Our year 7s mapped out our learning environment as it stands now.  They looked at all the things they need to do when they're learning and decided how we could use our space to meet these needs.  These maps are on paper and annotated with Thinglink.

Tannah's version of our learning environment

Tim and Saluni's version of our learning environment :

Makeisha and Alyssa's version Maria's version Aarran's version

Our Learning Environment modeled in Minecraft

Our year 7s mapped out our learning environment as it stands now.  They looked at all the things they need to do when they're learning and decided how we could use our space to meet these needs.  The environment is modeled using Minecraft.

Zach, Maddison, Nina, Ardan, Tess, Siva:

Ben, Jordan, Abigail, Joel, Tyler:

Laura, Daniel Mannix, Charlie:

Our Learning Environment made by Niveek and Utu

A Machine For Learning - Part 2

The next step in our "Machine or Learning" inquiry (see Machine for Learning, previous post) was to map what we already have.  In term 3 children mapped our intermediate department and although it was very good, it didn't look quite right because it wasn't to scale.  This term the children measured our spaces accurately and decided on a scale so that they could model the space.  Fifteen children chose to work in three groups sharing Minecraft worlds to model the building.  The remaining children looked at other 3D modelling tools and in the end they have drawn a 2D paper plan.

The next step will be to make recommendations for how our space can be improved for the type of learning the children have already identified.

A Machine For Learning

A MACHINE FOR LEARNING

(thanks to Mark Osbourne for sharing the term: Machine for Learning, and the link he made to le Coubousier, which we’ve used in our inquiry - environments for learning)         

St Joseph’s Year 7 students consider what their learning is actually like and what ideal spaces for this could be like - this is a brainstorm from the whole class in a shared Google doc (it is not crafted writing).     

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE’RE LEARNING?	WHAT WOULD A PHYSICAL SPACE FOR THIS LOOK LIKE?
concentrate and communicate with others listen and discuss your ideas with the people being on task and giving 100% and not giving up sitting down somewhere and listening to each others ideas we learn from our mistakes we debate and share our ideas we take notes and learn from what others have learnt as well put your heads together and discuss ideas with each other. we think that its import to participate  and contribute ideas even if its wrong we share our ideas, discuss our options and our needs and also relate to others, listen, focus, look, think, come up with new ideas,    we like to talk and  listen to each other….and be good friends think, discuss, sing, we argue, we work with others, we get things wrong, we get to try new things. get confused but work it out understand others. we talk to others and ask for advice for good ideas to make our work even better we help with problems and answer things we talk together and help each other to get the job done we get to choose our working space. we discuss our ideas. share our ideas. we get  to  debate we work quietly we learn from our mistakes we concentrate We use MINECRAFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to try to answer a problem. we do drama and we do acting AND WE WRITE SONGS AND WE AND WE ENJOY USING OUR DEVICES FOR LEARNING. WE RECOMMEND THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE MINECRAFT MORE (NO ONE USE IDEA)   talking sometimes helps if it is on task! say what we want to we help people that need help at the moment when they are  stuck enjoy and get new knowledge do acting, have debates, songs, learn new things and new instruments or activities make sure that everyone is joining in the convo and that people are included in it. Also to encourage others to give 100% and to not give up. Learn to accept a mistake, Good attitude listen, discuss, read, write, search, explore, trial and error, make new options, design new things, brainstorm, invent, create, concentrate, play games, field trips, writing brainstorming we can read, write, do pe ,E.O.T.C, camps, maths,search, new things, discuss between  us, brainstorm, make mistakes and try again and again, listen, stay on task, do field trips watching other people   learning new ideas and facts. writing songs crafting silence and concentration, watching and learning from mistakes learning from elders... singing-writing songs debates performances , plays , silent working or dramas different types of formal writing arts and stuff, crafting your imagination stories and making it better. try over again, learn from others, songs and  performances, being silent               we think create, communicate, share, learn We can make everyone happy to learn	sitting facing each other at the same level (communicating) peaceful and secure, fancy, computers, taking turns talking have our own little bubble to work in we work together as a team and sensibly share our ideas man’s cave and a girl hangout room for year 7s and 8s change resource room into music room for intermediate department gym for senior school whole school computer room to work in quietly having your own office or bubble to stay in but still communicate with each other or talking . having a quiet space for yourself or others’ private spaces have a musical room where people can sing and learn instruments. a game room-a man cave for boys and a girl’s room. dancing room where their dancing can express their feelings. sports room where people can have fun and play with other people      we could have a couple of cubicles we could use so that we could have our own space and we could work quietly. we could split a room into a couple of spaces that are soundproof and will not bother anyone else! we work as a  team        you get more action and ideas and information.You have more fun talking to your your friends. in a place where you can concentrate. TEACHER’S NOTE: Its interesting - you write a lot about collaborative learning how we can learn from each other and through discussion.  At the same time you say that its important to have your own space where you can be quiet.  You show this because when we have a lot of space upstairs, you spread out and fill it all and you still stay on task and do all the things you wrote in column 1. When you make your recommendations for what we can do with our spaces, please think about how we can use what we have to make all these things happen.  LFR
What different learning styles are there? watching other people   learning new ideas and facts. writing songs crafting silence and concentration, watching and learning from mistakes learning from elders... singing-writing songs debates performances , plays , silent working or dramas different types of formal writing arts and stuff, crafting your imagination stories and making it better. try over again, learn from others, songs and  performances, being silent               we think create,communicate,share,learn We can make everyone happy to learn We stay on task and brainstorm as many ideas we can think of. We also participate and contribute many ideas. We do the learning properly we listen so we know what to do. When we don't understand we ask the teacher for help

