Explaining Science!

I am so pleased that the times of having lots of hands on science learning followed by dreary experiment 'write-ups' have disappeared to be replaced by awesome apps on our iPads.  The fun science learning is still there, the 'write-up' has been replaced!  Apps like 'Explain Everything' allow the students to share what they have done and explain the science involved in a way that engages them and reinforces the learning they have experienced.  Not to mention they can share their learning with anyone they choose via their class blog.

Room 10 carried out an investigation into how to create their own Lava Lamps and discovered some fascinating science concepts while they did it.  In R11 I got to watch a couple of groups Friction explanations.  I was confused until their explanations set me straight!

Below I have embedded Sophie, Hunter, Cameron and Aidan's (R10) Lava Lamp explanation and included a link to the other R10 explanations.

Room 10 Science Explanations

Successful Start to Rubbish Free Lunches

This Tuesday marked the first day of our Rubbish Free Lunch days.  This term we are trying to do this one day a week.  Our Ecowarriors are leading the charge, sending out information to parents about how to provide rubbish free lunches and giving feedback and rewards to students who make an effort on our Rubbish Free Tuesday.

I am really proud of the great work Mrs Davidson and our Ecowarriors are doing so how about we all get right in behind them!!

Paper 4 Trees

On Friday we had a visit from David Ayers, Mayor of the Waimakariri District who helped us plant the new grasses we received as part of the 'Paper 4 Trees' recycling scheme.  Our 'Eco' team has worked hard over the last 18 months to promote recycling and reduction of waste so we really appreciated our visit and the new grasses that we have planted around the caretakers shed.  The Eco-Warriors took pride in showing off our new gardens and worm farm too.  Well done to our 'Eco' team and all students, staff and parents who have helped us out.

'A Waste of Time' Show

Yesterday's learning celebration by the senior school, 'A Waste of Time' was anything but that!  The students did brilliantly to create some fantastic wearable art from recycled products and at the same time spread a valuable message about waste in our community.  I thought the show was a great example of students 'learning through action'.  This involved them identifying the learning through their inquiry rubrics (a visual of what the learning looks like) and then engaging in an ongoing, authentic set of tasks that they then shared with others in a purposeful way.  Well done to the students and staff involved.

Here is a collection of the outfits and the really important message delivered at the end of the show.

Science Professional Learning

Last week the staff had a brilliant afternoon and evening with Warren Bruce, a local science expert and teacher educator.  The session was packed with lots of practical investigations and explored the 'Nature of Science'.  The nature of science is the overarching and unifying strand in the New Zealand science curriculum document.  

The nature of science as a way of thinking refers to ‘thinking with a particular lens’ – just as the nature of history would be thinking through a historical lens. This particular way of thinking is underpinned by certain values and characteristics (such as in science, creativity, curiosity, attempts to reduce bias and empiricism).  

Next term all students will participate in a range of 'hands-on' science activities to develop their knowledge of scientific thinking. Skills such as creativity, making careful observations, being curious, being honest when communicating and asking questions as a result of an event are just some of the skills we will aim to develop.  I am sure you will agree that these are things that can be applied in any context, not just a science one hence our belief that this is such an important learning area.

Here are a few pictures of our teachers as scientists!

My Story App

Room 4 have been doing some great writing, nothing unusual about that of course but last week they decided to share their stories by using the 'My Story' app on our iPads.  Enjoy reading and listening to Scott's  story on 'Polly Pirate'.

Polly Pirate

PB4L Survey

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Survey

The staff here at school are currently working towards establishing 3-5 clear and simple expectations for behaviour that will be implemented and reinforced at school as part of the PB4L initiative.  A really, really important part of doing this is getting input from parents and students about what they perceive a respectful student to be and what they consider issues currently are for us.  Establishing clear, consistent and positive systems for encouraging positive behaviour is a high priority for us here at school.  

We need your input to achieve this.  Today there has been a very short survey sent out to gather the information we need to develop our 3-5 expectations. Please take the time to complete this!  We would like at least 75-80% of families to have done it by next week.

Here is the link:  PB4L Survey

Modern Learning Environments

One of the evolving priorities for our new BOT will be to modernise learning spaces for our 21st century learners.  A key word for this will be flexibility.  We want spaces and furniture that allow for diverse learning activities and cater for the comfort needs of our students.  How often have you felt comfortable for long periods in a standard plastic chair?  How can expect our students to be effective learners if they are not comfortable?

The R11 space has already got some examples of some of the furniture we can use to transform our learning spaces.  The students gravitate to the low kneeling tables and love the cookie pads.

On Saturday I went along to the Modern Learning Environment Expo and was lucky enough to hear Stephen Heppell speak about the power of innovative and modern learning spaces.  Check out some of his ideas on his website:  http://www.heppell.net/

Shelbe & Mustbe??

Who are these mysterious visitors to our playground?  I bet you are all dying to know!  All will be revealed at assembly next week.

I am really excited about this, not so little project, and seeing how excited the crew are and how much the rest of the children will enjoy it no doubt.

Debating Victory

Last week we squared off in the first debate in the local North Canterbury Schools Debating Competition against St. Patricks School, Kaiapoi.  Our team of Zara, Kayci and Isobella presented a very strong argument as to why zoos were not good and took out a strong victory.  Well done girls as I know there was lots of preparation involved.  For anyone who wants to see some short parts of our argument I have attached some of the footage I captured.

