Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 3 (WEEK 2)

Activity 1: Night Owls

Here in New Zealand we have many amazing and unique sea creatures, including penguins. The blue penguin, or kororā, is particularly special because it is the smallest penguin in the entire world! Blue penguins are typically found on the east coast of the South Island in places like Oamaru but they can be hard to spot as they rarely leave the water. If they do come onto land it is usually at night, when most of us are sound asleep! That’s because they are nocturnal. Not all of us, however, sleep all night. In fact, some people love to stay awake late into the evening. People who like to stay up late are called ‘night owls.’ Are you a night owl or are you an early riser, like me? I typically wake up every day around 6:00 a.m. and jump out of bed, ready to start the day!

On your blog, tell us whether you are a night owl or an early riser. Then, tell us about the rest of your family. Are they the same as you? .

I consider myself as a Night Owl, Why? because thats the time where everyone is tired, exhausted and they go to sleep, Once they are all asleep thats when I get to have my own free time....as in studying or just playing music and do my own thing. I prefer Night owl because during the day you don't get much time to yourself, you get caught up with things during the day such as chores, babysitting, making dinner or food and end up falling asleep. My siblings are a Night owl they stay up late because they choose to but my dad is a Early riser, he wakes up and starts the day off and gets us organised for the day.....I wouldn't say my whole family is the same as me but they are if they end up staying up late like me. 

Summer Learning Journey Activity 3 Day 2 (WEEK 2)

Activity 3: Stranger than Fiction

Here on earth there are more than 298 000 different kinds (species) of plants. Some of these plants live on land and some live in the water. Follow this link to read about 10 of the strangest plant species in the world. When you are finished, choose two of the plants from the list.

On your blog, list three similarities and three differences between the two plants that you chose. To earn five extra bonus points, post a picture of both plants on your blog..

Summer Learning Journey Activity 2 Day 2 (WEEK 2)

Activity 2: Mighty Mangroves

Here in New Zealand we have a native tree called a Kiwi Mangrove. Kiwi Mangroves grow in shallow water (harbours). The largest mangrove or manawa forests in New Zealand are located in Northland and in Auckland. According to many environmental experts, they are one of the toughest and strongest trees in the world because they can survive in really harsh (difficult) conditions.

For this activity you are asked to think of someone who is very tough and strong. They can be someone who you know personally or they can be a character that you have read about in a book, seen in a movie, or on a television show.

On your blog, tell us about this person. Who are they? Why are they, in your opinion, so strong and tough?

The charactor I chose was Marcus from the movie Freedom Writers. (I recommend you to watch Freedom writers)

Marcus's side of the story was really awakening and sad. Unfortunately back when he was around the age of 13 or 14, marcus was with his brother on a bench just talking, when suddenly a nightmare happened. Marcus heard a shot and didn’t possibly know that it had hit his brother. He looked to his right and saw his own little brother lying on his lap dead. Marcus just couldn’t get his life together after that tragedy that has happened to his brother.

He left his mother to live on her own, while he thought that being in a gang would be better to live his life, but he didn’t feel that living in the streets was his thing. He decided to listen and read books that Ms gruwell has motivated the students about. “Anne Frank” It looked like that it has really inspired a lot of students including Marcus and that's what changed his life from being in the street to being at home with his mum helping with the groceries and doing all sorts that sons should do at home. Another thing that I like about Marcus as a character was that even though he had a lot of things happening in his life, he knew how to be resilience.

I think there's a clear message in this movie stating not to be quick at judging your enemy just because he/she different, you might find out you have lots in common. I hope that teachers around the world will understand that no class is hopeless, that students go as far where teachers are willing to lead them

Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 2 (WEEK 2)

Activity 1: Weaving a Tall Tale

There is a long history in New Zealand of collecting natural plants, including flax (harakeke), and using them to create cloaks, baskets (kete), mats, traps and ropes. Flax weaving is an art form. It can take years for people to perfect the art of weaving. Have you ever tried it?

For this activity, you are asked to watch a short video of someone weaving a fish (ika) out of flax.

On your blog, tell us whether or not you would like to try flax weaving. Does it interest you? Why or why not?

To be very honest, I would really love to try flax weaving, it really interestest me in a way. I want to try flax weaving because I've never made anything that has to do something with a plant or like a leaf....I think it will be interesting because it will be my first time ever making one, I can already imagine myself struggling while making one but as I practice more I will get there. To make these I think you need to have passion or to have that sort of energy to make one. With flax I heard that you can make anything handy such as Hats, Bags, Purses and Baskets, these will be really useful one day. 

Summer Learning Journey Activity 3 Day 1 (WEEK 2)

Activity 3: Something Smells Fishy

One of the longest and largest rivers in the world is called the Amazon River. It is located in South Am

erica and is approximately 6400 kilometres (kms) long. That is four times longer than the entire country of New Zealand. Wow!

Scientists believe that there are over 3000 different kinds of fish that live in the Amazon River. Now, that is a lot of fish! To learn more about fish, we went online and found some really cool facts about fish.