How to calculate the probability of a dependent event

How to calculate the probability of an independent event

On the very last slide I mean to say 8x8=64, not 6x6=64 :)

How to Multiply Fractions

Camp Equipment List

RUMA MANUKA CAMP IONA 2014

Equipment List

Clothing

Strong bag for gear

Day pack (school back pack would be sufficient)

2-3 pairs shorts

2 warm track pants or similar (no jeans)

2-3 t shirts

2 long sleeved tops

Thermal leggings and top (could be cold on tent sleep out) – WILL ALSO NEED FOR YEAR 8 CAMP

3 pairs warm socks

Sufficient changes of underwear

2 warm fleeces or jerseys

Waterproof jacket

Pyjamas

Beanie

Sunhat

Swimming togs

Footwear

Strong shoes for walking – trainers will do

River shoes or light footwear with a good grip (no gumboots)

Trainers  or sandals for wearing around camp

Toiletries

Sunscreen

Wash bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, face cloth, brush, comb etc as required.

Equipment

Warm sleeping bag

Bed Roll – YOU WILL NEED THIS FOR YEAR 8 CAMP

2 towels

1 tea towel

1 unbreakable plate, dish, cup

1 knife, fork, spoon

Pillow

Water bottle

Lunchbox

One unnamed ice cream container containing baking to share.

Wetsuit – PLEASE LET ME KNOW if you don’t have a wetsuit or if you have an extra wetsuit you could lend to someone else.

Please note there are to be no cellphones at camp.  Ipods and cameras may be brought.  Ipods will be kept by the teacher overnight.

Lollies or personal food supplies are not to be brought.  If you have special food your child needs please discuss with me prior to camp.

Some items are doubled up such as towels and warm tops in case one becomes wet and temporarily unusable. 

The Our Father

Manuka share their dramatisations of the seven petitions in the Our Father

Otago Museum Trip

Our year 7 & 8 trip to the Otago Museum gave us some ideas for our own projects.  We learnt about the Pacific explorers, and the many cultures which have settled here and contributed to the unique Kiwi culture as well as having the chance to explore the Discovery Zone and the Tropical Rainforest.  Have a look at our beautiful butterfly pictures.

