Coming Attractions

Our movies are finished and ready for their premiere at the Halsey Drive Film Festival. 

To get you excited we created the following trailers.

Weather Report

The Avengers used the information in 'Watching the Weather' to create a report based around traditional Maori signs used to predict the weather. Kristy and Samarah chose podcasting as the way to share their learning. 

Coming Soon...

Here are our movie posters for the upcoming first ever Halsey Drive Film Festival

The Planets

For writing this week you are to choose one of the planets from the animated movie below. Describe your journey of landing on the planet, the odd inhabitants and the scenes you experience. 

The Planets from Handymartian on Vimeo.

Outlook for Someday Film Competition

We are proud to announce that Kristy and Samarah's film "The Juice Box Bandit" is one of twenty winning films in the Outlook for Someday 'Sustainability' Film Competition. Please follow the link below to view and vote for "The Juice Box Bandit"

Vote Here

A World Without Rain!

To conclude our inquiry into "What if there was no rain?" we used a SOLO generalise map to evaluate the claim that "Rain is essential for life on earth". To show our understanding Samarah and Kalani created a movie trailer. Where as the team of Rhea, Gabrielle, Charlotte and Kristy created a broadcast that may 

be heard in a future world without rain. Be warned they are not for the faint of heart! 

Hail Vs Snow

The Avengers compared hail and snow after reading 'Hard Ice, Soft Ice' by Bill O'Brien.

Hail and snow are two different forms of precipitation that form in the atmosphere. In Auckland we very rarely experience hail or snow because of our temperate climate. However in other parts of New Zealand hail and snow are a common sight. But what is the difference?

Damaging - Kristy

Both hail and snow can be damaging to many things. Hail can damage fruit crops, orchards, car windows and can actually kill people. In 1985 several people were killed during a massive hail strike in India. Similarly snow can be damaging too because when very dense clouds produce so much snow it causes blizzards. Snow blizzards can snap off tree branches, cause avalanches, collapse buildings and power lines. In 1888 a very large blizzard hit the United States of America when more than 400 people died. The Blizzard left 100 - 127 cm of snow. This caused huge snowdrifts burying houses and trains.

Fall to earth - Ethan and Joshua L

Both snow and hail fall from clouds to the ground. However, snow and hail fall at different speeds. Snow falls lightly and slowly like a feather because it has lots of air in it’s structure. On the other hand, hailstones fall to the ground rapidly at an extreme speed because it is dense and solid.

Freeze - Ella

Snow and hail both freeze within a cloud but why is snow so soft compared to hail? Snow is made when small particles of water vapour in a cloud condense onto a speck of dust and freeze. However this freezing doesn’t happen suddenly turning snow into a solid lump of ice, it freezes one by one so the crystal builds up gradually into a light and feathery form that looks like frost. However on the other hand hail is made when water vapour evaporates into billions of tiny liquid droplets. These water droplets soon get pushed up by the thermals within the cloud and as this happens a new layer of ice is added on the hailstone. After this the hailstone falls back down again but usually the thermals pushes it back again. A hailstone can whiz up and down many times before the thermal can’t hold the hailstones weight and it drops down to earth.

Size - Emily D

Both forms of precipitation can grow large in size. The largest officially recorded hailstone fell near Vivian, South Dakota. It weighed 1.9375 pounds and measured 8.0in in diameter, 18 and a half cm in circumference. The usual size of hail however is the size of a pea. Some hailstones can be as big as a golf ball. Though the biggest hailstones can be the size of a grapefruit or a coconut.  Imagine that falling on your head. Ouch! The largest snowflake was fallen during a storm at Fort Keogh in Montana, It measured 15 inches wide. Snow can also grow quite big it can be the size of your palm. However snowflakes usually grow no bigger than your fingernail.

Large amounts - Samarah

Very rarely large amount of hail falls in Auckland, when hail comes in big amounts it’s known as a hail storm. When large amounts of snow falls it is called a blizzard. Both forms of precipitation can be very dangerous when they fall in vast amounts.

Conclusion - Michael

Overall, if we had to we would prefer to be in a blizzard compared to a hailstorm. Hail is more damaging than snow because the size and the speed of a clump of hail could actually kill someone if it hit their head. Snow can still cause a lot of damage like causing buildings to collapse however due to the speed it usually falls you have more time to move to a safer area.

Weather Glossary

The Guardians of the Galaxy collaborated on a weather glossary after reading 'Weather' by Carol Hosking

The Stargazer

We have been working on describing settings using descriptive language. Check out the amazing examples below

The Stargazer by Gabrielle

Shiny, clear, transparent stars hung above me. I saw my reflection in the ice and my eyes shone on the aurora above. My camera stood there like a meerkat perched up on a rock peering into the universe. Lost in the milky way I felt my face soften as I gazed into the brightly coloured night sky.

