Learning at home this week.

Thank you for the messages of support.

I think you are on the right track with the frog identification - looks like we have some budding herpetologists in the class. Our two frogs are growing bigger and one of the tadpoles is very close to being a frog, but the other one is developing a bit slower. If you go to this site, you will be able to hear what they will sound like. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/frogs/3 . I haven't heard any croaks in the night yet - they are too busy eating flies!  This morning at breakfast time the littlest frog was very slowly creeping up on a fly when CHOOOMMP! the fly was gobbled up by the bigger frog from underneath the water- just as he was about to get it too. Don't worry though, I have plenty of flies for both.

Are you, or Mum & Dad, looking for some activities you can do at home this week? I have been checking out a few sites on the internet for you to explore. You will find more sites on the side of this page.

Language.
While watching some of the news on tv I have been fascinated by the sign language interpreters and have been trying to learn a few signs. If you would like to have a try, check out this site - see if you can learn how to sign your name before we start back.
http://www.funbrain.com/signs/index.html

Maths.
Last week we were starting a unit on time. Try the Telling Time game at the following site (remember the hour hand also moves when you are doing the 30 minutes/half-past times. ( Don't bother with the difficult times game on the same site as the hour does not move correctly). http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/clock/clock7hour.html

Basic facts are important to keep practicing - check out this site. It will even keep a record of how much faster you get.
http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/mathfact/default.htm

Reading.
Check out the online stories at this site. I particularly like the story about the Invisible Alligators and Sari - what have learned how to do that you didn't know how to do before the earthquake? (I learnt how to make an outside toilet!!!)
http://www.magickeys.com/books/

Take care everyone and look out for each other.

Frog Brainteaser

Want to exercise your brain - try this puzzle (without looking at the clues). Remember - don't give up, keep trying. http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/froggame.htm

Can you help identify our frogs?



I have brought our class frogs and tadpoles home to look after them until we all get back to school. The frogs have been enjoying some flies - I can't believe how big a fly they can fit in their mouths! (They would be a good partner to have for the chubby bubby game!)  I have also been trying to identify what species of frogs they are and I think I have worked it out by checking through the clues at http://www.nzfrogs.org/NZ+Frogs/Introduced+frogs.html . Have a good look at these photos and see if you can work it out too. Post your answer to our blog.

Thinking of you all

I hope everyone is safe. I was very proud of how quickly you all came to the assembly point and how you handled yourselves as we were waiting for your parents to collect you. Lots of you were asking about the tadpoles and frogs - I am pleased to report they are ok. I moved them to a safer position in the class room before I left yesterday. Look after each other until we see you again.
Love from Mrs D

Week 3 Update

This week we have been learning about statistics. We have been asking questions, collecting data,  making bar graphs and commenting on our findings. We have also been continuing our investigations on frogs. Two of our tadpoles are nearly frogs. Soon we will need to catch flies for our frogs. Sid (our class puppet) has been up to his tricks again. This is Beth's story about Sid's latest adventure in Room 19.

Sid the crazy lizard.


Last night Sid was up to mischief, lurking around the room trying to take the marbles out of the jar. He was trying to make sure that no-one would see him.. He crept close to the desk but then Mrs D came in so Sid climbed up the wall and hid behind the curtain. A little while later on the bell rang so all the children came in. Everyone wondered where Sid was but then we found him. Sid had a big adventure.

By Beth

Week Two in Room 19.

This week we have been learning about our new class pets - four tadpoles. We have been reading books, checking out articles on the internet and sharing our knowledge. We have learnt that NZ native frogs don't hatch into tadpoles - they start as tiny frogs and grow bigger. That makes our tadpoles an introduced species but we are not sure which type yet. Our tadpoles eat fish flakes and oxygen weed. All of them have started to get legs. We had our first choir session today - it was absolutely fantastic!

(I really enjoyed listening to your great singing - Mrs D).

Room 19 Surprise!

I went out this morning and got the surprise we talked about yesterday. What do YOU think it will be?  The clue is in the books we have been reading, the extra hints and some of the ideas your classmates had.  See you on Monday when you will find out for sure.
Mrs D

Week 1 Update

It has been a busy couple of days for everybody in Room 19. We have been getting to know each other and our classroom. On Thursday we thought of some excellent adjectives to describe our class and Mrs D has put them up in the cloakroom area. Check them out next time you come in. Yesterday afternoon we met with our Buddy Class - Room 25. We showed them our lizard pictures and then we went and had a look at their classroom. We also got to play on the Spiderweb. Next week we are on Wombling Duty with them.