Hurricanes

In Social Studies we are learning how to write better sentences. Here is what I wrote about hurricanes.

Also known as a tropical storm or cyclone a hurricane is a fierce storm. They occur when the temperature of the ocean is warm, above 26.5 degrees Celsius and down to 50 meters. Bringing storm surges and storm tides to places can be very dangerous. Heavily falling the rain could also come which can cause inland flooding, that could destroy places and buildings etc. People might be affected because hurricanes can destroy peoples homes, businesses, and lose loved ones.

Earthquake Proof House

Our house was pretty successful. It was a bit stable that's why. Architects plan out the buildings so that when engineers could build them they would be successful. Architects make sure the architects have a strong foundation and it will stay up even when natural disasters occur.

The Burj Khalifa is 828m to the last floor, and it is 830m to the tip.   

English Reflection SOST

This writing period helped me a lot with writing my paragraphs, I can improve on listening more to the teacher and cooperating more.

Rock Cycle

Social Studies Reflection (ENE)

For Social Studies we have we worked well because we finished one diagram for the volcano. We don't need any help with anything so far. We need to finish more diagrams. We could start early and be quicker. Today we finished our diagrams. We still don't need help with anything. We just need to finish our presentation. Today we have explained how the volcanic eruption happened. We don't need to improve on anything else and we are close to finishing.

We did a lot of work including what happened with the natural and cultural environment. We don't need help with anything. We were a little bit slow. We will start earlier.

We worked well because we finished with our slide. We don't need help with anything. We also got a bit distracted during the class. We will try to not get distracted next time we are doing our work.

We have finished the presentation. Now we just have to write what we are going to say while we present. We don't need help with anything so far. We were a little far behind from others but we caught up. We will listen to the teacher people.

How do Volcanoes Form?

How do Volcanoes Form?

Volcanoes are formed when magma from within the Earth's upper mantle works it's way to the mantle. At the surface, it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits. Over time as the volcano continues to erupt, it will get bigger and bigger.  Mount Etna last major eruption was in 1992. Mount Etna, like other Mediterranean volcanoes such as Stromboli and Vesuvius, rests on the subduction boundary where the African tectonic plate is being pushed under the Eurasian plate, it was formed in 1500 BC. The eruption of Mount Etna may affect air quality and visibility across parts of southern Europe into the end of the week.


Fun Facts - Mount Etna is the oldest volcano. The volcano with the most amount of kills is Mount Tambora with 71,000+ kills. Mount Taal is the smallest volcano that is still active. The United States of America has the most amount of volcanoes in their country, with about 173 volcanoes. The word “volcano” comes from the Roman name “Vulcan” – the Roman god of fire. 350 million, or one in 20 people in the world live within “danger range” of an active volcano. In A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted, devastating the Italian town of Pompeii. The ash deposits preserved the town and the remains of the people within it. The “Ring of Fire”, a 40,000 km Horseshoe shaped area of the Pacific Ocean, is home to 90% of all volcanoes on the Earth. The soil near volcanoes is said to be rich and fertile which is why some people actually set up home on the slopes.  The ancient Greeks thought that the god of Fire, Hephaestus, lived beneath Mt. Etna, The Titan god Prometheus is said to have stolen fire from Hephaestus's volcano to give to humans.  

Social Studies Graph

In Social Studies we have learnt how to make a good graph. To help us we have used FAULTSPK. FAULTSPK is an acronym that stands for Frame, Axis, Units, Labels, Title, Scale, Plot, and Key. In this graph, we show the number of Australians that were born overseas.

Particle Theory of Matter - Convection

Particle Theory of Matter - Convection

Aim: 

To observe convection in a liquid

Equipment: 

200 ml beaker, water, tweezers, a crystal of potassium permanganate, a drinking straw, Bunsen burner, heat mat, tripod, and gauze mat

Method:

1. Set up a Bunsen burner on a heatproof mat. Put the gauze mat on the tripod but leave it just to one of the side of the Bunsen burner. 

2. Fill a 200 ml beaker with 150 ml of cold water.

3. Place the beaker on top of the tripod and gauze and allow it to settle for a few minutes.

4. Carefully insert a drinking straw down one side of the beaker, ensuring the straw is touching the bottom of the beaker. Be careful as you do not want to disturb the water too much.

5. Using tweezers drop a crystal of potassium permanganate down the inside of the straw. Wait for the crystal to settle on the bottom beaker.
6. Very gently, so to not disturb the water remove the straw.

