Getting started with speeches

It's a Book by Lane Smith -- Book Trailer

Watch this short trailer.





What did you like about it? Do you relate more to the donkey or the gorilla?!



Do books still have a place today?

No sea ice for rest - 35, 000 walrus wash ashore

35,00 walrus wash ashore - Stuff article

Have a look at the picture above and click on the link to read the article. 

What have you learnt from the article? How could you persuade people to pay attention to this recent sustainability issue? (Use persuasive strategies) 

Intermarché - "Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables"

Watch this video about a sustainable initiative that it taking place in France.



What do you think about inglorious fruit and veg? Would you be keen to try them?

Use persuasive techniques to convince NZ supermarkets to give this a try.

Long Division Song

Have a listen to this song.







What do you think? Does it help you understand long division more easily?



How do you feel about division questions? How do you like to solve division questions?

Poetry - Television by Roald Dahl

Sit back and enjoy this Roald Dahl poem called "Television".  

The first version has been made by a student and the filming follows the words and images in the poem.  The second version shows the pages of a picture book, which will probably be useful for answering the final question below.








What are your first impressions of the poem? What do you like or dislike? How do your impressions change on your second viewing?


Do you agree with Dahl? Why? Why not?


I love the words that  Roald Dahl use in his writing, this is one of my favorite parts of the poem 


"In that "ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!" . 

I really like the way he chooses such strong words, and lists adjectives to emphasise his point.  

Which part of the poem do you like best and why?

Favourite book characters

Have a look at this article.  Lots of famous authors have got dressed up as their favourite book characters using props and costumes from theatres in England.

 


Which book character would you dress up as and why? What would you wear and where would you get the picture taken?

Haircut Controversy

Have you seen this article in the news recently? Click here to find out more.

 What do you think? Should he cut his hair? Are there any rules that you think should be changed at our school? Make sure you can justify why.

Matthew's 9 Language Polyglot Monologue

Wow! This man is amazing! He can speak 9 different languages.  Watch and see.







Can you speak any different languages? What language would you like to speak and why?

Describing Angles

Can you use your angles knowledge and mathematical vocabulary to describe these geometric shapes that were designed by our students on our recent Pataka trip?

Pataka Maths & Angles

Pataka Maths & Angles

AWAKENING | NEW ZEALAND - What a wonderful world

Sit back and enjoy this beautiful video.







What a beautiful country we live in :)



Can you use a simile or metaphor to describe one of the scenes?



Where is your favourite place in New Zealand and why?

Blind date a book

Over the holidays students had a new experience - a blind date with a book.  Students went to the library before the holidays and choose a wrapped book from a box.  Over the holidays the students then got stuck into the books, some finishing them within days or reading the next in the series.  Once we were back at school students gave a quick book review in a speed dating style.





Which/Whose book would you like to read now?

Early T2 2014 we've been busy

This short video gives a snapshot of what we have been up to over the last month or so.



What did you enjoy doing? What would you like to do more of?

Bernard Mangakahia's visit

Yesterday we were lucky enough to have Bernard Mangakahia come and visit our school.  He talked to us about the different cultures that he associated with, told us stories of his families and shared some of his impressive talents.



Here is one of the videos of his youngest son performing when he was around six years old.  The video is quite long so just watch some of it.







What did you enjoy about the performance?



Did he inspire you? If so, how?



What advice did Bernard give that stuck in your mind?

Belonging - Short Film

This video was made as an entry into a short film competition by a student around your age.  The theme was belonging.  Have they done a good job? Why? Why not?



Summarise what happens in this short film.  How does the film deal with the concept of 'belonging?'.



Do you think it is effective to tell a story without any speaking? Why? Why not? Does the music support /change the viewer's perception of the story?



Can you name a film or book that has belonging as a theme? (There are lots that I can think of...)

A 'sticky' problem!

Watch this video through - remember to use headphones so that you don't disturb others around you or keep the volume very low.






What messages does this video teach us?  How can we transfer this into our classroom?

How do our school norms fit with this video?

Have you seen, heard about or been part of something like this before?


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Welcome to Room 4 2014

We are just getting back into the swing of things here at Tawa Int.

This year the year 8s and I have moved from Room 14 to Room 4, we have been joined by a great bunch of Year 7s and we are all enjoying getting to know each other.

We are looking forward to using the new learning streets and getting into the library more as it is on our door step.

The start of the year is always a very reflective time for me as I settle back into school after the long holidays.  

What do you find hard at the start of the school year?

What goals/resolutions do you have for 2014?