Christmas Around The World

Bonjour, this is a Piktochart about Christmas Around The World. I chose 3 countries and wrote about how they celebrate Christmas.

                                                            

Activty 2: Exploring Our Roots - SLJ

Bula! Yesterday we got told to do a "Summer Learning Journey" activity. As I looked through them all, activity 2 interested me the most. The activity is all about creating a pepeha. So by using the website provided it made everything easier. Take a look at my pepeha!

How Do They Know Me?

The rocky mountains were basically crying for me to climb them. When I swept my eyes across I saw the sky, which was as blue as the ocean. Boats sailed closer and closer, new visitors hopped off the boats and looked around happily at their new environment. I strode over to the others with a cheerful smile, one of them asks me "Jane? Is that you?".

A chill ran down my spine, no one had called me "Jane" in years. You see, in my past years, I had made some decisions that weren't the best, so I had to run away and change myself for the better. I was now a Brunette, and I didn't want "Blond Jane" coming back any time soon. So I quickly smiled at the person and walked away pretending I hadn't heard them but I needed to find out how they knew me.

There was a problem, the woman knew the old me, someone who was involved in dangerous doings and the woman could take me to jail anytime she wanted. Later that night, our hotel hosted a party where everyone was invited. As I went around the tables asking people what people fancied I kept a close eye on the woman. I asked my friend to take their order and ask for their name, and that's something we're not supposed to do for privacy reasons.

As Luisa, my friend turns from the woman's table I wait for her to come into the kitchen to tell the chefs the new order. Since she couldn't run, I had to wait, and waiting for her felt like ages. I hurriedly ask her for her name, as soon as she finishes, my jaw drops. I couldn't believe the words coming out of Luisa's mouth, and then everything went black.

Why Organ Donation Should Be Mandatory

I believe that Organ Donation should be mandatory. Why? Because anyone can donate, it doesn’t matter if you’re healthy or ill, small or big, young or old. If you donate you can lengthen 8 lives, save or improve 60 lives and enhance the eyes of 2. The greatest benefit of organ donation is knowing that you're saving a life. That life might be your spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, a close friend, or a very grateful stranger.

In the world of donating your organs, age shouldn’t really matter. There were over 800 organ donors in 2018. Although they ranged from newborns to 17, most were age 11 to 17. In 2018 alone over 100 pediatric donors were babies under the age of 12 months. Carlton, a 93-year-old live donor from Texas donated his organs to a 69-year-old woman suffering from end-stage liver disease.

Donating your organs can be a big deal for some, I mean, you’re literally giving away a part of yourself. Some are happy to do it, but there can be some factors that can disqualify you. Having HIV or AIDS, lymphomas, bone, and myeloma type cancers, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and many other medical problems can get you ruled off. But, even with an illness or a health condition, you can still donate your organs and/or tissues until death. Doctors will examine your organs and determine whether they are suitable for donation. Only a few conditions would absolutely prevent a person from becoming a donor—such as active cancer or a serious infection.

Organ Donation happens all around the world, and in New Zealand, it’s nothing new since it has been happening since 1965 when a liver was successfully transplanted. But our number isn’t that high at all, in fact, by November 19th 2017 there were only 63 organ donations, which is only higher by a little since in 2016 the number was just 61. But why are 41 countries ahead of us? Ronan O’ Carrol, University of Stirling professor, claims that the psychological reasoning behind this is that “many people don’t like the idea of violating our “body integrity” and that taking bits out is just wrong”.

In conclusion, Organ Donation is important and it should be mandatory. In New Zealand currently, there are more than 550 individuals waiting for an organ or tissue transplant and unfortunately, some of those people die waiting, while others will go on to live restricted lives by long-term treatment. And donation really makes a difference since it offers precious second chances and dramatic changes in someone’s life.

Summer Learning Journey

Hola, my name is Shreya and I am a year 7 at Hornby High School.  I am looking forward to the holidays even though I'm probably not going to be doing the Summer Learning Journey. The reason for this is that I'm probably not going to be home a lot.

Last year, I did participate for a few weeks and kind of enjoyed it. The theme last year was all about "The First Settlers" and how they adapted. This year's theme seems really intriguing since I have a little bit of an interest in people who've changed the world, for the better.

