Category: Hanga | Create

The Lady who said “Kia ora”

For reading, we learned about Dame Naida Glavish. She is a woman who helped make a difference in New Zealand. She worked as a telephone operator, and when she answered calls, she greeted people by saying “Kia ora.” Her managers told her to stop saying it, but she kept doing it anyway. She did this because she believed the Māori language is an official language of New Zealand and that people should know about it. Because she kept saying “Kia ora,” the situation got a lot of attention, and even the prime minister at the time heard about it. One thing I found interesting was how Dame Naida Glavish led by example. She showed people how important culture is and how they should respect the land and others.

 

Tech at Tamaki College

 

At Tamaki College in Tech, my group and I made Māori patterns using string and wood, like harakeke weaving. The wooden boards had holes, and we used the string to weave in and out. We followed a pattern: 3 down, 2 left, 2 down, and repeat. We got to pick the first colour, then chose more colours one by one. Each colour tells part of a story, like yellow for the sun, blue, purple and orange for the sky or sea, and more. As we weaved, the pattern started to take shape and tell a story. I really enjoyed seeing my pattern come together and can’t wait to finish it next Friday.

Social influence

LI: To evaluate peer pressure, digital interactions, and social influence.

This week in Inquiry, I learned about social influence. I found out that it’s when other people can change the way you think, feel, or act. I practiced noticing how my friends, family, or even people online can affect the choices I make. I also thought about how we sometimes copy what other people do or try new things because we see them doing it, like trends on social media. Learning about this has helped me understand why I make some of my choices and how the people around me can have an effect on what I do. I’m getting better at noticing it and thinking for myself.

 

The Leap of Curiosity

LI: to correctly structure and write a narrative.

This week in writing, I wrote a story about a baby owl taking its first flight. I planned my ideas first and then turned them into a full story. I described what the owl could see, hear, and feel while it was sitting on the branch before it jumped. I also tried to add details about the night and the forest so the reader could imagine the scene. I focused on making my story have a clear beginning, middle, and ending. This task helped me practice writing a full story and adding more detail to my ideas. I’m getting better at reading over my work and checking that it sounds right and makes sense.

As the sun slowly slipped behind the hills, the sky faded into deep shades of purple and blue. The cool night air drifted through the bush, making the tall branches creak and sway gently. I balanced carefully on a rough branch high above the ground, my sharp claws gripping tightly onto the bark. Far below me, the bush floor was hidden in the shadows. Tonight was the night of my very first flight, and the thought of leaving the safety of the tree made my stomach twist with nervous excitement.

The urge for me to want to fly made my wings flutter, but hesitation quickly crept in. I could feel the eyes of the other young owls watching from nearby branches. Some had already launched themselves into the air, gliding easily between the trees as if flying were nothing. I would rather not be the only one left sitting there, yet the thought of dropping straight to the ground made my heart pound even faster.

The wind brushed through my feathers as the bush grew darker around me. I watched the other owls glide smoothly through the night sky, their wings barely moving as they floated through the cool air. I tried to picture myself doing the same, but my nerves kept creeping back. Part of me wanted to stay safe on the branch, while another part knew I had to take the leap eventually.

Finally, I gathered my courage and stretched my wings wide. The breeze rustled my feathers as I leaned forward. I pushed off the branch and felt my stomach flip as I dropped through the air. For a moment panic rushed through me, but then the wind caught my wings and lifted me up, turning my fall into a smooth glide above the quiet bush.

As I flew higher into the dark sky, I realised that sometimes the scariest moments lead to the greatest discoveries. Trying something new can feel terrifying, but bravery helps you find what you’re truly capable of.

 

Johnny Pohe and the Great Escape

  • LI: To understand how historical context and identity (being the first Māori pilot) influenced an individual’s choices and service.

This week in Reading we learned about Johnny Pohe and the Great Escape in 1943. We read about two different opinions on whether the escape was brave or too risky. I had to think about which opinion I agreed with and explain my reasons. I also learned how the prisoners worked together and secretly dug tunnels to try and escape. This helped me understand the courage and determination they had. It also helped me practise sharing my opinion and using ideas from the text to support it.