7. Light the Bunsen and slide it under the tripod so that you are only heating the outside of the beaker where the crystal is. Observe.

Observations:
When we inserted the crystal down the side with the heat. The purple liquid started moving to the top more on the side with the heat went up first
Explanation:
This because hot water wanting to move to the cold areas

Persuasive Writing

What did I learn? 
I learnt how to write better and how to catch people into reading what I produce.

Why did we do it as a class? 
We did as a class so it'll be faster and better than doing it individually

What will I do better next time? 
I will contribute more towards the topic we writing about

What questions do I still have?
Are we learning more about how to write if someone else is doing the work?

GrowingNZ Project

INTRODUCTION

At the beginning of term 3, we were tasked with a project that would help New Zealand. The topic we chose was regarding irrigation. My group involved Danne, Ray and me. We chose two enablers that could help us with our solution. Irrigation is used to assist the growth of crops, usually at times when there is insufficient rainfall to optimize production. Water is moved through pipes, canals, sprinkles and other man-made things. Poor water application caused by worn/wrong/damaged equipment, and poor position of the irrigators on the land can result in some areas being overwatered, and some being underwatered. Our challenge is to come up with a solution to make irrigation more efficient, to reduce water wastage and improve productivity.  

Digital Learning Objective

Reflection

I enjoyed our topic and liked the solution we came up with. I think that we chose a good project to work on and I think that the solution we came up with would help to make irrigation efficient. I think my group worked well together because of everyone completed what they had to do. I also learned about irrigation in New Zealand.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amrCMakolKA
https://www.darynz.co.nz/environment/water-use/irrigation
http://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/knowledge-resources/

Questions

What do you think our solution should have been?

Was the prototype helpful?

What could of we done that was better? 

Creative Writing: Arriving in Paradise

My name is Liam and I live in London. I live in a cramped space with my parents and 2 brothers, one is older and the other is younger. My dad works in the coal mines and my mum works in a textile factory. My older brother named Harry is 19 years old and he is also working in the coal mines. My younger brother named Connor who is 10 years old works in a nail factory. As for myself, my name is Liam I am 14 years of age and I worked in the shipyards. I don't like it in London and neither does anyone else.

Everyone in my family doesn't like London because we all work hard and we don't get paid enough for how much time and effort we put into each of our jobs. We also hate it because we live in a cramped space for 5 people. Some nights if it was really cold we would have slept remarkably close together. Connor regularly complains when he is done working because he doesn't get to play a lot during the day, but after he works he would be too tired to do anything so he would sleep. He also hates it when he goes for a shower because he would get the dirtiest water and we hated as well because he smelled a lot. 

We all smell a lot some days I could even smell myself and that's not the good smell. It's also mostly because it's dirty outside all the time and we also smell that but now I'm used to it so it's fine. Harry doesn't complain because he knows nothing will change and I'm trying to be like him also but some days it's just too hard to deal with something calmly that is extremely severe. Dad and mum are trying to put on a face that everything is fine but Harry and I know that we all are struggling. Sometimes we would hear mum crying and dad would try to stop in case we heard. I and Harry are trying to put on a face for Connor but I know he will find out later, and then maybe he will stop complaining but him complaining is fine now because he doesn't know about the struggles and his complaints don't last long anyway.

Harry told me and Connor about something called a school and it sounds fascinating. Now I would rather go to school than start work at a young age. I think that's what my brother would have liked when he was my age too. He also has said to me that if he had the chance now he would leave his job and join a school, but he told us that he's too old to join now. We don't regularly see dad because he is always working so I feel like we are all really distant from him. We meet him sometimes but when we talk to him he seems too tired so we just stop and tell each other our problems instead of bringing mum and dad more problems to deal with, but I don't think our problems are as big as the ones they already have. I am glad that we tell each other our problems because I think we solve it faster. Sometimes we would get mad at each other but that would get resolved in a day so that's fine.

Mum would care a lot about all 3 of us. She would warn us about the diseases and that we shouldn't drink from certain fountains, but I and Harry already know that she was mostly saying because of Connor but he doesn't want to feel left out so we hear it every time. I also don't like London because of the overcrowding, there's just so many people now. When I was younger my dad used to tell me how he used to complain that there were too many people before this. And now that he has seen how many people have come now he's grateful for what he had before. I don't think that there is much of a difference anyway. I think my dad said that so we won't annoy him about stuff like the space we live in or how we have way too many people. My mum also says things like how bad stuff was when she was younger to Connor so that he should be grateful and stop complaining. Even though we don't believe that anything going to change dad and mum still bring hope for us that everything could change. I have a good feeling about today I just feel lucky. 

