Tuesday 8 November 2016

Life Education

During the second week of the term, Harold and Jamie came to visit us in the Life Education caravan. We all loved going to see Jamie to sing songs and do some really cool stuff with Harold.  He is amazing!!!!  We loved all the stories and the incredible technology he had. 

One of the most important messages Harold had for us was to make sure we fill people's invisible buckets up everyday by showing kindness. This is really easy for us because we know that using kind words and kind actions is showing HEART. We know to use our HEART values everyday.

Have a look at Regan's story about the Life Education visit. He made a great job of writing a recount of what happened.

On Monday the class went to Harold's caravan because it was Life Education day. We went in the caravan and met Jamie. Harold was sleeping in his world. We said 'Wake up Harold!!! and he woke up.
We can change the weather in his world. We made it go snowy and rainy and thundery. It was on the TV and it was really well done! We met Harold. He played tricks on Jamie.
On Tuesday Harold taught us about our buckets that you can fill everyday - it's called 'bucket filling' and 'bucket dipping'. We watched Harold's movie with Possum, Rabbit and Harold in it. Possum and Harold went on the jungle gym but Rabbit didn't like the jungle gym. Harold sang a song for us and we sang it too.

Our friend Jaime was really excited to meet Jamie from the Life Education caravan and Harold too. Have a look at the photos we took of Jaime, Jamie and Harold together.

Jaime, Harold and Jamie in the Life Education caravan.
WOW!!! Harold is tall!!!!

"Remember the bucket fillers" said Harold.

Sunday 16 October 2016

Cultural Day

What a wonderful day we had at the end of last term celebrating the variety of cultures we are lucky to have in our school. Here are some photos and some stories about this exciting day.

Here is Chloe's story. She is from South Africa.

Hooray! Hooray! It is Cultural Day today. I am a South African because I am from South Africa. I like eating the food. We ate some of the food. I saw the big kids dancing. I went to the parade. I waved my flag.


Here is Taani's story. He is from Tonga.
I am going to the parade with my Mum and my brother.


Here is Shaista's story. She is from Fiji.
Hooray! Hooray! I am so excited because it is Cultural Day and I am going to wave my flag. First we celebrated Jaydah and read the book 'All Over the World' to the children.


Tuesday 6 September 2016

Lego Day

Hooray!!! Hooray!!! Today was Lego day!!! What a lot of fun we had building and making things with Room 5. We had to make tall things, long things and wide things along with numbers, estimating and measuring the size of the object we had built.

We know 'Together is Better' at Banks Avenue School and today we proved it because we had to work with a partner to create our objects. Lots of talk and discussion had to take place along with
co-operation and sharing. Respecting other people's ideas and opinions was also needed to finish the job.

Have a look at the photos of our fun morning of maths in action.












Monday 5 September 2016

Our Learning About Water

We have been working in three groups to find out information about water. Ms Aitken's group learnt about 'The Water Cycle', Mrs Nicoll's group learnt about 'The States of Water' and Miss Lester's group learnt about what happens to water when it goes 'Down the Drain'.

Now that we have completed some learning and carried out some experiments, we have written up our findings and we have talked about what we have learnt with some friends. We have become the teachers!!!!

Have a look at the photos below. Here we are working in groups of three to teach each other about what we know.

Isla, Tane and Caleb teaching each other about water
Casey and Cooper teaching each other about water.

                                                    Lucy, Kaiya and Hank teaching each other about water.                                                                                        
We were very fortunate to have an expert who works with water come in to talk to us. He answered some of the questions we had and explained how he uses water at work. Thank you to Holly's Dad for coming and spending some time with us.



Holly's Dad talking to us about water and how he uses it in his job.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Learning About Water

In Base Camp 1 and 2 we have been learning about water. One group has been working with Miss Lester and they have been learning about what happens when water goes down the drain. Have a look at our video where we explain what happens.



Sunday 14 August 2016

More Numeracy Learning

In Base Camp 1 & 2 we are busy every day with our numeracy learning. Sometimes we work with the teacher on problem solving activities. Other times we work collaboratively to investigate other areas of maths learning.