Taking Out A Tree - Tane Mahuta

Bula, today in Tane Mahuta my friends and I took out a tree. For the past few weeks, we had been working in a certain area where there is a lot of weed, dead trees, and old bottles. We use pitchforks and spades to dig areas where there is a lot of ivies.

Why Organ Donation should be mandatory

Arguing for - Organ donation should be mandatory

• It is possible to save up to 8 live, save or improve as many as 60 lives and enhance the eyesight of 2.

• You give people a second chance at life.

• There is no age limit to being a donor. Anyone can be a donor, including children. Although there are restrictions are for the age of certain organs and kids below the age of 18 need to have the consent of their parents.

Ivy and Weeds - Tane Mahuta

Salut! Today in Tane Mahuta my friends and I got to get out all the extra ivy and weeds. They were everywhere!

We started with the weeds, we got ready by putting on our gloves and getting all the equipment we need. Shovels and pitchforks were surprisingly all out so we had to use our hands.

Picking out every little bit with gloves was hard and we quickly got tired from all the sitting down we had done. We asked the teacher if we could move onto pulling out the ivy and the teacher said yes!

When we first started Tane Mahuta we would always be busy with the ivy but then we had to focus on our new native tree garden. My friends and I had forgotten how many insects live there, we picked up a log and Nevaeh screamed because she is afraid of spiders.

Every Wednesday is a new adventure in Tane Mahuta. Sometimes it can be gross and you might feel like you just want to be inside of the class, in the warmth. But, seeing the end result would be soo satisfying because you know you've worked hard for it.

What's been happening in "I Am Malala"

Hola! For the past few weeks, my group has been reading the book by Malala Yousafzai called "I Am Malala".  It is a book that explains all the ups and downs of Malala's life. This DLO explains what happens in Part 2 and 3. Enjoy!

Teaching Tchoukball

Bonjour, this term in P.E we were put into groups by the teachers and were told to decide on a sport so that we could learn about it and teach the others.

In my group, there was Dani, Hamid, Tevita, Charlie, Jessica and Levi. We chose on a sport that Miss Simpson suggested, Tchoukball. It is the fastest handball sport in the world today.  Invented in the late 1960s, Tchoukball is a team sport of 7 players. The main aim is to get as many points as possible by passing around the ball to your teammates and hitting the ball onto the rebound.

The lesson my group and I did didn't go too well. Most of either didn't want to talk or participate at all. Sometimes we didn't know what to do as not a lot of people were listening and we didn't know how to catch their attention.

We split everyone into year 7 and 8's. I went with the year 7's to teach and to help them know how to successfully throw a ball at the rebound and catch it. I also gave out the bibs to some of the people and took care of the equipment

Next time, I would try to be more involved as a referee and teach the other people how to not be scared of the ball and catching it. 

2 things I learnt about my sport was that you have to catch the ball from when it hits the rebound in order for it to count as a goal and that you have to pass around the ball at least 3 times.

Worms and Weeds - Tane Mahuta

Hi! Today in Tane Mahuta we worked with weeds that had grown all over our vegetable garden and where we planted some native trees.

We got shovels and started digging carefully around the plants, some people would often step on the tree. I was mostly working around the native trees with my friends. Not all of us were working because some were too fascinated by worms and naming them.

By the end, both areas were free from most of the weed that had been there before. The process was slow and annoying, also because people would try to put worms on your clothes or head. Until next time I blog, bye!

Reading: I Am Malala

Hola! Everyone in Tz got a novel to read and my friends and I got the book "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick. It is a biography of Malala's life growing up in Pakistan. 

On 9 October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Malala in the head as she rode home on a bus after taking an exam. Malala spent 2 days in the hospital's critical before being moved onto a ward. People thought she might not survive. But now Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize receiver. Would you like to read "I Am Malala"? Why or why not?

All you need to know about Cheetahs

Hey! In period 2 I decided to make a DLO about an animal who's losing it's home every day. So I wrote some facts about this beautiful mammal, hope you like it!

