Farewell Room 29…
This is one of our last posts here as Room 29.
Like I have told you many times - you are the greatest class and will remain to be. I would like to farewell all of you and I wish you all the best in 2008.
I have taught some of you for 2 years and I will miss you alot in the years to come but we will always remain to be the ‘one and only’ Room 29 for 2007. Take all of your memories with you, keep them safe and cherish them, because as you get older you will come to realise that we have had a great time this year and that is a very important thing.
To the Year 6’s - remember to always try your best at everything you do - I know that you will have a fantastic time at Intermediate school. To the Year 5’s - you have come a long way this year and I know that I will see you all in 2008.
This post is for you to leave an end of year message for us all to read.
Ka kite ano Room 29…
Your teacher,
Andrew - 2007
[rockyou 95795276]
Term 4 | Comments (22)Whale Hunting
Whale hunting has been resumed recently with Japanese ships heading forth into Antartic waters. They are claiming, as they always have, that these hunts are for ’scientific research’, yet as a result of these hunts whale meat is readily available in some Japanese butcher shops.
Many cultures have hunted whales in the past, and the Japanese are not the only culture that still kills whales. For this post find out…Which cultures have hunted whales in the past? Which cultures still hunt whales? Since this is a tradition for many cultures - is it OK to continue to hunt whales? What are your personal opinions? Justify your opinions clearly, and include your links to information that you have used.
Choose to write this as an argument or a discussion.
The Leader in the front, the followers behind.
Ko te amorangi ki mua,
Ko te hapai o ki muri.
The Leader in the front,
the Followers behind.
This is a continuation of our rich task focus and our philosophy focus of ‘No I in Teamwork?’
This is slightly different than last weeks, as there may be some of you who agree, or disagree with the Maori proverb, but just like any philosophical discussion, you will need to explain your reasoning behind your response and you must also refer to, discuss or challenge another poster’s point of view. State whether you agree? Why? Do you disagree? Why? Ask questions and explore this proverb.
Term 4 | Comments (70)Vote for our site!!
Hi Room 29 and any other potential voters…
Edublogs is now accepting nominations for blogs of the year. I know we are new, but I think ours is one of the best I have seen. Please tell your friends and family to vote - you never know we may just come somewhere…so its worth a try.
Enter at this link - Enter us under the ‘best the new blog’ category. Tell everyone to vote! Write sensible things in the comments box. I wrote something like; ‘A great new site that demonstrates children’s learning. It allows them to communciate and express their opinions and voice to a local and world wide community.’
Vote for yourself and your class, you deserve it!
Where were you when the shining cuckoo called?
We begun discussing this topic last week. This post is for you to express your own interpretation of this Maori proverb.
I hea koe i te tangihanga o te Pipiwharauoa?
Where were you when the shining cuckoo called?
Just like any philosophical discussion, you will need to explain your reasoning behind your response and you must also refer to, discuss or challenge another poster’s point of view. Do you agree? Why? Do you disagree? Why? Ask questions and explore this proverb. This is linking to our understanding of roles and responsibilities and teamwork.
Go Room 29!!
Term 4 | Comments (42)Papakura Marae Trip
This week, as a follow up to our trip to Papakura Marae, you are to write a reflection comment about your experience.
Answer these questions in your statement:
What did you enjoy the most and why?
What cultural learnings took place for you ? If you wish, give clear examples and link to one of our previous posts, you can quote yourself or another student - look in ‘What does culture mean to you?’ and/or ‘Maori cultural artifacts’. For example: you may wish to talk about the things we have previously found out about carvings, hongi and so on.
You can finish off with a statement about the roles and responsibilities you noticed. What role/responsibilities did the tanga tewhenua have? Us as the manuhiri? You as students? The teachers and parents?
How can they work as a team?
This is a thinking task related to what we are discussing in class - No I in Teamwork?
How can this group work together to get off this deserted island? They can only use all the things you see - one additional thing is that the man, Jon, has a cell phone in his pocket but the batteries have gone flat.
Your task is to clearly explain how they will all work together to achieve their goal - Is it actually possible? How will these different creatures work together? Does there have to be different roles and responsibilties to have any success?
Be creative - lets assume they can all understand each other, so therefore can communicate 
I am looking forward to seeing your ideas. I created this picture at Professor Garfield’s Comic Lab, log in with your name if you want to try it out.
Maori Cultural Artifacts
During the first few weeks of this term we will be looking at Maori culture and protocol, leading up to a day visit to Papakura Marae in South Auckland.
This post will allow you to state your opinions and learn more about Maori arts, traditions and protocols; this will help you in your understandings of ‘What is culture?’ and also help you gain more information and insight into our country’s culture.
Below are some pictures and a video showing a small range of Maori cultural arts, traditions, and protocols. Your task is to choose one or two of the pictures or video and tell us - What is shown? What is happening? What does this mean to the culture? How are these things arts, traditions, and/or protocols?
I have used Picture 4 as the example to help guide you, please choose from the other 5 when you write. I have also included a couple of useful links for you on the Blogroll.
Next week there will be more pictures/videos to discuss.
