Today we learnt how label a comment. We used and moved the labels into the right positions. We had to rote and flip them. We had to find a greeting, positive reply to the author’s message, helpful and thoughtful as well as asking a question and making a connection.
Today, we focused on practising our comments. We made sure we started with a greeting, introduced ourselves and replied with a specific positive comment about the author’s blog. We then added a thoughtful or helpful comment. A helpful hint is to draft your comments before posting.
Today, we focused on quality comments. Our Focus was Thoughtful. Thoughtful is were we can connect with the Author on similar activities they have shared with us. We also know that not all three elements will be in a comment. One skill we learnt was to rotate and flip the labels.
Today we created a comment card for our families. A helpful hint is to use your blog to take screen shots of your work. We would encourage of families to start their comments with a positive and specific comment on our blogs.
Today,Room 5 went on an exciting trip to the Auckland Museum—and what a fantastic day it was! From start to finish, we were full of curiosity, wonder, and excitement as we explored all the incredible exhibits.
We began our journey in the Weird and Wonderful Discovery Centre, where we got hands-on with animal specimens and natural objects. We observed animal skeletons, insect wings, bird feathers, and other unique features of living things. We made connections to our class inquiry about how plants and animals have special features to help them survive.
Next, we visited the World War I and II exhibitions, where we learned about New Zealand’s past and saw real uniforms, medals, and old equipment used by soldiers. The stories helped us understand how people lived in different times and how much things have changed.
We also explored the Tāmaki Herenga Waka (Auckland Stories) exhibit. We learned about the origins of Auckland, Māori and Pacific cultures, migration stories, and how people have shaped the city over time. It helped us feel more connected to our place and its history.
One of the highlights of the day was our volcano education session. Although the volcano room was closed, we had an awesome learning experience with museum educators. We learned all about how volcanoes erupt, and even did a fun science experiment using baking soda and vinegar to create a fizzy “eruption.” We also touched and observed different types of lava rocks, learning about their shapes, textures, and how they form.
Throughout the day, we also took part in a scavenger hunt, finding amazing things like a real mummy, the kiwi bird, the Bird Wall, traditional weapons, jewellery, and even a hidden Bart Simpson! We worked in teams, asked great questions, and showed awesome teamwork.
This trip helped us deepen our learning about living and non-living things, New Zealand history, natural science, and how people and nature are connected.
A huge thank you to all the parent helpers and the museum staff for making this day possible—and to Room 5 students for showing such confidence, curiosity, and excellent behaviour.
We came back to school with tired feet, full hearts, and so many new ideas for our inquiry and art projects. We can’t wait to show what we’ve learned!
Today, we focused on creating and make positive blog post replies. One tip we suggest is to start with a greeting. We also suggest you comment specifically about their post.
Today in Room 5 we used Google Slides to create our Term 2 Cybersmart Celebration Presentation. We had to use different tools in Google Slides to make our slide creative. It was hard to make our transitions and animations, but it was a lot of fun.
On Thursday before Matariki Friday, our whole school came together to celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year. We started the day with a special treat—a warm milo and biscuit in the school hall. It was lovely to sit with friends, share smiles, and enjoy the cosy feeling of being together.
After morning tea, we gathered for a special Matariki assembly. Each class joined in singing the “Nine Stars of Matariki” song. The hall was filled with proud voices and joyful faces as we sang about the stars and their meanings—hope, remembrance, food, nature, and dreams.
This celebration helped us remember the values of Matariki: whānau, kindness, reflection, and new beginnings.
It was a beautiful way to start the new year together.
To celebrate Matariki, our class created a special stained-glass window art together. Each student made a colourful background using bright marker colours on clear contact paper, and we added bold black paper silhouettes to bring our artwork to life.
We talked about the nine stars of Matariki and what each star means. Some students wrote wishes for Hiwa-i-te-rangi, some remembered loved ones for Pōhutukawa, and others shared their hopes for the new year.
This project was not just about art—it was about thinking, remembering, and sharing together. As we placed all the artwork on our classroom window, the colours shone through like a real stained-glass window. It now reminds us of our whānau, our dreams, and the beauty of new beginnings.
Come and see our Window of Wishes—it’s full of colour, kindness, and the spirit of Matariki. ✨
Today in Cybersmart we learnt how to duplicate, rotate and nudge our diamond into place to create a Matariki star. We also had to use our bucket colour to make custom colours. It was tricky to place our diamonds into place. We had a lot of fun.