Otago museum trip from stjoelfr

Our Literacy Projects

Manuka debate - the holocaust could never happen again 3

Manuka debate - the holocaust could never happen again, 2

Literacy goals for project learning

Links for Sacrament

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAC7mHjdzRU&safe=active

http://www.loyolapress.com/the-seven-sacraments_article2.htm

Manuka debate - The holocaust could never happen again, 1

Every student engaged in deep learning for success

No War for Us (or anyone else)

No War for Us (or anyone else) - a song composed by Utu, Laura and Siva. Manuka have researched, prepared and argued debates on the proposal: "There could be another holocaust." They have also composed peace songs for Schools Peace Week. These movies and songs will appear on the blog gradually (they take a long time to process).  We in Manuka hope and pray for an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine.

Peace Week

This week is Peace Week.  Read what Timothy has to say about war.  There are lots more interesting reflections on children's individual blogs.

WAR

By Timothy from Ruma Manuka

I think war is stupid.  Why can’t we just have peace and no exclusion or racism?  I think war should be banned.

Peace in the world has never lasted for a long time.  I think peace should be when everything is fair, not having some people with more than other people.  Peace in the world would be good for everyone.

Fear is like a disease.  It spreads.  I think fear has started a lot of wars.  For example, with the Suez Canal, the Americans were scared of their oil supply being cut off.  Fear can lead to violence.  Fear can lead to death and destruction.  Fear can lead to stupid actions, like torture.  But fear can also be a tool.  When people are scared, they obey.

Some people think that religion causes wars.  Most times people are just blaming religion to hide what was the real cause of the war.  One thing religious does cause, is arguments.  People argue about who is the real God.  This might cause a small fight but nothing major like World War 1 or World War 2.

Why did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour, causing America to participate in the rest of the second World War?  Why do some armies invade other countries over the smallest of offensives?  Why don’t we just have one king that rules over all the countries, and the leaders in each separate country? 

Why don’t people just ban war?

I really think war is stupid.  I don’t know why all the leaders of all the countries haven’t gotten together to ban war completely.

How to help with learning at home

These ideas are low maintenance things your child can practice independently.  The writing a sentence exercise could be done a couple of times a week.

Reading:

A set time for reading each day.  The reader can read what they like but ask them to summarise it for you.

Maths:

Do the class support task on Maths Buddy (will be given on Tuesday of week 3).  There will be a new task each week.  Once the task is complete, own-choice activities can be completed.

Writing:

Pick three words at random.  I have an ipad app called InspireMe for this but you could do it from the dictionary or your head.  Make sure the writer understands what the words mean.  Then the writer writes a sentence including these words.  Check that the sentence sounds right and has basic correct punctuation e.g. capital letter at the beginning and full stop at the end.  The writer should fix anything that isn't correct.

Check that all spelling is correct - children should pick out the words they think might be wrong - they should try a variety of strategies:

Sound - how many syllables?  Clap the syllables.  Sound out each syllable individually.  Many children speak sounds in words that aren't actually there - help them to notice by saying the word yourself the way it should be said, slowly.  Then look for any rules or similarities with other words they know.  For instance competition ends with the tion sound which might be known from words like station.  The last resort is a dictionary or spell check.

How the disciples continued Jesus' teaching

We have been reading segments of the Acts of the Apostles.  Previously we have read several passages from the Gospels and analysed some of the ways Jesus taught and how the apostles learnt from Him in the three years He was with him.  These dramatisations were made by the children so they could teach the rest of the class about the story they had read.  They are improvised  and not meant to be examples of polished dramatic performance.
They show how the disciples (Peter and Paul) were able to perform miracles in the name of Jesus and how this inspired people to follow Jesus.

