Thursday 4 September 2014

Tongan Language Week - Part 2

Counting to ten in Tongan:
1 - Taha
2 - 'Ua
3 - Tolu
4 - Fa
5 - Nima
6 - Ono
7 - Fitu
8 - Valu
9 - Hiva
10 - Hongofulu


Tongan Language Week 2014 - Part 1

Here are a few conversations you can have in Tongan.
Malo e lelei - Hello
Fefe hake? - How are you?
Sai pe malo 'aupito - Fine thank you.

Malo e lelei - Hello
Ko hai ko hingoa?  - What is your name?
Ko hoku hingoa ko ______ - My name is _____.

Go on, give it a try!  It's fun learning to speak another language.

Sunday 20 July 2014

Matariki

During our learning about Matariki we made a Manu Aute, a Maori Kite. We used the toetoe plant to make our Manu Aute. We then embellished our kite with our Term 3 goals. We are hoping to soar to new heights with our learning in Room 5.

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Exploring the number line - well exploring between 0 and 1 on the number line!

Today for maths we had a discussion about whether there were any numbers between 0 and 1 on the number line. At first, everyone was quite adamant that there were not any numbers between 0 and 1, but then we remembered a couple of weeks ago the temperature at 7am in Auckland was 0.8 degrees! So we explored where 0.8 would go on the number line. We plotted some other numbers like 0.5 and 0.2 then we talked about fractions and where would they go on our number line? We found this quite a challenge but we enjoyed listening to each others ideas about where the numbers should go. It wasn't easy but it was very satisfying when we could see our work! Here are some pictures of our number line work.(btw - please excuse the mess in our classroom - we've been very busy!)

Monday 30 June 2014

How to tell the time

In maths we have been learning how to tell the time. Some of us find telling the time quite tricky, so we used materials to help us. Justin and Paul are explaining what we did. We hope this image might be helpful for other people that find telling the time a challenge as well!

Monday 16 June 2014

Solving decimal problems using deci-pipes

For maths we have been looking at decimal numbers.  Today we used the deci-pipes to help us see what decimal numbers look like.  We were really surprised at how small the thousandths were!! This is one of the maths problems we were solving today.  We used the 'show me' app to explain our thinking.

Sunday 15 June 2014

Making Measurement Real!

In Maths we have been learning about Measurement.  We have been looking at how to measure temperature using a thermometer and measuring in degrees Celcius.  We had a go at writing our own weather reports by looking at the information on weather maps.  Here are some of our live weather reports!

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Tutoatasi o Samoa

Talofa Lava Tamaiti ma Matua!












On Friday 30 May, Tupulaga gathered together to commemorate the 52nd year of Samoa's independence from foreign rule.  Fifty two years ago on 1 January 1962, Samoa were able to rule themselves.  However, Samoa celebrate their independence on 1 June every year.
We started the day off with a thanksgiving lotu in the school hall, where we sang a pese lotu, gave thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for Samoa, and sang the Samoa national anthem.
After the official part of the morning had finished, each class presented an item about Samoa's treasures. Some of the treasures were:  gagana Samoa (language), le aganu'u fa'a Samoa (culture), mea taumafa (niu), and le tatau (tattoo).
We felt so proud presenting our treasures to the rest of the school, although some of us in Room 5 were a bit embarrassed to sing our "Coconut Song".  It was a privilege for us to share our culture with the rest of the school.
Morning tea was held in rooms two and three, where all parents and staff were invited to share some delicious Samoan cuisine.  This included fai'ai eleni (cooked fish in coconut cream), sapa sui (chopsuey), fa'alifu talo (taro in coconut cream), koko alaisa (cocoa rice), panikeke (pancakes), puligi (steamed pudding), pai fala (pineapple pie), keke pua'a (pork buns), keke saiga (biscuits), esi (pawpaw), popo (coconut) and pani popo (coconut buns).
Straight after morning tea we were split into teams of ten, and rotated around to different workshops.  Due to time constraints, we were unable to get to all the stations.  Mr Letoi and Mrs Fesolai demonstrated how to scrape the coconut to make coconut milk.  Mrs Seuula and Mrs Mataafa showed us how to weave using paper.  Mrs Fitoofau taught us how to play bowling, Samoan style!  The teachers ran workshops too, such as making koko alaisa, decorating an 'ie toga, making a pale, playing lape and pele.
What a great day we had, Samoa would be so proud of us and our celebrations!  Cheeeeehoooo!!!!

Monday 2 June 2014

Samoan Language Week

Last week was Samoan language week and the theme for this year was, "hold fast onto your treasures."
I think that they have, chosen this theme because they are trying to tell us that Samoa i a treasure to our hearts. We should hold onto it because it is a part of us and always will be. Samoan language week is a way of embracing the culture and saying that you're proud to be a Samoan!  Another thing we do during Samoan language week is to come to school dressed in Samoan clothes.  Some students also speak in Samoan all week to show that they appreciate Samoa!
By Heather Michell

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Counting to 20 in Samoan

In this clip Anita and Me are teaching us how to count to 20 in Samoan.  We hope you enjoy their language lesson.

Counting to 10 in Samoan

In this clip Hope and Fasia are teaching us how to count to 10 in Samoan.

Learning the Samoan alphabet and song

In this clip, Hope B and Fasia are teaching us the Samoan alphabet.

Taofi mau i au measina!


Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoan Language Week 2014

The theme for this year is "Taofi mau i au measina - Hold fast to your cultural treasures."
Potu 5 would like to share their ideas about what - hold fast to your cultural treasures mean to them.

Friday 18 April 2014

Talofa Lava from New York City!