For this activity, we are going to provide you with five sentences about fish. Some of them are true and some are them are not. It is your job to read these ‘facts’, and decide whether they are true or false.

On your blog, write out each fact and in CAPITAL LETTERS beside the fact, write the word ‘TRUE’ if it is a true fact or ‘FALSE’ if it is not true.

True or False?

Fish Fact #1: The oldest known fish in the world is a 65 year old Australian lungfish. #FALSE

Fish Fact #2: Sharks are the only fish that have eyelids. #FALSE

Fish Fact #3: Starfish are a type of fish. #FALSE

Fish Fact #4: Fish communicate with each other by making low-pitched sounds (moans, hisses, etc) #FALSE

Fish Fact #5: Fish usually swim together in groups called ‘classes.’ #FALSE

Summer Learning Journey Activity 2 Day 1 (WEEK 2)

Activity 2: The Great Taupo Cycle Challenge

Every year approximately 7500 people arrive in Taupo, New Zealand to compete in a one-day cycling race around Lake Taupo. The race route is 160 km in length. Participants can choose to compete in the full race or the half-race (80 km). Let’s imagine that you were given a free ticket to compete in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge next year and you were able to bring three people with you as your ‘support crew.’ Who would you bring with you?

If it was me, I would choose my son, Aronui, as one of my supporters because he’s really funny and energetic. I think that he would make sure that I had a great time and that I spent the entire day laughing and smiling. I would also choose my sister, Leigh, because she is very strong and fast. Thirdly, I would choose my co-leader, Hazel, because she is very organised and would make sure that we followed the trail and didn’t get lost!

On your blog, list the three people you would like to have on your Lake Taupo Cycle Race Support Crew. Tell us why you have chosen each person.

I would take my dad because we are really close and with us being close we can cooperate more, I also chose my dad because he's good at protecting and guiding me. The second person I would also take along with me and my dad would have to be my friend ashley, she is really stubborn, but with her stubborness she can use it to tell us what to do and to help us stay on track. The last person I would also tag along will have to be my other friend Taunese, shes short, fast and energetic....She is also supportive so if were slowing down or just not feeling it Taunese can be the one to encourage us or help us stay positive.

Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 1 (Week 2)

Day 1: Swimming with the Fish

Activity 1: Surfs Up

In New Zealand we have many beautiful beaches and stunning waterfalls. One of the most spectacular waterfalls is called Kitekite and it is located in Piha, a small village west of Auckland. Tourists and locals flock to Piha during the summer season to enjoy the waterfall, the local beach, and the great surf. Have you ever tried surfing? Although I have never surfed many of my friends have and they absolutely love it. In fact, it is their favourite summer activity! What is yours?

For this activity, please take a picture of yourself doing one of your favourite summer activities. It could be anything! Here is a picture of one of our team members (Laura) doing one of her favourite summer activities.

On your blog, post a picture of yourself doing one of your favourite summer activities. Below the picture tell us what the activity is and tell us why it is one of your favourites.

This is a photo of me and my family taking a photo with my Great Grandma. This is not a activity but this is my faviourite picture of me and my family in Tonga back in 2014. This will never get old, but I enjoy looking at this photo over and over again.....I had so much fun in tonga, getting to meet families that I didn't meet before and getting to spend quality time with them. I was also lucky enough to dance at our Reunion, I got a lot of money and ended up spending it with my cousins. This is our first family trip together, usually it would only be me and my sister raewen going with my grandparents but since our family reunion was on, my whole family was lucky enough to come along with us. During our time in Tonga I got to do a lot of things that I didn't get to do in New Zealand such as sitting at the back of the truck and going for a ride, swimming everyday at the beach and just eating more and more food. One of my favourite highlights when I went to Tonga was myself and my twin sisters birthday, we got to go out and have ice cream, play water fight and also going to the retaurant and have pizza. What was even fun is that we got to play ice cream fight, it was really crazy and exhausting. I really hope that one day I will go back to Tonga and visit my family again. See you soon NUKU ALOFA x......Please leave a positive comment :)

Summer Learning Journey Activity 3 Day 5

Activity 3: Going, going….gone

Over the years, scientists have made some surprising discoveries. One of

these discoveries is that we have entire cities (e.g. Jakarta, Indonesia and Venice, Italy) that are slowly sinking into the ocean. Scientists believe that, one day, the cities will disappear completely under the water. Yikes!

Some of the residents (people living in the cities) have taken pictures of their neighbourhoods and written stories about their lives in order to make a record of what ‘life was like’ in their city before it disappeared.

Let’s imagine that New Zealand was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean next week (Eek!). Before it sinks you are asked to write a blog post telling people what life was like in New Zealand in 2018.

On your blog, post a description of life in New Zealand in 2018. Please remember that the people who read your post will have never been to New Zealand or even seen a picture so it is your job to ‘paint a picture’ of New Zealand using your words. You can also post pictures, if you wish. Be sure to fully attribute the pictures.

