Miner's Huts

Last term we made miner huts as part of our inquiry.  We went through the design process, making plans, testing materials, changing or modifying our plans, building our prototypes then reflecting on and sharing our final product.  They looked great! We photographed them amongst the tussocks in our school garden and they looked very authentic.  What do you think?

Our Popcorn Enterprise

Here are some photos of our Popcorn fundraising on Wednesday. It was a very successful day with lots of money raised for the 'Coins For Bricks' project. We raised $240 but also learnt a lot about the process and production of popcorn. Thanks to all our parent help. We sold about 500 bags of popcorn at 50c per bag. Thanks also to Callum and Andrea from Cinema Paradisowho lent us the popcorn machine and donated the popcorn kernels (a whole bucket of kernels) and we used them all! Thnaks also to Wanaka Four Square who donated the extra when we ran out. With all our costs removed we made $240! Amazing considering the children are 7 and 8 years old! Fun but very busy day.

Technology - Making Popcorn Containers

Technology Photo Frames from Term One

Making Our Moving Toys

We have been flat out making our moving toys. We called it 'Mission Moving Toys'. We had code names and filled in a booklet Annie had made. It helped to guide us through the technology process. We learnt about joining and fastening. Our brief was to make a moving toy for a child that is safe and aesthetically pleasing. The toy had to contain at least one simple machine. We loved this and were completely focused and engaged throughout. Here are some photos of us making our toys.

Toy Museum Visit

Last week we visited the Wanaka Toy Museum. We saw loads of toys old and new. Debbie was a great host and we thank her for showing us all the toys. We made cards to send to her.

Bird Feeders for Native Birds

Look at these videos to get an idea of how you can make a simple bird feeder. You might get some ideas for our Technology learning next week. There are lots of ideas and designs so start to think about what you might like to do.

Nests

At the end of T2 we made nests just like birds! We used plaster of paris and added brown paint to this. We soon realised that making a nest is no easy task.

Instructions for Nest Building

Things You'll Need:
• Straw or hay
• Plaster of Paris
• Acrylic paint (brown)
• Twigs and other nest materials
• Ice-cream containers or bucket
• Aluminium foil
• Glass jar
1. Step 1
Mix the plaster of Paris with a small amount of water in a glass jar with a lid. The final thickness should be about the consistency of a milkshake.
2. Step 2
Stir a small amount of acrylic paint into the plaster of Paris. Use brown to get the colour of dirt or mud. Stir the plaster and keep adding paint until it reaches the desired colour. Remember, it's much easier to darken a colour than to lighten it, so start with a small amount of paint and gradually add to it.
3. Step 3
Take a plastic ice-cream container diameter and fill it with straw or hay. Pour the plaster mixture onto the straw.
4. Step 4
Use another mixing bowl and put it upside down on several layers of newspaper. Put some aluminium foil over this bowl.
5. Step 5
Apply the straw and plaster combination to the aluminium foil and work it around to get it into a nest shape. Dry completely before proceeding.
6. Step 6
Remove the bird nest from the aluminium foil-covered bowl carefully.
7. Step 7
Finish the bird nest with decorative touches. Mix up more plaster and paint and apply some gathered or store-bought feathers, twigs and leaves. Crafts stores have plenty of finishing touches for these decorative nests, such as little birds and eggs. Or use Easter eggs!

From Seed to Snack

Technology(Production & Process)
From Seed2Snack

What is a flow Chart?
In a flow chart items are organized in a sequence.
Flow charts have different uses:

They may be a chain of cause and effect, explaining a process (e.g.a popcorn seed to a popcorn snack)
They may organise past events in a time sequence, recounting what happened.
They may show a series of steps, forming instructions.
They may be a sequence of reasons,in an argument.

Many flow charts are combinations of chains, forks, and loops.

Why use flow charts in the classroom?

To plan an explanation, a procedure (instructions), a recount (such as a news story), a narrative, or an argument.
To summarise an explanation, a procedure, a recount, a narrative, or an argument.
Examples of topics that suit flow charts include the water cycle, life cycles, how products are made, where a certain food comes from, preparation for a debate, how machines work, and so on. Flow charts are one of the most useful visual texts in the classroom.

We looked at 3 types of flowcharts...
Cyclic
Forked
Linear
Today we used a linear flowchart to show how the popcorn is produced, from seed to snack

Making Circuit Games

Our games are all tested and just about everyone was sucessful. We will add a photo show of our games. They were fantastic and presented beautifully. Well done everyone.

Information Station

Want to do some research? This is a great place to look for online information.
- Find It, Map It, Spell It/Define It, Report It, Research It, Read It.

Old Games

My older brother had this game! I found this when trying to locate a quiz game we had as children. It worked like the games we are making. I will keep looking!

Planning our Games

Today we read about and used the internet to look at quiz boards and wire loop games. Our job today was to plan our games on paper (showing the front and back). We looked at a quiz game an actual game) and a wire loop game (on the net), then came up with criteria for our games.

This will be our criteria for assessing our games...