New Tools and Keen Kids

Every time we add something new to our school gardens I get really excited about the way our students react and amazed at how many of them seem to have an affinity with our land and growing stuff!! Today our tools arrived, donated by Fruitfed Supplies.  These are no doubt going to be put to great use!  If you can support Fruitfed in anyway please do.

Here are our R11 gardeners getting amongst it (great to see the House colours too).

My Story

I was lucky enough this morning to have Scott from Room 3 come along and share some of his learning from his inquiry learning.  Scott is just learning to communicate through speech after having received cochlear implants around two years ago.  Using the 'My Story' App has been a fantastic way for him to develop his communication skills and tell his story.  This story reflects the emphasis of our junior students this term on appreciating their surroundings and being grateful.  Click on the photo below to view Scott's Story.

Our Place, Our Space

This term our inquiry learning focus has been on 'Our Place, Our Space'.  The students have learnt about the importance of looking after spaces and each other within our immediate surroundings, at home and the wider community.  Alongside this staff have been implementing a different approach to inquiry that places the students at the heart of the assessment process to ensure our inquiry provides adequate challenge and rigour.  We want our students to really improve their understanding of the world around them in a deep and meaningful way.

Here is a picture of Room 2 students 'taking action'.  It has been their goal to improve and clean up some of the playground items within their own play area.  It has been fantastic observing and being part of some of the wonderful initiatives around the school this term at all levels.

Next term we are going to explore 'Culture' and hopefully make some new friends in Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA.

North Canterbury Swim Champs 2013

This afternoon I went with a small team of 12 of our very best swimmers to compete against the very best swimmers from all over the two North Canterbury Sports Zones.  Our swimmers again proved themselves to be outstanding with a number of podium finishers.  Onto the Canterbury Primary School Champs now for our top 5 swimmers.  Good luck!!

Here are a few podium pics and a couple of attempts at action shots.

New Community Gardens

I was proudly showing off our school to Kym Wells who is new to the Principals job at Ohoka and stumbled across Room 4 filling their new sustainable garden.  It so was great to see our students eagerly  getting stuck into contributing to our new gardens and when I came back and watched, it struck me just how much value these gardens can add to our learning, school and community.  The students were busily talking away about what was going into the garden, Miss McClelland and Mrs Marsden were already thinking about all sorts of cool ways to make the garden their own and also we had 3 wonderful senior students out there helping our younger ones.  The way they were speaking to them and interacting with them was brilliant.  All this and we haven't even started on the sustainable theme these gardens will foster or all the science involved in the gardens.

For all you parents out there, we want you to be involved too!  See Mrs Davidson in Room 11 if you want to be a class helper and come and join all the learning and fun. 

Maths Popplets

It was great to see some Room 8 students using the Popplet App on our iPads to show their understanding of some maths concepts they have been learning about. This is a great way to enjoy showing off your learning. Check out the finished products that were shared with me.

Cricket Victory

In the first round of the NZ Cup, a national knock-out tournament for Year 7/8 cricketers, our team did us proud with a superb team effort to defeat North Loburn, one of our friendly neighbouring schools.  The feature of the win that stood out for me was the great team work and encouragement amongst our players, it was absolutely superb and was commented on by the opposing coach.

Our two players of the day are below, Cory (left) with bowling figures of 2 for 2 and Lochie (right) with a hard hit 25 not out batting.

Well done team.

Digital Citizenship

This year I will be learning alongside the Year 7 and 8 students as we aim to embed the use of online tools into a range of authentic learning activities.  I am really excited about this opportunity and after our first day together today I can tell the students are too!

Before we launch into the seemingly endless world of the online environment we took some time today to talk and learn about what it means to be a responsible 'Digital Citizen'.  We were grateful to have the help of our friend Danny from eTime who led us through some fantastic interactive learning activities.

In one of our first activities the students had to present a 'Plus, Minus, Interesting' or 'PMI' about being a 'Digital Native'.  Here are a couple of brief examples of their thinking:

As a culmination of our learning we started to create our 'Digital Citizenship Treaty' that we will all sign before launching into our other online activities.  The students then had to create short movie trailers to illustrate at least one of the Treaty points.  I was super impressed with how instinctively creative the students were with an iPad in their hands.  We learnt a really valuable lesson too, 'don't forget about the learning purpose of the digital task when you have the device in your hand'.  Check out this example from one of the teams:

Sustainable Gardens

This term we aim to have the next stage of our strong focus on creating a sustainable school up and running with the classroom garden beds.  It was exciting to see the project progress with last night's working bee.  Thanks to the parents and teachers who lent a hand.

I hope the gardens provide all our children with plenty of authentic learning opportunities for years to come.  When we think about 21st century learning we often only think of technology gadgets and the world-wide web but what could be more 21st century than learning about creating a sustainable, environmentally friendly community and world!

Open Source Innovation

Collaborate to Innovate from Whim on Vimeo.

Check out this video, it is a great example of why we need to ensure we use the connections available to us.  We are all connected now in one way or another via the power of our online environment and tools.  Swannanoa students feature in this video using the open source hardware.  This is exciting stuff stuff and we already have some budding geniuses in this area.