Summer Learning Journey Activity 2 Day 3 (WEEK 2)

Activity 2: A Local Delicacy

Whitebait is a very special fish in New Zealand. It is rumoured (believed) to be a very delicious fish. Some restaurants in New Zealand make dishes that feature whitebait, including whitebait fritters. Have you ever tried whitebait fritters? They are a favourite dish of many of my friends. I, personally, prefer foods from places like Mexico and Italy. Pizza and nachos are two of my all-time favourite foods! In fact, I often make homemade pizza with Aronui on Friday nights using the same ingredients (pizza base, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, red onion, basil and feta cheese) each time.

For this activity, please choose a favourite food and find a recipe for it.

On your blog, share a list of the ingredients that you need to make this food. You must type out the list of ingredients yourself (and not simply copy and paste it from a website) to earn full points.

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.