We are a Year 1 class at Nelson Central School, Nelson, New Zealand. Most of us are 5 years old,
except for Tracy our teacher who is a bit older. This blog lets you know what we have been up to
and what our next learning steps will be. We love to find out what people think about our class
so please get typing and leave us a comment.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Week 6 Term 4

This week we had loads of fun with Dean when we spent 2 days learning about bugs and creepy crawlies. Here we are going on a bug hunt.
On Wednesday in our ICT session we learned some more about the Indian festival of Diwali by using the interactive games linked through our blog.

On Friday we very bravely ventured out for our first Jump Jam session with the rest of the school. Most of us were very energetic, whilst a few were just taking it all in. We are going to have another go on Tuesday and help all our friends to join in.

When our visiting friends came on Friday morning we read the story of the Gruffalo and made masks that looked just like Inky mouse. Our poem and song this week were also about mice, which we happen to think are rather nice. Have a listen......

Whilst looking for resources to support letter formation and handwriting I found this page on Pinterest. Those of you with iPads or iPods may want to investigate some of these apps, Just click on the photo for the link.

Finally a reminder about the Nelson and Stoke libraries summer reading challenge called Dog Days. This is always a popular program and a great way to keep children reading over the summer. There are plenty of incentives to encourage them to read. Enrolments open at the Elma Turner Library from Sunday 9th December 1 – 4 pm and in Stoke from 10am on Monday 10th December. Here is the link if you are interested   http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/dog-days-summer-reading-challenge/


WHAT ARE WE LEARNING IN WEEK 7 TERM 4
Tricky Word: came
Grammar:irregular past tense verbs
Writing: narratives and recounts
Maths: numeracy,number ID to 100 and 2D shape
Inquiry: The Pop Corn Shop/
Art: : Eye of God Christmas decorations
P.E. Throwing
ICT:Scootpad
Maori:  colours
REMINDERS
Buy get your copy of the Central Food Cook Book now!!!!
Friday: Library Day, library books must be returned on or before Friday each week.
Wednesday 12th December 1.30-3.00 Nelson Library Trip, helpers needed.
Monday 17th December Kowhai Big Day out at Founders Park, $3.00 per child
Term 4 ends 18th December 12.00 noon

Sunday 18 November 2012

Week 5 Term 4

In our Popcorn Shop inquiry topic we thought about what makes popping corn pop. We weighed out 50g of popping corn and it exactly filled one of Jasper's food scoops. Then we cooked it in the microwave and after it had popped it filled up 10 of Jasper's food scoops. We think it would have made even more but the microwave was quite old and burnt a hole in the bottom of the microwave proof container!!!!!
Here are 2 You Tube clips to help you learn what makes the pop in popcorn,
 

Tuesday was the start of Diwali, the Indian Festival of Light. We made clay divas to put night lights into. We will be painting these in Week 6 when they have dried out enough. Jasmin brought in 2 bags full of Indian clothes and the girls had great fun dressing up. Tracy brought in her Sari and Rohitash's mum helped her to put it on. Rohitash's mum and dad  also brought in some traditional Diwali sweet food for us...full of almonds and lovely flavourings. There is a new tab at the top of this blog which links to a variety of online Diwali activities.
 
Fireworks are a big part of Diwali and this week we hung our acrostic firework poems and pictures up in the classroom. Pop in and have a look at the clever picture frames we made.



             Fizzer’s everywhere
             Interesting fireworks
             Red roaring rockets
             Exploding whizzer’s
             Wonderful races
             Oh they’re so beautiful
             Rainbow racing
             Keep away
             Shooting scary sparklers

                     Thomas
 
This week was our last Grass Hopper Tennis session. We had a quick warm up game and then moved on to practising a serve and having a mini game across the nets. There is a notice outside the classroom for those families interested in doing more tennis lessons with Andre.


Fridays are getting quite busy now with all our visiting children. This week we read the story of Rabbit and Rooster's Ride by Jill Eggleton and made our own kangaroos, complete with pouches to pop Rabbit and Rooster into.

