Science: Hedgehog Research

Hi there!

Today I will be sharing my knowledge about hedgehogs. 

Hedgehogs or Erinaceus europaeus are animals that primarily live in forests. They are instantly recognisable due to their prickly spikes. They are mammals and are also carnivorous creatures, eating slugs and sometimes even rabbits. Their bodies can span 12.7cm to 30.5cm and their tails span 2.5cm to 5.1cm. They generally weigh around 400g to 1.1kg, according to National Geographic. They are nocturnal animals but don't spend a lot of time out at night. They will usually scavenge for food 2-3 hours after the sun sets, they do this again about 6 hours later. 

How do Hedgehogs show M.R.S.G.R.E.N.? 

Movement - Hedgehogs show movement because they can move from one place to another easily with their 4 legs. They also have claws that help them grip the ground.

Respiration - Hedgehogs do use respiration. They can turn the food they eat into energy. 

Sensitivity - Hedgehogs can sense changes to their environment, for example, they are able to sense when it is night or day and use this to decide when to go scavenging. 

Growth - Yes, hedgehogs do grow. They start very small, but as mentioned above they can grow up to 30cm or so. This doesn't just apply to their body, their spikes grow with age and their brains develop to help them have a better chance of survival.

Reproduction - Hedgehogs reproduce, they are considered endangered in Britain.

Excretion - Hedgehogs urinate and get rid of stool often. 

Nutrition - Hedgehogs eat other animals to live and grow.

Adaptations 

Prickly spikes - The spikes of a hedgehog help it repel predators. When a hedgehog becomes frightened, it will use its strong back muscles to curl up into a ball, keeping its underbelly tucked and safe while its spikes are poking out. 

Colour - The colours of a hedgehog's spikes and fur help it blend in with its environment, therefore making it difficult for predators to spot them. This also helps them to prey on animals too. 

Poison protection - Hedgehogs can make special saliva which makes them immune to certain things which are normally poisonous. They sometimes lick their spikes to spread the poison as a form to protect themselves from predator attacks.

Claws - The claws of hedgehogs are very strong, making them good for digging. 

Predator and Prey Relationships

Hedgehog and the Weasel - In this relationship, the hedgehog is the prey and the weasel is the predator. The weasel has adapted its technique over time and has become quite masterful over time. 

Hedgehog and the Slug - In this relationship, the hedgehog is the predator whereas the slug is the prey. Hedgehogs will use their pointy snout and great sense of smell to sniff out slugs to eat them. 

Thanks for reading!

Science: Animal and Plant Cells

 Hi there!

Today I will be sharing my knowledge between the difference of animal cells and plant cells. 

Here is an image of an animal cell:

Cytoplasm - Cytoplasm is a jelly-like material which surrounds all the cell parts inside of the cell membrane. Cytoplasm was considered to be a fluid-like substance. However, after recent research it is similar to glass-like liquids. 

Nucleus - The nucleus is a part of every cell. The nucleus is a 'storage unit' which holds the chromosomes, DNA and genes of the animal. 

Cell membrane - The cell membrane is a thin layer of protein and fat which protects and keeps all of the cell parts inside. It helps support the cell and give it integrity. 

Mitochondrion - Mitochondrion or mitochondria (plural) is a rod-shaped organelle. They are called the power house of the cell, because they play a crucial role in releasing energy. 

Here is a plant cell:

Cytoplasm - Cytoplasm does differ from an animal cell. As mentioned above, cytoplasm is a jelly-like material which fills a cell and protects and supports organelle in the cell.  

Nucleus - Every organism has a nucleus, plants aren't excluded from this! The nucleus stores chromosomes, DNA and other genetic material.

Cell membrane - The cell membrane is still a thin layer of fats and protein which encase the organelle of a cell. It makes sure everything in the cell doesn't leave and become damaged. 

(Cellulose) cell wall - The cell wall is the outmost part of a plant cell. It gives the cell structure, as opposed to an animal cell which doesn't have much integrity. It separates the exterior environment from the organelles in the interior of the cell.  

Mitochondrion - Look above for description. 

Permanent/large vacuole - The term 'vacuole' means 'empty space'. In a plant, a vacuole cell quite large, taking up to 80% of the cell up. The vacuole stores nutrients to feed the plant, it expands and shrinks regarding if it has enough water. We can see this in the form of a plant drooping and looking lifeless (vacuoles are shrinking) or a plant which looks full of life (vacuoles are expanded). The vacuole also help give structure to the cell. 

Chloroplast - Chloroplast is the organelle which makes green plants green. It is responsible for photosynthesis and are found in the leaves of a plant. 

