Melon Massacre

In writing we wrote about a quite unusual Monday morning. Our success criteria was our writing needed an attention grabbing start to hook the reader, language features such as similes and alliteration were to be used and most importantly our writing needed to be entertaining.
Here are some examples that ticked all those boxes. Enjoy

Coyote and Turtle

Samarah and Kristy have retold a folk tale from Mexico 'Coyote and Turtle'

The Streetsweeper

The Guardians of the Galaxy read 'The Streetsweeper' by Sharon Parsons they then evaluated the claim that a street sweeper is an important job using evidence from the text.

WALT - Evaluate a claim

A Street sweeper is an important job

I agree with this statement	I disagree with this statement
They clean up animal’s manure from the streets so people don’t step in it - Hemish (pg.7)	It should be the pet’s owners who clean up after their animals - Logan
People should be polite and patient when their streets are being cleaned as it is an important job - Logan (pg. 11)	The street sweeping vehicle can block important people getting to work e.g Dr Maldon - Logan (pg.8)
The street sweeper cleans the gutters of leaves and trash. When it rains the gutters take the water from the roads if these are blocked the road could flood - Hemish (pg.12)	The street sweeper rumbled and roared meaning people may not be able to sleep - Fiona (pg.15)
Without a streetsweeper the streets would be littered with rubbish, bottles and cans - Hemish (pg.23)	If it is a rainy day the street sweeper could spread dirty water on cars and people - Hemish (pg.30)
People should respect the jobs people do to keep our streets and communities clean - Ilsa (pg. 29)

After reading ‘The Streetsweeper’ by Sharon Parsons we agree that a street sweeper is an important job in the local community. Firstly street sweepers clean up animal’s manure from the streets so people don’t step in it. They also clean the gutters of leaves and trash. When it rains the gutters take the water from the roads if these are blocked the road could flood. Finally without a streetsweeper the streets would be littered with rubbish, bottles and cans.

On the other hand some people may disagree that a street sweeper is an important job because it should be the pet’s owners who clean up after their animals. Also the street sweeping vehicle can block important people getting to work e.g Dr Maldon. Lastly If it is a rainy day the street sweeper could spread dirty water on cars and people.

Overall street sweeping is an important job for keeping our streets and communities clean. We also believe that people should respect the jobs people do and people should be polite and patient when their streets are being cleaned.

Podcast #2

Comparing Rights, Rules and Responsibilities

For inquiry we compared the rights, laws and responsibilities of citizens in China and in New Zealand.

All citizens of the world have rights, responsibilities, laws and rules to follow. Two countries with similarities and differences in the rights, responsibilities and laws for their citizens to follow are China and New Zealand.

Group 1 - Caleb, Emily K, Charlotte, Joshua L

Both citizens of China and New Zealand have a right to an education funded by the government. In China education is funded by the government but citizens have to pay for textbooks and tuition. They also have very long school days (7a.m-5p.m). In New Zealand we have to pay for stationery, uniform, and trips in return we however get shorter school days (8:55 a.m-3p.m). We believe that if education is free it should be free rather than there being hidden costs. We also believe it is fairer on people to have shorter school days.

Group 2 - Sara, Leslie, Ethan, Joshua G

Both citizens have a right to a job. In China many workers work long hours for less pay compared to New Zealand citizens who have the rights such as breaks and a minimum wage. We think that getting more money and a stable amount of hours to work is better. You have more time to spend with your family and you have enough money to survive.    

Group 3 - Rhea, Samarah, Michael, Hemish

Both countries have the right to have children. The citizens in China used to have a law that you were only allowed one child per family. However now in China you are allowed two children because there were too many men and there were no girls. However if you had too many children you would have to pay a fine. On the other hand in New Zealand you are allowed to have as many kids as you want. We think that New Zealand treats it’s citizens fairer because they can have more than two children without needing to pay a fine.

