Technology- Birdhouse

As part of our technology unit we have worked in pairs to design and build birdhouses. First we had to follow the criteria, create some concept designs and move onto our final design, which included measuring and labelling. We then constructed our birdhouses. Here is what we ended up with….

Flight

This term we have been learning all about birds and flight. For writing we had to imagine that we were a bird and then describe the experience.

Magpie

A hot sunny day and I am alert. There are people and birds are nearby my nest. I am worried someone will steal my eggs. 

Here comes a man on a bike. He has a video camera on his head and he’s cycling towards my tree. I will defend my eggs! I plan to attack the man. My attack will be easy, my squawk will scare the man and my sharp beak and pointy claws will break his video camera.

Here I go, leaping off the branch to attack. I fly fast with the wind whooshing through my wings. I have nearly caught up to him. I squawk loudly to scare him as I peck at his helmet and scratch his video camera. The scratching is ruining his video camera. Scared the man quickly cycled away. leaving me and my eggs alone and safe.

By Luca

Falcon
I sit here searching for my prey. I suddenly spot something in the distance. Slowly I start to move forward ready to make my move. Swoop I set off to catch my prey. I can feel the wind pounding against my wings. My prey makes no sudden movement. Clunk I snatch the crow with my strong claws. I look down at the crow as blood drips on to the cold damp snow. Finally at home I release my prey and feast on it.

By Jordyn

The Great Grey Owl

There I stood as still as can be on the top of the freezing stiff snow. Waiting for my prey. As soon as I hear crunching or splashing I follow the signal. Spotting my prey I swoop down. Crashing into the stiff snow catching my prey in my sharp claws. Slowly I fly away to enjoy my feast.

By Kiri

The King Fisher

Perched on my mossy damp branch scanning the deep blue river. The black rocks made it look like a water fall. A cockabilly slowly passed the branch. A dirt coloured cockabilly. I kept watching on. My body ready to splash into the shallow water. I was hungry. Slowly I prepared myself to dive in. whooph I hit the shiny spring water. Grasping my dinner with my long beak.

By Lochy

The Bald Eagle

I circled the rippling aqua water in the darkening sky, balancing on the howling wind. Scanning the surface of the splashing waves, I glided down for a better look. Something flashed silver, once, twice. Imagining a juicy, fat salmon I plummeted down, stretching out my talons preparing for contact with the lake. Spraying water I encircled the fish with my claws and, with difficulty, flew away with water dripping, to have my dinner.

By Amalya

Don Binney Bird Art

International Day

On Friday we celebrated International day. Students from Room 13 got into the International Day spirit and dressed up for the day. There were some beautiful traditional costumes! 

It is important that we celebrate where we are from. Our many cultures make our school pretty special! 

A huge thank you to Johannes for bringing  waffles to share, a yummy German treat! 

Activity Week

Ross Creek (Mountain)

I stared down at my knees dreading what lay ahead. Slowly, I lifted my gaze. I felt like dying right there and then. The rocky path in that lay in front of me went straight up for what seemed like forever. I remembered earlier going through the stout, mossy grey stone pillars, then crossing a sturdy bridge, passing millions of trees. It was bad enough tramping along for what seemed like hours on end. I could feel my powder blue bag start to slip off my limp shoulders. I heaved it up again just as a noisy wood pigeon flew overhead. The path was towering up to the sky, like a forbidding mountain. My heart started pumping, instantly my energy started to dissolve like melting ice-cream or a fading rainbow. I felt as weak as a newborn foal, with its long skinny legs. Slowly I began to climb the immense mountain.

By Amalya

Comic Life- By Isabel

Josh’s 2014 Camp Iona

My favorite part of Camp Iona was the Gorge. It was an amazing experience. First the muddy walk down to the first abseil. The first abseil was a little drop so we could learn how to do it. Once I got to the bottom I skipped stones across the river. It was a long wait but it was worth it. The river was great for skipping stones.

 Next we did a little river walk. The first traverse was coming up and my heart was pumping. I clipped my self in and got ready to go across. At the end of the line we got pulled in and unclipped. Then we made our way to the second abseil and waited as a parent went down to help us at the bottom. I was the first child down and helped take everybody's bags over to the opposite bank. It was a long wait and when I saw the height of the third abseil I was really excited. Again I stepped up for my turn and clipped in. I was ready to go. When I got to the bottom the parent said that I was the fastest to get down so far.

 Finally onto the rocky slope up to the last traverse. My heart was pounding in my chest. My hands griped the rope as I pushed off. I made steady progress and in the middle I let go of the rope and was hanging upside down with no hands. I had my photo taken and I continued along. I reached the end safely and unclipped. It was so fun. I waded back to the rocky slope and climbed back up. This time I was not scared. Slowly I got ready to go. I crouched and clicked my watch onto stop watch mode and pressed start. Quickly I pushed off and griped the rope, pulling with all my strength. As soon as I reached the edge of the other bank I stopped my timer. 0:10:12, it said. I was pleased with my effort. When everybody had got across we headed back up to camp. 

G.S.N.S Camp Iona

In week 4 of Term 1 we did a year 6 camp at Camp Iona in North Otago. We were lucky enough to do a range of different activities like;

• Archery
• Confidence Course
• Cookout
• Gorge Expedition
• Mc’Kerrows Pond
• Orienteering
• Bush Walk / Day Trek
• Search & Rescue
• Tenting
• River Walk
• Leadership Activities
• Cooperative Activities

All the kids had a great time at Camp Iona doing the above activities.

Also check out our snazzy as digital stories about adventure week and Camp Iona!

Lucas and Patrick

By Harry

By Jessica