Thanks for reading! 

English: Dilemmas Essay

Hi there!

Today I will be sharing an essay I wrote in English class based on dilemmas, our focus for this term.

For my topic, but decided to write about how literature teaches us to deal with dilemmas and used three stories to show this. The stories I chose were:

- The Doll's House by Katherine Mansfield

- Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway

- The Bear by William Faulkner 

Here is my essay. 

Thanks for reading! 

English/Film Study: Coraline Notes

Hi there!

This blog is from September 2020.

Today I will be sharing notes I took while watching Coraline.

Opening Scene: 

What happened: A doll flies through a window and gets turned into a Coraline lookalike doll. This is done by the other mother, only her hands are seen making the new doll.

Camera Shots/Angles: 

- close ups: we see the finer details of the doll and how it was made. 

- no wide shots: we don't see everything in the room, we don't find out who is remaking the doll. 

Music: 

the music is eerie, scary and suspenseful, there aren't real words just made up ones which are sung by children. It sounds like music box

Colour: 

green, black, dark, old, aged, muted, old fashioned, looks like it was made a long time ago

Lighting: 

artificial lighting: lamp, natural lighting: from the moon. Gives off a dull/dim look, it feels spooky because of it

The Real World:

What happened:

feels old, run down, abandoned, faded paint, peeling paint, 

dead environment, not looked after, 

cold weather, wet, grey, misty

Camera Shots/Angles:

Wide shot: shows the house in context

Music:

background noise, diegectic noise: sounds that happen naturally

Colour:

muted, dark, faded,cloudy, surrounded by trees, spooky atmosphere, wild feeling

Lighting: natural, sunlight reflecting through the clouds, dim, makes setting feel unpleasant. 

Character Comparsion:

Real World:

Describe: cranky, working, strict, they care but don't show it. Don't look healthy- black bags undereyes, pale skin, washed out.

Costume: worn, faded, baggy, casual, lazy home clothes

Lighting: cold, dull mix of natural/artificial lighting,  makes it feel isolated, dark, lonely.

Colours: pale, bone-dry, only colours which are bright are the cat's eyes and Coraline.

Music: use of diegetic sound, no music. 

Other World: 

Describe: 

Energetic, bright, friendlier, look like they have time for Coraline, Other Father waiting for Coraline, Other Mother cooking. Fit, rosy skin, more alive.

Costume: 

Bright colours, fitted clothing, fashionable, fancy, newer

Lighting: 

bright, artifical, saturated, warm, happy, relaxed, welcome feeling.

Colours: 

Bright, warm, eye-catching, vibrant, warm tones, place where you want to be, Coraline blends in better

Music: 

Happier, dad playing piano, Other Mother always humming, slightly eerie, minor, a little creepy

Real World- Neighbours:

Describe: odd, weird, eccentric, dismissive, nutty, keep calling her by the wrong name even though she corrects them, too wrapped up in themselves, talkative, self-absorbed. 

Costume: 

worn clothing, old, baggy, Mr B.'s clothing is too tight and small, Miss Spink, & Forcible, clothing does fit well, not presentable, 

Lighting:

dull, foggy, cold, mix of artificial and natural lighting. makes it feel like its not a nice place

Colours:

more colours, but still dark and faded, still a lot of whites/grays, 

Music: 

each has their own music, Mr B- ompah, Miss Spink & Forcible salsa/old-fashioned.

Other World- Neighbours:

Describe:  things Coraline didn't like about them in the real world changed it the other world ,call her Coraline, look younger, more appealing, more put together, vibrant, brighter, colour, Wybie can't talk. 

Thanks for reading!

Science: Lemon Power

Hi there! 

This blog is from August 2020.

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

Voltage: 

Voltage is the energy that electrons get from a power supply. Voltage is used to make electrical components work, like light bulbs.

Current:

The rate of flow of electrical charge across a point.

Aim: To create voltage out of a lemon.

Method:

• Roll the lemon out so the inside is liquidy
• Stick a piece of zinc and copper into the lemon
• Connect the lemon up to a voltmeter

Results:

Discussion: We rolled it out and released all the acidic charged particles. This allowed them to move around and create a current. The copper and zinc allowed the charged particles to move around, which created a circuit.

Conclusion: This experiment worked. With one lemon, the voltage was 1 volt. With two lemons, the voltage was 2 volts. With 7 lemons the voltage was 2.3 volts, almost the same amount as a triple A battery. 

Thanks for reading!

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

Hi there! 

This blog is from late July 2020. 

Today I will be talking about Mental & Emotional Wellbeing. 

