Explanation Texts

This term in our writing, we have been learning to do explanation texts which is to explain why or how a phenomenon is happening. I chose to do electricity because it fascinates me how it is a main power source of this century and many others. 

Here is a little snippet of my explanation text:

Electricity is a main power source in this century and we sometimes people wonder how it works.

Electricity is caused by electrons and protons, protons are positively charged while electrons are negatively charged. Static electricity is caused by a disparity between these charges and they will build up unless they can be released or discharged, like through a circuit.

Here is the link if you want to read the whole thing:

Link

Did you learn anything about electricity from the blog post?

Winter Sports

For winter sports I played hockey with my team the Cheetahs with Jin hee, Gianna, Oliver, Jack, Lily, Benjamin, Dakota and Charlie . We had diverse outcomes such as defaults, wins and losses but mostly wins*.  My favorite part would be after the game when we got to go back to school, because then I ask my friends how their game went! Something I found challenging was how I was soooo bad at passing, I should really practice if I ever get the chance.

Despite the challenges of injuries, losses and all that other stuff we've pulled through many times. It kind of was tiring running and all that stuff that I won't even bother talking about, I also might consider doing netball next season if hockey can't convince me. I also hope that next season that new challenges will arise and I'll see if I can take them on, also this is a photo of us.

Top row starting from left: Gianna, Me, Charlie, Oliver
Bottom row starting from left: Benjamin, Lily, Dakota and Jin hee

What do you like most about Hockey?




*I don't actually know the score, help me out and give me a break?

Pictures made out of shapes!

Today, for maths we got to create pictures with shapes with this website! There are no circular shapes sadly, but that's okay! Here are some pictures I made with the shapes.

Rainbow Solar Panel?

Gems

Random Shapes

Cute Animal!

Have you ever created a picture with shapes?

The Great Wonders of Innovation

This term in PBL we have been learning about Innovation, Innovation is when we invent something by using imagination and creativity.

Our first challenge was to build a boat made out of either straws, paper, tape, plastic cups and aluminium foil. We all got into groups of three or four and went straight to creating our boat. The boats were supposed to hold as much marbles as it could and be able to float on water, we created our boat in a regular boat shape and also layered the outside with aluminium foil to support the floating and we last minute added straws on the bottom to help balance it out. When all the groups got together we all saw how everyone else's was flat and how it has better support, we thought we were going to sink our boat once we placed it into the water but actually we got lots marbles in our boat before it sank. 

Through this experience I have learnt:

How Innovation works.

Innovation comes in different shapes and sizes. 

Innovation can be anything such as a boat.

What is Innovation in your own words?

Start saving polar ice caps today!

For reading this week my group read this article:What Is a Polar Ice Cap?

The new ideas I have now I’ve read this text are:

• Turn off lights when we don't need them on.

•  Pull out your charger when your device is fully charged.

•  Use a microwave instead of an oven. (it requires less energy!)

• Give everybody free solar panels!

• Store rainwater.

• Try walking, biking or scooting to school.

• Use stairs instead of elevators

• Turn lights off if you're leaving your house

                                                               

This is the result of our actions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

            I now better understand that we should be careful when we're using electricity, because if we use it carelessly the earth could be even worse than it could be now!

What do you know about Polar Ice caps?

Are you going to try one of my ideas?

Did you learn anything from my blog post?

Kindness is the key to happiness

PBL - Term 1

This term our Project Based Learning (PBL) has been about kindness and the big question was: How can we build community through our actions?

First, we explored some collaborative activities and discussed how we could include kindness and build a sense of community through our actions at camp. Next, we were organised into groups where we had to unpack the above question. In our groups we considered how we could spread community and kindness through our entire school community. We decided that we would offer something that was free and would make others happy.

We created an action plan and we thought about donating old toys to less fortunate people or read books to Kakano, but what changed our minds was an even more amazing idea and that was giving out cards to people and make them feel good. We might have disagreed a little in the plan but we got through in the end by working together and completing our plan.

Reflection: 

For our final product our group passed lovely notes with compliments but I wasn’t there because I was sick. But i’m happy many people got our letters. Here’s what they look like: Link

How did our action build a sense of community in the school? It made people feel like they were at home and that they belonged here.

I contributed by writing the notes, starting the base, printing, cutting them out and handing them out on Thursday.

I think the PBL might impact on others by the compliments we had written, most of their expressions were a smile or a thank you. I think it influenced others positively!

What I learned about working with others was that sometimes we won’t get along but we will have to cooperate in the end.

How would you feel if someone gave you a lovely card today?

Everything I Did In PBL

This term our Project Based Learning (PBL) has been about design and the big question was; How can we use a Steam approach to make a marketable product?

First we learned what STEAM stood for.
S for Science
T for Technology
E for Engineering
A for the Arts
and M for Maths
Then we were given challenges. The first to make a chair using newspaper, string and straws that was able to hold a figure made out of multi-link blocks.
Then; make a table that was able to balance M&Ms for the team. We were much better at the second challenge because we could shape the table the way we wanted and we made it by using all of the materials.

In Literacy we learned to write up science experiments and to write a technology report using the design process of ask, imagine, plan, create, improve and share.

Our next step was to form teams and ask ourselves the big question again.
How can we use a Steam approach to make a marketable product? Our aim was to create enough products or experiences and sell it to raise money for charity.

My team made this product called crystal sets where you can make and grow your own crystals. You have to use food colouring, borax, string and pipe cleaners, a  jar or cup and hot water. Here are the steps if you want to know how to grow them. Step 1 - Make your shape using the pipe cleaners
Step 2 - Get a jar and fill it with hot water
Step 3 - Add 3-4 Tablespoons of borax and mix till it get cloudy
Step 4 - put food colouring into the borax
Step 5 - Tie your string to one end of the pipe cleaner and the other end on a pencil is sitting on top of the jar so it can balance
Step 6 - Start dipping your pipe cleaner in the hot water and then put it in fully make sure you pencil is
Step 7 - Cover the top with a piece of paper or cardboard and wait for 8 hours to take it out.

WARNING - Do not eat the borax. Make sure you have a parent supervising you.

Reflection

My highlight from this PBL was many people bought our product and also that we sold out, we also made $19.
Next time I would create more items so we would get more money, i’d also consider maybe lowering the prices so lots of people would buy them. Maybe we could also change the product to something trending that everybody wants.