Habitats

This term we have been looking at what makes us unique, with a focus on Whanaungatanga (creating a sense of family and connection) and  Kotahitanga (unity, togetherness and collective action).  

We have looked at special places to us and have traced around our feet as a symbol of Tūrangawaewae, (tūranga - having a standing place and waewae - feet).

Gathering up all this learning, our tamariki have been interested in the different places we all come from and where we choose to live. This lead us to looking and learning about animals and the different habitats they choose to live and why.

We decided to have our first 'Tautoru University' session.

This is where we watch a video one time and discuss what we have learnt,

watch it again and takes notes,

and watch it for a third time and categorise our learning.

We also read this funny book about a child who designed their very own school - it was crazy! We were very excited to try this ourselves.

We made 'spider mind maps' with all our ideas - using different colours to catergorise the different spaces and needs of each school area, just like a habitat.

Just imagine if these schools were real!

"When you step on a sensor at the school, a super slide will suck you up into your classroom. It scans you so that it knows which class you are in. In the morning you play educational video games and 2k drive, forza, mario carts and minecraft". Felix.

Writing - The Story Mountain!

Now that we have well and truely settled into the school year, we are beginning to introduce and revisit structures to support our writing.

Over the last couple of weeks we have been talking about the 'Story Mountain' - a structure that stories can follow: 

First of all, key characters and a setting are introduced. After this, a build up occurs which leads to a big problem. Our stories then progress to solving this problem, and ultimately ending. 

As we know, stories will have multiple problems throughout, and sometimes we have two (or more) mountains within a piece - which the kids love to call camel stories!

This week we've completed story mountains about Jess getting stuck in a train station in Italy (which actually happened!), and stories a bit closer to home, about losing teeth and what could happen at a birthday party. Come into Tautoru to check them out! 

Maths in Tautoru

 "The first few years of primary school are when crucial maths learning happens. Years 1–3 are when students develop the foundational maths skills and understandings that they need for future success."  

Over the last 5 weeks in Tautoru we have been focusing on developing our number knowledge.  Number knowledge is so important and not something that can be left to chance.  We recognise that number knowledge plays an important part in problem solving and the ability to think flexibly. 

We are using a variety of resources and hands on materials to explore place value and how numbers are made up.  

As well as teaching the 'maths content' we have also been laying the foundations and teaching our students how to work together to solve problems, how to listen, agree, challenge and contribute to group maths activities.  When students are working together to solve problems they have the opportunity to test their thinking, correct misconceptions and ultimately develop a healthy curiosity and love of maths.  

We want to be finding all the maths opportunities in our world, across our rich cultures and real life contexts. Watch this space for more exciting maths learning. 

These are some examples of our students using hands on materials to make numbers and practise our sequencing, writing and reading of numbers to 100. 

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