Questions: 

Q: What is the Te Reo Maori term for Mental & Emotional Wellbeing?

A: The Te Reo Maori term for Mental & Emotional Wellbeing is Taha Hinengaro.

Q: What is your understanding of Mental & Emotional Wellbeing?

A: My understanding of Mental & Emotional Wellbeing is being able to cope with stress even though it may be difficult. I also think of it as being able to express/acknowledge my emotions, whether they are happy or unhappy emotions, also to be able to control them too. It helps you think critically and communicate/share your emotions. 

Little Reminders

The 'Tiny Habits' video from Melon was about starting out small with self-improvement goals, and adding them to existing habits you already have. 

Example: While brushing your teeth, think of three things that you are grateful for. It's as simple as that!

What have I learnt from this picture?

I have learnt that if you focus on negatives instead of positives you will only experience negative things in your life. 

Facing Fears

The 'What we can control' video from Melon was about acknowledging that life can be stressful and that some people can be a bit annoying too. But, knowing that there are things we can control about our life, such as who we are friends with and how we react to these situations. We can also decide how much time we give to them too, how we act and what we say. Keeping our mind focused on what we can change will reduce worry and help us out a lot. 

The 'Belly Breathing' video from Melon was about how we can calm down in potentially stressful situations. It went through a tutorial and it went like this:

1. Go to a quite place.

2. Place one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest.

3. Breathe in through your nose, slow your breathing down and count your breaths, feel your stomach rise and fall as you breathe, imagine it as a balloon, your slowly filling the balloon up with air and then slowly squeezing the air out of it. 

What have I learnt from this photo? 

I have learnt that worrying is a completely normal emotion. I have also learnt that it is just my body telling me that I need to take a moment for myself and take some deep breaths as well as that my body is telling me that my mind is trying to protect me.

Thanks for reading!

Commitment

Hi there!

This blog post is from late May 2020. 

Today I will be writing about what commitment, one of our school values looks like to me.

So, what does commitment look like to me?

• Commitment to school
• Commitment to sports
• Commitment to family 
• Commitment to trying new things
• Commitment to goals
• Commitment to friends

How do I show commitment to school?

• Learning ready
• sit down
• get device ready
• respectful, quiet inside voice 
• patiently waiting for instructions
•  Positive/growth mindset
• always sit with someone who will keep you focused
• always try your best
• don't be afraid to fail or make mistakes, you can learn from that mistake

How do I show commitment to sports?

• Showing up to training's
• trying my best
• trying my hardest
• showing up on time
•  Practicing at home
• Be a team player
• respect my coach 
• listen to my coach
• respect my team mates

How can I show commitment to family?

• Connect with them
• Help make family meals
• Hang out with them
• watch a movie
• go on a walk

How can I show commitment to trying new things?

• Don't be afraid
• If I have an opportunity to do something, take it because it might be the only chance I get to do it.
• Carry on doing it if I enjoy doing it. 

How can I show commitment to goals?

• Always work towards those goals no matter how small or big they are
• Work on them constantly/as much as I can. 

Thanks for reading!

Home Economics: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Hi there! 

This blog post is from late May 2020.

Today I will be writing about how I made Dairy Free Banana Chocolate Muffins.

Ingredients:

• 2 c self raising flour 
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 c dairy free chocolate chips
• 100g butter
• 1 c soy milk
• 1 egg 
• 1 c mashed bananas (2-3)
• 1 t vanilla essence
• 100g dairy free spread

Method:

1.  Mix flour, salt, caster sugar & chocolate chips in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl melt butter then add milk, and egg and beat to combine
3. Mash & measure the bananas and add to liquid ingredients
4. Tip liquid mixture into the dry ingredients. Fold carefully. Do not overmix.
5. Carefully spoon muffin batter into prepared muffin tins (line with paper cases.)
6. Optional topping: Mix 1 T sugar & 1/2 t cinnamon and sprinkle over top of muffins. Drop some chocolate bits on each.
7. Bake at 220°C for 12-15 mins, testing to check if muffin is cooked. Cool for 2-3 mins before removing from pan.

SUBSTITUTIONS for Banana and Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

Make the Muffins as per the recipe adding 1t Vanilla Essence to the milk, egg, butter mixture for added flavour

No Egg is to be used in the recipe. 

Instead use the Egg Replacer provided. Check instructions on the packet

Add 1t Vanilla Essence to the milk, egg, butter mixture

No Butter or Milk (Dairy) is to be used in the recipe. 

