Mathematics - Half of a Number

In Team 8 we have been talking about halves. We look at half of a shape first and that was easy peasy! Half is just cutting it in two equal pieces Mrs Grant.

So Mrs Grant decided to challenge us.

We looked at what half of a number is.
Here is Cairo trying to figure out what half of 7 is.  Mrs Grant thought she had tricked the class, but Cairo figured out that you just had to cut one of the shapes in half...clever!














We used pizza pictures with pizza toppings.  We had to put half of the toppings on each side of the pizza, making sure that it was even on either side.
We found out that half or 8 was 4.  Also half of 6 is 3.






Now here was a real challenge.  We then starting talking about a quarter of a number.
Mrs Grant gave a number problem.
"If there were 12 balls and 4 children how many balls would each group get"
So...what is 1/4 of 12.
This is what Mason came up with...

Great problem solving Mason!

Stu Duval Cartoon Drawing

On Tuesday during Literacy week Stu Duval came back to teach all the Juniors to be Cartoon illustrators.

Team 8 loved being part of this exciting interactive performance. 

Our Favourite Books - Literacy week

What an exciting start to Literacy week.

Some children got to share their favourite books.
Griffin told us he loves tractors and that is why this is his favourite book.

Cairo thought that the Dinosaurs did some funny things in his favourite book.

Team 8 thought they were great books.
Keep checking the blog to see the rest of our favourite books.

Super Similes

Last week some of Team 8 were learning to describe things using Smilies. - A simile is a figure of speech that compares one thing with another thing of a different kind. 

SOME of us were working with with the teacher, and SOME of us had their listening (eavesdropping) ears switched on, and decided to create smilies all on their own without any of my help!!!

I was super impressed with these writers and I promised them fame right here on the blog. 

Please help them to understand the value of their writing and leave them a comment telling them what a great job they have done.

Retell Ribbons

Last week Team 8 made 'Retell Ribbons'.  We made them to help us talk about the stories and books we are reading.

On Friday we paired up with a friend and had a go at retelling the story Mrs Turner had read to us. For our first time doing this, Mrs Turner thinks we did pretty well!

Two of us were even brave enough to retell the story in front of the WHOLE class! Future 'public-speaking-superstars' in the making!

We learned that we could talk about the setting, characters, problems and solutions (happy endings). 

Why don't you see if we can retell a story you read to us at home! 

Our New Whiteboard Table!

Wednesday 8th February
Wow Team 8 have been so lucky.  

Mrs Driver has given us a new table and guess what...we can write on it! 
 Thank you Mrs Driver.

We wrote our words on there at Reading time.  We also wrote our numbers at Maths time!

Mrs Grant was so impressed with all our work she gave us a sticker.

Chloe, Liam and Ryan

Heads down, working hard.

Great numbers Tom.

How many numbers can you write Chloe, Anoji and Jarrett?

Happy number days in Team 8!

You are welcome to come in and try out out whiteboard table.  Ask one of Team 8 to show you what we can do.

Gong Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year!

This week Team 8 have been learning about some of the things we do to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

On Thursday we had a dragon visit! Each of us had a turn at making it dance and move in time to the music. In china, the 'dragon dance' represents wisdom, power and wealth. It is also said to scare away evil spirits and bad luck. We had a heap of fun dancing.

Everyone improved their cutting skills when they cut and made their own Chinese lantern. We decided to make them red as the Chinese people believe it will bring them luck. They are up in our classroom, so check them out next time you pop by!

We also learned about the custom of giving red envelopes -hongbao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese. Each child in Team 8 received a red envelope with a 'small' amount of money, and a New Year 'wish'. We learned that it was important to give and receive them with two hands.

2017 is the year of the Rooster. Make sure you come and have a look at the one we have made on our wall using our hand-prints.

Here is a picture of some of us dressed up in traditional Chinese costume.

Are any of you lucky enough to be going to Lantern Festival in Auckland this weekend check it out here? If you are, we'd love to see your photos on Monday.

All the best for the year ahead!

Gong Hei Fat Choy!

Learning about other cultures and different ways of life are important to help students to understand and respect diverse viewpoints, values, customs, and languages. It also allows them the opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that equip them for life in this multi-cultural world. 

                                               -Ministry of Education

Our first day!

Team 8 told Mrs Grant about all the things they knew that started with Bb.

We worked so hard!