Maths time - independent activities

Wanwan and Scott's maths groups have been learning new maths games and activities. We have been working on skip counting, learning a new game called 'round the world', and reviewing our basic facts.



Some of the games have are new and we have had to work on reviewing our basic facts and our doubles knowledge.



This game is like dominoes but using basic facts.

Muscle Dance

As part of our inquiry into power the students have been playing games in the afternoon and then given the opportunity to create their own versions or adapt the games into something new.





It has been fantastic to see the students working together as a team, sharing ideas, and getting creative. We have also had Autahi come in and join base groups. They have enjoyed taking part and getting to know the rhythms of Tautoru.



In muscle dance the students have looked at people in action from rugby players, construction workers, ballet dancers, and bodybuilders. They have then developed a short dance piece using a variety of poses. Great fun.

Our class Waka

We have created a class waka. Everyone in the class is sitting in the waka working together to reach goals as a group but we are also able to support each other in achieving our individual goals.

 

 Each student has identified a character strength that they will use in class. Waka 1 is up and rowing with waka 2 on its way soon!

Challenge

This week each person has had a chance to think of something they can do in the playground to challenge themselves and try to make a new game. We talked about the rules for games, if rules are always needed and if rules can change. We talked about working together in groups and negotiating.

Drumming

This week base groups have been using their creativity, zest, and team work in making music. It has been tricky to keep in time and follow a rhythm but our perseverance has been really helping us out!

Art about ourselves

This week (and a little bit of last week), we have been creating poster about ourselves.
There are so many steps during the process. We are doing this to think about who we are and get to know each other better through the poem.

We used oil pastel and dye for our background, meanwhile we also had to take picture of each other. We worked with Susie to create a poem about ourselves.

At the end we have to put everything together by cutting out our picture and poem carefully; then glue them onto the background we created.

We learned that when cutting, we can draw a line with sharpie to help us cut more carefully.

Robots

In maths we have been tracing shapes to create powerful robots.

Maths

Scott and Wanwan have been working with small maths groups teaching new games.

Students have been creating robots out of various shapes.

Students have also been working on calendar maths. Colouring in each day we are at school, so far, 19 days!

Literacy time

Wanwan and Scott's literacy groups worked on a variety of independent activities today.

We are learning to work with others and share our strengths. The students have taught each other how to post onto seesaw, visit Kiwikids, and our class blog.

We have also been working on keeping our voices down when we are on the study stage.

Welcoming our new families at the Powhiri

We are learning to add to Seesaw

We have been learning to add things to Seesaw independently. We took photos and added drawings and labels. Some of us added voive overs. Our next steps are to say what we are learning to do. 

Friday Japanese

We started Japanese lessons this afternoon. 

The students sang a song, introduced themselves, and counted to 10. Sugoi!

Tautoru Treaty

We have written a Treaty for Tautoru. We talked about the way we need to behave so that we can have a happy time together this year. We all drew a picture of ourselves and signed our name to say that we will do our best to be respectful, kind, caring and inclusive. We are looking forward to a great year together.

Bucket Fillers!

For a few weeks now in Tautoru we have all been finding out what it means to be a "Bucket Filler". 

We began by reading a story called "Have you filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud

Bucket Fillers are people who show kindness, appreciation and love by filling an invisible bucket that we all carry around with us each day. 

There are many ways we can be Bucket Fillers. Each and everyone of us in Tautoru have thought of ways to fill the buckets of the people we see everyday.

We have all been trying to do and say things that will fill each others buckets. Here are some examples:

Measurement

We have started talking about and exploring Measurement in maths. 

We began estimating the length of objects using 1 metre personal benchmarks (parts of our body that are 1m in length).

Then we headed outside with tape measures to find as many objects as we could that measured 1 metre exactly. 

We found many things that were either 1 metre long or 1 metre wide!

Dragon Music

We have started to explore more sound and music creation in Tautoru.



To accompany our class dragon for Chinese New Year we have been working together on a musical piece for it to dance to.


The students worked in teams, selected instruments to work with and decided on a 'story' for their dragon.

Growth Mindset Videos

Base groups in Tautoru have been spending time in Autahi over the last 2 weeks talking about their goals, sharing their strengths, and watching videos about a growth mindset.


The videos can be viewed at this link growth-mindset.

They are fantastic short clips that the students have enjoyed and are pitched perfectly at their level. Please spend some time with your children and talk about their own strengths and goals.

Greetings from Taipei/ Taiwan

At Worser Bay School, we are excited to learn about different places and cultures. We have started a project that is linked to International Friendship Day (this is celebrated in Singapore to celebrate collaboration and connections with other cultures). Schools from across the world have signed up to share a short movie about their country. The movies will be posted on this site. Here is the first one from Taipei/ Taiwan: 

If you are a teacher, you can sign up here.

Character Strengths

We have been talking about Character Strengths. We made some posters showing what they mean to us at school.

Bravery in Tautoru means trying new things, standing up in front of the whole school, answering questions in a big group and being strong when you fall over.

Perspective means thinking "I can get better at this some day" and when you think you're not good at something, just thinking that you will get better.

Perseverance means sticking at it, never giving up, not stopping and trying to keep doing your best.