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Wednesday 30 October 2013

Xtra math

This is my Xtra math for today I did well and got them correct

Monday 14 October 2013

Using Te Ara

Using Te Ara -
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
1. Waitemata Harbour

L.I.    Develop our knowledge of Auckland and the Tamaki River.
    Familiarise ourselves with an online NZ encyclopaedia.
    Use our skimming and scanning skills.

Use this link to open Te Ara
Enter Waitemata into the search box and use that page to answer these questions.

What sort of landform is the Waitemata harbour?
Waitemata harbour is a drowned river valley
Why was it chosen to be New Zealand’s capital?
It was chosen to be New Zealand’s capital because of the harbours navigable channels
What does Waitemata mean?
Waitemata means Obsidian waters, as the glassy waters looked similar to the volcanic rock, obsidian.
Tell me one interesting fact about each of these features of the Waitemata:
Auckland’s chief port -Every summer, about 30 cruise liners berth at the nearby Princes Wharf
Viaduct basin - The Viaduct basin used to be the site of an old fishing harbour
Harbour bridge -The harbour bridge was opened in 1959
Greenhithe bridge -Greenhithe bridge was built in 1979
Natural features -Meola reef is a feature of  Waitemata, that was formed by lava.



Xtra math

This is my Xtra math for today, I did well, only getting one wrong.

Thursday 26 September 2013

My camp recount

I could feel the fear as I approached the ropes. It’s height already scaring me, I slowly approached. “Ready.” I said as I took hold of the cold metal bars connected to the side of the swinging wooden pole. It moved like a centipede, which was it’s nickname.  

I was sure to hold on for dear life, scared of the consequences if I fell. It seemed as if this climb was the world, I needed to concentrate on it, or suffer the fall. As I made it to the middle, I felt my grip loosen.

The world flashed around me as I held on, only my arms were holding me up as my legs dangled uselessly in the air, I didn’t want to look down, but was more forced to as to make sure that my legs could safely make it back on. I heaved them back onto the metal, and continued my way up.

I looked past the wood and metal, and noticed the trees. Stretching far as the eye could see. Then I noticed how high I was. The fear crept back up on me, I could feel my legs shaking as I forced them to move onwards.

I could glimpse the top within my reach, as I grabbed for it, I felt the disgusting sloppy mess on my shoes. I only realized how lucky I was that it happened, as again I found myself with my legs dangling in the air, and only my tight grip holding onto the crossbar at the top was keeping me from a terrifying plunge to the ground below.

As I reached the top, I jumped off. As I slowly closed my eyes I felt myself slowly being lowered safely down.  I had reached the end. I let out a sigh of relief as it was all finally over. I had beaten the centipede.

Monday 23 September 2013

Using an Index


Using an index
L.I. -     Library/Research skills
    Using an index to find information quickly

Most non-fiction books have an index.  Like a table of contents, it lists the books contents and relevant page numbers, but in much more detail.  It presents the topics in alphabetical order to help your search.  Below is an example from a health book.

INDEX

aerobics                    2-14
breathing                 9-10
carbohydrates      36
co-ordination         20-25
cycling                       32
diet                              30-40
diseases                   45-65
doctor                       40-44
drinking                    63
drugs, harmful      70-75
drugs, medical       60-65
exercise                    11-20
fat                               35
fatigue                      76-79
good health            80-90
happy                       91-92
hospital                    40-44, 48-65
hygiene                    93-94


illness                           45-65
incapacitated           45-65
injuries                         60-65
inoculation                 96-98
lungs                             9-10, 60-64
medicine                      45-65, 96-98
mental illness            99-120
moods                          99-104
pharmacist                 60-65
physical activities     121-150
rest                                 151-155
self-discipline              115-120              
smoking                       121-124
sport                             15-20
strength                      12-14
vigour                           140-150
vitamins                       64-65
weight                           30-35

Before you start highlight 4 words you don’t know and look them up in the dictionary.
coordination: The process or state of coordinating or being coordinated
carbohydrates: Any of a large group of compounds (including sugars, starch, and cellulose) which contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and can be broken
incapacitated: Prevent from functioning in a normal way
inoculation: taking a vaccine as a precaution against contracting a disease