Talofa Potu 5!
O a mai outou?  I'm so sorry it's taken a long time to post on our class blog, but I get back from sightseeing all day and am very tired.  So I only have time to post to my traveller's blog which you can find on weymouth2theusa.blogspot.com.

Hope you all had a great final week of term, and that your holidays are off to an amazing start!  We have done so much since we've been here.  Things like catching the subway to all over the place, going to Harlem, the Bronx, seeing the New York Yankees (baseball team) stadium in the Bronx.  Alosina has been very tired because of the time difference.  When it is night time here, it is early morning over there in NZ.  So during the day when he should be sleeping, we are out and about catching trains and looking at different things all over New York City.

Unfortunately I was unable to visit the World Trade Memorial Centre, but I did see the twisted wreck of one of the towers.  It still stands in its' place today and there will be a new centre built around the twisted wreck. 

New York is a very busy place.  It is full of people, cars, bikes and dogs.  Seriously, so many dogs yet there is not much grass area for the dogs to play in.  So they have parks for dogs where owners can bring their dogs to the park to run around and play. When Americans say goodbye to somebody they always say, "Take care."  They are generally friendly people and very helpful.

The Statue of Liberty had to be a huge highlight for me.  I really do hope that one day you all make it a goal to get to New York city and see the Statue of Liberty for yourselves.  It is a story about freedom for all people from all over the world.  I took a photo of the original torch that was taken down in 1986, it is on display in the museum.

Central Park is a great big park in the middle of Manhattan.  It has several playgrounds and there are plenty of things to do in the park.  There are horse and carriage rides, bike rides, activities for kids and other fun things to do.  I just loved taking photos of all the things that were available.  So many tourists come to Central Park to have a good look around or just to relax. 

Tomorrow we are heading off to the Empire State Building.  We look forward to going up to the top of that too.

Anyway I'd better sign off and post some photos.  Hope Hannah and Anna had a great birthday, and hope that you all had a great Good Friday service today, remembering the death of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Ia manuia le malologa.  Take care. God bless.
Ms. Fa'avale & Alosina. xx
The original torch from the Statue of Liberty.

My first sign for Hannah and Anna.  Hope you had a great day girls!
Taken from the Top of the Rock observation deck.

Malo, Alosina & I at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

Thursday 3 April 2014

An Amazing Trip to the Zoo

Do you remember singing, "The wheels on the bus go round and round?"  We didn't actually sing that on the bus, but the wheels were going round and round, all the way to the Auckland Zoo.  Upon our arrival, we were greeted by two zoo educators (Laura and Richard), who were assigned to educate us further about endangered species. 

Prior to our visit, room 5 learnt about Maui's dolphin and how it is becoming endangered because the water is getting polluted.  We also developed new vocabulary about animals in general.  For example, a mammal is a warm-blooded animal that gives birth to live babies.  A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that lays eggs.  Amphibians can live on both land and on water, like frogs and salamanders.  We also learnt about their natural habitats and how animals are able to camouflage themselves so they don't get attacked.

Anyway...back to the zoo.  Inside the Rakau Room with Richard, we were taught about how stoats eat and kill kiwis.  We learnt how to stroke a bearded dragon - you must use two fingers (second and third fingers) to gently stroke the lizard's back.  The lizard's name was Banjo and his skin felt hard and scaley.  Did you know, that Kiwis have the shortest beak in the world?  Scientists measure beaks from a bird's nostril to the tip of their beaks.  However, a kiwi's nostril is right at the tip of the beak, that is why they have the shortest beak.  Wow!  That's amazing information.

We also watched a kiwi hatch from its' egg.  A baby kiwi finds it difficult because their beaks are in between their legs.  They wriggle themselves out until the shell of the egg breaks.  Sometimes, if they are hatching in a lab, the zookeeper helps them, but just a little bit.  The baby kiwi is very strong to break itself out of the egg.

Walking around the Auckland zoo was exciting!  We visited Pridelands first, where we saw a tall giraffe, an ostrich, a rhinocerous, zebras and a springbok.  Here's some interesting facts about a giraffe:  a giraffe is a mammal; a giraffe has a long neck which helps them eat from a tall tree; a giraffe gallops by springing forward on its' two hindlegs, this makes a giraffe faster than a lion; they are born in Africa; a giraffe has the same amount of neck bones as a human; a baby giraffe is as tall as a man. 

So much information, but little space to write it.  Room 5 learnt so much from their visit to the Auckland Zoo.  Thank you to our parent helpers:  Mata (Hope Betham's Mum) and Vaiola (Ms Fa'avale's friend).  Tired and sunburnt (oh no!), we boarded the bus, but nobody had any energy to sing "The wheels on the bus go round and round."  The End.
 

This is Banjo the bearded dragon, or a lizard.
Room 5 under the corrugated iron elephant.
Stopped by the police for racing around the zoo in our white ute.

Monday 24 March 2014

ASB Polyfest

Friday 14 March had arrived.  The bus buzzed with excitement as we travelled along Browns Road towards the Manukau Velodrome.  As we approached Te Irirangi Drive, the bus started to move a little slower.  Lines of cars, buses, trucks and other modes of transport moved slowly over the bridge.  The bus turned left onto Sandrine Avenue and all of a sudden there was an array of bright colours - students wearing colourful leis, drums, guitars and more buses.  Lining up was a breeze, and entering just as easy.  The Samoan stage was where we were all headed.  School after school entered the stage, did their stuff and walked back off again.  A highlight was seeing our very own June Palelei (Room 10) play the guitar for St Cuthbert's College. We were all so proud of her.  Free bags, stickers, photos and other goodies was another highlight.  At 2:15pm we lined up to board the bus ready to come back to Manurewa.  It had been a fantastic day full of fun, freebies and culture.  One day we will be up on that stage performing and showing people that our culture is one to be proud of!