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING IN WEEK 6 TERM 4?
Tricky words:does
Grammar:
Writing: narratives and recounts
Maths: numeracy, odd and even numbers
Inquiry: The Pop Corn Shop/
Art: : Painting and decorating our Indian divas
P.E. Throwing
ICT: Diwali online activities
Maori:  colours
REMINDERS
Buy get your copy of the Central Food Cook Book now!!!!
Friday: Library Day, library books must be returned on or before Friday each week.
Monday 19th November paid NZEI meeting in the afternoon, please collect your child at 12.30 if possible. 
Wednesday 12th December 1.30-3.00 Nelson Library Trip, helpers needed.
Monday 17th December Kowhai Big Day out at Founders Park, $3.00 per child
Term 4 ends 18th December 12.00 noon

Friday 9 November 2012

Week 4 Term 4

This week seems to have flown past, it is hard to believe that next week will already see us at the mid point of this final term. We had a lot of fun on Monday putting together our class adjective snake and making a voice recording to go with it. Plenty of enthusiastic participants and some great adjective ideas...well done tamariki. Take a look at the final result below.


We learnt lots of new facts about fish with Dean on Wednesday as well as practising our Tuxpaint skills during our computer lesson.
On Thursday we had our 3rd Grasshopper tennis lesson and it was clear to see the improvement in everyone from the first lesson a few weeks ago. We practised overarm throws to assist in a fast serve and general control of the ball on the racket.
Room 11 Grass Hopper Tennis November 2012 on PhotoPeach


In the afternoon we continued to build on the weaving skills we learn in week 3, this time using a variety of different fabrics. We plan to incorporate this weaving as part of a fabulous looking fish.


 On Friday we were invited to the official opening of the senior sandpit. We listened to lots of people thanking everyone who helped make the sandpit happen and watched the ribbon being cut.


The best bit was when we got to have a special play in the sandpit!


Wishing you all a safe and happy week.
Tracy
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING IN WEEK 5 TERM 4?
Tricky words: goes
Grammar: verbs past tense 'ed' endings
Writing: narratives
Maths: numeracy, basic facts to 10
Inquiry: The Pop Corn Shop/ Diwali Celebrations
Art: : Fabric and Fibre: Fabric Weaving
P.E. Tennis and Throwing
ICT: Scootpad and Animation
Maori:  colours
REMINDERS
Buy get your copy of the Central Food Cook Book now!!!!
Friday: Library Day, library books must be returned on or before Friday each week.
Monday 19th November paid NZEI meeting 1.30-3pm, please collect your child at lunch time if possible.
Monday 17th December Kowhai Big Day out at Founders Park, $2.50 per child
Term 4 ends 18th December 12.00 noon

Saturday 3 November 2012

Week 3 Term 4

This week in our ICT slot Tania helped us to learn how to use the macro mode on the digital camera to take close up shots. Sarah took this photo of a butterfly wing from one of our class puzzles.
 
Will took this close up of a flower in the school garden
We have had lots of fun in maths. We made our own resource to help us count backwards after listening to the counting song  "5 Little Speckled Frogs".
Another one of our activities in maths this was to make pictures using blocks that matched photos on a set of cards.
On Thursday we had a go at simple paper weaving, thank you to all the parents who helped us out with this. Everyone had a great "I can " attitude and the results are great.
We wanted to share with you how we do our massage circle, it is one of our favourite things to do at the end of the day. First of all we draw the sun on each others backs.
Next we rub our hands around to make the clouds.
After this we use our finger tips to make gentle rain drops that get heavier and heavier.
After the storm we have a special hug, we do this 5 times.
Finally we relax back on the person behind us.
As usual we had our good work assembly on Friday, who can you spot from Room 11?
I was pleased to hear that some parents took advantage of the parents ipad workshop last week. Here is something else you may be interested in. A series of Movement and Learning Workshops open to parents, coaches and teachers. These fundamental skills are a vital part of your child's development so why not pop along to 1 or all of these Monday evening workshops.
 
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING IN WEEK 4 TERM 4?
Tricky words: because
Grammar: verbs past tense 'ed' endings
Writing: narratives
Maths: numeracy, basic facts to 10
Inquiry: The Pop Corn Shop
Art: : Fabric and Fibre: Fabric Weaving
P.E. Tennis and Throwing
ICT: Scootpad and Animation
Maori:  colours
REMINDERS
Buy get your copy of the Central Food Cook Book now!!!!
Friday: Library Day, library books must be returned on or before Friday each week.
Monday 17th December Kowhai Big Day out at Founders Park, $2.50 per child
Term 4 ends 18th December 12.00 noon