Keep New Zealand Beautiful at Pine Hill School

On Wednesday 12th September we got into groups and we went around some streets and picked up rubbish. When we got back we sorted the rubbish into categories. The people that sorted the rubbish were Mikayla, Nathan, Luke, Anita, some teachers and Dione. The categories we sorted rubbish into were Glass, Wood, Plastic, Paper, Cardboard, Metal, Food and other. We had to wear gloves for safety.

We watched Happy Feet to find about the important messages and to learn more about the environment. We did an activity to write down the messages (Tic Tac Toe) We shared some of the important messages.


We had fun trying to help keep New Zealand beautiful and the other children had fun too.

Thank you for reading Dione and Patricia's Blog

Why do you think the earth is sick?

Over the last few weeks we have been thinking about why our world is getting sick. We have been learning about global warming, the greenhouse effect and pollution. Here are our ideas about why the world is getting sick:

* People are throwing garbage around the world.
* People cut down trees.
* People wreck bushes and flowers.
* There is poisonous stuff called pollution.
* There is too much smoke.
* People are hurting animals. They are dying.

About Antarctica

Over this term in Room 5 we have been learning about Antarctica and Global Warming. We have been watching the TVNZ “Ice” series to learn about Antarctica, the Penguins environment and global warming. The penguins we are learning about are Chinstrap,Gentoo,Adelie and Emperor. We wrote down the information we learnt about the penguins using a mind map. We also had a students dad come in and talk to us about Antarctica because he has been there. He told us that it was Scott Bases 50th anniversary. They played rugby on the ice against America and we won for the 50th time.

Now here are some of our wonderings and answers.

How cold is the water? Mikayla

I wonder how long the ice will last in Antarctica?RJ
A:When people stop polluting the air.RJ

Why do penguins live in antarctica.Latesha
A:Because they like the cold and they were born there.Luke

Why is Antarctica so cold? Latesha
A:Because it is at the bottom of the world and it is the south pole.Latesha

Why is Antarctica white and why does it have snow? Kimberly
A: Because Antarctica is far away from the equator. RJ

I wonder where the Penguins will live when the ice in Antarctica melts? Jesse
A: They will live in the coldest place of Antarctica that still has ice. Jesse

by Jesse and Latesha

Facts about Adelie Penguins

We been learning about Adelie penguins.
Here are some facts:

Height:28 inches (70 cm)
Weight:4 kgs.
The Adelie Penguins got their name from a French explorer.
Predators:Sea lion,Sea Leopard, Seal, Eagle and Skua .
Life Span:They live up to 20 years.
Reproduction: 2 eggs but only one survives.
Nests:Adelie penguins make their nests out of pebbles and ice.
Group name:Colonies .
Anatomy:Stiff tailed with long tailed feathers. The feathers drag on the ground when they walk.
Habitat:Rocky ice bits of Antarctica.
Diet: Fish snow they don t drink water.

by Kent's group

Passing Penguin Eggs

After watching March of the Penguins we were so intrigued about how Penguins passed their eggs to each other that we took a brain break and tried it our for ourselves. We worked together, did alot of talking and moving very carefully in our attempts to prevent our eggs from touching the ice (our new asphalt) and cracking. We displayed many of the habits of mind, particularly perseverance and eventually many penguin pairs were successful in passing the egg!!

Antarctica

In Room 5 we have been learning about Antarctica. We have been learning about many different breeds of Penguins like the Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Emporer Penguin. They have many different skills. The Adelie and the Emporer have 2 baby eggs at a time. While studying we displayed our work in a way that other people can read. We got put in pairs and then we got to choose what Penguin we would learn about. Once we had finished displaying we all handed in our work and had finished what our studies were about.

by Nikita and Simone

Learn about Chinstrap Penguins

Today in Room 5 we have been learning about four different types of penguins. Our group has been learning about Chinstrap
Penguins. Do you know that Chinstrap penguins weigh up to 9 to 14 lbs or 3.5 to 5 kgs and their height is 60cm to 72cm.
We found out that they build their nests with pebbles and stones and they make it as round and waterproof as they can. Their diet is fish, krill and ice. Their breeding season is from late December to early February. Sometimes they live on large icebergs to catch their food. They got their name because they have a black strip under their chin.

by Kimberly, Jasmine, Dione and Merrett students of Room 5.

Penguin Finding Out and Sorting Out in Room5

In Room 5 we have been finding out and sorting out information about Penguins that live in Antarctica. After watching March of the Penguins we wrote our wonderings about Antarctic Penguins.
We wonder:
How long can Penguins live their life in Antarctica?
Why are Penguins Black and White?
How long have Penguins lived in Antarctica?
Are the Penguins going to live in the summertime?

We are now very interested in how Penguin adults care for their eggs and young.
We wonder:
Why do Penguins do a little dance to pass the egg?
How do the Penguins get their eggs to the other Penguin without it breaking?
What does the baby Penguin look like when it comes out?
Why do the Penguins have to sing to find their baby?
What would the Baby Penguin feel if the Mum and Dad died?

We are also wondering what might happen to Antarctic Penguins in the future.
We wonder:
What will happen to the Penguins in Antarctica?
How many Penguins will die in the next 5 years?
Will the Penguin Race last?
How can we save the Penguins?

We are now going on a learning journey to find out about Emporer, Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins.
Join us on our learning journey and help us to find out the answers to our questions.

"How are we responsible for the planet?"

At Pine Hill School we are taking part in an inquiry into, “How are we responsible for the planet?”

As part of this inquiry we are gaining a greater understanding of
1. The future of our planet is at risk

2. The choices we make impact on the state of our planet.
We can do things to help our planet.
People do things that harm our planet.

3. Understand the relationship between penguins and their environment(s).
The penguins need certain conditions to survive.
People's actions can hurt the penguin’s environment.

4. Through a variety of actions we can make a positive difference
There are things we can do to look after our planet

During this inquiry students from Room 1, 3 and 5 will be sharing their learning through this blog. At Pine Hill School we are learning to give and receive comments and feedback that help us with our learning.

Keep checking out our blog and share in our learning!