Strike percussion

This week learners were treated to a performance by Strike Percussion. They learnt about percussion and what it means as well as different types of percussion. Some learners were lucky enough to join the team on stage and play the Pate (Cook Island Drums). 

It was very exciting to listen to the music and experience how music can be made using all sorts of instruments (such as flames and spray bottles of fluid).

 

NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) Week

 Last week Akomanga 16 celebrated NZSL week. We have been learning sign language each week with a tutor from Ko Taku Reo (Deaf Education New Zealand).  The theme for this year's NZSL week was "Sign Language Is Essential". This is especially true in our classroom where one of our learners is deaf and is learning NZSL. 

And to celebrate, here is a video of Akomanga 16 signing "Pepeha" by Six60. 

Te Reo

Te Reo plays an integral part of learning in Akomanga 16. Our focus for this term is Te Huarere (the weather). As well as focussed te reo sessions, te reo is incorporated into the classroom on a daily basis. Learners have the opportunity to practise their pepeha and each week we also join the rest of the Tōtara team at Kapa Haka.

 

Kumara Harvest

Last year Akomanga 16 planted a kumara tipu in the kitchen garden. We tended it, fertilised it and waited for it to grow. This week we were able to Harvest the grown tipu and got four lovely kumara from it. This morning the learners of Akomanga 16 will get to taste what their kumara is like. Look at that amazing colour! What else can you think of that is such a vibrant purple colour in nature? 

The Scariest Thing in the Garden

This week Akomanga 16 read “The Scariest Thing in the Garden by Craig Smith and Scott Tulloch.

They had to make what they thought was the scariest creature in the garden. 

Their brief for their artwork was that they would create a creature that no-one had ever seen before. 

It had to have between 4 and 8 legs, and 2 to 8 eyes. 

 

Meet Elle

 Elle Marsters will be a student teacher in Akomanga 16 for the rest of 2022. She will be at school on Tuesdays each week. 

Small balls

As part of our Hauora focus for Health and Pysical Education room 16 has been focussing on small balls. We’ve enjoyed getting down to Putikitiki on a brisk autumn morning to learn and practise our skills. We’ve also been focussing on team work and being good sports when playing games. 

Maunga me awa

Ko Taupiri te maunga

Ko Waikato to awa…

This week Akomanga 16 made a piece of artwork to represent their maunga (mountain) and awa (river). 

They started this process by creating a night sky background with pastels on black paper. 

Then they ripped paper to make layers of maunga. 

The final step was to find blue paper to represent their awa. 

Then all of the layers were glued to the background sheet.

 

Play, Make, Create: Swirl by Swirl.

 Each week Akomanga 16 does "Play, Make, Create'. The focus of these sessions is on design as part of the technological process. Learners chose a task from one of five choices related to a book we have been reading. There are many possibilities for things to create, only limited by imagination.