 

Trip to Orana Park

Hola! On Monday Tz and Bh went on a trip to Orana Wildlife Park to see all the fascinating animals. We went there to learn about how climate change is affecting the animals.

On Monday morning at 8:30 everyone was seated on the tiered seating waiting for further instructions. We were supposed to leave by 8:45 but the buses turned out to be a little late than expected. Eventually, the bus turned up and we were already lining up to go inside.

The bus ride was boring, all you could do was talk and look out the window. We passed by fields with sheep and horses. I was bored out of my mind. Time was passing by slowly. 15 minutes or so later we were there! I wasn't really excited because I had been to Orana Park earlier this year. 

We were split into groups, Group 1 and Group 2. I was in Group 2 and we visited the Spider Monkeys first. They hadn't been let out yet since they had to be fed and it was windy. Bethany was our guide for Orana Park, she was telling us how in the wild spider monkey may never come down from their trees because they have everything at the top of the trees. 

Using Scratch and Sphero!

Konnichiwa! In Digital Technology we have been using different tools to create our apps and games. The one we use the most is Scratch!

Scratch is a website and an app where you can design an app or game of your choice. You have to get blocks and join them up together so you can make your character do whatever you want it to do. 

The other day we also used Sphero. Sphero is a small robot which is obviously is a sphere. You can connect to one through an iPad and control what it says, where it goes, and what colour it changes to. 

I think Scratch and Sphero are the same because you can control them and what they do. Both of their programs allow them to speak and that's another way how they are similar. 

I prefer Sphero because it's way more fun and entertaining than Scratch. It doesn't delete your work when you go out of the app. 

But for my app, I would use Scratch because using a Sphero doesn't support the idea of Body Image.

Teaching Benchball - P.E

Tēnā Koutou! This week is the third week of our second P.E Huruamanu and French Fries were the first group to show their sport to the whole class! Their sport was Bench Ball, on our class blog I have already made a blog post about it before but click  HERE  to check it out.

To start off, French Fries introduced to their warm-up.  After 40 star-jumps, running back and forth and high knees most of us were puffing but we still had something else to do. Playing sneak up granny of course! This was a fun activity that the team had thought of. People would get close to the "granny" but then they would get caught.

After doing the warm-up the members from French Fries broke us into groups. 7Bh VS 7Tz and 8Bh VS 8Tz were going to verse in a game of Bench Ball. After a lot of passing, throwing and catching 7Tz won against 7Bh and 8Bh won against 8Tz. They were both very competitive games but in the end, the year 7's versed the year 8's in a game of Benchball.

There were more year 8's than year 7's but we still had some good people on our team. It wasn't a close game at all since year 8's were winning as soon as we started. There were a lot of tall people or people who played basketball in the year 8's but the year 7's weren't going to give up just yet. After a tiring 15-20 minutes, the scores were close. The year 8 member who was defending the year 7's goal was pretty tall and played basketball. He threw the ball against the gym and one of the year 8's caught it! The year 7's were defeated but it was okay in the end.

Math

At the end my group does Math. I actually wasn't here but I know it would be a little hard. The Math we are focusing on is about P.E! We look at fields and look at their perimeter and how much paint you would need for the field to be painted and more stuff like that.



I think I helped the year 7's when we played Benchaball by shouting their name or telling them where to pass the ball. 

Personal Thought 

When we versed the year 8's I was nervous because they had a lot of good people on their team. I try being better at every sport I play so maybe next time we play Benchball I should practice on catching the ball before someone else gets it. 

A Car and a Heart On A Stick - Technology

Hola! This term year 7's from Sh and Tz took part in woodwork. We worked with the equipment I had never seen before. Our first challenge was to make something on wheels, the suggested idea was a car, but we could do something different if we wanted (has to work on wheels). I chose a car since I thought it would be easy, it was... kind of. 

Every time I would cut the sides of my car it would turn out to be uneven and every time I would try to get it straight it would go down, and down. In the end, I got worried because if I did the same mistake once more there would be no space for the wheels to go!

But Mr.Cane used his machine to get it straight, I was done!... nearly. I still had to paint and this was going to be pretty easy. But it wasn't easy as I expected it to be. You see, every time I would finish painting Mr.Cane would put it in a box filled with other cars and it would get random paint scratches and since my car was white, it really showed up. 