Group 4 - Dineesh, Emily D, Krish P, Eli

Both citizens of China and New Zealand have to follow traffic laws. In China you have to be 18 to drive on the other hand in New Zealand you have to be only 16. It is a good thing to be 18 to start driving because you will be more mature and responsible. New Zealand is lucky to drive at the age of 16. In China the traffic is very high compared to New Zealand so maybe that’s why they have a higher age limit of 18.

Group 5 - Kalani, Kristy, Gabby, Dev, Shreyas, Ilsa

Both citizens of China and New Zealand have a responsibility to give to those in need. For example China came in 144th place in the World Giving Index, and New Zealand came 3rd place. People in China thinks it’s more important to care about themselves and don’t give much money to charity, whereas New Zealand thinks it’s better to put others before themselves and give to charities. New Zealand also donates money to the countries in need of help such as, Fiji and South Africa.  

Group 6 - Fiona, Ella, Heila, Kaelem, Logan

Overall we think that New Zealand is a better place to live because school hours are shorter being only 6 hours. In China school is 10 hours and they have to do hours and hours of extra homework. Another reason is that in China you get paid less money for employment. The minimum wage is $2 per hour. In New Zealand we get more money because the minimum wage is  $15 per hour or more. New Zealand treats its citizens fairer because they have the freedom of choice and New Zealand citizens are better global citizens because they give to others more readily.

Finding China

The Avengers after reading 'Finding China' by Eva Wong Ng compared going to school in Shanghai, China and going to school in Auckland, New Zealand.

Have you ever thought what it would be like to go to school in China? After reading “Finding China” by Eva Wong Ng we discovered that there are many similarities and differences between going to school in China and going to school in New Zealand.

Languages - Michael and Joshua L

Both schools in China and New Zealand teach languages. In Ping He bilingual school in Shanghai two languages are taught, Chinese and English. As well as learning Chinese the students also learn English. They learn how to write Chinese characters as well as write in English. At Halsey Drive school and others in New Zealand we get taught Te Reo Maori. We believe it is more important for Chinese students to learn English than it is for New Zealand students to learn Te Reo.

Time - Samarah

Ping-He Bilingual School is tough when it comes to starting school. Ping-He Bilingual  

School starts at 7:00am and finishes at 5:00pm. On the other hand in Halsey Drive School, school starts at 8:55 and ends at 3:00pm. Ping-He Bilingual School only allows students to have 1 hour to get their homework done. In my opinion I would rather go to HDS because it is only 6 hours and not 10 hours.

Subjects - Kristy

In Shanghai some of the subjects taught are  calligraphy, history, PE, English, art, science, maths and music.  They got taught the old fashioned way.  However here in New Zealand some subjects we learn are the same like English, art, science, maths, music and PE.  In New Zealand it is very rare that you will be taught history.  In New Zealand we have subjects we believe are more important for life in New Zealand.

Board - Ella and Emily D

Boarding schools are built so children can stay and sleep at school. In Shanghai children mainly board because both their parents are busy and tend to work late. But on the other hand in New Zealand children mainly board because their home is far away from local schools. Some children are difficult to handle too and may need to board.

Pe and Fitness - Ethan

In China their fitness is really hard they have to do 100 push ups, 100 sit ups and run around the  track 50 times everyday. On the other hand our fitness is fun and easy we do jump jam, shuttle runs, running (etc). I believe that  it is much easier and fun at our school to do fitness.

Conclusion -

Overall we think it is better to go to school in New Zealand, life is much easier here because we don’t have to go to school for 10 hours and our fitness isn’t that harsh. Going to school for a shorter time allows us to have more free time for hobbies and spending time with friends.

A Country Like Mine

The Justice League after reading 'A Country Like Mine' by Robin Robilliard evaluated an idea in the text that 'parents should choose he career path of their children'.

In Tehran, Iran children don’t have the right to choose their own career path. Children live with their parents until they are married. Their parents also choose who they marry. We are evaluating the claim that ‘children should be able to choose their own career path’

Some people argue that children should choose their own career path because children should have freedom to follow their dreams because they may end up resenting your parents. Also if children are not in a job/profession they care about they may end up performing poorly and getting fired. Further arguments are that

as a grown up you should be able to make your own choices and mistakes. Lastly that parents may choose a job that they think you are good at but you actually may not be and you should have the right to be your own person.

