We have been busy writing our speeches and next week we will be presenting them to the class. Our topic is NZ wildlife. We could choose any creature we liked. We started with our pepeha then a hook to grab the audiences attention and then wrote facts. We have ended with an "I" statement e.g "I think tūī are beautiful birds because their feathers shimmer in the sunlight.
Have you ever said a speech? Do you have any tips for us when we say them in front of others?
We started to make the Kawakawa balm from the leaves and stems of the plant. It's growing in our Rongoā Garden (Healing Garden) at school and by our worm farm. There's also lots growing around Tairāwhiti especially up Kaiti Hill. Whenever we pick the leaves, it's important to think about the care of the plant and it's future growth. Never take too much and whatever you don't use, always return to the base of the plant. Saying a karakia asking for permission to take some leaves and thanking God for this wonderful gift is also part of the process.
Picking leaves with holes is best - insects know best! What they eat is the most potent and this is what we want.
Making the infused Kawakawa oil
First you need to make the Kawakawa oil. You can add essential oils such as lavender or tea-tree for extra medicinal purposes but we chose not to as some people don't react positively to them.
Tearing the leaves and stalks of the Kawakawa, they were then placed in a crockpot with 1 litre of olive oil. The leaves had to be under the oil. Then the crockpot was turned onto the lowest setting possible and left for a couple hours. Each day we turn the crockpot on for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. We will do this for about a week to make sure the Kawakawa is infused into the oil then it will be strained through a muslin cloth into a jar.
We will let you know the second part of the process once we have done it.
Have you ever tasted Kawakawa leaves? It has a peppery taste and can be used in cooking instead of pepper. Make sure you ask an adult before you eat any leaves to make sure you are eating the correct plant.
Kawakawa balm is good for dry lips, skin irritations (eczema and psoriasis), bites, sores, and nappy rash. It's also useful for treating infections, and it is really helpful in reducing inflammation. Kawakawa balm is non-sting, so perfect for kids and any skin scrapes!
Have you ever healed yourself using New Zealand's native plants?
If you have been reading our blog then you will know we have been learning about dinosaurs. Today we were paleontologists and had a DINOSAUR DIG!
First, we had to find the chunk of plaster of paris in the sandpit. They were very hard to find and we had to persevere. After we found one, we had to carefully dig into it to reveal the dinosaur. Next we identified our dinosaur using some resources. We had so much fun!
We are learning about dinosaurs that lived in Aotearoa. This week, we have been writing reports and painting pictures of them.
So far, we have watched YouTube clips about them and found some written facts. Did you know pterosaurs aren't actually dinosaurs? They are flying reptiles!
Here's Lincoln's report...
Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs. They are, in fact, flying reptiles.
Did you know they were as big as a fighter jet and their wingspan was 10.6 metres? They had hollow bones and super, sharp teeth. Pterosaurs had hooked claws. That is weird but useful for not dropping prey in flight.
They lived from the late Triassic period to the end of the Cretaceous period.
Did you know that a young pterosaur is called a flapling?
Pterosaurs liked to eat fish and smaller things.
I think dinosaurs are cool.
Do you know which dinosaurs lived in Aotearoa?
This week our whānau are coming into our classroom so we can talk about our learning with them. First we will introduce our family to our teacher and then ask them to sign the Guest Register. We will pull out a chair for them and ask them to sit down. Then we are going to be talking to them about all the things we have been learning, why we have been learning it and what our next steps in learning will be. We are also reading our Writing to them, showing them what we are up to in Maths, sharing our favourite iMovie we have made and showing them our R.E. books and art. At the end we will call Mrs Naden, our teacher, over to talk about our next learning goals.
Have you ever talked to your whānau about your learning?
We have been reading and learning about Matariki. We have learnt about the 9 stars and what they represent. We've also had a shared Matariki breakfast with our whānau, wished on Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, planted native trees and written poems.
Our school has a new bike track. We have a container filled with bikes and helmets for us to use. We have learnt how to:
