The Great Ordinary ~Literacy~

This week in literacy we looked at photography. We learnt about a New Zealand Photographer, who has an exceptionally unique way of photographing things. Her work is quite popular and we even had a go at making a photo essay as the create task. This was all apart of this weeks reading.

Climate Change and A Loss of Biodiversity

Today we had a literacy class in which we discussed the many causes of Biodiversity Loss. As this was a large topic we broke up into groups and had turns presenting in class. Me and Pisirina worked together to create this presentation. It shows what Climate Change is and how it affects a Loss of Biodiversity. :))

Loss of Biodiversity

This week we learnt about the biodiversity and what a loss of biodiversity is. It was quite interesting but even so, we were only briefly able to touch on this topic as 3 of our literacy sessions have been tests in the past 2 weeks. Here is my poster explaining what a loss of biodiversity is and the main causes of it. I found this text interesting however, it was something that I've already heard a lot about so my attitude towards it may be a bit underwhelmed.

 

Loss of Biodiversity

This week in literacy we looked at a loss of biodiversity. This is something our earth has been faced with and our biodiversity has be decreasing at a concerning pace. A lot of this is caused by natural disasters but as humans we haven't been doing our bit to help. It's quite clear that many of us are unable to identify this problem as well.

Plastic Pollution ~Explanation Writing~

Did you know that over 8 million metric tons of plastic is dumped in the ocean yearly? This is very harmful to our marine life; as they consume it unable to recognise that it is plastic. As you can imagine it doesn’t end well and sometimes it even ends up in us!

One way you could save the environment is by refusing products that contain microbeads. Microbeads are tiny bits of plastic that are detrimental to sea life. By refusing to buy the products manufacturers will be pressured into making their products plastic free.

And if you’re not ready to take that big of a step you could always start by reducing. Reducing the use of plastics. Biodegradable bags are a great alternative instead Single use plastic bags. These environmentally friendly bags are basically everywhere now, so it shouldn’t be too hard for you guys to get one!

Another way to help with the plastic pollution problem is by repurposing. There is so much in your home that you could be repurposing. Repurposing the plastic would mean changing it to do another job. For example, an empty milk carton can be  turned into a flower pot. The plastic containers use it to store things, there are endless possibilities.

Plastic is all of our problems as we are all responsible for the care of our environment and we should definitely work together to solve it. Remember to  Refuse, Reduce and Repurpose. Next time you go to use plastic think about the marine animals you could save without it.

Effects of Plastic Pollution

Here is my create task for my reading task. We learnt about plastic pollution and in the end we had to create a poster to share the effects of plastic pollution. I added in a bit of extra stuff like how we can stop it because, I think it's important we learn about what plastic pollution is and how we can begin to reduce it :))

 

Plastic Pollution

This is our first week back at school in term 4 and in level 1. We are doing very well and have gotten right back into learning. This is my reading task for the week we had to break the text into word groups record ourselves reading it and then we had to find the meaning of different words. Lastly we had our create task which was too create a poster or do a recording of yourself and you had to explain the effects of plastic pollution.

New Zealand Sign Language

 New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is strictly homegrown. The natural language of NZ’s deaf community, it expresses New Zealand culture by using Maori terminology. This includes terms like Whare, Marae and Whanau.

NZSL has been an official Language of New Zealand since 6th of April 2006. It's the 12 most frequently used languages in New Zealand. 24,000 people use sign language daily.

New Zealand Sign Language is a stand-out language used to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It’s a series of Hand gestures, movements and facial expressions used to convey meaning. Of course it’s not to be mistaken as body language.

Ko wai ō hoa? ~Te Reo Maori~

Today like usual we had our Te Reo Maori it was the last Te Reo Class for this term. We learnt how to list our Friends Teachers and Parents names. We also had our usual create tasks and I really enjoyed it!

~Taha Tinana!~

Today in class, we looked at another section of Te Whare Tapa Wha. We got the choice to choose one of the many and complete the task under that subject. I chose Taha Tinana, for this task we had to come up with a workout with at least 5 different exercises.

Hinewehi Mohi~ Reo Changemaker

This week we learnt about a Women named  Hinewehi Mohi, who was brave enough to sing the national anthem completely in Maori despite what other people would've have thought. But the worst thing about it was people reacted to her with negative backlash. If Hinewehi Mohi hadn't done that we probably, would not be singing out National anthem in Maori and English today!

For this task we had to look at metaphors used in a text, we had to place words with their definitions and we had to make a create task. I chose to orally record myself explaining the significance of Hinewehi Mohi's stance. :))

The Kingdom of Tonga

This week in writing we focused on writing a country profile. Since its Tongan Language week we did our country profiles on Tonga. I tried really hard to make this look professional, but I did struggle finding good sources of valid information, but I did try to find the earliest pieces of data. I also put in a screencastify on the bottom left corner of the last slide. I really enjoyed doing this but, it honestly did take a lot of effort and I was really busy this week so I had to try really hard to finish it this week!

Eyelash Seaweed

Name

Eyelash Seaweed is the common name of this plant species. Its scientific name is Dione Arcuata.

Status
Eyelash seaweed is critically endangered. More research is needed as it is unclear whether or not this species exists and it may already be extinct.

Physical description
Eyelash Seaweed commonly gets its name from it’s size. This microscopic seaweed is the size and shape of an eyelash.

Reproduction
Eyelash Seaweed is an asexual organisms, which reproduces by forming tiny spores. It creates spores for many things, including the ability to survive in its storm-lashed environment.

Habitat/Location
This seaweed is so rare that in the whole of New Zealand it’s found in Kaikoura beach in the South Island of New Zealand.  It lives on 2 boulders located on opposite sides of the beach. It’s only found on summer rocks at extremely low tides.

Reasons species is endangered
This species is in danger of going extinct because of an earthquake that took place in 2016. It shifted the sea bed leaving the 2 different boulder sites under the sites (where the seaweed breeds) undersea level. It also has not been found in any other beach in New Zealand. However there are many other reasons it is endangered including coastal subdivision, pollution, flood sediments, and erosion.

Conservation Measures

Nothing has been done to conserve this species of seaweed, as very little is known about seaweed itself. Only 45% of seaweed is shown in museums and only 5 or less species. As Eyelash seaweed is only a minimum amount and is rarely sighted, little is known about this species. 

Future outlook

Because there is nothing done about conserving this seaweed and the species only is found on 2 boulders. It is highly likely that this species will soon be going extinct sometime soon, unless serious measures are taken immediately.

Tikanga for Team 5 Assembly

Tikanga for Team 5 Assemblies has happened for generations. Our morning Karakia, Mihi and waiata is authentic and part of the Pt England Way. Every student that’s been through team 5 has taken part in our morning Tikanga. I think it should stay that way.

Tikanga for Team 5 Assemblies also allow people to connect. They help even the shyest of students grow more comfortable and confident with the people around us. Knowing we are there for eachother and feeling spiritually connected.

I enjoyed this task. I tried my best. I still think it could be better, I just don't know how to improve it. But hopefully when we get back to school we can look into it more. I was a little bit confused as we had to explain and justify Tikanga in Team 5 Assembly and I didn't know if that was supposed to happen in both paragraphs or just have one paragh for explain and one for justifying.

Rona's actions (Persuasive Writing)

Rona should not have lashed out at the moon. It wasn’t Marama’s fault that the cloud covered the moon. The issue was out of marama’s control. The moon cannot control the clouds. 

Rona was running in the darkness of the night. That was pretty stupid and irresponsible. She has taken that path many times Rona should’ve been careful. She knew that it was covered in sticks and stones, yet she ran anyways.

We had to come up with 2 paragraphs to persuade our audience of our stance towards Rona's actions. She had lashed out at the moon and I think that was unfair and here are some reasons why I think this.

