing work. We had to work till morning tea then till lunch. My hand was very sore. Me and Britelle were very tired because we got some more work to do. We did not bring our permission slips back. There were only a little bit of seniors there.

It was fun in Room 8.

By Ariana ~ Year 3

Massey Pools by Cherieamour

Massey Pools

On Monday 5th March the senior school children went to Massey Pools.
We walked to the pools. When we got there we all had a rest. The year 4’s was first. I didn’t want to swim. I watched them.


By Cherieamour ~ Year 4

Massey Pools by Jayden

Massey Pools

On Monday 5th March the senior school children went to Massey Pools for relays. We all had to walk to the pools. Some of us in Room 12 had to stay behind.

When we got there we took our shoes off and got changed into our swimmers. Then I got into the year 4 race. I came first! Mrs. Raman was very excited and went wild! Then I came second in the finals. I didn’t do the flutter boards but my friend Logan came second in that one too. Next we did the class relays and our class came last.

Then we got changed out of our swimmers and walked back to school.

By Jayden ~ Year 4

Shared writing by Room 12 2007

Hey!

Hey, Wind!
Your breath blows through the windows
touches my face
and tickles my body –
I like that!

Hey, Stars!
Your eyes sparkle in the night
makes me feel drowsy
as I lay down to sleep –
I like that!

Hey, Rainbow!
Your wide arms stretch across the sky
like a gigantic umbrella
so colourful and beautiful –
I like that!

Hey, World!
Your big bright face
so friendly and caring
makes me smile –
I like that!

Hey!

School Journal Poem Innovation

By Kaitrin McMullan

Hey!

Hey, Sky!
Your bright blue fingers
pick up my hair,
swing it like a basket –
I like that!

Hey, Sun!
Your dandelion clock hands
warm my bare shoulders,
squint my cheeks into a smile –
I like that!

Hey, Trees!
Your million zillion arms
all waving “Green! Green!”
fill my eyes with sweet leaf music –
I like that!

Hey, Day!
Your wide-open hug
picks me up and squeezes me
till I can’t breathe for laughing –
I like that!

Hey!

My dream by Jayden

Last night I had a very good dream about me in chocolate land. I had lots of chocolate and I got fat. I was sooo fat I couldn’t walk.

It was really exciting. I also had a chocolate rabbit. Everything was chocolate.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night and realized it was only a dream.


By Jayden ~ Year 4

A toy I’ve held on to all these years by Logan

A toy I have held on to is Pickach. I had him since I was one year old and I still have him.

He was my best friend because I always sleep on him. I sleep on him because he is soft and cuddly. He is yellow in colour.

I love my toy.

By Logan ~ Year 3

Helping out around the house by Britelle

If my mum told me to help out around the house I will help her. My mum might tell me to do the dishes. She might tell me to sweep up outside with the outdoor broom. She will clean the sitting room, the bathroom and all the bedrooms.

My mum might clean the hallway, the bookshelf and the fireplace. My mum might dust with a cloth and sweep with an indoor broom. She will do it because she wants a clean house.

Then we’ll look around the house and we’ll be pleased.


By Britelle ~ Year 3

Did you Ever?

Did you ever
Play hide and seek
In the dark?
Someone counting
Children hiding
Heart thumping
It’s frightening!

Shared writing by Room 12




Did you ever
Ride the bumper cars
At Rainbows End?
Hands steering
Feet pressing
Cars crashing
I like it!

By Kereama Rangitaawa


Did you ever
Ride the rollercoaster and fear fall
At the Rainbows End?
Heart beating
Lungs screaming
Heads bumping
I loved it.

By Cherieamour Howe

English Glossary of Grammar Terms

Take a look at this awesome online resource on English Glossary of Grammar Terms.
http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary.html

It also includes quizzes that gives your scores.

Shared writing by Room 12 2007

Willamina the Dreamer

Willamina dreams.
Sometimes Willamina dreams that she’s a rock star, or a famous hip-hop singer, a model or a kapahaka dancer… Willamina dreams.
Sometimes Willamina dreams that she’s a doctor, or a scientist, a school teacher or an Olympic swimmer… Willamina dreams.
Sometimes Willamina dreams that she can’t drive but she can run.
She’s a mermaid, or she’s a princess… Willamina dreams.
Sometimes Willamina dreams that she’s a hairdresser, or a shopkeeper.
She’s in a strange forest, or swimming with dolphins… Willamina dreams.
Sometimes Willamina dreams of gigantic spiders, or mythical creatures.
She dreams of yesterday… and, sometimes, of tomorrow.
Willamina dreams.