Koru trip to Auckland Museum - 20th May 2021

Koru whānau went to the Auckland Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira-

on Thursday 20th May to further learn and research about our

insect Inquiry. The primary focus for the day was to visit the Weird

and Wonderful Discovery Centre in the Auckland Museum to look at

and explore the thousands of collection items on display. 

We received a warm welcome in the Auckland Museum.

Learners have become like scientists, closely looking at the

Weird and Wonderful specimens and collection items using

microscopes, viewing a series of dioramas to learn about the

habitats and characteristics of creatures in our living world. 

Sophie, Asli and James exploring the microscope and interactive

media in the museum. 

George and Bruno looking closely at the insect body parts.

Celine, Yuxin, Tansley and Ellie are listening and talking to the

educator about the colourful butterflies.

Kiasha and Tansley are looking at the specimens of a giant Weta

and comparing them to the picture. 

Aren’t we lucky to be able to see one of the heaviest insects in the

world in the Auckland Museum?

The Weird & Wonderful gallery is home to some of the most

amazing collections from across the living world. 

Tawa was amazed to see the beetle collection at the museum.

His favourite one was the golden beetle. 

Violet’s favourite was the dung beetle because dung beetles lay

eggs in elephant poo and adult dung beetles enjoy eating elephant

poo!!

The museum educators were surprised by our learners' knowledge

and terminology about insects and bugs. The educators were in awe of

the empathy our learners expressed for dead animals in the Auckland

Museum. Our learners wondered why there were so many dead animals

in the museum? How did they come to the museum? Who killed them?

Why are the eyes of the dead animals open?  

“ The relationship is all. It is a matter of life to the child.” 

Dr. Emmi Pikler (info about Dr. Emmi Pikler)

The Weird and Wonderful Discovery Centre

Did you know that being able to share things out equally is fundamental to learning about Fractions and Multiplication?

During play for the first two weeks of Term 2, teachers provided play opportunities to explore fractional concepts. At the playdough table, Jonathan started the game "Tacos". The muffin paper (imagined taco), prompted lots of conversation about halves. The children agreed that the halves had to be equal and that meant the same size when they folded the muffin cups/taco. The sides had to meet exactly. The game lasted for quite a while and many children came to take part. They practised their counting along the way. Teachers asked questions like: How many children are here? How many tacos each? Will that be equal?

 

Baskets of objects and containers with 2, 3, or 4 divisions inspired a shop run by Zoey, Olive, Ting Ting, and Isobel. Teachers saw the opportunity to extend children's knowledge of numbers and record children's findings. 

The dolls had a happy time at the playdough table as the children naturally practiced sharing out playdough food equally.

For the following four weeks, teachers will draw children out for small group maths sessions where they will develop their understanding of fractional concepts in collaborative inquiry. They will solve open-ended problems that have come from authentic contexts like the "taco" game and relevant literature that the children enjoy. We will keep you posted with some great picture books that develop fractional understanding.

Hut building: Technology and maths in Play

     The hut  

The children arrived in the morning to discover this hut provocation. There was enthusiastic exploration!

 'Where is the door?'                  'How do you get in?'  

'It's too small to be a maze.'          'Watch me, I go in there and I come out here'   

 'I am going on top'

           'I am going underneath''      

                            'I am going this way'

'Position and orientation- describe their position relative to a person or object.' NZC Level One Mathematics and Statistics.

                                             

It was very exciting to see who would come out of the tunnel next. 'Who's coming, Arlo?'

Some children wanted to extend the tunnel. They got to work. There was lots of maths language being used about length and measurement.  

 Next it needed a door.

Collaboration started and a prototype was made. 

The door was hinged with tape and side flaps were attached. 

These side pieces had two functions: one, to wrap around the tunnel when the door was shut and two, to hold the door in the open upright position. 

'Brief development - describe the outcome they are developing and identify the attributes it should have, taking account of the need or opportunity and the resources available.' NZC

What a great design!

The next day there was more hut building. Victoria wanted to make a castle. She drew her idea.

Victoria's design

'Planning for practice- Outline a general plan to support the development of an outcome, identifying appropriate steps and resources.' NZC

'It needs windows' (like the picture)            'It needs a door'           

 'How big should the door be?'

 'If it is a castle it needs a drawbridge'    'We need string'

Is the drawbridge fit for purpose?

The hut building continues regularly in play with many opportunities for maths and technology as well as practicing the key competencies of thinking, relating to others, managing self and participating and contributing. 

We cannot forget the imaginary play involved. Here comes the queen and the princesses who live in the castle!

Bubble School Feb/March

 Bubble School
February-March 2021

Kia ora te whānau

It is has been so great seeing all of you having fun in Bubble School. We had a lot of fun saying "hi!" on Zoom!

We love that you can share your learning with us-see what your Koru friends have been up to...

                                                          World Map Human Body, James

                        Robot, Sara

       

                                  

                                                                     Music making, Liam

Who is in your Bubble? Calling the Roll

                                     Raphael

       

                                            Lucy                                                        

Violet

                              Amaya

 

                                Ashley                                                                           

                                                                              Jaxon

                                  

 Koru Bug Hunters

   

                                     Ants, Amaya                                                 Lucy

Zoey

What has Zoey discovered?

                                                                  Worms in the garden, Liam

Rocky

                                  Raphael

                

                                          Lucy                                                        

                                         Amaya

                        

                                        Eden                                                         

    

Eden 

        

                                                                                 

  

          

 

Ngā mihi nui

Nau Mai haere mai ki Whānau Kou

Term 1, 2021

Tena koutou, Malo e leilei, Kia orana, Fakalofa lahi atu, Bula vinaka, Ciao

Namaste, Al Salaam a'alaykum, Nihao, Merhaba, Konnichiwa, Hola, Annyong hasayo, Sawadee krap

A huge welcome to all our new and returning whānau.

It has been wonderful seeing all our excited tamariki settling into school with such enthusiasm and with big smiles on their faces. They are so eager for learning, full of wonder and curiosity and have so many stories and experiences they want to share with us.

We are excited to be in our new learning space and we know the tamariki are enjoying it.  We are also fortunate to be able to watch the completion of our new Primary block right in front of us in real time. There certainly is plenty going on in the Koru world.

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More from Koru soon...