Instead substitute the Butter with 100g Olivani (Dairy Free spread)  

Instead substitute the Milk with 1c of Soy Milk

Add 1t Vanilla Essence to the soy milk , egg, Olivani mixture

Reduce the refined Sugar by using ¼ c of Apple Sauce and ¼ c of Caster Sugar

Add 1t Vanilla Essence to the milk, egg, butter mixture

Replace the Self Raising Flour with Plain Flour and Baking Powder

Ratio  =  2t Baking Powder : 1c Plain Flour

Add 1t Vanilla Essence to the milk, egg, butter mixture

Replace the Butter with 75ml Canola Oil

Add 1t Vanilla Essence to the milk, egg, oil mixture

Thanks for reading!

Social Studies: Rats and Mice

Hi there!

This blog post is originally from early 2020. 

Today I will be writing about a rat outbreak in Australia and a temple in India which worships them. 


Where did this happen?

• Australia 

How did this happen?

• Massive rainfall, leading in massive growth spike. 

How many offspring can 2 mice parents make?

• 2,000  in a matter of months, 100 million a year.

How much wheat did they eat?

• 50,0000 tonnes of wheat

How did they kill them? How many dead?

• 1080 poison 
• 100 million dead 

Where is this happening?

• Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke, 30 km from Bikaner, in Rajasthan, India. 

Why is it happening?

• They believe that the rats are a form of the gods and they worship them because of that belief. 

What special treatment do they rats get?

• They are really treated as if they are celebrities. They aren't treated as rodents, and also are feed before others get to eat as well as getting to eat whatever they like. 

Thanks for reading!

Art: Attempted Use of White Space

 Hi there! 

Since New Zealand is still in lockdown and schools aren't open, school has become interesting. For Art class, this applies too. Our teacher set us to a really cool task to draw in a similar style of Joanna Margaret Paul. We had to try instil the use of white space. Paul would use white space to her advantage, creating spectacular pieces of work. Here is some more information about her:

Joanna Margaret Paul was a Kiwi artist born in Hamilton on the 14th of December 1945. As a child, she was always around artists and people of literature, something she and her family regarded very highly. After finishing boarding school at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, she went on to the University of Waikato to study History, English and French. 

She graduated Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland in 1969 and had her work featured in an exhibition while studying there. Paul passed away in 2003, her works have since been featured in Victoria University’s Adam Art Gallery and the London Film Festival in 2016. 

Here is a link to the instructions if you would like to see.  I used charcoal pencils, watercolour, and coloured pencils to make my pieces, but you can basically use anything, as long as you can colour with it. Below are some attempts of mine using white space while drawing a still object. 

The images above were my first attempts at drawing using white space. As you can see, I left a lot of it. I drew one of the many orchid plants in my house, the plant didn't actually have any flowers. But, I felt like drawing a flower as my confidence levels regarding drawing were high and I had a "what the heck" attitude brewing so I went for it. Also, adding to the "what the heck" attitude, I decided to stray away from 'normal' colours and instead used dark and light brown. Something in me was drawn to them, and I am really glad I listened.  Considering these two images were my first attempts and I am not the most confident at drawing, I am pretty pleased with myself. However, I didn't colour some of the leaves properly, so they look a bit transparent. 

The images above were my attempts at using white space with watercolour. I did these a couple of days after my first attempts, since I finally found the watercolour kit I got on my sixth birthday which I was struggling to find. I used black water colour for most of my water colour pieces. However, the brown in the palette called to me again and I used it to draw a Bundaurg Ginger Beer glass. I used a thick stick I found in the back of my garden to do the drawings. I also used a cabbage tree leaf. I really enjoyed using the stick to draw the images. Depending on how I held the stick, I would get a different type of stroke which I found very cool. I would get a lot of colour onto the stick, and as it got depleted of colour I would use it to outline the next strokes I would take. Again, the transparent leaves came to haunt me, but I am still proud of my effort!

In this drawing, I used charcoal pencils to draw the image. It is from a different orchid plant, however I added a couple more leaves to it as it originally had (I accidentally broke a leaf off, sorry again mum). I used a black charcoal pencil first, then, when I had finished with my drawing I went over with a white charcoal pencil to give a "smudged" effect. When I started drawing this, I got was bit shocked because I had gotten used to the freeness of the water colour, whereas the pencil was the opposite. Transparent leaves appeared once more. But, if I keep on forgetting to make them opaque, I might as well make them a signature piece in my future drawings so they are legible. 

I really enjoyed attempting to use white space, I noticed as I did more and more drawings I got quicker at doing them too. I learned that I am masterful in drawing transparent leaves and that although it is peaceful, drawing in a garage with the door open gets very chilly. All in all, what matters is that I did the work, but most importantly, I had a lot of fun doing so.

Thanks for reading!