I got tired, kind of gave up and continued on. At least I was done though! Now I had to move onto my next challenge. I had to cut out a heart and glue it onto a stick. Now this task was REALLY easy. I just had to cut out the heart which was done in 1 session. The stick and the platform was already cut out. And I was done on the 2nd day!!

Final Thought

Woodwork was really fun and interesting even though there were some ups and downs, I still completed all my tasks. I learned about new equipment and learnt how to use them. I'm excited to do it again next year!

Slugs, Snails, and Spiders! - Tane Mahuta

Every Wednesday I go to attend "Tane Mahuta". It is all about nature, so this term we've decided to make an outdoor classroom. The area where it is going to be built in an area at the very back of the school where no one goes since it is locked. 

When we first started Tane Mahuta it was raining, so we obviously couldn't do work. But we looked at the place we where going to be working at, the ground was filled with rotten butternuts and pumpkins. Disgusting, I know. But the following Wednesday we cleared it up alongside the indoor classroom. 

The indoor classroom was also filled but butternuts and pumpkins but luckily they weren't rotten. Inside there were expensive but rusty machines and some of the caretaker's belongings. 

What we did today...
Today a couple of friends and I cleared out some of the Ivy that was growing all around the edge of the fence. We first started thinking this was going to be easy and that we could quickly do this in 1-2 periods. But boy were we wrong! The plant had been growing there for soo long that the roots had become strong that we thought it was nearly impossible!

Since Risha wasn't here only Nevaeh and I were working on a very strong trunk from a chopped down tree. I had tried to get it out myself but it didn't work. But Nevaeh and I did it together! It was a big accomplishment since it was actually really stubborn! We then moved onto another plant but its roots are really deep in the soil, so we'll probably need 1-2 more sessions to get it out. 

I'll post next week and hopefully have more information!

Getting Closer - Digital Tech

Hey guys!

As the weeks pass we are getting closer to making our own apps. I'm excited to make my app because of these past 1 - 2 weeks we have been doing research about our topic. My issue is a social issue because it can affect anyone, and I mean ANYONE. 

Body image is a perspective on how someone's body should look.

When I was researching I found out something horrible! Incidents have been reported in the past few years that small girls have been starving themselves to look like the most famous doll of all, Barbara Millicent Roberts. (More famously known as Barbie). If Barbie was a real person she should be 5’9” and weigh 120 pounds (54kg). 

Not only are kids obsessing to be like Barbie, adults are too. A woman named Cindy Jackson has had 52 plastic surgeries to achieve her desired look. She has a world record for the most procedures ever undergone by one person. Cindy's had Botox, 5 face-lifts, liposuction, her eyes - twice. 

Jackson, 55, grew up in small-town Ohio, with a short-tempered father and low self-esteem. She recalled a comment someone made to her when she was young: "One guy said when I was 14, 'You know Cindy, when you smile, from the side your nose and chin almost meet.'"

"It was like being in the wrong body and wrong face and I felt that very much and wanted to change it," she said. When her father died, he left her some money, and she used it to start her transformation. She says she's been careful to take it slow, but also said she just wants to look beautiful and young. "I feel like a young spirit and I don't want to look in the mirror and see an old face. I feel this is me," she said. "This is the way I should look."

Reflection

Changing yourself because of a doll who's not real is weird to me. She's unrealistic with an unhealthy weight for someone who is 5'9. People want to look "pretty" and "beautiful", but the truth is... they already are. Most people who change themselves have a low self-esteem and want to look different but they could do that in other ways, healthy, ways. 

Warming Up - PE

 Hey guys! Today in PE Hurumanu we got into our teams and went on our document to write down our 2 important topics for the day, warm-up and drills. 

When we first got to the Gym to do our drill we didn't have much time so we just did some burpees, lunges and we ran around the court. By then it was time to change into doing our drills. 

Our first drill was to shoot the ball into the trampoline but you have to jump over the semi-circle (forbidden zone) then shoot the ball and catch the rebound. Our second drill was to throw the ball into the trampoline but the person behind you or whoever catches the ball throws it and it carries on until it drops onto the ground. 