The colours blue and purple had seemed to take over the sky. Yellow and orange started to overtake the horizon. Curved like a rainbow, the stars danced joyfully above me. I hoped this magical moment would never end.

The Stargazer by Dineesh

It was ice cold. My teeth were chattering, my hands were shivering. Was it worth coming out in the middle of the night? The frosty ice shone like a precious pearl undisturbed for years. ”Ahh” I gasped.

As I set up the camera the aurora shone like a field of diamonds. The aurora arched up like a rainbow dancing around in the sky, changing colours like a tree’s leaves through the seasons.  The sun started to wake from his slumber. After a blink of an eye the magical aurora had vanished.

The Stargazer by Charlotte

As I setup my gear I felt  vulnerable standing on the mirror-like ice. The aurora light reflected off the freezing cold ice. I looked in the telescope for a better view.  Glancing at the magnificent sky I realised that it was worth the risk standing on the thin slippery ice.

Looking back into the telescope the frosty wind brushed my face. The shimmery stone like ice reflected the blue galaxy. Purple lights framed the navy blue sky. The icy cold ground was filled with tiny sparkles from the reflection of the sky.

The Stargazer by Caleb

A beautiful sight took my breath away, the Aurora Borealis. Out on the slippery surface looking at this wonderful sight, the ice didn’t scare me at all. This sight was truly to die for. The sky lit up with colourful lights, pink, green, blue, and purple. The stars shimmered in the background giving a dazzling effect. The transparent ice reflected the light show like a mirror. The sun started to rise but the show went on. Slowly the lights faded away. Was it dawn already?

The Stargazer by Ella

The northern lights flickered and danced along the sky and a ray of stars twinkled and shone like gemstones. The ice that I was standing on was a shining mirror. The sky was mauve and it looked like a silky blanket covering the sky. I stood there mesmerised, enchanted by the lights. I didn't know how much time had passed and soon a moonbeam of yellow begin to shine “Is it dawn already?” This thought echoed in my mind as I stared out at the perfect star glinting peacefully as day started to come.

The northern lights flickered and danced along the sky and a ray of stars twinkled and shone like gemstones. The ice that I was standing on was a shining mirror. The sky was mauve and it looked like a silky blanket covering the sky. I stood there mesmerised, enchanted by the lights. I didn't know how much time had passed and soon a moonbeam of yellow begin to shine “Is it dawn already?” This thought echoed in my mind as I stared out at the perfect star glinting peacefully as day started to come.

Lightning Never Strikes Twice!

WALT - Describe a character’s thoughts and feelings using show not tell

Lightning never strikes twice, does it?

That was the question that occupied their frightened minds as they crouched, huddling together, next the pile of dusty sacks in the base of the windmill…

The two friends bit their fingernails. They shook and trembled as the windmill lit up with white light.

They had wide eyes that darted all around the room. Rats and mice scuttled across the floor taking cover from the rain, that was dripping down from the roof. The two boys huddled close to each other for warmth so they wouldn't be so cold.

Flashes of lightning brightened the sky as if somebody was holding a giant torch in the sky. Lightning formed a giant web of light and thunder boomed louder than ever. Thunder boomed over the windmill lowering the boy's spirits. The clouds grew darker by the second and the thunder got louder.

“We have to get out of here” said Bill, “we cant” Dan yelled over the thunder as he stared out the window. “Why not” Bill yelled “come look” Dan said in a sigh. Bill climbed up and looked out the window, there was rain lightning everywhere. The rain was too heavy, lightning was everywhere. They had nowhere to go  “C-c-can't we run” cried Bill “no,it … doesn't look like we can” Dan slowly explained.

By Michael

Amazon Rainforest Vs Sahara Desert

For our investigation into "What would happen if there was no rain?" We compared two areas the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert.

Have you ever wondered what might happen if there was no rain? Around the world different areas have changed and adapted due to the amount of rainfall they experience. Two such places are the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert.

Precipitation

You may not believe this but rain does actually fall in the Sahara desert, however the amount of rain is extremely low as the whole desert generally receives less than 100 mm. On the other hand the Amazon rainforest is one of the wettest places on earth with an average rainfall of about 108 inches per year. Due to the vast difference in rainfall, there are stark differences in the wildlife, plants and people in these two places.

Wildlife - Justice League  (Sara)

Both the Sahara desert and Amazon rainforest provide habitats for animals, however these animals have had to adapt to their environment. One example is a camel. The camel can drink a lot of water at a time so they can last for a week or so without water. Camels can also allow their body temperature to change so they don’t sweat much to conserve water. On the other hand a frog in the Amazon needs water almost every second. The Amazon is moist has high humidity and frequent rain which provides the perfect conditions for a frog to survive.

Plants - X-Men  (Rhea)

Plants grow both in the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert. The Sahara desert has plants like cacti because they can store water for a long period of time, have shallow roots and also have thick stems. The Sahara Desert is warm but the Amazon Rainforest is very moist. Some of the plants that grow in the Amazon Rainforest are cacao beans, bananas, the coffee plant, passion fruit flower, Brazil nut tree and Venus fly trap.

People - Avengers  (Joshua)

Both areas provide a home for people. Once again though people, like plants and animals have had to adapt to their environment. The Amazonians live in tribes. The entire population number is about 20 million. In the Sahara Desert there are 2.5 million people. The people who live in the Sahara Desert are called Tuareg. To survive in the desert they raise crops on irrigated land. Others tend to flocks of goats, sheep and camels.

Climate Change - Justice League (Kalani)

Climate change can affect areas in many different ways. Scientists believe one way climate change will affect the Amazon Rainforest is that temperature will increase creating droughts, decreasing plant growth, and disrupting food chains. El Nino is a weather pattern that can influence the climate of the Amazon Rainforest. Some scientists believe that climate change will mean more rain and greening in the Sahara Desert.  

Rainfall affects different areas in different ways. Overall although there is an incredible amount of rainfall in the Amazon we believe life in the Amazon would be easier compared to the hyper arid conditions found in the Sahara. This is because there is easier access to fresh water needed for drinking and raising crops and livestock.

El Nino Cause and Effect

The X-Men used information from 'Weather Works' to identify the causes and effects of the El Nino weather event

Storm Proof Umbrellas

The Justice League used information from 'Watching the Weather' as inspiration for their very own "Storm Proof Umbrellas"

Movie Posters

As part of our film festival we will be making movie posters to promote our coming attractions. Today we identified the different design choices made on movie posters.

Should sports people sign sponsorship deals with companies associated with fast food/junk food?

As part of our health unit studying sport and the media we questioned whether sports people should sign sponsorship deals with companies associated with fast/junk food?

Atmosphere Mnemonics

Having difficulty remembering the different layers of the Atmosphere? Try using our mnemonics.

The Ghostly Shadow

In writing we described a scary setting. Emily and Joshua also used I-Movie as a creative way to publish their setting. Enjoy

The Ghostly Shadow by Emily D

The trees arms started moaning as the strong wind blew past. Branches reached their way through the misty fog like tentacles. The trees curved ahead creating a deep, dark, hallway. The glowing white fog danced between the twisted trees. A shadowy figure began to appear. The phantom unveiled himself from behind a thick blanket of mist.  

The Ghostly Shadow by Joshua L

The gnarled, twisted branches swayed overhead. A ghostly wail sounded, shaking the trees. They reached out with their arms, forming a canopy above. Shadows danced, disappearing and reappearing. Pale white fog slithered between the trees, obscuring vision. The curtain of fog chilled the air. A shadowy figure slowly stepped out from the wall of mist, striding closer and closer along the forbidden path.

Thunderstorm Cause and Effect

In inquiry we collaborated on a SOLO thinking map and summary to identify the causes and effects of a thunderstorm.

Rain is essential in supporting life on earth. Rain provides water for people, animals and plants. However not all rainfall has a positive effect on living things. Thunderstorms are one way in which rain falls to earth.

Thunderstorms occur when warm, moist air within a rain cloud, rises in large volumes and with increasing speed. The warm air encounters cooler temperatures at high altitudes. This leads to cooling and condensation of vapour to form water droplets and hail. These condensed particles start descending, causing turbulence within the cloud. Turbulence causes the cumulonimbus to erupt violently, unleashing the electrical activity within, at times with heavy rain.

The effects of a thunderstorm can be devastating. Firstly extreme rainfall can lead to flooding. Floods can destroy property, livestock and crops. One example of the devastation that can be caused by flooding occurred in 1927. In 1927, the Mississippi River flooded killing 500 people and leaving 600,000 people homeless. (Weather Works)

A further effect of thunderstorms is lightning strikes. Lightning strikes have been known to starts fires when they strike trees. People have also been struck by lightning causing instant death.

Not all the effects of thunderstorms are negative. Large amounts of rainfall can help crops to grow and stay healthy. Rainfall also increases water levels in dams, needed for the generation of electricity.

Overall research suggests that thunderstorms have a mostly negative impact on earth. Whilst rainfall is essential for life on earth it would be better if rain fell gradually over a period of time rather than in extreme volumes.

Movie Character Descriptions

We wrote descriptions for some of our favourite movie characters.

Volcanic Eruption in Taupo

The Avengers created a radio bulletin that may have been heard during the Oruanui eruption in Taupo.

Volcanic Art

We painted pictures capturing the energy and action of an erupting volcano.

Clouds

As part of our inquiry into "What if there was no rain?" we described different cloud formations

Polar Climate Vs Tropical Climate

The X-Men compared a polar climate to a tropical climate using information from 'Weather Works'.

