Zella the blue tongue lizard

Brenda bought in a special pet to share - it was her blue tongue lizard called Zella.  Zella is 10 years old and has a blue tongue.  She was pretty cool and in the afternoon we got her out of her cage and we each had a hold of her. She felt a bit cold and leathery.  Zella stayed for the whole day. Thank you Brenda for sharing Zella with Room 13.  Mrs Rova has some super pictures of us each holding Zella so please ask if you would like a copy. 

Daffodil Day

 On Daffodil day we created a little science experiment using daffodils, food colouring, water, 2 jars and some scissors. We put red food colouring and water in one jar and blue in the other. We put three daffodils in the red jar and three daffodils into the blue jar. Then we cut the stem of three other daffodils into two. We placed one side of the daffodil into the red jar and one side into the blue jar.  We left the daffodils for a few days and then we were amazed at the results.  The daffodils in the red jar turned a bit red around the edges, the daffodils in the blue jar turned a bit blue around the edges too.  The daffodils in both colours turned red and blue around the edges like in the photo. 
Perhaps you could try this at home too?

Kale Chips

Today Cassius, Ruby, Kiarhn and Blake went with Marlene and Dylan to make kale chips. They picked the fresh kale from our school gardens.  They followed a similar recipe to the one we have attached below. They each had a role in making the tasty treat.  When they had finished they bought the kale chips to class and we all got sample some. Some of the class thought they were delicious.  Perhaps you could try the recipe at home?

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KALE CHIPS

Ingredients: 200g curly kale

1 tbsp olive oil

½ tsp sea salt Chicken seasoning

What to do:

1. Heat the oven to 140C. Wash the kale and pat dry.

2. Strip the leaves off the stems, and tear into rough bite-sized pieces. Arrange in a single layer, not too crowded, on two baking trays lined with baking paper (you may need to do two batches).

3. Drizzle with the olive oil and massage the oil into the leaves until coated.

4. Scatter with sea salt and chicken seasoning, then bake until crisp but not browned (keep checking after 10 minutes, it could take up to 15) and serve.

Discovery

Discovery is a great opportunity to try lots of language experiences on offer.  This week we had a variety of activities however the most popular being the frozen water balloons to play with.  After we had held them and passed them around we took to smashing them on the grass and then walking in it.  We also had face painting which proved a hit.  There was arts and craft activities with boxes, eyes and the glue gun and I am certain a few of these would have made it home. In Room 10 the children were making toast.  




James, Wera and Tukaha joined us from the Sport Taranaki Maori and Pasifica programme and had a heap of skills based games on offer. 

Ask your child about the frozen water balloons and perhaps you could give it a go at home?

Kale, cheese and bacon muffins

Today a group of students went with Marlene to do some baking.  They picked the kale from the school garden.  They had to chop up the kale into tiny pieces. Then they got to measure out all the ingredients and mix them together.  They each had a turn at spooning the mixture into the muffin tray. Once they were cooked they got to share the delicious baking with the class. 
Perhaps you could do some baking at home to show case the wonderful skills that Room 13 have! Mrs Rova would love to sample any creations :)

New sign

Have you seen the new sign yet?? Today we went on a little adventure and we watched the new sign getting put it.  We got to see and hear the post hole borer in action. It was fun. We love the new sign and were happy to pose for pictures.

Opussum

We were lucky enough to have two opussums visit.  They were eating apples and they hold their food like we do.  They sleep during the day and come out at night.  We have been learning about nocturnal animals. 

Weet-bix slice

Dylan made weet-bix slice to share with Room 13.  It tasted very yummy and was super crunchy. Dylan told the class what ingredients he needed to make it and how he made it. We have asked Dylan to come back and teach us how to make it.  
Have you got a favourite recipe that you could share?

Paprika

Mrs Rova bought her dog Paprika in.  She is a papillion and is 4 years old.  Paprika loved hanging out in Room 13 and the class enjoyed having her visit.  

Max and Angel

Makayla's mum bought in their pet chihuahua's - Max and Angel.  They had little knitted jerseys on because it was so cold. We loved having them to visit.  If you have a pet at home that you want to share with the class then please see Mrs Rova.

Sewing

We were given a bag of material to create some items for the dolls house.  The children made blankets and pillows.  Tom and Krishiv wanted to make a bag so they headed to Marlene to get some cotton and thread.  Marlene showed the boys how to sew by stitching the sides together.  They were so excited with their efforts.  Perhaps you could try sewing at home?

'I' wall

We have been practising to write 'I' independently.  It is one of our fast words that we use at writing time.  We created an 'I' wall by writing it on every brick.  Perhaps you could ask us to write the word 'I' for you at home. 

Bindi the goat

Mrs Rova's brother Glen bought in his pet goat Bindi.  She was very inquisitive and playful. We let her run around the classroom and she kept jumping on the furniture.  Bindi ate a bit of a magazine and also chewed some buttons. When we took Bindi outside she had a bottle of milk.  When Mr Elder wasn't looking we took her onto the playground and then into the sandpit.  Bindi kept eating the sand which the class found hilarious.  We hope that Bindi visits again.

Rugby Boys

We are very fortunate to have three young men join us from the Sport Taranaki Maori and Pacifica Rugby Academy. Their names are James, Tukaha and Whera.  They will join us every Friday for the next 6 weeks.

The chickens have a name....

Have you been to visit the chickens in Room 13 yet?? Today we had to name the chickens.  We wrote all the suggestions on some paper and then we voted for the name we liked the best.  The white chicken is now called Sparkles and the grey chicken is called Smokey.  Call in to see them if you are in school.

Marlene comes to visit

We are so lucky in Room 13 because Marlene often visits to share her new books with us.  Today she visited with a new book about a tui. Room 13 loved the story as it featured some of the native birds that we have been learning about.  We loved the story so much that we decided to create a mural using some of the ideas in the story.  Thanks Marlene.

Hatching eggs

Three of the chickens hatched out of the incubator.  They look a bit slimy.  Two of the chickens are grey and one of the chickens is yellow.  They are very cute and make a lot of noise.  Perhaps if you are in school you can call into Room 13 and see them?

Card board tubes...

Room 13 were donated a couple of boxes of cardboard tubes.  We each took one to the sandpit to play with.  Some of the ideas created were roads and tunnels, chimneys, fairy wands, water fountains, a loading chute or even a lolly tree.  A few of us joined forces and worked together to play - others preferring to design and build in solitary.  We had a lot of fun constructing and narrating as we played. To make this activity even better - Mrs Rova let us take a tube home which was just awesome!

Making a fairy trap...

The class has been talking and playing a lot about fairies - tooth fairies, magical fairies and fairy dragons.  
They decided that they wanted to try and trap a fairy.  We talked about what they could use and where they would set it. Together they made a trap using sticks, leaves and grass.  They set the trap over by the dell and under a tree.  We left the trap overnight and when we went back to check it they were ecstatic.... Although we did not catch any - the fairies had left a teeny tiny note and a big pile of fairy dust (glitter and stars).  This prompted more play and discussions around Fairies - some children headed to the sand pit and worked on making a better trap with wool and bits of string.  
Perhaps you could make a trap at your place... You may have better luck at catching one?