45 Minute Inquiry - Port of Tauranga

Today for 45 minute inquiry we studdied about the logs at the Port of Tauranga.

The logs are imported from Asia, sent here on a container ship. The type of trees are pine trees. The 1899 the government planted a forest of pine trees in Whakarewareaw, near Rotorua then in 2000 forestry people cut them down and imported them into ports and made paper. 

Asia then started importing logs here then New Zealand put a special treatment in them and sent them back to Asia. If the ships are imported from Asia they come over on a container ship. If they are coming from other parts of New Zealand they use a logging truch or a train. 

Tauranga Girls College Orientation day

Today we had the girls college orientation day. We bussed there and met in the old gymnasium. The Kapahaka group greeted us with a Maori song. Then Mrs Furguson talked and handed over to head girl Adriana Bird who talked to us about all of the opurtinitys.

Mrs Ferguson is one of the four deputy principals. Mrs Glaser-Brown and Mrs Keightley are our deans for 2014.

We walked around in little groups and had a tour around the school with Year 9's. We went into the science department and the teacher there talked to us about our first day and what we need to do when we get to school. We got given a booklet with our stationary list and our plan for the first week.

45 minute inqury

Today for 45 minute enquiry we researched about Boomerangs, Maori Carvings, Whale boots, Totem poles.
Totem poles are sculptures carved made out of trees that are a western red colour. Totem poles originate from Western America.
Boomerang is a tool that you throw. There is a type of boomerang that you can get that spins back to you after you throw it. Boomerangs first originated from Australia.
Maori Carvings is a traditional carving that is made out of stone, wood or bone. You can find Maori Carvings at Maire.

Whale Boots are made out of Grey leather with a white ribbon that is tied around the top of the boot. Inuits wear them were they live.

What do all of these things have in common? All to do with indigenous cultures.

45 minute inquiry - Koi Carp Bow hunting

Last Saturday Mrs Mills went to Huntly to bow hunt for koi carp. She was hunting them because they are a pest. They eat native fish and their eggs. They pollute the water by stirring up the mud and it kills native trees. Koi carp can grow up to 80cm and can weigh up to 10kg.

Mrs Mills went bow hunting last weekend because the koi carp were spawning (breeding) and they come into the shallows to do this.

Bow hunting is a sport that requires a bow and arrow. You also need a line attached to the arrow so you can retrieve the fish and arrow. You do not need a license in NZ to bow hunt. It has been around since the Victorian era.

Mrs Mills caught 6 koi carp. She didn’t throw them back into the water because you can receive a fine.  She left them on the side of the lake and they were taken by some fishermen.

Photos:

Which button would you push and why?

I would choose the red button that gives you the ability to turn completely invisible including your clothes. I chose the red button because you sneek out at night to your friends houses. You could get a great job at being a spy. Get free anything because you could walk into a shop and take anything you want without being seen. You could sneed into a concert and then after the concert you would go into their car and go back to their house with them like one direction or something. You could sneek onto a plane without anyone knowing or seeing.

P.E - Tennis

This morning for P.E we played tennis. It was alot of fun. 

Tennis Skills

What was hard? Nothing really because I play tennis.

What were you doing wrong? Sometimes I didn't stand like you do on a surfboard so the ball went sideways not straight.

What did you improve on? I improved on my serve.

We made up a couple of rules:

We played doubles. We got into partners and played tennis against eachother. 

The rule was when a team got to 3 points they were the winners and kept playing until they were beaten. 

When someone served if it hit the net it would be a fault and they would have another turn but if they didn't get it that time then it would be a point to the other time. 

My partner was Sharnae. Brooke and Anna were the winners and when we played them we bet them, but then we played against each other again we lost. So we came 2nd. 

Life Education Blog Post 2012.

Life Education Blog Post 2013.

What did I learn?

I learnt about delaying the decision until our brain has stopped developing at the age of 25. But if we can wait longer which Michael hoped we could then that would be the best way to go. 

How will I use this new learning?

I will Delay the decision and never do drugs. I have now learnt so much about it and I now know what to do if I am in some of the situations on the videos we watched. I now know to use sayings to help me get out of things I don't want to do.

How could I help someone else?

I can help them in situations like what we watched on the videos. I can help them make an informed decision and give them information that we learnt in the van about the drug or what ever they are being persuaded into doing. 

I have really enjoyed Life Education this year because we all now know allot about drugs and now know the effects that can happen when you take drugs. 

G - Greater

I - Impact on

B - Brain

G - Greater

A - Addiction

P - Potential

F - Faster

A - Absorption

R - Rate

M - Memory

R - Reason

J - Judgement

M - Mechanical skills

I - Intellect

C - Concentration

E - Emotion

R - Reason

E - Excuse

A - Assertive

C - Change the subject

H - Humour

W - Walk away

I- Ignore 

T - Tell someone or Toughen up

S - Say NO!

Delay The Decision! Say NO!

Waimarino

On Thursday 7th of November room 41 and 42 went to Waimarino for the day. When we arrived we went through the rules and the safety. Then we went kayaking. First when we were out on the water we made a raft up. Then we had some free time. After free time we played shark and seal where there were 2 sharks and the sharks were trying to get the seals. To do that they had to come up to us and tag out kayak.

After we came off the water we had lunch and then went to did some activities for the rest of the day. There is the high diving board, the low diving board, the tarzan swing, the hydro slide where you can take a kayak down, the UFO is a big trampoline in the middle of the water and it has a mini blob on it, a water slide and some ladders for you to climb up. There is also the blob which is a humongas cushion in the water and someone jumps down on it and climbs to the end and the someone else jumps on it and you go flying in the air. It is so much fun!

Why should other schools go to Waimarino?
I think other schools should get the opportunity to go to Waimarino because it is an amazing place. You get taught so much there like how to put on a life jacket, how to kayak, how to swim and you give yourself more confidence if you try new things.



I was thinking before acting. I was thinking before I went on the gladiator pole if I would have a safe landing. I was thinking about what activities I wanted to do.

I was relating to others when I was including my friends and going on activities with my friends.

I was using signs, symbols and text when we had to read the rules of the activity, the rules of the water park and the map of where to go.

I was managing myself when I said I can spend this amount of time on this activity and that much time on that activity so I can do most of the activities.

I was participating and contributing when I did the activities because I didn't just sit out and do nothing, I was participating and joining in with the fun!

Here are a couple of photos:

Homework - Drugs Webquest

For homework this week we had to answer some questions about drugs.
Here is the link to the webquest: WEBQUEST

12 Hour Relay

On Friday was the 12 hour relay. The 12 hour relay is when a team is chosen from each house and runs for 12 hours swapping each lap like a relay. The runners in the team had to be there at 6:30am and started running at 7:00am.
My sister was in it so I had to arrive at 6:30am iswell.

Block 1:
I went and help make sandwiches for the runners. Then some of my friends came in and helped me count how many to give to each team. Later on we went and delivered them.

Block 2:
In block 2 I went out and took photos and videos of the top town activities. Some of the activities are sack races, gunboot throw, torozontal bungy and lots more. Then I went back to the food tech room and helped clean up.

Block 3:
During block 3 Rimu, Manuka and Matai was the audience for the talent show. There were some amazing acts, some crazy acts and some funny acts.

After school:
I stayed after school because my sister was running so I had to stay. My friends sister came from college so we hung out and went to the food tent and fraser cove. Then when we came back we cheered on everyone untill 5pm.

Here is a photo of the day: