Wananga: EOTC Days Research

 Hi there!

Next week, Hornby High students are going out of school for 3 days to do some fun activities before the school year ends. In this blog, I will be writing about different places we will be visiting and facts/information about them. 

We will be going to:

• A local pool
• Adventure course
• Day out in the central city

We were required to learn some things to do with the places we are going and blog about what we have learnt. 

Here is a poster with some water safety tips which can be put into use at a pool:

While in the city, we will be visiting Margaret Mahy playground, here is some information about Margaret Mahy:

Why was Margaret Mahy a famous New Zealander?

Margaret Mahy was a famous New Zealander because of the amazing children's books she wrote. Margaret Mahy was born in Whakatane in 1936 and wrote her first story at the age of seven years old. She went to Auckland University and Canterbury University and graduated in 1955. After this, she attended a Library School in Wellington and received a Librarian's diploma. In 1967, she started working for the School Library Service in Christchurch, during this time she wrote stories which were published for the New Zealand School Journal. In 1969, her first book, "Lion in the Meadow". In 1980, Margaret became a full time children's author. She went on to win numerous awards for the books she had written and wrote over 160 books. In 2012, Margaret Mahy passed away from cancer. In 2015, The Margaret Mahy Family Playground was named in her honour and was opened in the central city of Christchurch. 

Our last activity will be going to the thrilling Adrenalin Forest. 

Adrenalin Forest is an adventure park with flying foxes and obstacle courses; in the treetops. 

When I am at Adrenalin Forest:

- I will show Commitment by doing obstacles even when I am scared of them. 

- I will feel Achievement when I finish the whole obstacle course. 

- I will be Resilient by not letting the fear of being high up in the trees stop me - from enjoying myself. 

- I can show Respect by listening to instructions given to me. 

- I'm most looking forward to going on all the flying foxes. 

Thanks for reading!

Health: Year 9 Discovery

 Hi there!

Today I will be writing about what I have been doing in Health class for the past couple of weeks. 

In Health we were set a task that required us to research a topic of our own choice and display the information we found. Our set success criteria was:

• Linking answers to the key concepts
• Described strategies that will improve outcomes in relation to our chosen issue
• All 5 BIG questions are answered in detail
• Our work is well presented and we are proud of it

The topic that I chose was brain development in teenagers.

Here is a photo of myself working on my tasks:

Firstly we had to decide what level we would work at to achieve and then we chose 5 BIG questions we would answer about our chosen topic. Once we had our 5 BIG questions we started to research about them. From there we had to decide what our final presentation would be. I chose to make/create a Kahoot quiz about teenage brain development. I chose to do this because I felt it would be a good, interactive way of showing my learning. I have learned that these strategies are helpful to use if they are struggling and want the best time of their teenage years:

• Thinking before you act
• Surrounding yourself with good influences
• Talking to adults when you need support

Here is a planning sheet I had to keep track of my work:

Here is screenshot of my completed quiz:

It was challenging when I had to find answers to the 5 BIG questions I chose as it was difficult to find some of the information I needed.

I coped with the challenge by researching more and asking my teacher about where I could find good, reliable information. 
Next time I will try to work more at home to reach my timeline quicker.
I am really proud of the questions I have answered and the work I put in at school and in my own time.

Lastly, here is a picture of what I am most proud of from my Health Discovery:

Thanks for reading!

Film Study/English: Coraline Timeline/Freytag's Pyramid

 Hi there!

Today I will be writing about a timeline I made regarding the film, Coraline in Film Study/English.

Here is a Freytag Pyramid about Coraline:

• Exposition: 
• In the exposition of Coraline, we are introduced to the Pink Palace and the area around it. We also meet Coraline, her parents, Wybie and the other tenants of the Pink Palace apartments. Coraline begins to explore the area and meet new people along the way also.
• Complication:
• The complication introduced in the film is when Coraline finds the small, sealed up door in the living room of their new apartment. Wybie also gives Coraline a doll which looks exactly like her, which we then find out is spying on her. 
• Rising Action:
• The rising action in Coraline is when Coraline goes through the small door which leads to the ‘Other World’. She continues to go back to the ‘Other World’ and interact with the ‘Other People’ in the ‘Other World’. 
• Climax:

• The climax in Coraline is when the other mother offers/gives Coraline the box with button eyes inside it. 

• Falling Action:
• The falling action in Coraline is when Coraline doesn't accept the button eyes, the lighting changes when this happens too. The 'Other Mother' also starts to show her true colours towards Coraline, we also see how she treats the people from the 'Other World' too. Coraline tries to escape from the 'Other World' but fails. 
• Resolution:
• The resolution in Coraline is when Coraline prepares to go back into the 'Other World' one last time to save her parents' soul's. She gets a jade triangle from Miss Spink & Miss Forcible which helps her find the souls of the lost ghost children stuck in the 'Other World'. Most importantly in resolution, the final battle between Coraline and the 'Other Mother' occurs. This is when we see Coraline fighting her way out of spiderweb which belongs to the 'Other Mother'. 
• Denouement:
• The denouement in Coraline is when she drops the hand/claw of the 'Other Mother' into the 'never-ending' well we are introduced to in the beginning of the film. The denouement also includes all the characters we have met throughout the film all having a nice time together in the front garden at the Pink Palace Apartments. This is the ending of the film and it ends in nice, happy way.

What am I learning?

I am learning how to lay out a timeline explaining different parts of a film.

How does this work show my learning?

This work shows my learning because I was able to understand and explain the different parts in a Freytag Pyramid while studying a film.

What am I wondering as a result of this learning?

I am not currently wondering anything. 

Thanks for reading!

Film Study/English: Character Challenges

 Hi there!

Here is a slide show I made about Character Challenges in the film, Coraline.

What am I learning?

I am learning how to identify and record challenges characters face in films.

How does this work show my learning?

This work shows by learning because I have explained they way the characters' act, challenges they have faced in the film and how they have reacted to these challenges. 

What am I wondering as a result of this learning?

I am wondering if this activity is able to be used out of film studies. 

Thanks for reading!

P.E.: Gymnastics

 Hi there!

Today I will be writing about what I did in Gymnastics.

My focus was learning how to do some basic Trampoline jumps and movements. 

My 3 activities were:

1. Straddle Jump
2. Pike Jump
3. Tuck Jump

I really enjoyed doing Gymnastics today, I liked the variety of options we had to choose from when doing it. I would definitely do it again.

Thanks for reading!