Have a look at these photos that show some of the work we have done recently.





 These girls have been solving
 number stories.



These boys have been working collaboratively to create some interesting designs.


Thursday 28 July 2016

Following Instructions from a Reading Book.

During the week some children have been reading books about how to make things. They read the instructions, found out what materials they would need and how to make the object. At Discovery Time the children used what they had learnt from their book and followed the instructions to make the object. Some children made a hiding place for a lion and some children made rafts.

Here are our photos to show what we have done.

'


Zak testing if his raft will float


Zak showing his raft




Cooper and Aria 
Miss Lester working with Rai Rai and Kobey

Numeracy Thinking

In Base Camp 1 & 2 we have been learning how to write equations and skip count in twos up to 20. We know when we write addition equations we need to use a 'plus' sign and an 'equals' sign.

Counting up to 20 in twos is getting easier each time we practice it. Now we can count  in twos in Maori too!!!

Have a look at the photos of us doing our numeracy learning.



Kaiya and Jorja
Isla and Casey










Jaydah and Shaista

Hank and Willow 

Marleigh and Aria


Add caption


Rai Rai and Chloe

Chase and Lucy


Sunday 24 July 2016

A Warm Welcome to Sarah Lester



We would like to welcome Sarah Lester to Base Camp 1&2. Sarah is a University of Canterbury third year student and this is her last teaching practice placement before graduation in December. We are delighted to have another teacher working in our space. Sarah will be taking some full class teaching practice during her five weeks with us. Please introduce yourself to Sarah while she is here.



Thursday 26 May 2016

More Busy Times in Base Camp 1 & 2



In Base Camp 1 & 2 we are always striving for 'Excellence'. Caleb has been working hard at reading time to complete his work independently. Every day he has a new task to finish. He has lots of different things to do. In the photo below he has been finding out facts about bears. Have a look at the work he has been doing. He has been striving for 'Excellence'.


Caleb with his facts about bears

At Discovery time we complete all sorts of different activities. It is fun working with others to make all sorts of different things. Today some children made some cats and mice out of cardboard. They had to read the book and follow the instructions. Have a look to see if they managed to follow the instructions correctly.

KaiKai with the book 'Making a Cat and a Mouse'
 Aria, Casey, RaiRai Lucy and Chloe

Busy Times in Base Camp 1 & 2


                       
Some children have been reading a story called 'A Lion's Hide Away'. They had to read the book to find out how to make a diorama. In pairs, they worked together to make their finished creations. The instructions were written in the book, so careful reading and co-operating together helped to finish the job correctly. Have a look at the spectacular work these children have created.
                                 
                   
                                 Chris and Hazel

                                                                                  Honor and Skyla
                             Pheonix and Hank

Wednesday 25 May 2016

A Visit From Zac

Term 2 - Week 2



Zac from the Christchurch Public Library brought a fantastic selection of new books to read to us. Team Totara gathered in our school library to listen to Zac read these brand new stories. Many of them were really funny and we all had a good giggle.





Zac is a terrific story teller. We all enjoyed listening to the wonderful stories he had brought along to share with us. The illustrations were amazing as well. Lots of the pictures were really funny!!!







Getting books out of the Public Library is a great way to share stories together with your family. If you are down at the Shirley Library or the New Brighton Library, remember to look out for Zac. He might be there reading some new stories to other children.

Thursday 7 April 2016

Striving for Excellence

Excellence is a Banks Avenue School value. In Base Camp 1 & 2 we aim for excellence in everything we do. To achieve excellence in our learning, we have been finding out about what quality work looks like. When we are working, we aim to do things 'better than before'.

Have a look at these photos. They show some of the quality work that the children have been doing.



 Quality maths work in Base Camp 1

 Quality maths work in Base Camp 2

 Quality handwriting in Base Camp 1

 Quality story writing in Base Camp 2

Where is Pete? He's in Base Camp 1 & 2!!!!!
 


Quality art work