List of Recommended Books

Thank you Timothy for this list of recommended books

List of recommended books:

5 and up:

Narni of the desert (antelope series)

The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc       Roald Dahl

When we were very young                                          A A Milne

Winnie the pooh                                                          A A Milne

Milly Molly Mandy                                                                        

The Little Match Girl, etc                                             Hans Christian Anderson

The Brier Rabbit series                                                Enid Blyton

The Faraway tree series                                               Enid Blyton

The Little House on the prairie series                           Laura Wilder

Lion adventure                                                            Williard Price

The famous five series                                                Enid Blyton

The Secret seven series                                               Enid Blyton

The twins at St Clares series                                        Enid Blyton

How to train a dragon series

Black Beauty                                                               Anna Sewell

101 Dalmations

What Katy did series                                                   Susan Collidge

The Railway children                                                  E Nesbit

Heidi

A little princess

The secret garden

Redwall series                                                             Brian Jacques

Robin Hood

Anne of Green Gables series                                       Montgomery

The Chronicles of Narnia                                            C S Lewis

Kensuke’s Kingdom           (and other titles)               Michael Morpurgo

The Hobbit                                                                  JRR Tolkien

Star Wars

Harry Potter series                                                       J K Rowling

Percy Jackson series                                                    Rick Riordan

TinTin

Asterix

Footrot Flats

Garfield,etc

Rangers apprentice series

Nany piggins                                                               R.A Spratt

The magic tree house series

The 13 story tree house                                               Terry Denton

My story series

My royal story series

My New Zealand story

Bear grylls mission survival series

Boy vs beast series

Zac power series

Amulet series

The secrets of Droon series                                         Tony Abott

The magic school bus series

10 years and over:

The silver sword

A series of unfortunate events                                     Lemony Snicket

I am David                                                                  Anne Holm

The diary of Anne Frank

The Heaven Shop   (12+)                                            Deborah Ellis

The Parvarnaseries  (12+)                                           Deborah Ellis

Pennies for Hitler

Hitler’s Daughter

The boy in stripped pyjamas

The Lord of the Rings                                                 JRR Tolkien

White fox                                                                    Gary Paulsen

Hatchet series                                                              Gary Paulsen

Fox man                                                                     Gary Paulsen

Soul surfer                                                                  Bethany Hamilton

Eragon series

Children of the lamp series

The house of secrets series

Skulldugery pleasant series

Robin hood

Treasure island etc.

Wereworld rise of the wolf

Little Women                                                                      

The borrowers

The Kane Chronicles                                                  Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus                                                     Rick Riordan

Crusade                                                                      Elizabeth Laird

I am the great Horse                                                    Katherine Roberts

The Tapestry series                                                     Henry H Neff

The Belgariad series                                                    David Eddings

The Malloreon series                                                  David Eddings

The Elenium series                                                     David Eddings

Around the world in Eighty days                                Jules Verne

Sherlock Holmes series                                              Arthur Conan Doyle

The ring of five series                                                 Eoin McNamee                                  

13yrs and over

The Serpentwar saga                                                 Raymond E Feist    

Conclave of Shadows                                               Raymond E Feist    

The Hunger Games                                                   Suzanne Collins

The maze runner, The scorch trials, The death cure  James Dashner

Deep Learning for the Book Reviews

This is the rubric which will guide deep learning for the book reviews due at the end of week 3.  To get to extended abstract thinking there will need to be a good understanding of the plot, the inference in the book and how the book relates to the wider world.  You will need to have done some creative thinking to link these things together and use your logic to imagine what the writer was hoping people would get from the story.

It is a very rare story that is written just for people to have fun.  Even Captain Underpants was about Dav Pilkey's own experience of being a child who loved to write comic books but couldn't fit in with the school environment of the time and how he loved playing with words but didn't always get it right. His message is there's more than one way to do things and some people who look like they don't fit in or can't get things right, may in fact be very creative people with something different to offer.  So he felt the education he experienced should have been more flexible and inclusive - that's the message I get from Dav Pilkey in Captain Underpants.