Category: Hanga | Create

Noia Reader!
Every second week, Kiwi Can comes to our school to teach us a valuable lesson, along with some small activities relating to that topic.

To celebrate other countries, they introduce with a country’s greeting. Our country to learn for this week was Rotuma; with the greeting “Noia”, meaning ‘hello’ and ‘good day’

Therefore our lesson was all about Integrity, this means making good choices even when no one is looking; with the catchphrase: Making good choices is what we do, when there is a choice we need to choose. Overall I thing that this lesson can show great values of how you need to act, and I can see how this can help my classmates make better choices.

Our exciting energiser for today was silent cones. The cones were placed on each corner of the room, and we had to go to any cone of choice without making any noise. If the leader hears anyone move once the timer ends, and if she/he chooses that corner, they are out. This exciting activity teaches us how to make the right decision, even in games.

For our activity, we played knots and crosses/tictactoe. For this game, it was boy vs girls and we had to go into groups of 3. Then our challenge was to have good insticts, and be the first one to make 3 in a row without any spot being blocked by the other group. Whatever team wins the most between the boys vs girls win the whole game; and luckily the girls won! This activity taught us how to have good insticts and proper decision making so that we could win.

In my opinion, Kiwi Can is a lovely company that helps make our attitude better when it comes to every ascpect of our lives, and I am looking forward for our next lesson!
Do you have any facts about Rotuma?

This week for the year 8’s we have been working on a math topic called , ‘Exponents & Square roots’. We are learning to convert numbers between index and expanded form and learn how to evaluate the square root of a number.
An exponent number is a way to say how many times you will multiply your number based on the power ( aka the tiny number on the side). For example, 5⁴ means 5 x 5 x 5 x 5, and therefore the answer is 625.
A square root is a number which 2 of the same numbers can be multiplied together to create that number. For example, the square root of 16 is 4, because 4 x 4 equals 16.

Guided practice page:
After a short lesson from my teacher Zoe, we went off to work in our books, starting with guided practice. We were tasked to write the multiplication as a base number and exponent. If it was 3 x 3 x 3, the answer would be 3³, then we had to do it the other way around.
Shortly after, we had to find the square root of a number (eg. √25 = 5) and we had to find which 2 square numbers a number was between. For example, 10 is in between the 2 square numbers 9 & 16, since 3 x 3 = 9, and 4 x 4 = 16.

Independant practice page:
Moving on to independent practice, where we had to answer questions like what was 5⁵ and so on. Secondly, we had to answer which exponent number had the greater value by expanding it into multiplication form. Thirdly, we had to find the value of the exponent (Eg. 5 to the power of (blank) = 15 625). To do this, I divided 15625 by 5, again and again till it reached 1. Then I counted how many times we needed to do this step, therefore the answer was 6; 5 to the power of 6 = 15 625
Overall, my friends and I have found this challenging because solving exponent numbers like 8⁵ took a lot of patience and perseverance.

Extended practice page:
Lastly, on extended practice it allowed us to use calculators. We worked on questions like 8−1 = 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125  and 8−2 = (1 ÷ 8) ÷ 8 = 0.015625.
I think that because it has a negative sign it made us divide, since it is the opposite of multiplying. Using these examples, it helped us to understand the other questions, because now I know that 4-1 = 4 ÷ 1 = 0.25, and 4-2 equals (4 ÷ 1) ÷ 4 = 0.0625.

After all this work, me and my group were finally relieved. In my opinion, I think that this topic was absolutely fun and interesting to work on, considering that it is amazing to see how math can involve lots of topics. I am looking forward to using this skill later on in life.
What are you learning for math?

Today, we got tasked to make a book review about a book we have been reading over the past few days. Our learning intention is to summarise the main points of the story and to encourage other to read it. Therefore my book that I decided to write is ‘X Marks The Haunt’. On the side, we had to write the summary and our opinion about the book so that it could make others want to read it. During the making of this review, I enjoyed summarising the main points because it really got be thinking on what was the major passage of the story.

X Marks The Haunt Summary
Will Stone was in the middle grade when, his school had to opportunity to go on a trip to Chicago’s historic Graceland Cemetery, managed by his mother. After the school trip, they decide to explore the graveyard without being caught. However, one of his friends loses the century-old crypt key that opens to a crypt/burial vault; leading to the spirit acting up, haunting them in various ways.

In my opinion, this story has a rollercoaster of emotions, considering that the haunting has been shown in mysterious ways. The book weaves in spine chilling stories from Graceland Cemetery, cemetery lore, and erie awakenings, making it engaging for the reader.

I recommend!   ★★★★☆

I had fun doing this activity, and I am looking forward to making more book reviews in the future!

