HNI Year 8's spending the day at HNHS

Our close neighbours, Havelock North High School, have recognised the importance of having year 8 students better prepared for their entry into higher schooling.  Today, our year 8 classes were invited to spend class time in four typical subject areas at HNHS.  For Room 13 students, this was English, Social Sciences, Maths and Science.
Firstly, our students were welcomed by Mr Fenton and senior student leaders before they were whisked away, leaving us HNI teachers to make our way slowly back to class to prepare for planning meetings- no lazy day for us, oh no!
On their return to class this afternoon the students were bubbling and enthusiatic about the day and high school life.  Some even went so far as to say they enjoyed maths- at last!

Inter-class debates

In preparation for the inter-class debates we have been writing persuasive speeches and putting forward personal points of view.  Our first challenge was to come up with arguments for against NZ becoming part of Australia.  Here are some of the ideas for 'affirmative' and in 'rebuttal' (should be 'negative', I know).

This preparation helped determine who would be our Room 13 representatives for the inter-class debate. Once that was decided, our team of Chloe, Cameron and Ben came up against the hard-hitting team of Bella, Ellis, and Emily, from Room 16.  The moot was, 'Social Media does more harm than good'.  Room 13 were the affirmative.  After an intense battle of wits, common sense, evidence and arguing to-and-fro, Room 16 were announced the victors.

Matariki kites

HNI are having a kite-flying day in celebration of Matariki, the Maori winter solstice.  As part of this we have had two students, Lola and Chloe, use flax to create a manutukutuku or traditional maori kite.  It's shape was copied from designs used in Aotearoa's past, including some manutukutuku's contained in the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, collection.
The making caused some sore hands and, over three days, the flax dried out and shrank.  You can see this in the tightness of the weave in the early photo compared to the finished article.

 

    This box kite is yet to be finished but we are expecting big things from it- it is 1.8m long and 

0.6m wide.  It has 30m of string in its construction.  This has been used to bind it together.

Room 13 orienteering

Jane from HB Orienteering took Rooms 13 and 15 for the afternoon, getting all students to complete several courses around the school grounds.  Complete novices paired up to help each other and the experienced raced the clock for bragging rights.
Room 13's experienced orienteers- Olly, Cam and Chloe, helped set up the courses and did the control timing at the finish.

Go Zoe and Sophie- netball won this race (Zoe










  Jack punching out as he completes a map.                

For some- above, Olly and Sam- the competition was fierce.  Olly has been successful at regional level so Sam was always up against the wall.  Still, the smile says it all.

Tobey felt the heat.  He was a terrier, determined to get good times and put the pressure on more experienced orienteers.  Here he has just finished a course and is about to receive his time, and take a break.





It was the first time many of the students had orienteered and they did exceptionally well. Some of those who looked slow completing the course had better success than others, as they punched all of the controls whereas faster runners (myself included) punched the wrong control- a disqualification!  I blame the maps.
Here we have Serah and Mikayla working together, problem-solving to find the next control. They both did very well as they took their time and ensured the right controls were punched in the correct order (they taught me a lesson- won't tell them, though).                                                                                                          
Samara sets a hot pace as she continues on her map.        

William Pike Challenge- the High Ropes at Guthrie Smith

Room 13 pupils Lola, Chloe and Natalya spent Friday at the Guthrie Smith Outdoors Education Centre beside Lake Tutira.  Donning helmets and harnesses they, along with 12 other Te Kanawa students, challenged themselves to successfully climb and walk across the high wires. At the same time, Nepia House WPCA members did the ALB (adventure-based learning) program.












Following the high ropes part of the day, they completed a further confidence-building activity, the Spaghetti Tangle, before problem-solving the minefield.  It was a truly memorable day for all involved.
 

Not everything went as planned!

Several personal challenges were faced.  Here, Chloe is ascending, ready to face her fear of heights.  In her personal blog she describes this experience, "I was the first person in my group to go up on the chicken wire. The chicken wire is two lengths of wire that you have to walk on.  You aren't holding anything, you are just shuffling across them.  I was very nervous and was freaking out". 

WPCA is about facing your fears, setting goals and meeting challenges.  This year's group, our first, are doing exactly this as they set about gaining their certificates of completion.

Our fantastic Keith Haring art wall

As part of "The Incredible Human Machine" Inquiry unit, Room 13 has been creating our own versions of Keith Haring-style art to show relationships and movement. Here they are:

The Incredible Human Machine- the heart

As part of our investigations into the "Incredible Human Machine", Room 13 students had to dissect hearts.  Although the squeamish were excused, after a briefing on expectations and appropriate ways of handling the hearts (one only in each group; gloves worn), the groups began by brainstorming and outlining what they already knew.
Then, the hearts were given out to each group.  They had to make close observations and record in detail what they saw and what the purpose was ie fat, creases caused by arteries, as well as size, shape and colour observations.
Next we made some incisions to reveal the interior of the heart.  Again, close observations were made.  The chambers, muscle thickness, fibres (part of the valve structure) and the 'creased' interior of the chambers were all revealed.   Enjoy this clip.....