We LOVE Reading!!

We love reading in Room 2. During reading time we participate in lots of different activities that help to support our reading. We are exploring different reading activities at the moment. Some of the activities include reading and commenting on other class blogs, the reading app of the week on the iPads (this week it was Monkey Word), independent reading, posting tweets on our classroom Twitter board and practising our spelling words on Spelling City. We also read with Miss Gentil or with a buddy every day.

 

Your child can access their spelling list at home on www.spellingcity.com. Once you are on the website click 'find a list', then type Simone Gentil into the search bar (make sure you have the option of 'teacher's name' selected). From there your child is able to find their spelling list. On Spelling City you can listen to your words and play lots of different games. This helps us to learn our spelling words in a fun way.

 

 

 

 

Hut Building for Adventure Learning!!

Room 2 have worked very hard to develop their ability to work as part of a team and to plan effectively together. Today they finally got to put their plans into action and build their huts. After they had built their huts and spent some time playing in them, we sat down together and reflected on our learning. Here is what Room 2 came up with...

What we learnt

We learnt to share our ideas with each other and work together. We had to think creatively and problem solve when we didn't agree. We designed our huts and then when we were building them we had to check that they looked like our plans.

What we found challenging

We found building the hut to look like our plan challenging. Finding the things that we needed and moving some of the furniture was also hard. It was hard when people were thinking of their own little plan and not working together. Getting the sheets to stay over the furniture was also tricky!

What we enjoyed

We enjoyed designing our huts and building our huts. We also liked playing in them. It was fun to work with lots of other people and to take photos. Some people also liked making there huts look like a pirate ship.

What we would do differently next time

We would find a way to make the inside of our hut darker and maybe not have it by the windows next time. Some children also said they would make their hut smaller so that the sheet would fit over the top better and not fall off so easily. Other children decided that next time they would make a bigger hut so that more of their friends could fit inside. Some groups said that they would work better as a team, share more and try to remember to talk nicely to each other when they don't agree on the same idea.

I am so proud of everything that you have achieved during our Adventure Learning time Room 2. You are learning how to work together, plan effectively and how to reflect on your learning. It won't be long before you will be ready to start your own projects. Keep up the awesome work.

 

 

 

 

Room 2 Triathletes

We were very lucky to have Abby, Murray and Tim come to school and help us train for the triathlon last week. We spent Monday and Tuesday training for the triathlon. On Thursday we participated in a triathlon with Room 1. First we went for a swim, then rode our bike around the flags two times and finally ran one lap around the cones. We had an awesome morning cheering each other on and participating in the triathlon. At the end of the triathlon we were all presented with a certificate.

Congratulations on becoming triathletes Room 2. I was so proud of all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican Fiesta

Our theme for Adventure Learning this week was Mexican Fiesta. Over the past two weeks Adventure Learning has been quite structured, with a large focus on planning and reflection. This week Room 2 was provided with a group challenge. On Thursday I explained that on Friday we would all be making nachos. The children organised themselves into small groups. They were then given a list of ingredients to make nachos including nacho chips, cheese, salsa and guacamole. In previous weeks we have gone through step by step instructions of how we would carry out our activity. This week the children in Room 2 were told that they would have to discuss in their group the best way to make their nachos. The then had to work together as a team to develop their plan. No one method was right or wrong. Some groups decided they would put their chips on their plate, then sprinkle cheese on top. Other groups tried to melt their cheese on a plate first and then spoon it onto their nacho chips. It's important that Adventure Learning is student directed and that the teacher's opinion is kept out of it. The children will then reflect on their learning on Monday (we ran out of time today). When they complete their individual reflections they are all encouraged to think about what went well, what they learnt, what challenges they came across and what they might do differently next time. Room 2 will continue to work on 'whole class themes' for Adventure Learning for the next few weeks, before moving on to individual or small group projects. A lot of the children are already buzzing with ideas about what they would like to learn about. Our mexican fiesta really encouraged everyone to work together as a team. Room 2 has a lot of fun working in our class kitchen today. I couldn't believe how they could eat such big plates of nachos! If your child came home with a full lunch box today this will be why...

All About Joel

My name is Joel. I am 7 years old. In my spare time I like to go to pools and play with my friends. My favourite foods are Subway and KFC. My favourite movies are Dark Knight Rises and Cats and Dogs 2. Over the summer holidays I went to the beach and found some mussel shells. In Room 2 I would like to play soccer and write on  the  right  page.

Sizzling Sausages

The Year 5 and 6 children have been very busy fundraising for their school camp. Today was the first Friday sausage sizzle. Room 2 bought 32 sausages and some children even ate two. I didn't think they were going to be able to fit that many in their tummies! Every second Friday there will be a sausage sizzle at school. Sausages can be purchased for $1.50 each.

Planting Magic Seeds

Today for Adventure Learning we planted magic seeds. We don't know what kind of seeds they are so it will be a surprise when they start to grow. Before we planted the seeds we talked about what we thought they might grow into. Some of our ideas were marigolds, peaches, pears, a magic bean stalk, a money tree, carrots, feijoas and sunflowers. We planted our seeds in plastic fizzy drink bottles. You can read our instructions below so you can make one at home too.

1. Cut the plastic bottle in half.
2. Turn the top half of the bottle upside down and put it into the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Ask an adult to put a hole in the bottle cap using a hammer and a nail.
4. Carefully thread a piece of wool through the bottle cap. You may need an   adult to help you to do this using a needle. Make sure you only pull the piece of wool halfway through.
5. Fill the top half of the bottle up with potting mix.
6. Push your finger down into the potting mix to make a small hole for your seed to go in.
7. Plant the seed in the potting mix and cover the hole over.
8. Fill the bottom half of the bottle up with water until it is just over half full.
9. Sit the top half of the bottle inside the bottom half of the bottle.
10. Find a safe place to put your magic seeds and wait for them to grow.

Room 2's hints for clever cookies

*We put the wool into the water and through the bottle cap to help draw the water up into the potting mix. This means that you don't have to water your seed because it will drink enough water to help it grow.
*If you have seed raising mix available this will give your growing seeds an extra boost. We used a mixture of potting mix and seed raising mix.