Week 9 - Term Reflection

Hey everyone, the term is coming to an end, so this week's Kidsedchatnz is a term reflection. 

Unfortunately it's the last chat for the term, thanks everyone for making Kidsedchatnz such a cool learning vehicle!

QUESTIONS

Q1. What was your favourite part of this term? Why?

Q2. What have been some of the challenges you have faced this term? What was difficult?

Q3. What was something interesting that happened this term? Did it turn out the way you thought?

Q4. Do you have any artwork, blog posts or favourite learning that you would like to share with us?

Q5. If you could change 1 thing about this term what would it be? Why do you want to change it?

Q6. If you could describe Term 2 in one word, what word would you choose?

Q7. What are your goals for Term 3? What do you want to improve next term?

Q8. If you could choose what you want to learn in class next term, what would you choose?

Q9. What's been your favourite topic for Kidsedchatnz this term? What topics would you like to discuss next term?

Q10. What are you planning to do for the holidays?

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

Books, Books, Books

This week's chat is all about celebrating great books.  The finalist in the New Zealand Book awards have been announced.  So I thought it was the perfect time to share and chat about the books you read in class and at home.

If you would like to vote on the 2016 finalists, follow this link.  See how many of the books are in your library and challenge yourself to read them.

Watch the video below, it is by Dav Pikey who of course is the author of "The Adventures of Captain Underpants"

Here are this weeks questions:

1.If you could be any character in a book, who would you choose to be and why?

2.If you could have dinner with 3 of your favourite book characters who would they be and why?

3.Describe the perfect place to read.

4.Which books do you prefer reading, non-fiction or fictions books.  Give us a reason why!

5. What makes a great story book character?

6.Suggest a book that would be great to read as a class. Tell us why it’s an awesome book.

7.Describe what happens in your class that makes reading fun for you?

8.Share a favourite quote from a character in a book you loved reading about.

I love books, so can't wait to hear what everyone else enjoys reading!

If you LOVE reading and LOVE eating pizza ask your teacher to sign up to this awesome reading challenge.

Healthy body - Healthy mind

Kia ora, welcome to another instalment of NZ's favourite kids chat!

This week I thought we could discuss being healthy. Whole body healthy from the tips of your toes to the ends of the hair on your head!

We are all aware of eating healthy and looking after our physical well-being.  But how well do we look after the other parts of our well-being?  So let's chat about all these areas.

1.What makes you happy.  Not just surface happy but deep down happy, when you smile inside?

2. How do you deal with set-backs or when things don't go your way?

3. Courage, grit, determination are words we often hear in class.  What do these mean to you and how do you display them?

4. In your opinion, what makes a great friend, one you want to keep forever?

5. In your life who is the main person you turn to for support? What makes them special?

6. How does your family support you with your learning in class?

7. Being active is important for your body.  What do you do to keep fit and active?

8. There is a saying 'you are what you eat'.  What does this mean? Do you agree or disagree?

9. After kidsedchatnz today share with us how you are going to make some else's day even better.

See you all on Wednesday :)

Matariki 2016

Kia ora koutou,

Tenei wiki kei te ako matou e pa ana ki Matariki.

Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster known as the Pleiades. Traditionally for Māori when it appeared just before dawn in late May or early June, it signalled the start of the Māori New Year. Different tribes celebrated Matariki at different times.  For some it was when Matariki rose in May/June. For others it was celebrated at the first new moon, or full moon, following the rising of Matariki. In the 21st century it is the new moon following the rising of Matariki that signals the New Year. This year Matariki begins on the 6th of June.
I think that it is awesome to develop our knowledge of our collective heritage and identity.  

This made me wonder.........in your opinion or culture, when is New Year?  So get your curiosity and wondering brains in gear and challenge yourself to ask..... Is today really today? Does everyone around the world have the same date and time, or calendar as we use in New Zealand.

But first let's learn a little more about Matariki.  Watch the following videos to help prepare for our chat.

This clip will help you learn all the names of the Matariki stars - enjoy singing along with Room 5 from Mahora Primary School- Awesome effort Miss Boaler and Rm 5



Questions:

1.  What does Matariki mean to you and your family? Share with us how you celebrate it.

2. How are you celebrating Matariki at your School?

3. Matariki is referred to as the 'Maori New Year'.  When do other cultures/religions celebrate 'New Years'?

4. Matariki has many different names around the world.  What are some of those names and countries?

5. Why do we measure time? Try and explain why there are so many different calendars around the world?

6. Discover what year you were born in using a calendar of your choice (Jewish, Muslim, Chinese).

7. Matariki is a cluster of stars.  Do you know of any other star clusters or constellations in our southern skies?

8. In your opinion is Matariki important enough to be recognised as a National Holiday in NZ, if so why?