Finger Joint Project

This term in Woodwork, Mr Thompson taught us how to make a finger joint with wood. After learning how to perfect a finger joint, our first project was set to be finished by the end of the term. We were to apply what we'd learnt (of how to make a finger joint) into making a serving tray. After completing our project we are to give it to someone who it would be useful to (as a gift).

The hardest part for me whilst proceeding with my project was, getting the joints align so that they'd fit together tightly. One problem that I came across was; when I put each end together they were quite loose, though this issue was resolved after it was glued together and nailed in. What I enjoyed the most about this project though was actually sawing the wood and seeing the outcome of my project by the end.

Equipment needed for project:
(1) Wood
(2) Tenon Saw
(3) Chisel
(4) Joiners Mallet
(5) Sand Paper
(6) File
(7) Waste Block
(8) Glue
(9) Hammer + Nails
(10) Ruler + Pencil
(11) Try-square

"Keep ya head up"

Recently in health class, we've been learning about 'Body Image'. As part of this we were set to task to choose a specific line or verse (from a song we'd studied in class) that had resonated with us. 

Printmaking

WALA: the different types of printing techniques and each of their processes



One of the focused things we did in art this term was learning about the types of printings. Of all the eight printing types we researched; we had only ever got to do the woodcut process. I would really like to share with you my experience in pursuing the Woodcut process with the rest of my class. Check out my blog regularly for any posts.

Made in Taiwan

Walt: write a detailed summary of a documentary called 'Made in Taiwan'

Nathan and Oscar are two men who travelled to various countries; in search of clues to the locations that their ancestors might have come from. Before they went on their journey they took throat swabs to be tested so that they could receive information about their ancestors.

They visited four countries and found so many similarities between the tangata whenua (people of that land) in comparison to the Maori people. For example; Rarotongans speak quite a similar language as they do, whereas the Taiwanese people look as if their Maori. Even the female wear moko-like prints on their face as a Taiwanese tradition.

One of the most significant experiences in their trip was getting to be in an archaeological dig for the very first time. This was an important part of their journey because they got to see an old human skeleton and had learnt that every single skeleton that was found underground there had no skulls. That meant that the people who buried the bodies had revisited the graves and disposed their skulls.  

Another great experience that they had in Vanuatu was learning about the Lapita pottery. Getting to see and touch this ancient object was quite fascinating for Oscar; it was very exciting to be holding what our ancestors might have used or eaten from in the past thought Oscar. Looking at the patterns really unlocked where the Samoan patterns might’ve come from. They were really similar to the patterns on Oscars arm and he had seen them before on the Samoan Tapa cloth.

The two most important places that they had stopped off at was Samoa and Mahia in Aotearoa. These places were important because this is where they went to reveal their envelopes to their families. This is also where they found out where there parents come from and who they were descended from.

Overall, it was a terrific trip for Nathan and Oscar. They found their journey quite successful because they accomplished what they had gone to do. They travelled to numerous countries and enjoyed looking and learning about each of the countries history.  

Current Events

Walt: read and write about a current event

Title of Story : Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
react to their bronze medal wins Date of Article : 22/02/18   

Link to NZ herald (choose a current events story from the NZHerald link -

answer the questions below)

* MAKE A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT   **  CHOOSE A CURRENT EVENT NEWS STORY  ***   COMPLETE THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES.

Do Now : Term that you don’t understand (choose 4)

Term	Definition
Sentiment	A view or opinion that is held or expressed
Surreal	Having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre
Rapt	Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing

STUDENT ACTIVITY

Read the story and answer the questions below

Topic / Subject of the Story ;	New Zealand skier’s Nico and Zoi getting bronze medals
Where is this story based ?	(local, regional, national, international ) The story is about two 16 year-old New Zealanders getting bronze medals for skiing. The event is based on the Olympics.
Why is this story in the news?	Eg is it a story of conflict ? Natural disaster ? Interesting or Unusual ? Shocking ? Tragedy ? Controversy ? Humour ? Overcoming ? Victory ? etc    (Give a reason why ) The news is about their victory in the olympics and their big achievements at a young age.
Who are the individuals or groups involved in the story ?	.
Write down 4 facts from the story	Nico Porteous vomited multiple times before his run at skiing. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott & Nico were the youngest medal receivers. Both of these athletes represent New Zealand in the Olympics Nico and Zoi’s scores were around the same digit’s with Nico at 94.8 and Zoi’s at 92
Give two points of views mentioned in the story ?	For Nico’s run he was really shocked at his score and he described his experience as “insane” and “crazy”. Zoi’s coach said that it was an exceptional day for New Zealand and was really rapt with how everything went.

Future Me

In careers we've been learning about ourselves and what our interests, abilities and skills are. After we learnt about ourselves and what we wanted to do for our future, we had to create this 'vision board'. As you can probably see, a vision board shows what your good at, what your ethnic background is, where you see yourself in the future & basically your vision for your future. Can you figure or learn something about me by looking at my vision board?