• Use picture/text to show questions and answers or surface of loop game
  
• Use colour - bright colours, sparkles to attract attention, light and dark colours, hot and cold colours, contrasting colours in our graphics/pictures)
• Pictures must be clear and relate to questions and answers and able to be understood easily
• Paint, collage, covering on our box lid
• Game must work when circuit completed
• Correct connections on back of the lid
• Covering over the back to stop cheating
• Complete a simple circuit with buzzer or bulb
• Have a title on the game
• Write simple sequenced instructions for playing the game
  

Operation Game

Today we looked at the game of Operation and how it has changed over the years. The reason we chose this game is because it works on circuitry.

1962

It was metal with holes and crooked lines drilled through the top and came with a metal rod. Players had to have a steady hand to get the rod in the openings without touching the sides. If the probe did touch, a circuit would be completed between two oppositely charged metal plates and would set off a loud bell.

When the game reached the Milton Bradley Company, the game was redesigned while keeping the core, structural concept. The game went from the deserted Death Valley to the hospital operating room, and thus the game of OPERATION that we know today was created.

It was designed with a buzzer and a light bulb instead of a bell. Tweezers replaced the metal probe and the holes were filled with plastic pieces, such as a pencil for Writer's Cramp and a horse for Charley Horse. Players had to steadily place the metal tool inside the hole, while also removing the cause of the patient's pain without hitting a nerve and causing him more grief.

1965

In 1965, the game came out on the production line with a patient identified as "Cavity Sam". Cavity Sam came with a red rubber-coated light bulb for a nose, but also he had bigger problems as he was troubled by 12 medical ailments, including: Ankle Bone Connected to the Knee Bone, Bread Basket, Spare Ribs, Butterflies in the Stomach, Water on the Knee, Funny Bone, Charley Horse, Writer's Cramp, Wish Bone, Wrenched Ankle, Adam's Apple and Broken Heart.


2008
In 2008, an updated edition of the classic OPERATION game introduced even more fun and laughter to the "O.R." Cavity Sam returned to the operating table with 13 unusual and embarrassing "Funatomy" parts, or ailments, that are stretchy, shiny, slippery and squishy. Each part, from Toxic Gas to Phone Finger, had a sound associated with it that directs game play. Players must listen carefully for the sound of the "Funatomy" parts. Was that the sound of a toilet flushing? Quick - operate on the Bad Plumbing ailment! If the operation was a success, the doctors-in-training press Cavity Sam's nose and the game lets out a "Ta-Da!" sound that congratulates them on a job well done.

Beginning in September 2008, players ctook the OPERATION game to another level with online and PC games from Electronic Arts. Gamers can download a digital version of the game at www.pogo.com. Or, fans can play the PC version at home on their computer.

Operation Game

Operation Game - More DIY How To Projects

A Simple Circuit Game

A Simple Circuit Game - More DIY How To Projects

Wire Loop Game

Wire Loop Game - More DIY How To Projects

Reusing in Room Ten

We plan to use Voice Thread this year so this is a trial run. Next time we will record our comments rather than type them in so tune in soon! Click on the arrow to start and make sure you read the comments. they will appear on the left side above the timer.

Making Yoghurt with Aggie

WALT's ...
view and discuss the process of making yoghurt
identify the steps
record the steps/sequence on a flow chart using pictures and captions
sample the yoghurt and discuss the taste

Today Aggi came in to make yoghurt with us. This was the process. We used a flow chart to record the process.

1. Sterilize the milk. Even though your milk has been pasteurized, it will still contain bacteria. Pour milk into a pot . Use a metal spoon for stirring. Heat the milk until it is almost boiling. You'll see small bubbles form around the edges and steam beginning to rise. Keep checking the temperature: It should be around 82-85C. Aggie goes by feel.
2. Cool the milk to grow the yogurt. Allow the milk to cool at room temperature . Stir frequently to make temperature checks more accurate. Don't proceed until the milk is below 49C and don't allow it to go below 32C . Aggie tests it and now knows the feel of the correct temperature.
3. Warm the starter. Let the starter yogurt sit at room temperature while you are waiting for the milk to cool. This will prevent it from being too cold when you add it in.
4. Add nonfat dry milk, if desired. Adding about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk at this time will increase the nutritional content of the yogurt. The yogurt will also thicken more easily.
5. Add the starter. Add 2 tablespoons of the existing yogurt
6. Put the mixture in containers. Pour your milk into containers. Cover each one tightly with a lid.
7. Allow the yogurt bacteria to incubate. Keep the yogurt warm to encourage bacteria growth. Between 41C and 49C is ideal. Aggie used a chilly bin and containers of hot water. She also used towels to wrap around the containers. Keep the yogurt still during this process. It can take anywhere from 8-14 hours to incubate.
8. Refrigerate the yogurt. Place the yogurt in your fridge for several hours before serving. It will keep for 1-2 weeks. If you are going to use some of it as starter, use it within 5-7 days, so that the bacteria still have growing power. Whey, a thin yellow liquid, will form on the top. You can pour it off or stir it in before eating your yogurt. Aggi told us she uses a thin tea towel to strain it. She leaves it so that the whey drips into a bowl.