BITS AND BOBS TEACHERS OF JUNIOR CLASSES FOR Rosemary Cook & Diane Scott, Wharepapa South School, RD7, TeAwamutu

Welcome to a group of ideas and experiences from Wharepapa South School. Wharepapa South School The Friendly School

A quote: If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.

We would like to share with you Numerous rich learning experiences Student involvement in their learning Good questions for a rich inquiry All this and still have fun

We would like to share with you

Numerous rich learning experiences

Student involvement in their learning

Good questions for a rich inquiry

All this and still have fun

You may like to identify where the Key Competencies and values might have been integrated into this learning.

Our Inquiry Path… What do we know already? (Wondering and Chatter) What do we want to know? How can we find out? Where can I find the information? (Who can we ask?) Talking about what we have found out. (Chatter) Presenting

THREE SIMPLE STEPS for Inquiry: INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

The Big Question: Can birds that live on Mount Maungatautari live in our school bush?

Beginning an Inquiry with a relevant story is, I find, a good way to introduce the topic and motivate the students. (This depends on the circumstances leading to the Inquiry). Following the story and lots of relevant discussion/ questioning comes activities: Plasticine modelling to make animations (lots of oral language and decision making) followed by… Digital stories (shared writing) (shared and Independent reading)

The process: “ Input” introduce and read story: “ Little Kiwi Meets a Monster.”

Who do we ask? Where can we find the answers? Where might we visit? We visited: ( with helpful parents) Our school bush Otorohanga Kiwi House Mount Maungatautari

The process: Investigating Discussing Researching

Students went in small groups to investigate if ‘their’ bird could live in our school bush and if so to find a suitable habitat for them.

Assessment/presentation/ICT: Background photo Maungatautari, using Umagine, import photo of selected bird, the writer, text box containing gained information. Key Competencies: Thinking Using language, symbols and texts Managing self Relating to others Participating and contributing Values: Excellence Innovation Inquiry Curiosity by thinking creatively Community and participation Respect integrity Questions to answer: Where would the bird you have chosen live?- Where would you locate its nest? What would the nest be made out of? How is the nest made (or located to protect it from predators? What shape is the nest to protect the eggs and later the baby chicks? Is a tree nest safer than a ground nest? Why/How Design a nest suitable for your bird. Hoe does your bird protect itself from predators/ What would it need to eat? Does it live alone or in a family? What is there about your bird that helps to keep it safe from predators (i.e. colour, size, shape) Resources: Various Library books (school/ national Library/ Local library) MOE building science Concept books MOE making better sense of the Living World Organisation: Year 3 and competent year2 students to work independently or with a partner. Year 1 students to work collectively with teacher Is their welfare our responsibility? Graphing was automatically integrated into the activity.

Pukeko Tui

The Output: The Conclusions When asked, this little boy said “Yes! Kiwis could live in our bush, just put a fence around it to keep the pests out!

This little girl was horrified, “No! the stoats and wild cats would get the kiwis! And so the discussion continued…

Autumn was an ideal time for a tree study. The big question : How do trees help our environment? Collected and pressed leaves were used to make leaf men (Refer to LEAF MAN picture book)

Brainstorming

Teacher modelled Report writing with a shared story. Children created individual mind maps before writing.

Poems

Community involvement is vital – people have so much to offer us.

Potato in a bucket weigh in with the Kihikihi Rotarians.

Hanging baskets are a bi-annual activity for junior students. The local Garden Club ladies usually help.

Some books lend themselves more easily for children to make into animation and digital stories. i.e. The Three Little Pigs ( and other Fairy Tales) Little Kiwi and the Dinosaur Little Kiwi meets a monster The very Hungry Caterpillar Rabbit Hunt How Maui Slowed the Sun (Maui series) Perky the Pukeko (series) Stories in junior readers etc