Auckland’s weather can change from day to day or even hour to hour. The weather has short time effects, like the clothes you may put on in the morning or if you take an umbrella with you when you go outside. Climate is the average weather conditions at a place over a period of time. Climate has long term effects on the weather, accommodation, clothing and even the crops we grow. Two different climates that exist on earth are polar and tropical climates.

Weather - Dev and KP

Both tropical and polar climates affect the weather. In a polar climate it is mostly cold (even if the sun is shining). The polar climate also doesn’t change a lot, it stays cold for a very long time  On the other hand tropical climates are mostly hot. Even if it rains in a tropical climate the temperatures stay high.

Houses - Shreyas and Hemish

The houses we choose to build and live in is effected by the climate.  The houses in polar climates need to be snug and warm. These homes often have thick insulation to stop heat escaping and heating such as fires or radiators.  On the other hand in tropical places people need cold air to pass through the house, so they have lots of windows and open doors.

Crops - Kalani

The food we grow and eat can be dramatically affected by the climate. A polar climate produces very few crops because the ground is often covered with ice and snow. Fortunately for them, residents can help this by importing goods from around the world. On the other hand, citizens of the tropical climate don’t have to worry as much as the polar climate, as the crops naturally grow all year round.

Clothing - Gabrielle and Charlotte

Both climates effect the clothes we wear. For example if you lived in a polar climate like Caribou, Alaska you would be wearing things like heavy jackets, boots, snow suits, beanies and snow goggles in order to stay warm. However if you lived in a tropical climate like Darwin, Australia you might be wearing lots of t-shirts, sun hats, shorts and sunscreen because of the high temperature.

Overall we would prefer to live in a tropical climate over living in a polar climate. Living in a tropical climate would probably be more affordable than living a polar climate because you can easily grow your own food, you would spend less on clothing and even electricity to heat your home. You would also get a nice tan!

Podcast #17

Breaking Down

Breaking Down By Sara

WALT: Write a satisfying ending to a narrative

It was winter.

The thunder rumbling overhead seemed to taunt the young girl as she watched in horror while half of her home drifted away across the merciless, half-frozen sea.

She had awoken minutes earlier, disturbed from her sleep by the most appalling noise. It sounded as if a tree were being torn apart by giants, as if the Gods above were screaming at each other in a wild rage. She thought it was the end of the world. Perhaps it was. For her anyway.

In only her pyjamas, she stood on the edge of her ruined home, her toes dangling over the edge of the splintered floor, shivering in the harsh wind as it seemed to touch her skin like the kiss of some icy demon. She screamed at the top of her voice in despair and frustration, almost pleading with her frost-drenched surroundings to bring them back to her. She could see them. They were waving and shouting to her in return.

In front of her she could see the giant, drifting shards of ice, their edges sharp like Samurai swords. They knocked into each other as they were swept by the tide, reminding her of some cruel jigsaw that couldn’t be solved. She knew she could not reach them.

Her grief-stricken heart felt like a shattered window, she stared longingly at her family which the heartless sea had stolen. The thought pierced her heart like a shard of ice, she felt like her soul was shredded, all her happiness was gone, drifting far away with her family. The jigsaw of her life would always have a missing piece.

She looked at the jagged pieces of ice, wishing they would form a bridge and she sobbed, her tears crystallised, each one dropping on the frozen ground with a sad little “clink”. She felt numb and her hands were blue but it mattered very little to her, the family that she had was now gone she hated the future for it contained so much sorrow and questions. She felt like there was not a ray of hope left in her, all the optimism she ever had was now replaced by shadows of her past.

Thoughts of the past swirled in her mind like a tornado, the bittersweet memory of her mother's blissful smile and her brother’s playful grin when he played with her father made tears roll gently down her frost coated cheeks, she let one drop on her tongue, it tasted bitter like the her memories and her despair. The useless feeling in her made everything worse a mist of the future darkened her mind and filled her with regret. If only she had someone to comfort her, but she was alone and they would not come back.

The girl trudged in the knee deep snow with a sack slung over her shoulder.  The raw wind gnawed and whipped at her frozen cheeks, the joy in her life had left and the memories haunted her. The wind howled and snowflakes around her fell gently like a comforting hand on her shoulder. She knew there would be no help for her but she wanted to flee as far away from the house with the memories of her past. The journey was treacherous and she ran blindly in the blizzard, snow and wind beat down at her, the heavens had split open and all the terror was unleashed.

A cave loomed over her and the shadows flickered and danced, she rolled up in a ball and sobbed all her sorrow out, there was no hope in finding them and life would be empty. Days, weeks, months, YEARS past but the girl who was no longer a girl remained in the cave with no hope of reuniting with her family. Winter became the only season in her heart, the pain deepened until she could bare it no more.