Inquiry Week 8

We have only 3 weeks of inquiry to go. Over the next two weeks we'll be researching our questions.

Step 1 - if you didn't get this finished last week, do it!

WALT: Think of questions related to our Flower Power inquiry to research.

Come up with 10 things you’d like to find out. Include a selection of open and closed questions that you can find information on.

Closed question = a question that can be answered by a quick google search and a few short sentences.

Open questions = a question that requires a longer answer and you need to actually think about to answer.

Closed question examples:

• How many different species of plants are there?
• What is the biggest plant?
• What is the smallest plant?
• Can a plant grow in Antarctica?

Open question examples:

• How do I grow really big plants?
• How do plants survive in extreme environments?
• How are plants affected by bugs or other animals?
• What causes a seed to germinate?

Step 2

1 - Identify the questions that most interest you. Write them into this KWHL chart.

2 - Identify some resources. You should have at least 3 resources. One resource should be a book. Check out the class bookshelf for National Library books.

3 - Begin to answer your questions.

Good luck,

Mr M

Triangle and Pentagon Tessellations

Today we finish exploring tessellating the last group of shapes.
1 - Open each Google drawing.
2 - Make a copy and rename with your name in the title.
3 - File in in your maths folder.
4 - follow the instructions in the drawing.

• Triangle
• Pentagon

Home learning link!

• Talk to your parents about tessellations - explain what they are.
• Show them some tessellations you've created.
• Find and photograph some examples of tessellation at home. Have them ready for your DLO tomorrow.

Quadrilateral Polygon Tessellation

Instructions
1 - Make a copy of this Google drawing.
2 - Put your name in the title.
3 - Put it in your maths folder.
4 - Follow the instructions on the drawing.

Good Luck,

Mr M

Tuesday Maths

This week we're learning about tessellating patterns.

1. Make a copy of one of these Google Drawings. 
2. Rename it with your name in the title.
3. File in your Maths folder.
4. Follow the instructions on the drawing.
5. Repeat with another drawing.

• Heptagon
• Dodecagon
• Hendecagon
• Decagon
• Nonagon
• Octagon
• Hexagon
• Pentagon
• Square

We'll record our findings here

Good luck,

Mr M

Week 7

Kia Ora All,

We're at week 7 already and the end, as they say, is almost nigh.

I've been trying to really focus on Learn, Create, Share and continuing to have the kids post DLOs on their blogs pretty much weekly for various things.

No doubt you've been checking out your child's blog regularly. But just in case you haven't, or you're not sure what you're looking at, here is a rubric for their inquiry DLOs. We've been using it in class for the students to self assess before they post. I'm trying to improve the quality of the blog posts so I recommend viewing some inquiry work with your child and looking at the rubric. If you're after a new home learning focus, you could work with them to improve or add to information they've included in their inquiry work.




In Maths we looked at polyhedrons last week and we're looking at tessellating polygons this week. There will be some DLOs on the way, or already on the blogs, about this kind of thing.

Our class performance for the Christmas concert is coming together. I always pride myself of having student-driven performances (even though it sometimes means that they are on the outer edge of unusualness...) This year proves to be no different. There are around two weeks to go before we need to be ready so wish us luck!

Rock On,

Mr M

Inquiry Week 6

Have you finished your research around our focus questions and created DLOs that score good-ninja level on the DLO rubric?

What are the different parts of a plant?

1 - Put this youtube video about parts of a plant into video note.

2 - Work in pairs to make notes which you use to draw a diagram of a plant. Read plant structure for more information.

3 - Create a DLO about the basic structure of a plant.

What are the different parts of a seed?
1 - View seed diagram.
2 - Read Seed Germination and take notes using Skinny Notes.
3 - Draw a diagram of a seed and tell us what each part does.
4 - Create a DLO about the structure of a seed.

What do plants need to survive and thrive?

Watch the Photosynthesis video and read Thunderbolt kids.

Use skinny notes to note down keywords about photosynthesis.

Create a presentation telling us:

1 - what elements do we need for photosynthesis to occur?

2 - draw a diagram showing what photosynthesis is

3 - create a DLO and post it to your blog

How do plants reproduce?

1 - View Parts of a flower youtube video. Read Pollination and fertilisation and use Skinny Notes to record information.

2 - Draw a diagram of a flower and label it.

3 - Draw a diagram showing how plants are pollinated.

4 - Create a DLO telling us about what you learnt.

Then it's time for you to research your own questions!

Make yourself a copy of the KWHL chart.

What do I want to know?

Brainstorm what you might like to research further using the “Would Like To Know” section of our KWHL chart.

How will I find out?

Fill in the “How Will I Find Out” section. Identify experts, book resources and internet sites. Also decide how to record the information.
Go and research the information!
Good luck,
Mr M

How do plants reproduce?

1 - View Parts of a flower youtube video. Read Pollination and fertilisation and use Skinny Notes to record information.

2 - Draw a diagram of a flower and label it.

3 - Draw a diagram showing how plants are pollinated.

4 - Create a DLO telling us about what you learnt.