Saturday 15 June 2013

Princess Mononoke

WEEK 7 LIBRARY


Answer these questions in your books
What did the pictures show that made Ken so angry? Inferring





What does the video say the impacts of Mattel using Asia Pulp and Paper were?

What actions did activists take in this video to stop deforestation?

Now listen to this story
NPR.org Deforestation: How businesses are adapting
if the audio doesn't work, you will have to read
Deforestation Blog

Who does the story say is impacted by deforestation?

"In the past we could go into the forest and catch deer. We could look for birds," he recalls. "But now, there is nothing, as you can see. No animal can live in the acacia forest. We cannot shelter in its shade. It's hot. It's a greedy tree — it uses up a lot of water."

Write down the Asril Amran quote, what does this quote show about the impacts of deforestation?

Why is it important that large corporations start to use sustainable practices?

Deforestation by Jen Stratford



We have been making emotional documentaries about Crimes Against the Environment, to make them pack a greater punch students have crafted pieces of writing to go for the jugular and rip at an audience's heartstrings. This is an example of work by Jen Stratford

Friday 14 June 2013

TECH DEVELOPMENT

Digital Literacy: Why can't students copy-paste?


Okay, so far so good as far as a fancy diagram that outlines what digital literacy might look like in the classroom, and it is essentially what we already do at Nelson Intermediate in our day to day dealings with technology, give or take a few connecting circles. This blog post is focused primarily on what we can be doing in our classrooms to prepare students for their increasingly digital future.

Most importantly, more than anything else, students need to develop their functional skills on computers. 

Students need to develop the ability to rapidly select/copy/paste data while accessing a range of resources. If they have the ability to do this, it makes EVERYTHING better for their learning. Not every student knows how to do this, and it can make a big difference to how they use digital resources.


Okay so this is helpful, just in general for anyone. But the key things that students can focus on, are copy, paste, select all, find, undo. It really makes a difference and as a massive benefit, it works across any programme on Apple, and is transferable to Microsoft OS.   


Ultimately, the key ones that students need to learn are highlighted in yellow. It's just sort of a hotspot when your students are anywhere near a computer researching information, working on their google accounts. It is a massive asset if students can begin to use this skill when using computers, all it takes is a short conversation with students as they are working online.







Wednesday 12 June 2013

Matariki Research by Stephanie, Ian and Josh




Students read an article about Matariki called "Lanterns for Matariki" . Stephanie, Ian, Isaac and Quinn explored the topic across a range of resources. 
by Jill MacGregor


Ngā kai a Matariki, nāna i ao ake ki runga.
The foods of Matariki, by her scooped up.
Once a year, twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. Traditionally, it was a time for remembering the dead, and celebrating new life. In the 21st century, observing Matariki has become popular again. Heaven-bound kites, hot-air balloons and fireworks help mark the occasion.

WHAT IS MATARIKI
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises just once a year, in mid-winter – late May or early June. For many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year.  

Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). According to myth, when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/matariki-maori-new-year


Preparation and ceremony 
In days gone by, Matariki was a time to prepare for the year ahead, a time to learn and a time to celebrate the future.

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/features/maori-culture/maori-culture_matariki-maori-new-year_feature.cfm


In times of old, the sighting of Matariki was greeted with expressions of grief for those who had died since its last appearance. Some said the stars housed the souls of those departed. Rangihuna Pire, in his 70s, remembered how as a child he was taken by his grandparents to watch for Matariki in mid-winter at Kaūpokonui, South Taranaki

Harvest

Matariki happened at the end of harvesting, when food stores were plentiful. The variety of food which had been gathered and preserved ensured an abundant supply for feasting – Matariki was an important time for festivity. Women rejoiced, sang and danced to celebrate the change of season and new beginnings. Often kites (pākau) were flown – they were thought to get close to the stars.

Revival

Matariki celebrations were popular before the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand, and they continued into the 1900s. Gradually they dwindled, with one of the last traditional festivals recorded in the 1940s. At the beginning of the 21st century Matariki celebrations were revived. Their increasing popularity has led to some to suggest that Matariki should replace the Queen's birthday as a national holiday.

Revival

Matariki celebrations were popular before the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand, and they continued into the 1900s. Gradually they dwindled, with one of the last traditional festivals recorded in the 1940s. At the beginning of the 21st century Matariki celebrations were revived. Their increasing popularity has led to some to suggest that Matariki should replace the Queen's birthday as a national holiday
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/matariki-maori-new-year

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Learning Spaces, Troy, Uk Hlei and Aeran




Uk Hlei, Troy and Aeran sorted through a range of sources, identifying aspects that they valued in the future of education. They learnt how to upload their findings onto blogger and responded to each of the images, arguing why the images show the future of learning.


                                                In the future the school has solar power
                      In the future the school environment is really clean
                                         In the future classrooms is just like your home.
                      In the future the teacher doesn't have to be in the classroom
                                       In the future they have more advanced furniture





                            Students in the future will use computers instead of books 
                                                In the future they have touch screen white board

Future learning is developing over the years. Young people starts to use computers to learn. 
                 In the future all the students doesn't need to have a books at the school



                      these are learning spaces and places 

Popplet on Future Learning


Students have been building their collaborative skills this week across a range of project based learning, this group comprised of Emma, Ruby, Milan, Paloma and Jazmin have worked together to find a range of information, sort out the relevant data, develop their technology skills with a new program, and learn a range of shortcuts on the computer to make the project easier for next time. They have created a professional presentation that will shape the conversation around how education will look in the twenty first century.

CRIMES AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT

Outstanding Literary Work by students from Room Sixteen!
I am constantly impressed with the standard of work by students in their integrated studies. This term the focus has been on crimes against the environment. STudents have been extremely engaged and making great work. Keep it up Room Sixteen!

Deforestation

Between the tops of the mountains peaks to the ocean, lay a dense tangle of trees,bush and plant.But now, these majestic living things are falling because of the demand for the worlds wood. Is cutting the trees for our needs worth dying for?

Daily, the trees of the world are getting cut down. The landscapes are left in ruins as the loggers scale the ground leaving just stamps across the loamy dirt. Forest still cover thirty percent of the worlds land,but this is decreasing fast. So fast 12-15 million hectares of forest is lost each year. This is the equivalent of 36 football fields per minute.

The forest is home to many species; over 80% of the worlds animals are found in the forests of the world, imagine what impact this would have if they became extinct. As said by a nature expert “every one is complaining about global warming and a hole in the ozone layer,but no one seems to notice that the only preventable cause of this is deforestation”.

There are many solutions to deforestation. Today is a new century. Instead of using paper, use your computer. If you want to buy a book, go to the library.Simple ways like this make a difference. We need to cut down the demand for wood today, not tomorrow. It all starts with you.





I’m walking down the cold, sandy beach,
The air feels gloomy and dead, like a graveyard on a rainy day.
The sea. A a dark greyish, colour, driving up close to me,
Then getting yanked back out by the horizon.

Almost every time now,
A new round, black formation, gets washed onto the black stained sand below my feet.
Alive, yet so dead and miserable.
I get a closer look, a small, twitching wing, soaked in shiny evil.  
I can now make out what it really is,
A small blue penguin, harmless to us, for some reason we still hurt it.
It looks up at me with a tear in its eye,
then slowly turns back to the soggy sand with a long,
drowning blink.

I wish there was something I could do with this poor, miserable bird,
But its now too late.
I placed my two fingers on its fragile chest just incase.
No pumping.
No movement.
No life.

By:Ruby Hunter