Sunday, December 23, 2007

ERO Visit

In week three of of the new year ERO, NZ's Education Review Office are sending three reviewers to Appleby School to look at all the wonderful ICT we have been doing.

They want some data about how using computers has improved our learning. If you are one of our 14,100 blog viewers could you please leave a comment on this post on how you think viewing our blog, wiki or podcast has improved our learning.

I would like to impress ERO with the number of comments so please take a moment to write what you think- I would love comments from children and adults from New Zealand and overseas.

Thank you

Miss K

Last day of school for 2007

On the last day of school the whole school was invited to a nearby boysenberry farm for a half hour of 'all you can eat' boysenberry picking and a yummy real fruit ice-cream.
For our overseas viewers here is what boysenberries look like on the vine.
The darker the boysenberry the yummier they taste!
Some of us sensibly dressed in red so that the people couldn't tell we had made a bit of a mess of ourselves.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Hemispheres Wiki

This week we have been learning with a class in South Paris, New York, USA. We are their expert voices. Imagine that!

They wanted to find out more about the similarities and differences between the north and south hemispheres.

One of the most obvious ones was the seasons- here is a photo of the class in the snow in their playground- contrast this to our last post of our camp at the beach!!!!!

To see more of our findings click on the photo and look at the links on the left hand side of the page. Both classes have added photos and videos to help viewers understand more.

A wiki is like a website that different people can add to from different places. Our Flight website is another example of a wiki but with that one we only worked with a nearby school.

It is exciting to go global! Thanks South Paris Collaborative.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Our Camp at Kaiteriteri


My night in the tent was OK but Little Miss Screamer woke me up but in the morning I thanked her because I had to go toilet. I found it quite fun putting up the tents and I think we co-operated quite well. It was much easier breaking camp than putting up the tents.

By Dino and Braden
Splish-splosh-splash! We had so much fun! I could feel water rushing over my body and I giggled happily, soaking wet. As I said before, it was sooooo fun! I could hear popping around me. Pop! Ouch that hurt a water bomb just hit me on the head. We played it on a big field we had lots of room to run around in. We had sooooo much fun.
By Tegen and Amberley
We thought that the water slide was so cool and we would love to do it again.
I see Tegen looks like she is enjoying the water slide.
I thought that the water splashing in your face was a bonus.
I don't think Shayn thought it was a bonus though.
Look at Zach go flying down the water slide.

By Jordan

When we were doing the three legged race it was so funny.
People were tripping over and we had heaps of fun.
Nicole and Shania showed great teamwork.
This is one of Miss K's favourite photos. Oscar's Dad took it on his big camera.
By Frances and Susa
The rocks were sharp and pointy and they hurt your knees. People were jumping off the rocks and playing in the sand.
By Shania

Here is Amberley digging her feet into the warm sand.
Kaiteriteri Beach is very beautiful with golden sands.
The swim was pretty cool. Three people got cuts from the barnacles.
We had to wear three different coloured swimming hats to make it easier for the adults to make sure we didn't drown. It made it easier for them to watch us.
We all enjoyed the swim and the sunbathing we did afterwards.

By Georgie
This is Kyle on a duck that woobles up and down on the playground by the beach.
This is Georgie on the swings. She looks like she is having fun.

by Nicole

Here we are going on to the launch. Man we have a big class. The launch was so good

Dino and his Dad wanted to stay connected to the world so took some time out to check the blog and do a little networking. AK
Wow look at those good views. On the launch trip we had alot of fun.
We had lots of stops along the way as we walked back to civilisation.
Walking through the bush was lovely and cool as the sun was beating down on us.

It was a great camp. We enjoyed it heaps. It was mint.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Safely Home from Camp

Here we all are safely home from camp. What a wonderful time we had.

The video podcast is now live on our podomatic page. To get there or subscribe in iTunes click on the class photo.
The podcast is 13MB and lasts three minutes.

By Miss K

British Currency Voicethread

As I checked my links after a busy class camp I noticed that Simon B's class in the UK has made a Voicethread based on our model. Thanks Simon- it was really great. You may like to leave a comment for Simon's class by clicking on the link above.
To see the bigger version click on the photo and turn your speakers on.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Kaiteriteri Class Camp

We have packed our bags and left town! We are on the class end of year camp to Kaiteriteri and the Abel Tasman National Park. We are staying in tents and will go on a launch trip on into the park and tramp back to Marahau. Keep an eye out for some great blog posts and photos on our return to civilisation. In the meantime you can view what we did last time we had a class camp to Kaiteriteri by clicking here!

Unlike last year's camp to Bridge Valley Miss K will have to go without wireless internet access. How sad is that????

Friday, November 30, 2007

Our Podcast is a finalist in 2007 Edublog Awards

Our podcast is a finalist in the worldwide 2007 Edublog Awards- best educational use of audio. We need you to vote for us. You don't have to register or anything- just click on the award logo and click on Allanah's Appleby Podcast and then click VOTE!

We need lots of votes from lots of different computers!

I am so proud of us all.

Miss K

Georgina's half built house

This is Georgina's house that she built for homework. She made it out of balsa wood, paper and glue. It took a week to make. Her dad helped her with the measuring.
She made a plan of what the design was going to look like.
This is the inside of the house.
This is what it looks like from the outside.

By Braden, Tyler and Georgina

Athletics day

On the 26 of November the year 3 and 4 had athletics at Ranzau School. It was a boiling day. Appleby won the year 4 girls relay.
By Oscar and Kyle

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Georgina Goes To NZ Dancing Competition

I went to Nationals in Auckland with my brother, sister and my sister's dance partner. We were first on doing the samba and rumba. We got into the second round/Then we did ballroom and we didn't get any where but it was awesome fun.
PS Miss K thinks we are fantastic to get to go all the way to Auckland to participate in the event. Well done Georgina and Theo, Georgina's dance partner.

Amazing photos!

Kieran's Mum sent some photos to us. All of the photos showed interesting angles. This is a man standing in front of a oil rig burning off gas.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! That will crack up anyone.

She also sent us some painted hand photos. Here is a hand that is painted to look like a golden eagle.

by Amberley & Kieran

Monday, November 26, 2007

Pet Show Day



Last Friday it was pet day. We did six activities. They were photos, chalk drawing, sand creatures, dog video, Kid Pix drawings on the computer and animal stories. I like Tabby the cat. My favourite was the Lion in the Meadow and Walter, the farting dog. For chalk drawings Nicole did a snake with Emily. Shania did a dolphin with Georgia in Kahurangi.

By Nicole and Shania

Great Books to Read

Here is a great website for finding books to read. Although they are on the internet you can read the books just like you can a paper book- by turning the pages! The link to the Children's Library is in our Delicious as well. Click on the books to take you to the web page and look for a book that you like the look of to read.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Make the horses sing!

I just found this and thought I would share it. Click on the horses to take you to a web site where you can make them sing!!