Room 21 Goes Global!

In Room 21, we are learning about the Olympic Games! We each chose a country to study during the games and we are looking forward to learning lots about our country over the next few weeks. The first thing we learnt, was what our country's flag looks like. We Googled a picture of our flag and then painted our own versions. We tried to make them look exactly like the real ones. Do you think we did a good job? How many country's flags can you recognise?

Learning at Home

Below are some ideas for helping your child to learn at home. Click on the square in the top right hand corner to see the full sized Glog. All of the videos and links should be 'clickable', so browse away!

 Homework should be fun, rewarding and a stress-free time together, so some of the ideas in the Glog might be useful. It would be great if people could share some of their own favourite home learning activities, songs or websites. I'm sure everyone has wonderful and unique ways of helping their children learn that other parents would love to read about. Post your ideas or links in the comments, so that everyone can benefit from each other's ideas.

Spiders!!!! Agggghhhhhhh!!!!!

We came back from Morning Tea today to find that we had a giant visitor! He was sitting on our window, hiding from the rain. Mr Solly, our caretaker, put him in a container and is going to send him off to MAF - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry - to make sure he wasn't poisonous. Have a look at how big he was:

Mr Monster, at your service!

He was as big as Mrs Lemi's first joint of her pointer finger!

MULTIPLICATION - Award-Winning 2 Times Table Multiplication Song For Kids

Use this to practice your 2 times tables! It's lots of fun and great learning!!

Code Cracking

Writing codes is a secret form of communication. Today we learnt a type of code called a Rail Fence code. You need to start with a message that has a multiple of 4 letters (8, 12, 16, 20, 24 etc). We used the message 'how are you feeling'. You then write it so the letters are on two lines:
h    w   r     y    u    e     l    n
   o    a    e    o     f     e    i    g

Then you split the letters into groups of 4 and write them out - the top line first, then the bottom line:
hwry ueln oaeo feig.   - This is your code. It looks like nonsense, but if you know the trick, you can work it out!

When you get a code that looks like that, you just reverse the steps. So first you write out the first half of the letters on the top row:
h   w   r   y   u   e   l   n

Then the second half of the letters on the bottom row, in the gaps:
h   w   r   y   u   e   l   n
  o    a   e   o   f    e   i   g

And then you can read the secret message!

Can you solve this Rail Fence Code?

Ro2i   aeoe  om1s wsm!


Visit this website for more information on Code Cracking - http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml

Kaylum's Taniwha

Our class made Maori designs. We used a creature called a taniwha in the middle then we used Maori patterns for the background and the border. A taniwha is a Maori dragon from myths. Do you like my taniwha?

Count On Me - Bruno Mars Lyrics

Here is the song 'Count on Me' that we have been learning. Have a practice over the weekend and see if you can have it perfect for Monday. Have a lovely weekend 
xoxo
Miss Williams

Communication Inventions

In Room 21 we are learning about different inventions that help us to communicate. We used Skype to talk to Miss Williams' sister, all the way across the world, in America! We started talking about what the next invention, that would take over Skype, would be. Here are our ideas:


Group 1: 

Our invention is Skype on a watch! You can Skype your friends wherever you are, because it is on your wrist all the time. It is better than Skype because you don't have to go home to use your computer to Skype, you can do it wherever you are!

Group 2: 

Our invention was a teleporter! You can type in a name and address, then you press the red button and all of a sudden you are in that place! It is better than Skype because you actually go to the place and don't have to talk to your family through a screen - you can see them in person!

Group 3:

Our invention shows the whole person, not just their head. You press the on button and all you have to do is say the person's name and they appear in front of you. It is better than Skype because you can see the whole person.

Group 4:

 Our invention is like Skype and a fax machine combined! You can talk to the person, like on Skype and you can also send them pictures and messages through a machine, like a fax. It is better than Skype because you can send them things through the phone, not just talk to them.

Group 5:

Our invention is 3D Skype! It is just like Skype, except the people you are talking to are in 3D and it looks like they are really there. It is better than Skype because the person is in 3D and it is like they are in the same room, just standing on your computer!

Semaphore Flags

In Room 21 at the moment, we are learning about Communication. Communication is the sharing of ideas and information. We learnt how to communicate using semaphore flags. They were used by sailors to communicate across the water. During buddy time our big buddies from Room 6 helped us to make Semaphore Flags and how to use them to spell words. We had a great time and we learnt a lot about a different form of Communication. Our buddies learnt a lot too, because they had never heard of Semaphore Flags either!

First, we found the letters that spell out our names on the Semaphore Alphabet.

Then we made our flags by colouring half of a sheet of A5 paper red
and half yellow. We stapled the flags onto pieces of rolled up paper to
make handles.

Our Year 5 buddies helped us to spell our names out using the
Semaphore Alphabet. It was really tricky, but a lot of fun!

Then our big buddies had a turn of spelling out their names and we
helped them to get it right.

We practiced a lot, until we got it right.

And then we practiced some more!

Finally, we used our flags to spell out the sentence "Buddy Time Rocks"!
We love spending time with our big buddies. We have a lot of fun and we learn a lot too.

This video shows us spelling 'Buddy Time Rules!'

We hope you enjoy it :)

http://player.vimeo.com/video/44077346

Victoria's taniwha

We made crayon and dye taniwhas. A taniwha is a mythical creature. First, we drew a chalk outline. Then, when we finished it, we coloured our taniwha in in hot colours. When we finished that, we did the background in cold colours. Then, we did our borders in red and white. Then we dyed our work with black dye. I am proud of my taniwha.