New Zealand is a very outstanding country to be living in. The population in New Zealand is currently 4.75 million people. I love living in New Zealand, you can do anything that will make you happy like spending time with your whanau (Family and Friends), going out to the movies or shopping, or just spending time with one and other. Although the population in New Zealand may feel low but its because we live in a small country but with big spaces all around. Bad things can happen in our country but we still manage to treat it with respect. Whats really significant about our country is the unique stories behind our ancestors, flags and how New Zealand came about. In New Zealand our weather changes a lot at some point its sunny then it rains then back to sunny. Our weather changes a lot that's why for you travellers if you are planning to come to our country make sure to bring summer and winter clothes just in case.

There is so much to tell yous about New Zealand but keeping it interesting and short, we have amazing Ice creams. Most people from other countries come to our country because of how real and tasty our Ice cream is. They say that there flavours aren't tasty enough, and I could really ask why but I figured that we use real fruits and dairy milk to make our ice creams. My favourite place in New Zealand is probably the beaches, may not look nice like the ones in the island but its really calm and peaceful.

Summer Learning Journey Activity 2 Day 5

Activity 2: Living on the Edge

While it can get quite cold in New Zealand, it rarely drops below freezing (00C). Most of the time the temperature in New Zealand is pretty mild. This is not the case in the tundra. The tundra is an area of land (biome) that is cold, dry and completely treeless. Did you know that the average temperature in the tundra is -280C?

Over the past few years, however, the temperature in the tundra has been rising and the weather has been changing. Let’s imagine that your teacher decides to take you on a class trip to the tundra before the weather changes too much and you aren’t able to go.

On your blog, write a letter to your best friend or a family member telling them about your trip to the tundra. To earn full points your letter must have a greeting (eg. Dear…) followed by 5 – 6 sentences of information about what your experience

Dear Dad, I just came back from Tundra and I just wanted to tell you how happy I was to tick off my wishing list of going to Tundra. 

First I travelled on the plane and it was pretty exciting since it was my first time on a plane. I could barely sleep because I was just in great shock. When we arrived it was really cold we went to have a look around and everything was frozen and slippery. It was hard for me to walk because of all the ice.....But it was fun overall because it was snowing.

As I was being too excited, I just had no energy at some point. That's when I knew I was exhausted, not sleeping nor eating in the plane. It was so freezing out in Tundra, I had to put layers of gloves and scarfs for myself to keep warm. 

During my time in Tundra I got to do many things that I didn't get to do in New Zealand so it was a great opportunity....Some of the things I got to do was learning how to ski on ice, having a snowball fight, making a snowman and making snow angels. I had so much fun. 

Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 5

Activity 1: Towering Timbers

There is a long and rich history of logging in New Zealand. Logging involves cutting down trees. The people who cut them down are called loggers. The trees that they cut down are sold and used to build things (eg. houses), to make products (eg. paper), and to generate (create) heat and power. Over the past two centuries, many of the trees in New Zealand have been cut down by loggers.

Some people like logging because it creates jobs for the loggers and generates money for New Zealand while others are against (opposed to) logging. Many of those opposed are worried that logging will damage the environment. It might also force animals who live in trees (eg. owls) to find new homes.

What do you think about logging?

On your blog tell us whether you think logging should be allowed in New Zealand. Be sure to provide at least two reasons to support your argument.

In my own opinion I think that logging shouldn't be allowed in New Zealand. I have many reasons to why logging shouldn't be allowed in New Zealand. One of the reasons is that it kills our beautiful creatures, yes we may not need them in our lives but they do produce plants and oxygen for us. There are many consequences we have to face if logging exist, pollution happens so quickly that animals die. We need trees for oxygen, fresh air and paper. Loggers do have a point in cutting trees down, because it provides food and water, but I think that not cutting trees down is the best options. More trees being gone is just making our environment more unhealthy for animals and some of us people.

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Summer Learning Journey Activity 3 Day 4

Activity 3: Salt and Pepper

Deep in the heart of Bolivia (a country in South America) lies a natural wonder unlike anything else. It is a massive area of salt, over 10 000 km2 large, that is referred to as the Uyuni Salt Flats.

Tourists who visit the flats often stay in hotels made completely out of salt (salt hotels). This is not the only unique hotel that you will find around the world. In fact, you can stay in hotels made entirely of

ice (ice hotels) or glass (glass hotel). Let’s imagine that you were given enough money to build your very own hotel.

On your blog tell us where you would build your hotel and what you would use to build it. For an extra five points, use Google Drawings to design one room in your hotel. You can also use a paper and pencil to draw your room, take a picture of the drawing, and post it on your blog.

As you guys can see, this is the outside of my hotel that I drew on a online drawing site which is Pixlr. My hotel will be built and created with wool, wood, bricks and maybe timber. My hotel maybe be looking small but once you enter the house, it will be fully coloured with your favourite colour. As yous can tell my hotel is in a area where not many houses are built on, which I think is really cool because I can have peace and quiet in the area I will be staying at. My hotel may look like a normal house but reasons for it to look like your house is to make sure that you feel as if your at home and that you are welcomed. Once you walk into the property you will see a nice field of green grass, where you can play around have free time and have picnics with your friends and families. I mentioned it before but this hotel may look small but there are many friendly people out there who can also make you feel welcomed and that you can feel comfortable.