Bee Swarm Stories

After the bee swarm experience we did lots of talking about what we had seen and learnt. We checked out information about bees and the way they go about their daily lives.
Marcel told us why the bees were swarming  - which was because of the cold weather they are hungry and want to make a new colony somewhere else.
Here are our lovely stories - 

by Max

The Day of the Bee Swarm

Yesterday we found out that there was a bee swarm opposite Charlie's house. Charlie's Mum helped to transport the school up to the spot to have a look.
What a sight... and just when we are asking questions and finding out all about bees. Only last Friday we had read a book called Nana's in the Plum Tree which was all about a bee swarm.

Six thousand bees are swarming on the  wooden post.

Marcel is looking for the Queen Bee. He found her!

Marcel is shaking the swarm into the bees' new home.

We were lucky to see a bee swarm

Trip to the Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens.

Yesterday we went into Dunedin and visited one of our favourite places - the Dunedin Art Gallery. Our theme was minibeasts of course! John took us around the gallery to look at several pictures that could relate to minibeasts. For example, we looked at an artwork which was perfectly symmetrical & John compared it to the symmetry of butterflies. Another picture of  New Zealand bush on the West Coast was the perfect opportunity to talk about two annoying insects, the sand-fly & the mosquito.
After our Art Gallery tour we went into the classroom and created amazing minibeasts artworks. We worked very hard on these and we hope you enjoying viewing our art.

Ben, Jack G, Madeleine, & Jack M.

Ethan, Cooper, Charlie, & Max.

Michael, Dorothy, Evie & James.

After the Art Gallery we traveled down to the beautiful Botanic gardens where the weather gave us a big treat - it was beautifully warm and sunny! We had a picnic lunch , a play on the playground & then we went on a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt asked us to find all sorts of interesting things but the fun part was finding all the other interesting things that weren't on the list! Our group found  little trout in the stream and two big paradise ducks in the duck pond..All too soon it was time for us to pack up and head back to school. We felt like staying much longer!


Take a photograph of your favourite cacti.



Find a tree with interesting bark.



Find and name minibeasts that you spot in the pond.

Trip to Earthlore

Secret agents reading the clues from the crime scene.

Last week WDS travelled down to Owaka to visit Gordon Thomson at Earthlore to learn about minibeasts. Gordon and Janine are very passionate about protecting insects and other minibeasts in our environment and have created a special haven for these creatures. We had some wonderful experiences, including a chance to be bug detectives and watching a special flea circus ( the world premiere!)We also planted a host plant and a food plant for the endangered NZ copper butterfly. We had a great day!

Come and join the spinning and weaving club...If you have 8 legs of course.

Gordon is showing us the clues at the crime scene.

This spider has a big egg sack.

We planted 2 plants in the Red Copper Butterfly Habitat with Gordon.

Taieri Athletics Nov 4th

Taieri Athletics Day

Room One had a great morning at the Taieri Athletics despite the cool weather.

The vortex was fun and interesting and I saw a stronger thrower. He threw the vortex much further than anybody else. (Charlie)

I liked the vortex and I got into the finals. (Max)

The push throw event was cool and I almost got over the line and into the finals. (Cooper)

I liked to run in the short race. I moved my arms and legs really fast. I threw the vortex and tried my hardest. (Ben)

When I was in the Long Distance Race I passed lots of people. I liked getting the yellow beach flag. (Michael)

I loved the three leaps, especially holding the ball between my legs. (Ethan)

It was cold at the athletics and I had to go and huddle up on the tarpaulin in the shelter. (Dorothy)

Michael and I passed each other lots during the Long Distance Run. (James)

I threw the vortex further than anyone else in my heat. (Evie)

Here are the results for the Room 1 children.

5 year old boys Jack McKeay Vortex Throw (1st)

5 year old boys Jack McKeay  3 Leaps (3rd)

6 year old girls Madeleine Clarke 3 Leaps (3rd)

6 year old boys Jack Girvan 3 Leaps (2nd)

7 year old girls Amber McKeay  3 Leaps (3rd)

Charlie and Jack G wait to compete in the agility poles.

Opening doors with Technology

On Friday, I  had the opportunity to work alongside Max, Cooper and Ethan  exploring a new app called Book Creator.
Our first step was to take a photo then add some written text.
We then added a recording of ourselves reading the text . Then, just for fun added a drawing. In this instance the drawing was unrelated as we were really just having  a play around with all of the options the app offered.
Then the book is stored in an online library."I Books" Ready to be enjoyed at any time.

We had a lot of fun learning how to use it and thought it would be nice to share our "book" on the blog.

The Children love their new book. and are excited to make more.

Our Inventions Art Work

Our inventions

This is my robot invention and it catches squirrels.
I made it at the Art Gallery.
by  Max

I invented this animal attack machine. It will protect me from the hurtful animals.
by Jack M

My invention helps to make special food for the horse.
I made it at the Art Gallery.
by Evie

My invention was a speedy monster truck.I chose all my pieces and John glued them on with the hot glue gun.
John works at the Art Gallery.

Adventures at Toitu and The Dunedin Art Gallery

The House

When we went into the house at Toitu, I liked the roof because the rain could not get in. The roof is made out of sticks and reeds and cutty grass.
The bed was not comfortable.
By Cooper









                                                                             

Lego Creations

I enjoyed playing with the Lego at the Gallery because we could smash things down and re-use the blocks to build our own things, or we could add to the humungous sky scrapers.
All of the blocks were white. I like Lego.
By Cooper