Play and Experienced Based Learning in Te Kakano New Entrants Class

In our class we are great self-managers and choose how we want to learn.

We have lots of beautiful and interesting loose parts to select and create from and we also have access to more traditional classroom resources too.

We are given the option to choose what we feel like experiencing and accessing which runs alongside our small guided group work with Mrs. T.

Our best learning happens when we consider, select and engage with our choices and receive thoughtful support and feedback from our grown ups - thanks everyone!

Te Kākano Trip to Tūranga in Christchurch!

We are incredibly lucky to have an awesome new library, Tūranga, open up in the city.

Te Kākano class travelled together with their awesome whānau for a tour around the library behind the scenes and around the building.  We enjoyed the new tunnels, interactive screens and amazing books all around.

When we had finished the tour we walked over to the beautiful Botanic Gardens for lunch, a play and an explore!

Brilliant day had by all :)

Massive thanks to all who made the day run so smoothly!

The Butterfly Lady at YMS!

We were so lucky to have the brilliant Butterfly Lady visit our school on Friday.  She brought in Swan plants, caterpillar eggs, caterpillars and butterflies to observe.  She also brought in some dress-ups for us to try out too.

In class afterwards we made our own butterflies using weaving skills and caterpillars on leaves!

Mrs Hancock shared her notes with us to remember what the Butterfly Lady taught us! WOW!

Butterfly facts:
Adult butterflies live for about 8 weeks
Can lay eggs after 4 days old
Lays about 100 eggs in their life time
Only want about 3-4 eggs on each plant
First meal for a caterpillar is its egg shell
Swan plants are poisonous - we don't eat leaves!
Wash hands after touching leaves
Learn by 'looking' not touching them
They like the new shoots in the middle at the top
Caterpillars are caterpillars for 2 weeks.
They shed their skin 5 times
Caterpillars walk off the plant to shed skin
Cocoon is made from silk that is woven - moths do this
Chrysalis is a hard shell - butterflies do these
Predators for caterpillars - wasps, spiders might eat eggs,
Caterpillar colours are because they are poisonous
They get their poison from the Swan plant leaves
Slow down their eating when it's cold
Butterflies eat nectar from flowers
Need to have flowers and Swan plants in your garden to attract the butterflies
Feet are used to taste
Caterpillar turns into a chrysalis from the inside out
In winter, butterflies last 6-7 months go to trees around Christchurch
Butterflies return to same tree as their ancestors

Differences between male and female:
Females have thicker veins
Males usually a bit bigger than females
Males Black spots on wings

Writing with Purpose!

It's everywhere :-) We write and share our learning together and chit chat and sing whilst we create! Now we're sharing our work too :-)

HERO time for Edger :-D

Our amazing Green Edger House enjoying their rewards afternoon ;-)

Measuring with Rulers!

We just love the new Metre rulers! Thanks Mr Robertson for getting them for us to explore and investigate centimeters and metres with!

Maths is Fab in Te Kakano

Numbers are every where and even more fun when we get to choose our own maths activities!

Visitors from Edu kids Delamaine :-)

Haere mail to our awesome visitors and their whanau!

Gardeners Galore!

As part of our science investigations we are planting Insect friendly plants that we can also eat!

Who's Next at the Vets please?

Our role play castle is currently set up as a veterinary clinic. We are loving using the equipment in the clinic that a real vet gave to us! How lucky are we!

We enjoy booking appointments and treating our soft animals. Our favourite equipment is the phone and the stethoscope.

Our Friends - Norwood Farm Machinery

We were so lucky to host our local business friends and sponsors from Norwood Farm Machinery located at Yaldhurst.

The CEO and managers were welcomed with the Powhiri Haka and a tour around school. The school council acted as ambassadors and ensured our guests enjoyed their visit.

Norwood sponsor our Carb Break initiative and we wanted them to know how much we appreciate their generosity.

Maths Week Rocks!

Oh boy - we are loving Math Week in Te Kakano! Discovering Dominoes is just incredible!

Wheat Man Grows Again!

We are loving our Science in Te Kakano class! This is so cool!

Name Writing Practice is so Important!

We really love to see the progress made with our letter formation and with our name writing skills developing too!

Sunshine Classics is a Real Hit!

We are just loving exploring the Sunshine Classics online Library!

Our Greedy Cat Illustrations!

We have been discussing how to draw cats.  We wanted to learn how to get the cat just right so we could create our own and share them with you!  We were amazed at how great they turned out just because we kept trying our best :-D

Matariki afternoon at YMS!