A Moon Myth

This week in literacy we looked at another Maori Myth. This one was about a woman who was taken by the moon because she didn't watch what she was saying. This myth is a well known myth and I've heard different versions of it in Te Reo when I was younger. There is even a Maori Waiata about her. For this task we had to read the text make word groups. We then had to record ourselves reading a fraction of the text. We also had to create a storyboard find some worthy words and do a create task. It was heaps of fun and I'm looking forward to doing more!

Rona and the Moon

The Creation of the World

Long ago; when the world was nothing, but a void of dark nothingness. Out of the the emptiness Papatuanuku the Earth Mother and Ranginui the Sky Father came together. Later getting blessed with  sons 6 sons.

Tangaroa who was god of the sea, Tāwhirimātea god of the wind and weather, Tūmatauenga god of war , Haumia-tiketike is the god of uncultivated plants and life, Rongo god of cultivated crops and animals, Tane Mahuta is god of the forest.

Together the six of these brothers each with their own fiery and passionate personalities lived the beginning of their life in darkness. Cramped up in between their parents who had a such a strong clasp on each other that it was almost impossible to separate them.

One day Tangaroa was fed up and decided it was high-time for the children to push their parents apart or take some kind of action. Most brothers agreed but Tawhirimatea the god of the wind was against this he believed that the boys should leave Papatuanuku and Ranginui. They were the ones who gave life to them after all.

Tangaroa despite what the quarrels with Tawhirimatea tried anyways. He pushed and pushed, but nothing neither Papatuanuku nor Ranginui budge. Tane Mahuta tried next he put his feet against Ranginui and his back against Papatuanuku and pushed. He pushed and pushed and just when you thought he'd given up he pushed again.

Then slowly but surely Ranginui and Papatuanuku started to separate. As they did light fled between them, thus creating the world. Ranginui and Papatuanuku separation led to the creation of the world letting there sons live a life that they enjoyed. That's the Maori legend of the Creation of the world!

Slit-Throat (Creative Writing)

He walked through the dark alley.  His shoes are clacking on the pavement. Clack clack. I watched as he marched closer. A knife in his hand. He was tall and mysterious, with incredibly broad shoulders. It made me wonder how he managed to stand up right. He walked closer and closer, to the small girl weeping in the corner.

I watched helplessly, as he finally reached her. He came to a halt, a dark smirk creeping across his face. He raised his hand and slit the girl across her neck. He didn't stop, he held her there for a second. I watched in horror. Was this real, no it couldn't be. I ran, I didn't know where or why, but I had to leave. It was the late hour of the night, and I didn't know who I should tell. I decided my best bet was my friend, the one person I could confide in.

I had arrived home, it was late. My wife and child were out, probably spending my week's wage at the mall. It didn't matter, I was tired. I sat down for a moment of silence. It felt like only a second when my friend barged in through the door. He was out of breath and with cold sweat accumulating on his forehead.

I calmly asked "How may I assist you at this hour

'Murder, Alley, Tall dude' He said out of breath

 'Cedric calm down and tell me what's wrong' I started looking at him seriously. He took a deep breath and took a seat on the brown sofa I had placed in the living room. 

'I just witnessed a murder, It was a girl, she she-' He stuttered 'Cedric how many times do I have to tell you, take your pills and stay in your new home. The doctor had told you missing them will affect your mind negatively leading to mild hallucinations' I started hoping my words would persuade him.

 'But it was real' he said again

Later that evening, after I had convinced him that it was all a figment of his imagination he finally went home. It was exhausting, and he was quite stubborn. It was a close call, nobody can know what took place in that alley. And nobody can know my secret. I am the murderer.

Washing Your Hands

This week in literacy, we looked at washing our hands. There are many important things we need to remember while washing our hands, take our time, use clean soap, make sure you clean everywhere. Washing our hands are very important especially in a time like this, when we need to be super strict on the health and hygiene rules. For this task we had to read, and take notes on a text we were given we then had to, use our notes to write an informative 3 sentence summary, and a diagram showing what to do when washing our hands. This was a fun task to do, and even whilst writing this, I have squeaky clean hands :))