Ancient Civilisations

Here is a list of websites for you to learn more about the ancient civilisation you are studying. Will you learn about the myths of Greece, mummifying in Egypt, life in the Roman Empire or what the Vikings occasionally used to drink out of?

Follow the link here.

Busta and Pong's Recycling Song.

Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar - Conjunction Junction Music Video

We've been learning about conjunctions and watching this video because we want to write longer sentences so that we do better writing while we are at school but this sentence is too long so I am going to stop now! How many conjunctions was that?

Back to School by Lilly

“Dear students, the summer has ended.
The school year at last has begun.
But this year is totally different.
I promise we’ll only have fun.

We won’t study any maths
and games will last all day long.
Instead of the National Anthem
we’ll belt out a rock ‘n’ roll  song.

We’ll only play pinball in the classroom.
You’re welcome to bring in your toys.
It’s okay to dance in the classroom.
It’s great if you make lots of noise.

For homework, you’ll play dodge ball
and watch anything on TV.
For field trips we’ll go to the movies
and get lots of ice cream for free.

For lunch we’ll have hot chips
and ice cream supreme.”
Yes, that’s what I heard from my teacher
before I woke up from my dream.

Back to School by Blake

“Dear students, the summer has ended.
The school year at last has begun.
But this year is totally different.
I promise we’ll only have fun.

We won’t study any maths
and going on the ipad will last all day long.
Instead of staying inside, we can stay outside
and belt out an Eminem song.

We’ll only play cricket in the classroom.
You’re welcome to bring in your toys.
It’s okay to be naughty.
It’s great if you make lots of noise.

For homework, you’ll bounce on the tramp
and watch rugby on TV.
For field trips we’ll go to the moon
and get lots of ice cream for free.

For lunch we’ll have lots of candy
and KFC supreme.”
Yes, that’s what I heard from my teacher
before I woke up from my dream.

Good fit books

In Daily 5 the children have been learning how to choose books that 'fit' them. When we pick a book we need a purpose, interest, comprehension and knowledge of the words. We found that it is a bit like choosing a pair of shoes. If shoes fit us properly they are comfortable to wear, but there is no point trying to wear someone else's shoes because they may be uncomfortable and they may not suit us. The children had fun trying to find a 'good fit' shoe from the class pile. It was particularly difficult when they were blindfolded! Now their challenge is to choose 'good fit' books for reading. This can be tricky at first, particularly when they have lots of choice. When your child starts bringing reading books home from school, please be aware that s/he has chosen the book her/himself and talk to your child about that choice. You are welcome to pop into class and see me if there are any problems with this.

Joseph looks for a 'good fit' shoe!

 

 

Me in a bag!

The children have been bringing 5 things from home in a little bag to show to the class. These things tell us what is important and special to them. Here are the contents of some of the bags. Can you guess whose things they are?

WELCOME BACK

Well we are already in week 3 and what a great start the children have made. We have been getting to know each other and setting up our class routines to establish our safe and happy classroom. It's already clear that we are going to be a supreme team!

Term 4 is here!

Welcome back to school! It's going to be a busy final term. We have tennis coaching and swimming lessons this term and hopefully our cross-country event will take place on Thursday at the Quarry. We have started our 30 book challenge in Daily 5 and we've begun working on division in Maths. We have a new Inquiry beginning soon too. Please remember sunblock and sunhats as the weather improves.
We are missing George, who left Halswell at the end of last term, and we wish him all the best at Tai Tapu School.

Year 3/4 Jump Jam Performance

It is nerve-racking standing backstage with the crowd going wild. It's the day of the Jump Jam competition and the announcer is calling our team. As I prance onstage I feel very determined inside and out. Suddenly the music fires up and my flamboyant dress wiggles to the beat. I rumba, zumba, bounce, smile happily and, you know, everything. Awww now it's finished. The crowd is going absolutely crazy. Of course that gives us the sign that we have won.

By Kendall

Year 3/4 Jump Jam Performance

My heart is beating and the crowd is going crazy. It's the final of the Jump Jam regionals. Smugly I walk up the stairs and onto the stage where everything happens. Suddenly the music fires up and I tap to the beat. The crowd cheers at our eye-catching dresses. I flick and kick, lip sync, roll my hip and shoulders, smile and do absolutely everything.
The music stops the beat and I pose. The compere yells into the microphone "That was an outstanding, incredible, unbelievable performance girls! Well done!"
Well the shows over folks but I do know the trophy's ours.

By Nivae

Diary Extract by Adam

I was woken by a creaking cart pulled by a horse trotting along. I looked at the clock and it was eight. I should be up at seven. I quickly stripped on my shirt and tied up my pants. I slapped on my cap and zipped to the kitchen. Then I washed the clothes in the tub and stuffed them all in the wringer. I cranked the handle round and round and round until they were sparkling clean.
"David! Time to go to school!" I ran outside and there was mum waiting for me. "Come on David, time to go to school otherwise you will be late."
"Ok, Mum. Bye!"

The terrifying noise of the old rusty bell made everyone run to the door. We stumbled, elbowed and shoved into line. Then I heard a stomp. It was coming from the doorway and around came Miss Black.

Extract from Bridget's Diary

I was woken by my mum shouting frustratedly "Get up! You don't want to be late for school." I crawled out of bed, dragged on my clothes and grabbed the buckets to milk the cows.

***

 

The deafening sound of the bell gave me the signal to line up. We jostled into the line, stood up straight and marched into the class. The ink-smudged desks were joined together. On my left a fire was blowing in my face. To my right the boys were listening to the teacher. A troublesome boy got yelled at and got strapped. Miss Black gave me deaf ears for a minute with her threatening voice shouting.

 

 



Extract from Olivia's Diary

The light growl of my dog woke me this morning. I flung back the covers, crawled out of bed, tugged on my clothes and neatened my bed.

***

 

The sound of the teacher strictly shouting "Class!" told me it was time for lessons. We jostled, stumbled and squished into line then, after the signal from the teacher, walked silently in. Only the ticking of the clock broke the silence today in writing. The smoky smell of the fire along with Miss Black's strong lavender perfume were the only things we could smell all day. The deafening scratch of the teacher's finger nails on the blackboard made me spill some of my ink. As I stared out of the big round window at the playground I felt a tap on my shoulder and I knew what would happen next...

 

Extract from Annalise's Diary

This morning I was woken by my dog barking its head off and Mum shouting worriedly “Get up, you will be late for school!” I jumped out of bed and got a bucket of water to collect seven coffee coloured eggs and the milk from the cows.

The sound of the piercing school bell rang to tell me it was time for me to do some work with that cranky teacher. We jostled, shoved and lined up to go into class. The wooden desks were joined together. To my left were the boys sitting up straight. To my right were the lonely desks that were spares. In front of me was grumpy Miss Black and behind me was the fire burning away. The piercing sound of Miss Black scraping her finger nails across the dirty blackboard hurt my ears.

By Annalise

Extract from Zoe's Diary

My dog prancing hungrily on me woke me up this morning. I slopped out of bed, snatched the bucket and stumbled to the chicken pen. There were only four creamy beige eggs for me to collect.

The dreaded school bell rang to tell us to line up outside class. We shuffled into line, fell silent and neatly plodded into class.

Ink smudged desks were marked and scratched from ink pens. It seemed to me the hands on the clock were moving too slowly every hour. To the right was a window and all I could see were some bushes for hiding in, a tree for climbing on, plain grass for running on and a flag flapping in the wind. Right, I’m tired of Miss Black. I’m nearly deaf. Miss Black has yelled all morning.

Jump Jam champs

We are so proud of our Year 3/4 Jump Jam team who came first in their category at the South Island Regionals. They will be heading up to Auckland in November to represent Halswell at the Nationals. Go girls!

Tricky Tag

I  am  standing    still    as   a   statue.       Mrs Kelly      says     go.       I    sprint     off.    The     sun      is     glowing,      the    trees     are    swishing,      the     birds     are       chirping     and       room    15     are    all    out      on    the    court    playing     a        game     of            tricky  tag.     I    seek,     zigzag,     sprint,     tag,    every thing.     I   am  sprinting   up      on    Olivia.     Olivia    turns    around,     and    tags   me   and    I   feel     disappointed.     I           have   to    sit   down    on    the   cold    concrete.    I    feel    full     of    beans.
By Aimee                  
     

    

Ferrymead

On Thursday 22 of August we went to Ferrymead to see what it was like in the olden days. First my group went to the house work my favourite part was the dishes! Second we went to the movies. We watched Laurel and Hardy and we watched Tom and Jerry. I love Tom and Jerry. Next we went to the shop and we and to find some things in the shop. and the group that came back first won and got the job to be helpers in the shop (because he split us in to threes). The thing that I likde second to last was the school house because we actually got to write on a slate board. After lunch we went on the tram ride. That was my favourite thing.
by Annalise

Gymnastics

We go to Olympia Gym every Tuesday.