On the other hand some people argue that you may not make a sensible choice and your parents have more experience of what jobs are available to you. Also that your parents might make a great choice for a career path. In Tehran, Iran letting your parents choose your career path is a sign of respect. The people in Tehran also have a responsibility to listen to their parents because they raised them.

Overall we believe that Children should be able to choose their own career path and live their own lives. We are lucky in New Zealand to have the right to choose our own career path.

Red Cross

Claire from New Zealand Red Cross came and gave a presentation on the work the Red Cross does here and abroad. We learned about the valuable contributions the Red Cross make here in New Zealand through schemes such as Meals on Wheels and People Savers. We also found out how the Red Cross delivers aid and supplies to areas of the world affected by natural disasters and war.

School App

Remember to sign up to the school app to receive all the latest news and information from Halsey Drive

Breakfast in the Bus

After reading 'Breakfast in the Bus' the X-Men compared living on a bus or in a home.

Have you ever seen anyone who lives on a bus? In the story ‘Breakfast in the bus’ by Dot Meharry Grandad lives in a house bus. We are comparing whether we would prefer to live in a regular home or on a bus

Beds - Charlotte and Leslie

In a house bus instead of making your bed in the morning you would have to take everything off and then fold up your bed because if you don’t fold it up it would move around while you were driving.  Before you fold your bed you would have to take off your pillows and duvet. However In your regular house you can have a king size bed and you don’t need to fold everything up. We think it's better to have a bed in a regular house because you don’t need to pick up everything and you don’t have to constantly take everything off your bed and then put it back on again.

Kitchen -  Eli and Krish

Both bus homes and regular homes have everything that you need for example a kitchen. Both kitchens have all the right equipment to make meals. However there are differences, for eg house buses don't have large pantries or appliances such as dishwashers. In our houses we have kitchens that are larger so it is easier to store food and have appliances that make our lives easier.

Room for people - Dev and Shreyas

Both houses and house buses have space and room for people. However the house buses have less room than our regular houses. That means that whatever you do in a house bus you will find difficult because of the small space. The space in a bus is less inside but it also takes less space outside so you can have a bigger garden. Our opinion is that we should stay in our houses because it has more space and room.

Land and Space - Kalani and Gabby

Our regular homes that we live in take up too much land and space and also wastes wood from trees that would of been used for nature. On the other hand when you live in a house bus you can move around easily without taking too much space and land. You can also go on holiday without spending too much money as well. Gabrielle thinks it is better to live in a regular house than a house bus because you have more space to have a couch, T.V, and a large kitchen, but I think living in a housebus is better because you can go on holiday and you can go places without getting out.    

Windows -

Both bus homes and regular homes have windows to enjoy the view and to let sunlight in. On bus homes the windows are low to the ground meaning that people lack privacy. However the bus home windows are probably easier to clean as you can take your home through a car wash. On the other hand regular home’s windows especially two storey houses offer more privacy but may be harder to clean. I believe it is better to have privacy than ease of cleaning.

Conclusion -

Overall we would prefer to live in our regular homes because of there being more space, appliances, more people can go inside and we can have larger beds. Living on a bus might be enjoyable for some people for travelling, being cheaper to run and being easier to clean however not for us.

We think our comparison is extended abstract we made several comparisons and personal opinions.

Auckland Vs Tehran

After reading 'A Country Like Mine' by Robin Robilliard the Justice compared life in Auckland, New Zealand and life in Tehran, Iran 

Being a citizen of Auckland and New Zealand means we have many rules, rights and responsibilities. While there may be some similarities to living in Tehran, Iran there are also many differences.