How we honour the Treaty of Waitangi

This week for our task, LS2 was challenged to create a DLO about how we honour the treaty and respect Māori culture. We worked in pairs to come up with ideas about what we acknowledge and shared our own perspectives on why it is important to show respect. I really enjoyed this activity because it gave me the opportunity to express why Māori culture should be valued and respected just as much as any other culture around the world.

Short and Long Division Algorithm

LI: How to calculate the quotient of whole numbers using algorithm

This week in Maths, Group 1 learned how to do division using the long and short division method. We wrote the numbers in a vertical way, with the bigger number on top. We followed the steps carefully to find the answer (the quotient). We also checked the remainder to make sure our answers were correct. Learning this method has helped me feel more confident and understand division better.

 

Multiplication Algorithm

LI: How to calculate the product of whole numbers, using algorithm

This week in Maths, I learned how to find the product of whole numbers using the standard multiplication method. I worked on lining up my numbers properly and keeping my work neat so I didn’t get mixed up. I practiced multiplying bigger numbers and paying attention to place value. I also made sure to carry numbers carefully when I needed to. This method has helped me feel more confident when solving larger multiplication problems. I’m getting better at checking my work and making sure my answers make sense.

 

Life in the Annex

LI: To write a description of life with the Frank family in the annex in 1942

The annex was quiet except for the clock chiming loudly throughout the area, which made me feel like lightning had struck me because it makes me feel as if they have captured us in our hiding spot. The space was cramped and exotically dull because we had no time to decorate, and our house was made like this because of how foul the smell would be if we painted or if we had brought any liquid because in a few days it would dry up and make it smell like moldy air and would affect our hiding spot. We had to stay silent during the day to avoid being heard by the Germans and also so that our hideouts wouldn’t get discovered. The frustration that ran through my mind, thinking, why on earth would they do that to us? We are here to have peace, not to hide from Germans because they want to rule Jewish people and torture us with the worst punishment on earth.

 

The air was dusty and cold. It felt suffocating. I spent my own time writing in my diary because that was the only thing that could keep me occupied because if I were to walk around, I would risk my safety, and as a result, I would get caught by the German people because of how the floors creak so loud. We struggled having to sit still for hours, and it felt like our legs were getting numb. I sat there thinking about my family and sister, keeping them safe and sound so that they weren’t harmed or killed. Writing in this diary made me feel less scared and terrified. 

 

We tried to add a few touches to bring more life into our home with the supplies that we had left. Terrible consequences were awaiting me and my family if they were found in their hiding places, therefore being persecuted or sent to a concentration camp. My life afterwards was silent and secretive because of how the Germans were trying to find us. Looking at the flickering lights made me think as if that was my life because of how it flickers. Knowing that soldiers might find us, we were restless and terrified. We thought that in a few seconds or minutes that passed, we would be found and executed right away because of how we kept on hearing knocks on the door. But a few minutes later they go away knowing that. It shows that there is still a tiny spark of hope in surviving this terrible and horrible place. 

 

The scent of moldy old books and the heavy dust makes our noses tickle. The narrow, steep stairs leading up to the hiding place would creak under every step you take. You’d feel them wobble slightly, and each step makes your heart race, knowing anyone below could hear us. We sat still making no movement so that the Annex wasn’t discovered. You could scent the damp food from the kitchen, which made us feel sick to our stomachs.  The bookcase from behind the hiding spot is filled with family photographs, old files, and books. Look at it from the inside. It is the only thing standing between you and the outside world. It was challenging while living in a small space and writing about my hopes and dreams, even during such a difficult time.

Reading The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank has been a very fun and meaningful experience for our class. To help us understand what life was really like in the Secret Annex, Mrs. Anderson created Gem that encouraged us to think more deeply about the story and the people in it. I really enjoyed using the Gem because it helped me add more detail to my writing and explain my ideas more clearly. It reminded me to use descriptive language like similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia to make my story more interesting and realistic. Instead of just saying what happened, I was able to describe how it might have felt to live in hiding.

Subtraction Algorithm

LI: How to calculate the difference of whole numbers, using algorithms.

This week in Maths, I learned how to calculate the difference of whole numbers using the standard subtraction algorithm. I practiced lining up numbers by place value and subtracting carefully from right to left. When the top digit was smaller than the bottom digit, I used regrouping to borrow from the next column. This method helped me stay organized and avoid mistakes. I feel more confident subtracting larger numbers now, and I understand why following the steps carefully is important.