Hula Hoop Creative Dance

We explored a variety of movements both frozen and with movement using a prop (hula hoop)

In the beginning we made frozen shapes using our bodies in a variety of different ways and levels.  Then we experimented with movement in and around our hula hoop, creating different ways to travel through, around or over it. Finally we combined both frozen images and movement together to create a partner dance.

Look at all the fun we had working together and creating our dances.

Ms Donald

Dance with Ms Donald
Students were exploring the elements of dance, leaping, bursting, stretching by showing the process of a volcano erupting.  Students collaborated in groups to come up with a sequence of movements.

The Bunny Hop chain dance to conclude!  Heaps of learning and fun!

Self Portrait Art

Room 1 have started their self-portraits and are learning about symmetry, measurement, and the difference between drawing and sketching. Here we are in action...



Come into Room 1 and see them, we would love to talk to you about how they were created :)

Room 1's Expectations of Mr Arnold

Room 1 have spent some time thinking about both what they expect of their teacher and also what they would like their teacher to be like.

Here is Room 1's list...

Helping us in our time of need.
Doing science experiments
Reward us
Take us out to play games
Help us to learn lots of things
Challenging and pushing us to our limits!
Encourage us in our learning.
Be kind to us.
Use good manners towards us.
Be respectful towards us.
Encourage us to be creative.
A BIG smile!
Help us to be the best we can be.
Be fair with us.
Be nice and like the things we do.
Say good morning to us.
WOW us with cool things we haven't seen or done before.
Does art activities with us.
Is able to organise fun activities with us.

Welcome to a new year in Room 1!

Dear children, parents, caregivers, and whanau,

Firstly, welcome to a new year in Room 1. My name is James Arnold and I'm the teacher in your child's class. I've been teaching for 5 years now (all at West End School). Over the summer holidays, my son was born! His name is Jude and he wasn't very big at all when he was born... only 6 pounds 3 ounces. Even though he doesn't weigh much, he is quite tall and he has BIG feet. Here is a photo of Jude...



What were your holiday highlights?

I can't wait to meet all of you this morning!

Mr Arnold

Quick Write and Lipogram

Biography

Buddy Class PREP Art

Today Room 1 met up with our buddy class (Room 13) to work on our PREP art project. In the pictures below you can see us writing words and drawing pictures about PREP. If we ran out of ideas, we were allowed to draw patterns. The art should be finished before the end of the week, so come and have a look!

Pen pal letter link

Click here to look for your pen pal. If you can't find one, choose another persons pen pal and reply to them :)

Penpal letters

Early PREP success

Wow look at the amount of Westies the girls made!!! Over 1000!!! Congratulations girls on your successful business partnership... who would have thought that a popcorn business could compliment a movie business... GREAT THINKING :)

Is this FAIR???

Today we had a discussion about how much people get paid for the things that we buy in New Zealand. We agreed that a soccer ball cost around $20.00 at a sports shop. We soon realised where the soccer balls were made and how much money the people who made them got paid. This was a HUGE shock to us.

The video above explains how a company called Fair Trade help the workers to get more money and better education, health and opportunities in their villages.

Please let us know what you think.

Jump Jam!

On Wednesday, we were given free apples so we decided to come together for a Jump Jam session too. We had lots of fun learning the new dance moves and were really tired at the end.

CAMP!!!

Last week, Te Wao Nui o Tane children left for a four day and three night camp! We stayed at Micamp which is located in Mission Bay, Taupo. We had such an amazing time challenging ourselves to try things that scared us. Ask us some questions on our blog or out in the playground (we love talking about camp)!

Look at all of our bags!!!

Here is a photo of the field with Lake Taupo in the background.

This is where we did our kayaking.

Some of us even snuck in a swim in the lake!

This was where most of us slept (and dried our clothes).

This is a picture of the scary activities! High ropes, rock climbing, abseiling, and the flying fox. Lots of us screamed our heads off while we were having a go at these.

If the children are about 1.5m tall, how high do you think the tower is?

Buddy class challenge.

Room 1 and 13 have been working together for the last two Friday afternoons. We have been trying to build a bridge or structure that is really strong. Look at us in action!

A Weta At West End School

Today we found a weta by the library.

Have you seen any bugs in unusual places?

Learning about how to set up our blogs!

                                 
Today, the children in Room 1 learnt about how to set up their blogs. They chose a new background, font, and colour scheme. Now, most of the class are able to find their way around their blogs!

Winning the Singing Trophy

                                   

Today, Room 1 won the singing cup. We won the cup because everyone was singing loudly and clearly. We also tried our best. We all managed ourselves.

Camp Work Groups

This week, we found out which children from Te Wao Nui o Tane would be in our camp work groups. There was a lot of excitement and discussion when the groups were announced.
Now we're starting to work together in these groups in the afternoons. We hope to get to know and understand more each about each other.

             

This is one of the activities we participated in. We had to learn how to communicate with each other and work together as a team.

Learning how to be a good buddy

Today, Mrs McKnight came into our BIG classroom to talk to us about how to be a good buddy.

We learnt about what is expected of us when buddying in Room 9 and also out in the playground.

 

Mrs McKnight answered lots of our questions and now we know what to do.

We can't wait to get to know our Room 9 buddies!