Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 3

Activity 1: Fantastic Beasts

In New Zealand we have many unusual animals. One of the most unusual is the kiwi bird - a bird that does not have wings and can not fly. Pretty strange, eh?! J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, has recently written a new book about strange or unusual animals called ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’

For this activity, please watch this cool book trailer. Year 7 and Year 8 students in South Auckland, New Zealand helped to make it. Once you have watched the video, use your imagination and create your very own beast. What does your beast look, smell, feel, and sound like?

On your blog, post a description of your beast. Use interesting adjectives (describing words) to tell us about your beast.

My Beast:

UNIDOG is a beast that I, myself, created using my imagination. This beast has a poweful horn that can shoot out acid, when it's hungry, it'll be worse than you'll ever imagine, when it sees its prey or food, it wont hesitate to attack. This beast of mine can be seen but I think its Rarely Seen.  Those who got the chance to see this beast may think it will look cute, with cute puppy eyes with a horn on its head. In there head they think its cute but once they get to know the true colours of this beast they will be horrified. 

What it looks like: A body of a Dog with wings, Cute puppy eyes, Unicorn horn on its head.....Medium size beast but really fierce

What it feels like: Really soft and fluffy body, sharp and scaly horns 

What it sounds like: It will sound like a deep-loud groan

Closest photo I could find of a Unidog. May look cute as I said before but really evil on the inside.

Summer Learning Journey Activity 3 Day 2

Activity 3: Weird and Wonderful

New Zealand is just one of many countries that has amazing plants and trees. In fact, the African desert is home to some pretty incredible plants, like the cactus. Some cactis are able to survive on as little as 3 millilitres (ml) of water a day. Wow!

Let’s imagine that you are given a cactus for your birthday. To keep it alive, you must give it 3 ml of water every day.

Over one full year, how much water will you need to give your cactus plant?

On your blog, tell us how to solve this maths problem. You can write your answer in words, use a Sketchpad image, or post a video explaining how you would figure it out. Be sure to give us your final answer in millilitres (ml).

Maths Problem:

3 x 365 = ? 

3 x 300 = 900

3 x 60 = 180

3 x 5 = 15

Now after these steps of trying to figure out the answer to 3 x 365, you would now use addition. So add up the first 2 answers which is 900 and 180 then add the 15.

900 + 180 = 1080

1080 + 15 = 1095ml

My final answer is 1095. You will need 1095 ml water to water the plant for a year.

Summer Learning Journey Activity 2 Day 2

Activity 2: Fabulous FernsThe

One of the most common plants found in New Zealand forests is the fern. It is a special, iconic symbol of New Zealand. You will find pictures of ferns on the jerseys of many famous sporting teams in New Zealand, including the New Zealand All Blacks.

Did

you know that many of these teams also have the word ‘fern’ in their name? Use your best researching skills to find three New Zealand sporting teams who use the word ‘fern’ in their title.

On your blog list three sports teams that have the word ‘fern’ in their title. Beside each team’s name, post a picture of their uniform. Then, at the bottom of your blog post tell us which of the three uniforms you like best and why.

1) The Silver FERNS - Womens Netball

2) The Tall FERNS - Womens Basketball

3) The Black FERNS - Womens Rugby

The three teams I have chosen are the ones above. All three uniforms are really similar, by the colour of the uniforms and also the pattern as you may know why.....Becuase all 3 teams represent one country NEW ZEALAND!! To be very honest my favourite uniform has to be the Silver ferns (netball) Why? because it looks very simple and comfortable. Also love the meanings of the uniform such as the colour of the uniform. It is a black, white and silver uniform, with a silver Fern and also some silver Maori korus. The korus represent Maori, the silver represents their team and the Fern represents New Zealand!

TALL FERNS                        BLACK FERNS                     SILVER FERNS

Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 2

Activity 1: Giants Among Us

New Zealand has a really special environment. Many of the plants and trees found in New Zealand are not found anywhere else in the world. These plants and trees are endemic to our country.  In New Zealand, one of the largest and longest living endemic

trees is the NZ Kauri tree. Kauri are mainly found in three regions of New Zealand: the Coromandel, Auckland and Northland. The largest Kauri tree in the country is in the Waipoua Forest in Northland. It is called Tāne Mahuta. Some people refer to it as the ‘Lord of the Forest.’