The year 8s and I have been focusing on a topic called ‘prime factorisation’. The intention is to learn what is a prime, a factor, and HCF, and how you can solve questions when it comes to these.

On guided practice we had to find factors of numbers, how many prime numbers there are, and stating whether it is a prime or composite. A prime number can only be divided by 1 and itself. However, a composite number can be divided by other numbers; not only 1 and itself. This part made me feel calm, because it wasn’t stressing.

Therefore, we moved on to independent practice, where we used factor trees to break down composite numbers into their prime factors.
For example: to find the prime numbers of 18, we split the number into 2 sections making it 9 x 2 .  Since 9 is a composite number and we are looking for primes, we break it down further into 3 x 3.
Now all the numbers are prime we have to do is compile all the prime numbers in that whole equation. So the final answer to the primes of 18 is 2 and 3, you can also say it as 3 x 3 x 2 or 3^2, x 2.
When you see it explained it looks confusing, but it’s really easy with practice!

Lastly, on extended practice, it introduced us to HCF (highest common factor).
For example; to find the HCF of 24 and 40 we first had to list down all the factors of both numbers.
24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
40: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 40
Next, we had to find what numbers appear in both.  1, 2 , 4, and 8 are factors of both 24 and 40. The highest of these is 8, therefore the HCF is 8.

Altogether, I found this topic enjoyable and managable. Understanding prime factorisation and HCF had helped me improve my problem solving skills, and I can see how it could be useful in future math.

This week, room 9 were assigned to do a pepeha! Our intention was to dive deep into who we are so that we could share it with others. A pepeha is a Maori word to show your connection to the land, heritage and people. It is for the purpose of embracing your identity and take pride in who you are, and getting people to know the common facts of your life; such as by sharing your name, country, parents etc. Identity is often shaped by cultural, social activities, and family contexts.
Therefore, since Philippines is my culture, I decided to make my pepeha a tagalog version. I also decided to add my baby photos, and some decorations to make it eyecatching. During the making of this task, I found it really interesting seeing all my other classmates ones, because it allowed me to think how different each and everyone one of us is.
We are all unique in our own ways and so are you!
Here is my pepeha⬇

Room 9 and I have gotten the opportunity of making Anzac Biscuits. We are learning to follow baking instructions to that we could have an amazing outcome. It originated in world war 1, where it had been sent by wives and women groups to the soldiers. Originally termed “Soldiers’ Biscuits” or “Red Cross Biscuits,” they were renamed in honor of the Australian New Zealand Army Corps.

Therefore to make the biscuits, we would make it in plastic bags. Making pastries in plastic bags is a huge advantage considering that it wouldn’t develop a huge mess, and you wouldn’t endure the annoyance of washing dishes.

I was with my friend Ruth for the making of the biscuits, the bag crinkled in our hands as it was way easier to squish the bag instead of mixing it without making a mess. As for the ingredients, we had to combine the sandy and dry ingredients first, then the sticky and oily wet ingredients after. The feeling of mixed emotions and excitement was overflowing the hall.

After mixing, we noticed that it wasn’t golden brown like the others, so we decided to put more syrup, the vilocity of the lovely golden brown dripped slowly into the bag. However; this unfortunately lead to a slight syrup overdose…

Ruth and I decided to make 4 small biscuits and 2 large biscuits so that both of us could have 3 each. The sound of dinging occured after 10 minutes. The grainy texture of the biscuit was real soft in the middle, but a soft crust on the outside. Overall, our Anzac biscuits were successful and delicious to eat, although after taking a lot of bites it sort of gave a syrupy after-taste and was very squishy; which is what we could work on in the future.
Here is how to make ANZAC biscuits below, definitely recommend!

Ingredients
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup sugar
50 g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoon water

Instructions
1. Put the first 4 dry ingredients in a mixing, then stir to combine all ingredients.
2. Melt the butter, this can be done in the microwave, low power to avoid splashing.
3. Add the golden syrup to the melted butter then stir
4. Dissolve the baking soda in the water then add this to the butter syrup mix.
5. Add the butter mix to the dry ingredients and stir
6. Roll into small teaspoon-sized balls and place onto a baking paper-lined tray
7. Very gently squish the balls with a fork
9. Bake at 180 degrees celsius for around 8-10 minutes until lightly golden but still soft in the middle
10. Lick the spoon

This week, the year 8’s and I have been working on a math topic all about long division. Our learning intention was to learn the steps and how to solve the equations with ease. It is a easy but complicated way of solving division problems. This way of solving is oftenly used for difficult equations such as 456 divided by 5. During this topic, I noticed that my classmates who were new to long division struggled to remember the steps, but got it in the end after lots of practice.