Why are there two index entries for drugs?
There are two index entries for drugs because there are drugs that heal you and there are drugs that can kill you.
Which two entries will help you find out about tiredness and how to cope?
Rest
good health
Which pages would you turn to in order to find out about injuries?
60-65
Which two entries would you use to find out more about healthy eating?
Diet
vitamins
Which pages would you turn to in order to find out about the bad effects of smoking? 121-124

On which pages would you find out about hospital life? 40-44, 48 -65
On which pages would you find out more about the healthy effects of sport? 11-20, 30-35

Sub-questions

Sub-questions

L.I.     Thinking about sub-questions when researching

When you are looking for information there is always one main question that you have to answer.  Then, as you think about the main question and start reading other questions will occur to you.  These sub-questions give direction to your reading.  They keep you on track.  It is a strategy good readers use to help them locate information quickly.

Match (cut and paste) the main question with the sub-questions that relate

Question
Sub-questions
Subject: Film
What were the main reasons for the success of a movie that you have recently seen?  Write your own review of the movie.
What was it’s nature: was it a particular event that had great impact on the main character?  How did this give excitement and interest to the novel?  How did it affect other characters?
Subject: History
What was life like in your town or suburb at the beginning of the 20th century?
What aspects (transport, communication, work) were different in the past?  What aspects have stayed the same?  How has entertainment changed or stayed the same?  What are the most notable buildings from this time?
Subject: Geography
Why has the grey nurse shark become the only protected species of shark?
What does this species look like?  Does it deserve a dangerous reputation?  Why was it hunted so freely in the past?  Why is it now on the endangered list?  Why has it become the world’s first protected shark?  
Subject: Social studies
How do farmers manage the land to prevent soil erosion?
Why is it such a concern?  What are the effects on a farm of soil erosion?  How can erosion from water be controlled?  How can wind-breaks help?  Why is it important to keep plant growth in the soil?  How can farmer protect the soil during dry periods?
Subject: Media Studies
What do you think are the qualities of a successful TV series for teenagers?
What do teenagers want from their series?  Why are the relationships between characters so important?  What settings are favoured?  What qualities do the lead actors have?   Why do some local series do well overseas?
Subject: Reading
Why is a major complication essential to a novel?  Show how is has affected the plot and the development of major characters in a novel you have read.
What type is it, adventure, crime, comedy, romance?  What was it’s storyline?  What was the complication and the interesting consequences?  Were the actors convincing?  How effective was the cinematography?

Write your own sub-questions for these main questions

Question
Sub-questions
How does a glacier effect the land?
How are glaciers formed? Why do the glaciers form?
What effect have humans had on the volcanoes of Auckland?
What consequences will these effects have on us?
What factors can change the course of a river?
How do these factors change the course? How are these factors created?

Mini-dictionary

Level 49 Mini-dictionary

Word
Word before
Word after
Guide Words
Cobble
Alternative
Aluminium
Aristocrat
Barnacle
Confidential
Cheat
Crucify
Indian
Cyclone
Cobber
Alternative
Altruistic
Aristocracy
Barn
Confident
Cheapskate
Cruciform
Index finger
Cycloid
Cobble
Although
Always
Arithmetic
Barny
Configuration
Check
Crud
Indian corn
Cyclone fence
Cobra, Clove
Almighty, Amber
Almighty, Amber
Arena, Arrive
Barmey, Bass
Condiment, Confiscate
Cheapie, Cheese-paring
Crow, Crude
Index finger, Indiscernible
Cuz, Cyme


He used cobble to pave the stone.
He chose the alternate choice.
Drink cans are made out of aluminium
He was the best, the aristocrat.
The ship was so old, that there were hundreds of barnacles attached to the bottom of it.
Nobody was allowed to view the document, it was confidential.
He looked at the other players card, he was a cheat
To crucify him, his hands and feet were nailed to a cross
Her parents were from India, therefore she was half Indian
The hurricane was so bad, it was becoming a cyclone

I found this activity easy, as I had already done it several times before this.