Fun With Fractions

Walt: Order fractions with different denominators

This week our task was with fractions. On the last slide there is a bit of a trick. Here is my solving out for this problem. Swans = 2/6, Parrots = 1/6, 36 = 3/6, 36 is 1/2 of the whole number so 36 x 2 = 72.

The Water Cycle

The water cycle. What is that? Take a look at this DLO for more information. Hope you enjoy!

Fun with Maths

Walt: Use our number knowledge to solve equations


This week our task was to complete this google presentation that has different equations. I really enjoyed this weeks task because there were fun equations that I really liked solving such as converting a improper fraction into a mixed fraction..

Thinkboard

As part of our learning we have to complete a google drawing called a Think board. A think board is basically just a diagram showing your thinking about an equation that our teacher gives us. Here is my think board, please leave a comment on this post if you have time.

Problem Solving

Walt: Solve problems with fractions, decimals and percentages.



This week we are still learning more about how to solve equations including fractions, decimals and percentages. The most difficult equation for me to solve was the last one of slide 8 which is the percents problem - 2.

Guardians of Our Culture

Have you ever heard of polyfest before? This is an event that is run in Auckland  and there are many performances from different cultures especially polynesians. Yesterday, the year 7 & 8 students from our school were really lucky to have a trip to the Polyfest.  I will give you more information about the Team 5 trip to polyfest yesterday.

There weren’t many stages on yesterday but there were a lot of stalls and most of them were food stalls. When we sat in line, waiting for our tour guides from Aorere College there were other schools sitting on either sides of us. When we meet our tour guides we were split into different groups before they lead us around the area.

One of the stalls we went to was the AUT stall where there was a man and a woman who talked to us about what we can learn about in the future at their University. I enjoyed this stall because one of things they showed us was an app that someone in Fiji created about the weather warnings because of a cyclone that hit their island years ago. I think this app was really helpful to the people of fiji because before they had it they had no way of knowing whether it would be a good day to go out or not. In the future I would like to help make a difference in New Zealand or even my own country; Tonga.

The purpose of our trip wasn’t only to have fun and enjoy ourselves but it was also to learn about our cultures and other companies that are sponsors for polyfest. Although there weren’t much performances from different schools, my favourite stage was the diversity stage. The diversity stage is where the Fijian, Kiribati, Tuvalu and many more small islands.

I think it is important to join your cultural groups for this event because it gives you more of an understanding of what your culture does and performs for traditional occasions. Next year I will be joining my culture group for polyfest so that I can learn more about our traditions. If you still don’t have a good idea of what your culture is about make sure you join next year if you are keen.

Decimals

This in numeracy our numeracy teacher gave us a task to complete a place value presentation with extra tasks in the slides. One of our tasks in the slide was to fill out a template of place value houses. This week we were learning to demonstrate use of knowledge about place value.

My Visual Mihi

Welcome to my Visual Mihi. Have you ever heard of what a visual mihi is? Well if you haven't, here is an example of my own visual mihi and I will tell all about what the pictures mean. In a visual mihi there are four different pictures or drawings that you have created to symbolise what you enjoy or what you believe in. As you might have already noticed, I believe in christ because of the drawing of the cross in the background, I am also really keen to be out playing sports with family and friends. I come from the islands of tonga and I grew up in a musical family. The last thing you should also include in your visual mihi is a picture of yourself. To complete this task I used hyperstudio to draw all the different symbols on six different slides, then on the last slide I combined all the pictures, my hobbies or religious in the background and myself in the front. Another way to join all your drawings is on comic life where you can put your images into different shapes and sizes.

Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have the time.

Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

Walt: Understand the relationship between fractions, decimals and percentages.
- Match up the correct fraction, decimal, and percentage.
This week one of our tasks was to complete our group google presentations. In this presentation I had to go onto different sites to play around with fraction, decimals and percentages. Before I started the google presentation I already knew a few thing about this. So what I wanted to find out was how to convert a decimal into a percentage and how to convert a percentage into a fraction. Flick through these slides and have a look at what the Compasses task was in this presentation.
I hope you can learn something from it yourself.

Water Wise

Walt: I make sense of all information before, during and after reading by connecting it to myself, text I know and my world.
This week our task was to read a text set before starting this google presentation. In this activity we had to create a poster. In our poster we had to add images and text to explain the importance of water. Go to slide 7 to check out my poster.

The 3 Kete of Knowledge

This week the whole of team five worked on the same task. We did this because our challenge was to keep putting more things into our 3 kete of knowledge every time we come to school. If you don't know what the three kete of knowledge are then there is a link to on the google presentation that you can look at. Or just take a look at the poster below.

My Number of the week

Walt: Think about a number in many different ways

This presentation was a warm up task for this week. My number for this week is 1478. I learnt how to think about one number many different ways. Please leave a comment below if you have time.

Introducing Algebra!

This week we started off the year with an easy task. We started with a basic step of algebra.

Kaitiakitanga i nga wa katoa

This week one of our tasks in our home class was to work in groups and create poster about short quotes about what we do at Pt England. I hope you enjoy the graphics and detail.