Here is how the book taught us: When you were younger, you probably called division “sharing” and wrote number sentences such as 25 shared by 4 = 6 remainder 1, or 25 ÷ 4 = 6 r 1.
Here are four words that are used to describe division:
The dividend i s the starting number – the one that is going to be divided.
The divisor is the number that the dividend will be divided by.
The quotient is the result of the division.
The remainder is what is left after the dividend has been split up.
The steps for long division is divide, multiply, subtract, bring down, and repeat.

When we got the opportunity to answer some long division questions, me and my table used collaboration and we worked together to remember the steps. After some teaching from me and Maiya, the rest of our table eventually got the hang of it, although some learned it at home.

I really had fun with this topic, and I know this will help me in my future math equations.

This week in room 9, we have been focusing on a story called ‘King & Country’ written by Andre Ngapo. The source for this story was ‘School Journal’. The purpose of making a summary is to understand clearly of what are reading, while at the same time knowing how to re-tell the story in our own words.

Summary:
Tipu suddenly had the courage to sign up for training to fight for his country, this was because he had seen that the Marae were mentioning that they would fight alongside the British. After he signed up, he suddenly realised that it said that you had to be twenty to go to be a soldier. Tipu was very frustrated yanking on the reins, indicating that he was riding on a horse home very frustratingly. Rongo (Tipu’s older brother) continues to explain how Tipu is too young to sign up. “But I think I’ll go” Rongo said. As Rongo adventures throughout aspects of the world fighting, Tipu can’t help but feel the urge of wanting to go with his brother more than ever. Tipu finally got the chance to get recruited into the army along with other new recruits. Although he was shocked by the injured soldiers they have passed. From afar he spotts his brother and reunites with him, and he could see the grief and trauma he’s experienced throughout his battles.

In my opinion, this activity was overall fun and interesting to do, considering that it is an eyecatching story.

Here is my DLO!!

Talofa Lava Reader!
In room 9, Matua Aina (the cybersmart teacher) got the opportunity to teach us how to make an Anzac inspired art piece using google drawings. The task was to make a silhouette of a soldier, alongside with tombs and a nice gradient of a gleamy sky, hanging low with fiery colours such as crimson gold, amber and the fade and transition of day to night. The purpose of this activity was to learn how to create art using google drawings, while at the same time commemorating the soldiers fighting in the war to defend their country.

The Process:
During this process, I firstly set my background by a 2 finger click to a gradient of orange, yellow and white. Secondly I used the polygon line to trace out my ground using black, then I used my paint pot to fill in the shape. Thirdly, I searched up a soldier silhouette and removed the background using backround remover, and I placed the soldier on the mountain. Fourthly, I created a sun setting down in the background using a circle, and a thick border of a slightly different colour. Fiftly, I made tombs using shapes making it a gradient. Then finally, I made clouds using Google photos.

During this activity, I found it really enjoyable because it got room 9 and I to be really creative with our imagination, considering that we didn’t have any instructions unless we asked. I am really looking forward to activities like this in the future!

What ANZAC art did you do?

As a writing task, room 9 and I had to create a writing piece however we want using the prompt of a picture. We could either choose between what looked like a Haka Celebration, soldiers taking a group photo, and a picture with soldiers in tanks. Therefore I chose the soldiers in tanks. I think that this activity was really enjoyable, and I am looking forward into doing more descriptive writing in the future.

Going Into War

The vehicle’s engine roared, as the deep vibrating tune adventured throughout the land to the concrete floor shaking the soldiers bones. Outside, the sky hung low as grey as the gleamy skies of dawn, breaking a soft diffusing light appearing in the east. Birds make their way to a nest, and the soldiers follow a bumpy path to the battle ground of terror.

Inside the bren gun carrier of camouflaged dressed soldiers, it was a small and claustrophobic area with limited amount of room to shift your legs. The air was tense, and the sense of nervousness echoed throughout the area. The driver sat steadily holding the wheel, turning it with precision, and every push of a lever carried the weight of the tank. The tracks bit into the muddy ground making the wheels covered in mud and stone grasping in between the crevices of the wheels.

Out of nervousness, they frantically wiped their foreheads, leaving a residue of dust and sweat. Their chest pumped loud and fast, almost as if it were about to explode. The prolonged sitting in one position had led to numbness of legs, making it harder to move without enduring the stinging sensation. To soothe the fear, they fidgeted with velcros alongside their wrist with the immense scraping noise tearing apart rapidly. If they were reacting like this just now, how would they be during the war?

This is what they signed up for; and they were ready to face the immense pressure of defending their country alongside their soldiers in the process. Getting driven into the battlefields, their stomachs twisted, and the vigor smell of cigars filled the polluted air putting intoxicated glasses in their lungs. Light began to shine from afar amidst the fog of dawn… Then the vehicle shook.
The silence was loud, and the controller of the carrier positioned themselves heading for their enemies.

At last, the battle which many feared began.