Do I Keep Trying Even When It Gets Difficult?

One of the dispositional statements we are focussing on this term is Do I Keep Trying Even When It Gets Difficult?  

The children already have an awareness of The Learning Pit and how challenge leads to enhanced learning.  Collaborating with others is also a constant focus in LC1 as we learn to navigate our way through different relationships with our peers and adults alike.

This week we set the children a challenge.  

Build the strongest bridge you can with the following materials - 
1 glue stick
8 sheets of newspaper
18 lollypop sticks
1 plastic tray
1 pair of scissors

The children's prior knowledge of what a bridge actually is came in to play here.  Along with what they perceived a bridge should look like.  And then there was how can we make a strong bridge with the materials we have?  How do we make it stand up off the ground because that's what all bridges do right?  Alongside that were the challenges of what to do when you perceive that members of your group don't listen to you.  When no one wants to use your idea.  And when you want the scissors but some else doesn't want to hand them over.  ALL of these challenges plus many more made it very easy to NOT keep trying even when it gets difficult!

BUT, no one gave up and we did end up with some bridges.  Some stuck to the brief and created a group effort.  Others produced their very own bridge!!

Of course we then had to test the bridges which lead to a very interesting discussion about standard and non-standard units of measurement.  In the end we decided to test the strength of our bridges by seeing how many farm animals it could hold!

We made predictions based on whether we thought the bridges 'looked' strong based on it's design features and then tested away!  There was joy and there was disappointment in almost equal measure.

The testing process lead to lots of great discussion about what makes a strong bridge and how the materials we were given could be used to make the strongest bridge possible. We also shared ideas about how to deal with differences in your group and how to communicate your ideas effectively.  So much learning based around one activity!!!

Watch this space because the children are keen to repeat the activity again next week based on their new expertise in bridge building!

Pop into our learning common to see the bridges and some reflections from the children.

Week 1 Term 2

It was wonderful to welcome back the children this week and watch them excitedly as they explored our space.  They all noticed some changes and were very keen to investigate our new areas, some of which have been set up in preparation for our next round of Immersion.

• The Office  - This space has been created to encourage writing for a range of purposes - lists, cards, letters, notes, stories.  We have also observed children role playing working in an office environment - taking pretend phone calls and being very busy indeed!  It has been a very busy space and we are looking forward to seeing how it is going to grow and develop in the coming weeks.

• The Music Space - A cosy spot for investigating and exploring, composing and performing.  Not sure LC2 are our friends anymore thanks to the xylophone!!

• The Cultural Corner - This is a space we have set up in preparation for our next round of Immersion.  The children have explored the new puzzles and found the country they are from on the globe and the map.  The space has also generated many conversations about different countries in the world that are special to us.

• The Listening Space - One of the things the children have always loved doing in The Portal is listening to stories.  We thought, why not bring them into a LC1?  It has been a lovely cosy space to sit and listen to a story either by ourselves or with a friend.

• Browsing Station - We have set up some browsing boxes for children to spend time gaining more reading mileage.  We talked about how 'the more you read the better you read.'
• Lego Area - We are going to be creating our own town in the big black box using lego.  So far we have been thinking about the kinds of things we will need to build - houses, shops, a school, a park.......

Junior Athletics Day

Some of us wrote a recount about Athletics Day.

I went to Athletics Day on Tuesday.  First I did shot put.  Then I did high jump. After that I did running races.  It was the best day ever.  Theo

On Tuesday I had athletics.  First I did running races with LC1 and LC2.  Then I did the high jump. After that I did throwing.  Last but not least I did the sack races.  It was the best Athletics Day.  Chelsy

On Tuesday when I got to school I went to shot put.  Next I went to high jump. Then I went to javelin.  Finally I went to the running races.  It was fun.  Alfie

On Tuesday I went to Athletics Day with LC1 and LC2.  First I went to the sack races.  Then I went to the long jump.  Then I went to the throwing thingy. Finally I went to the races.  It was really fun.  Isabel

Some of us reflected on our day.

I loved the running races even though it was the hardest.  Franiu

Running races were hard but I came third.  Mason

Junior Athletics Day was great because I won four races, even the big one.  I didn't win the last one though.  Finn

I found the running easy because I can go fast as lightning!  Joshua

Running and getting a number was my favourite thing.  Catherine

I found the running races a lot hard.  I was trying to run as fast as I could but I couldn't because my normal run isn't that fast.  Jeremy

The high jump was my favourite because it was so fun.  Elizabeth

Great Manners Day in LC1

This morning when I was doing the roll, I said to the children 'If I had a camera, I would take a photo of your great manners this morning.'  Dylan said to me 'Well go get you camera Kerry!'  So I did!!  Here are the photos I took of your amazing children this morning.  Then I showed them how to write and publish a blog post.  I have included some comments from the children :) Feel free to write a comment back for us.

LC1 is a great place to be.  Zoe

This class is really good with manners.  Kees

LC1 is a great learning space.  Dylan

I like this class because there is lots of stuff to know about.  Alfie

This school is the best place to be. Janneke

I love this school.  Jeremy

LC1 has the best manners!  Isla J

LC1 is funny!  Finn

LC1 is a good common.  Dekota

LC1 is sooooo much fun.  Elizabeth

You have to be respectful in LC1.  Maia

Beach Education Day at Mairangi Bay

Friday 1st April 2016

Well, the weather conditions were not great but we still managed to have an amazing day!  First we spent some time in the surf club finding out about the role of a lifeguard before going on a tour of the club and heading down to the beach for some fun activities and sandcastle building action!

Then we got changed into our togs, took a very deep breath and went in for a dip!!!  

After a hot shower and some lunch, we were ready to listen to the lifeguards again who told us that not only do we need to be safe in the water, we also need to be safe in the sun.  We learnt how to -

SLIP     SLOP     SLAP    WRAP and SLIDE

We were also told what to do if we should get into trouble in the water - put one hand up in the air and float like a starfish.  

Thanks to the team at Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and to our brave band of parent helpers!

Easter in LC1

We certainly celebrated Easter in style in LC1.  Firstly we took the opportunity to dress up..........

We also enjoyed our first event organised by our Parent Network - An Easter Egg Hunt AND a shared, very delicious afternoon tea.  Thank you to everyone for making the event such a success.

Swapping our easter egg tokens for the real thing!

Always time for some dancing!

Delicious afternoon tea.

And a few shots of some us enjoying the yummy food! - 

Joy

Franiu

Isla

Alfie

Becky

Lachlan

Chelsy and Janneke

Isla

Daniel