I was right today is lucky. Mum just heard from some friends that some people are able to migrate to another country called New Zealand. She even saw a poster about it! It has said that we would get a greater opportunity. Apparently, the poster said that we would be going by ship and you just have to sign up. Mum has already signed up our family to go. Everyone in my family is excited, but I'm not sure about it. I'm just hoping that it is better than here and hoping that it also has a school. We are going in a month and I'm having mixed feelings about this all I can do now is just hope. I'm excited to leave all the dirty water and overcrowding but what if New Zealand has bigger problems that we haven't thought of.

It's been a few days and Harry has convinced me that it's better so now I'm 100% thrilled and eager to leave. Connor has been really quiet my parents and Harry think that he's a bit sick and it'll be fine, but I think that he is having mixed feelings like I did. I told him the amazing things that are there but he is still quiet so now I think he's a bit sick. Seventeen days to leave and I'm really excited I can't even concentrate on my work at the shipyards. Day by day I'm getting more eager to leave but Connor is just getting more sick day by day as well. Everyone thinks that he might have a disease but we can't do anything about it so we just have to wait. Everyone is really worried about him I think he's going to die but I don't want him too. I also haven't talked to Harry recently but I think he's fine.

I talked to him yesterday but not properly and he and dad left pretty early this morning for the coal mines and they haven't arrived yet. They are usually not this late. Connor went to the doctors' house today and he was told that he was just a bit sick so the doctor gave him antibiotics and after he woke he was fine. Dad and Harry have still not arrived and mum's getting worried, but I think it's fine. I usually calm mum down and I just did. Connor is back to his complaining and I think that's better than him being sick and quiet, you don't realise some things unless you've it. Like Connor being quiet we all got worried but he just had a cough. Dad has arrived but not Harry, that's not normal. 

They usually arrive together. Dad seems really tired today so I'll try to help since Harry's not here yet. Mum just dropped a glass so I went to see what happened. Mum was crying and dad was on the verge of crying too. Dad just told me what happened and I burst into tears. He told me that Harry has died from suffocation from gas in the coal mines. It is a very sad week for us this week. One thing I can confirm is that it has been an emotional rollercoaster and it will definitely be a memorable week. It will be a sad memory that we will not be able to forget. My parents have decided to tell Connor when he wakes up in the morning. I think that he'll be very unhappy when he hears about this incident. We were going to move on Harry's birthday, my dad told us that was going to be his present, but then we found out that dad had gotten him another gift which he was going to get in New Zealand. We haven't seen it yet though we just that there is one, which we had been keeping secret from Harry. We are leaving in a few hours I can't wait!

Every school student should learn a second language

Every school student should learn a second language

I think that every school student should learn a second language. Although they might swear to people that don’t know that language and it takes more time, and in some cases, people forget some of their first languages. People also tend to learn better while learning another language they also can talk about personal things, and that language can help them if they go overseas to that place.

People can curse other people using that language. Somebody could use verbal abuse while speaking to other people, and that sometimes can be hurtful. However backbiting and verbal abuse are wrong, people could have really intimate situations they don't want people talking or hearing about. For instance, if you want to talk to a friend, parent or teacher etc about a disease that you might have you can say it without feeling secretive about that certain topic and say it easily. So in that situation, it's helpful. But if you go to that country you can speak in your first language if you need to talk about things.

If you do go to a country that speaks the language it will be helpful for you to go around and do things. Because if you don't speak that language things can get a little hard. You might have to hire people that can speak the language and can help you go around to places, which could mean more money wasted and if you just learned that language in school you just saved more money. For example, you get lost and there's no internet you could just ask anybody for directions and be back on track, or if you don't the language you might not find your way back and could get frauded by smart people that you just went up to and tried to speak to, but they figured out that you were a foreigner and tricked you. So not only did learning the language save you money but also helped you learn other subjects.

Learning a second language can help you learn different subjects easier. At any age that you start learning another language, it helps your brain improve. Learning another language helps with memory abilities and thinking skills. You can also learn about the country that your language is from. For example, in English, you can learn new words, ways of improving your speech etc. It also increases skills in your first language with reading, writing, and grammar. It's a fact that you can learn better while learning about another language. I also think that schools should a variety of languages to teach. These are my reasons why I think people should learn another language.

