This is a link to the T.V story about Torty.
The Chatham Islands
There is a website all about the Chatham Islands. There are lots of great photos and maps to help you understand about this remote part of New Zealand.
There is some different information on this website. I liked reading the FAQ (frequently asked questions).
This YouTube movie helped me understand about one of the schools on the Chathams.
Elizabeth the Sea Elephant
This article from the paper tells us all about a sea elephant (that's another name for an elephant seals) that made Christchurch her home in the 1980s.How Do We Find Our Way Around?
Finding our way around is called navigating.
The Māori people didn't have maps and GPS systems when they first found Aotearoa. How did they find it?
This article has lots of information about the history of navigation. This one is shorter to read but it still has plenty of information.
This article gives more information about navigation tools we use now.
Venn Diagrams
Today we made Venn diagrams showing the similarities and differences between our classroom and classrooms in the olden days. Some children are making a venn diagram tonight about the similarities and differences between the way we travel today and in years past or about the way we send messages.
Pōhutukawa Tree
Posting letters in New Zealand
This website gives you a lot of information about posting letters and what happens to them when you do.
Gannet Colony at Muriwai
I'd like to see this place, but I didn't like the sound of the smell if you know what I mean.
How long do you think it takes a gannet to fly across the Tasman Sea to Australia?
This site has some other information about gannets and another bird called a boobie! When I read page 2 of The Full Story I found the answer to the 500 house point question!
Today some people read a poem about a Big Blue Whale and we discovered that whale eat 40 million krill each day. We wanted to know how big krill are and we found this link.
Akira was reading the stories about Kiri's quilts and it made her think of the lovely quilt her Nanny made for her when she was born. Akira keeps it on her bed. Her sister and brother have one too. It is a family treasure! Thanks Akira - I wonder if any others of you have quilts that were made by people in your family. If you google tessellation quilts, you will find amazing quilt patterns that use tessellations and geometry to create the pattern.
Lots of people have been reading about Matariki - the Māori New Year.
This website gives a lot of information about Matariki this year and in years past.
Isobel's crazy cat's antics got me thinking about whiskers and I remembered the great article we looked at today. Don't forget to have a search for more information in books you have at home. Maybe you could call someone in your family who is an expert on animals.
There is a lot of information out there on whiskers but it isn't all written in a good way for children. There is also a lot of advertising around most of it. You should ask an adult to help you find some suitable information. I took a screen shot of this information.
Rainbows
Rainbows are very beautiful things that rely on water. How on earth do they work? Here are lots of facts about them. I read that you will see a rainbow if there is sun and rain and your shadow is longer than you are tall. Can you work out what times of day that is going to be?
A group was reading about guide dogs today. If you'd like to read more information about guide dogs the Blind Foundation website is the place to visit.
You can even find out about becoming a puppy walker!
Dogs can help other people too. This website tells you about therapy dogs.
There are dogs called seizure dogs that help people with epilepsy. I couldn't find any easy to read websites about this so it would be a good search for you to do with an adult.
Elephant Orphans
Ducks
Here are some fun facts about ducks.
Monarch Butterflies
Follow this link to find out where you may find monarch butterflies wintering-over in Christchurch. There is one park not far from our school!
Greyhounds
Some people have been reading about greyhounds. They discovered that when they retire from racing they need new homes.
Read this website to find out all about this.
Naked Mole Rats
These little guys are not pretty - well not to me - but they are very interesting. I found a page of 14 fun facts about them. It is worth reading!
The High Line
Today we read two great books about hope and gardens. | |||
The Curious Garden is about a boy who begins a garden on an old railroad above a city. This is based on a famous place called the High Line in New York. you can read a blog about this very cool place. I went there in 2012 and I loved it.
Jacqueline Woodson
We read a powerful story about kindness called Each Kindness. It was written by Jacqueline Woodson. She has an interesting website about this book and others that she has written.
Tour de France
This article was written during the 2012 Tour do France but the information about the race is still interesting.
Here you will find out all about the Tour de France for 2014 which starts in July.
Watermelons
This is a watermelon growing on a vine. Does it remind you of a pumpkin? This information about watermelons comes from Australia where the weather is better for growing them than in New Zealand. It is written as if the watermelons are writing it!Pineapples
This great clip has so much information in it you might want to pause it from time to time to make some notes. You may need to watch it a couple of times to get all the information. WARNING it will make your mouth water!!
Oak Trees
At St Albans School oaks trees are very special to us. Our emblem is an oak tree, the St Albans radio station is called Oak FM, we have the Oak Leaf Cafe. One reason it has become the symbol of St Albans School is because we have so many beautiful oaks in our grounds. When you have read some of the links below you might be able to think of other great reasons to have an oak tree for our symbol.
This link is to an easy to read Wikipedia page.
This YouTube video shows you an acorn sprouting and becoming an oak tree.
I love the way the background in this video about an ancient oak tree changes.
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