Thousands of people go to visit Tāne Mahuta every year. Would you like to be one of those people who got to see Tāne Mahuta in real life? Why or why not?

On your blog, tell us whether you would like to go and visit Tāne Mahuta one day. Be sure to tell us why you do (or do not) want to visit this endemic tree.

After hearing and reading many things about the Kauri Trees, I really hope I get to go and visit Tane Mahuta one day....Why? I love trying new things such as going on an adventure, exploring new things, seeing things I havn't seen or heard about and also experiencing new things. I would really like to see how far up it is from us people standing on the ground....Maybe one day I will get to see Tane Mahuta :)

Summer Learning Journey Activity 3 Day 1

Activity 3: Ice, Ice Baby

Antarctica is the world’s coldest continent. Even though it is made up of ice, it is also the driest continent in the world. In fact, it hasn’t rained there for nearly 2 million years! It is home to many animals such as whales, seals, birds, and fish. There are no permanent human residents (people who live there all the time) in Antarctica, however scientists do visit and stay in Antarctica for a while to study it.

This year the airline, Air New Zealand, filmed their safety video in Antarctica. They used some fabulous actors from Hornby Primary School in Christchurch. Just like on aeroplanes, we also need to keep safe and be smart online. We need to think about the type of information we are sharing online, who we are sharing information with, and how to have a positive digital footprint.

On your blog, make a copy of this footprint and, inside the footprint, explain how you create a positive, digital footprint. What do you do to stay smart online?.

Summer Learning Journey Activity 2 Day 1

Activity 2: North and South

The country of New Zealand is made up of two main islands – the North Island and the South Island. Approximately 77% of the New Zealand population live in the North Island. Many of these people (including our Summer Learning Journey design team) live in Auckland city. Auckland is a great place to live with lots of amazing parks, beautiful waterways and stunning scenery to enjoy. It is also a busy, vibrant city with many cafes, museums, galleries and theatres to visit. I feel lucky to call Auckland my ‘hometown.’

Now it is time to think about your hometown. What is special about where you live? On your blog, describe your hometown. Be sure to include lots of describing words (adjectives) in your post.

To those that don't know who I am, My name is Rowana Tui. I live in Mt Wellington, Something special about where I live is that it is very crowded with cars and people. Reason why is because I live just around the corner from Sylvia Park, many of my friends think I am lucky to be living right near sylvia meaning just 2 minute walk then shopping and eating. In fact I think I am lucky but then again its really buisy to go to school and to come back from school if you know what I mean. Anyways back to my hometown I'm really pleased to be living around people who are really kind and friendly. My side of the road is really peaceful, I am so grateful to be living around those who are really caring and kind. 

Summer Learning Journey Activity 1 Day 1

I have decided to join in the Summer Learning Journey. I think that being commited to this will help me develop more skills and will help me improve in my blogging for 2019. I am really excited to start my blogging journey, I would really like to see the improvements I made so far. I hope you enjoy :)

Activity 1: The Legend of New Zealand


According to Māori mythology, much of Aotearoa New Zealand was formed when Māui, a powerful demigod, fished it out of the sea. Legend has it that Māui created a magical fish hook from the jawbone of his grandmother and that one day he took his hook, boarded a boat, and rode out into the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Once at sea, he threw his magical hook into the water and caught a fish. This ‘fish’ was actually the North Island of New Zealand! In honour of this legend, the North Island of New Zealand is sometimes referred to as Te Ika a Māui or ‘Māui’s fish’ and the South Island of New Zealand is sometimes referred to as Te Waka a Māui or ‘Māui’s canoe’.

To learn more cool facts about New Zealand, check out the Tourism NZ website. Read the fun facts posted on the website and choose your ‘Top 3.’ On your blog, post your ‘Top 3 Fun Facts’ about NZ in your own words.

1) New Zealanders are also called kiwis but kiwi is not a fruit. It is New Zealand’s native flightless bird.

2) The Maori name of New Zealand is Aotearoa which means the land of the long white cloud.

3) The country is part of the Pacific Rim of Fire and its most active volcano is Mount Ruapehu, found in the middle of the North Island.