Persuasive Writing

New Zealand / Aotearoa should fix its own problems before helping other countries?

Should New Zealand help other countries before helping themselves? I think that New Zealand/Aotearoa should help other countries while helping ourselves. Although our country might be neater, progress faster, one of the best places to live, and have lesser problems, I still think we should help other countries. Because other countries might help us later, we might get fewer resources, other might not help us, it might take a lot of time to fix all the problems, and if we try to fix all our problems we might create new ones.

Our country will be neater and better. It'll be a good tourist attraction, and we might have a cleaner and fresher air and water than it already is, however, we might get fewer resources and if we can't get them in New Zealand we might have to go to another country. For example, we ran out of something in New Zealand that helps us a lot and provides for a lot of families and companies, we will have to ask another country. But if we never helped that country or we can't trade something good enough for it as a country we might take longer to progress. People might also leave our country because of this circumstance.

People might stay because we have lesser and less concerning problems than other countries. New Zealand might become one of the best places to live or just good tourist attractions because of the cleanliness and scenery. For example, our country has small problems and it doesn't bother someone that stays in the middle east, but if we start more and more people I think that it won't as great as it was because there might be a shortage of a lot of things including hospitals by the number of people living here. If we do fix smaller problems will it help our country?

The government might fix the smaller problems but they might also create bigger ones. Imagine them trying to fix a small problem that creates one that will take plenty of money and time to fix. If they try to fix environmental issues that might harm the environment even more. For example, they are cutting down trees for more land to build on, but that might be homes for birds and insects etc. Birds and Insects could help us more than people constructing buildings. Maybe the environmental issues will go up by 30%, then after that, we might need other countries to help us fix our problems with the environment.

These are the reasons why I think New Zealand should help other countries before helping themselves. Sure we might progress slower but who's in a rush to be the top country. If we rush to the top we might fall down faster, so that's why I am for New Zealand to help other countries while they help themselves.

Windracer

Windracer

Aim:

To make it the furthest using the wind 

Equipment:

Trolley, Cardboard, Tape, Paper, String, Scissors

Research: 
Windracer

Method:

Start making all the elements I need to create this project. I will begin with a part of the cardboard that will be rolled up like a tube taped. It will then be taped to the trolley and just to secure it a bit more a string will be running from the top to down and around the trolley. Then a semi-circle will be formed of the cardboard to tape the top of the paper mast to it. Two holes will be penetrated into the middle of the hole. If possible make another stabilizer (half circle) with the cardboard for the bottom.
Result:
Our windracer came 3rd to last. This is a picture from Mr Heath Blogspot but ours look similar to his so here are the pictures. 

CARR Licences

In English we have started to use CARR Licences which determine how work during English here is a presentation that will explain more. 

Paper Airplane

Aim: To fly over an arch and land the furthest away.
Research: Paper Plane
Equipment: A4 paperx2, 1 straw, scissors, and 30cm tape
Method:  
1. Start with a flat sheet of paper. ...
2. Fold the paper in half lengthwise, then unfold. ...
3. Fold down the upper corners. 
4. Fold down the top triangle. ...
5. Bring the corners in so they meet in the middle. ...
6. Fold up the small triangle. ...
7. Fold the paper outward to form the body of the plane. ...
8. Make one last fold to form the wings.

Migration

In SOST we are learning about migration and push and pull factors. I hope my simple show can show what it is. Here is my simple show - Migration

Introduction to Shakespeare

Introduction to Shakespeare

In English, we are starting to learn about Shakespeare and his work. We are learning about him because we are going to watch a play that he has made (The Merchant of Venice). So the play that he has made. We are learning about him by researching him. Why we have to research about to understand his play? Here is what I have done. 

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Watching television is making New Zealand / Aotearoa an unhealthy nation?

Watching television is making New Zealand / Aotearoa an unhealthy nation

In English, we are writing our own opinions on whether we think if watching TV is making NZ unhealthy. Here are my opinions. 

Colosseum Posters

In SOST we had to make a poster about the gladiator games. We had to write the date in Roman Numerals. Can you figure out the date?

Astronomy in Ancient Egypt

Astronomy was important to ancient Egyptians as there were regular sky observers. They built monuments for certain astronomical orientation. We know that Egyptians had a polythetic religion. They could see specific gods in the constellations. They also built some huge temples and pyramids for particular astronomical orientations. There astronomy and both religious and practical purposes. Nowadays for astronomy to study the sun, moon, stars, and planets etc.