Traffic - Rhea

In Auckland and Tehran we both have lots of traffic. In Auckland we have traffic mostly before school, after school or around 5 o’clock when adults come back home from work. In Tehran the streets of the city are always busy. That is why the boys of the family are not allowed on the roads on their bikes. I think that Auckland is safer for children as they can cycle on the roads and there is also less traffic.

Boys and Girls School - Joshua G

In Tehran boys and girls go to separate schools. There are no mixed schools in Tehran so you basically have no choice which school you go to in the area. I think New Zealand schools are better because mixed schools help with socialisation. Mixed schools also help with

Rules and Laws - Kaelem

In Tehran and Auckland both citizens follow rules and laws. The difference is that certain people choose the rules and laws. In Tehran the religious leaders choose the rules and laws of the country such as women covering their heads when out in public. In New Zealand religious leaders do not have power over choosing laws. It is the New Zealand government who chooses the rules and laws such as If your under 18 you cannot do things under the age rating like enter the lottery. New Zealand has a fairer system because civilians vote on who they want to choose the rules and laws

School testing - Heila

In Auckland and Tehran we both have school tests but we have different ways of testing. In Tehran they have annual tests at the school. If they fail one time they will get another chance in the summer holidays but if they fail again they have to start the whole year again. In Auckland schools we don’t have annual tests, schools only have tests and if they fail they don’t get another chance or they don’t start the whole year again they go to the next year. I think New Zealand is a better place to go to school because when we do the tests and a child fails they won’t be sad that they will start the year again, the next year they may just have to try harder.

Values and Citizenship - Dineesh and Caleb

Both Auckland and Tehran children learn about citizenship and values. Being a citizen of Tehran means that your opinion doesn’t change a thing. Religious leaders and parents make all the decisions. Children in Tehran get taught citizenship and values by their parents. Whereas in New Zealand we get taught citizenship by our teachers. We are also encouraged to ask questions and challenge existing ideas.

Conclusion - Sara

Overall I think New Zealand is a better place to live in because in Tehran there are no traffic signals so there could be a lot of accidents because people won’t know when to stop or go and the people that are crossing the road could easily get crushed. New Zealand is a country where you have rights and you can make your own choices, but in Tehran religious leaders have a lot of control over people so you  can’t really make there own choices and you have to go to a school with only one gender. Another thing is in New Zealand girls and boys can play together but in Tehran you can’t which I think isn’t really fair. Last of all in Tehran you cannot vote for who’s in charge and you basically can’t have your own opinions because the religious leaders have most control. However in New Zealand you can have your own opinion and vote. I think New Zealand is a safer, happier and free place to live in.

Found Poetry

In writing we created some 'found' poetry. We used words found in everyday junk mail to create poems with an environmental message

Podcast #1

Citizenship Part Whole Analysis

Citizenship means belonging to a country. As citizens of New Zealand and the world it is our responsibility to be helpful, respectful and to care for other people and the environment.

Citizens have rules, responsibilities and rights, however what would New Zealand and the world be like without these rules, responsibilities and rights?

Hemish

Citizens have rights such as the freedom to worship any religion. For example citizens in New Zealand have a right to worship freely without discrimination. Rights are about equality and fairness protecting people’s rights to have a peaceful society.

Emily K  

Laws are in place to keep us safe and healthy. For example speed limits for driving help protect pedestrians and drivers. Without laws we would not be protected from powerful people or groups who would want to rule over us. Laws are important for protecting all citizens. To be a responsible citizen you have to follow the laws of your country.

Joshua Li

Citizens have a responsibility to vote, so we won’t get controlled by a unwanted government or group. Also, voting is a fair system for most countries. Having an opportunity to vote is important because then we can choose who we want to represent us and that we can feel that our voice has been heard. - Rhea

Charlotte

The values good citizens hold include being honest, tolerant of diversity and respecting other people. Shared values are an agreement about what the country and world should be like. Without these values people may bully or intimidate others.

Overall good citizens have to follow rules and laws,  be responsible, and have shared values. In New Zealand we are fortunate to have rights and laws that keep us protected and safe. We also have freedoms not available in other countries.