Our group was a bit dysfunctional but with Miss Birtch's help, we found a way to make sure everyone has a turn and not just the boys. We decided that one person would throw the ball onto the wall and the person next in line would catch it and throw it into the trampoline. 

Multiplying Fractions

Ni Hao. On Monday for Math, we did an activity where we had to learn how to multiply fractions! I thought it was going to be hard and that I wouldn't get it. But after watching the video I understood it and realised that it was probably the easiest thing ever!. Today I made a DLO about my understanding and how to multiply fractions of course! Hope you enjoy.

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My Jikoshokai (Self Intro) - Japanese!

In Japanese, we made a Jikoshokai (Self Intro). Here is mine, hope you enjoy!

Beep Test - PE

Hey! This week we started a new Hurumanu. We have PE on Monday and Thursday. We also have groups that we have to work with for the rest of the Hurumanu! My group's name is "Cripsy Chicken", a little weird considering I don't eat meat. Anyways back to what we did.

On Monday, in our groups, we did the 4 different activities listed below!
- Vertical Jump 
- Sit and Reach
- Sit-Ups
- Grip Test

Here are my results for each of the activities. 

Vertical Jump - (M1) 1.9 (M2) 2.14
Sit and Reach - 24
Sit-Ups - 10
Grip Test - 6

I consider these pretty good results, not the best, could definitely improve but I tried my best. Next time we do this I have some strategies in mind which I could use! 

On Thursday (Today) we did the Beep Test.
If you've done this test you know how challenging it is. People challenge themselves for 2 main reasons. People try to either beat their own score (if they've done it before) or they just try to get above level 5 to prove that they're "fit enough".

We do Fitness Training to prove how fit we are at certain things and to maybe compare at the end of the Hurumanu. But we could also do Fitness training because to get us ready for the Hurumanu. We need to know what's coming!

My results for each thing that we did this week are...

Vertical Jump - (M1) 1.9 (M2) 2.14

Sit and Reach - 24

Sit-Ups - 10


Grip Test - 6

Beep Test - Level 4 Stage 2

I feel like one of the areas I need to improve on is definitely on my Beep Test score. I would've liked to get above level 5 but I was pretty close and I'm not too upset about not reaching my goal.

I can reach my goal by practising whenever I get the time, for example at home! If I'm allowed I could also do the Beep Test with my brother at the park.

I worked successfully with others by cheering people who were a little behind during the Beep Test. On Monday I also encouraged my group members so they could achieve their best score.

My actions affected others whenever I cheered for them they had a face of concentration on their face. They always tried their best after receiving support from their peers.

I helped the people who were struggling by giving them advice, for example when people were doing the Sit and Reach I told them to sit straighter and stretch out their arms.

Changing Our Future

Aim; To look at the different ways we can prevent climate change in the future.

                                 Changing Our Future


1. Name 3 fossil fuels?

1. Gas

2. Oil

3. Coal

2. What is the cost?

Carbon Dioxide

3. The CO2 level has soured since when?

The Industrial Revolution

4. What are the effects in the UK?

1. Heatwaves 

2. Animal extinction


A. How many climate refugees will there be in Britain by 2050? 

200 Million


B. When will Fairborn be flooded?

In the next 26 years, Fairborn will be flooded


1. What are some of the other things that will be 'swallowed by the waves'?

1. Power stations

2. Gas plants

3. Toxic dumps

4.  

5. 
   
    

How can we stop climate change?

1. Replacing gas heating in 25 million homes

2. All cars, buses need to use hydrogen or batteries

3. Fly less

4. Cut back on meat consumption

5.
   
   

   
   
What ideas are school children having about climate change?

1. Voting

2. Protest

3. Writing letters to politicians


   
  What is the atmosphere called?

A Waste Dump.

What is the last statement the reporter made?

We know what we need to do, we have got the technology. What we lack is political will.

How is sea-level rise going to effect us in NZ?


What places will be effected?
All around the coast of New Zealand

What else do we need to think about?
Building houses around the beach


What other places around NZ will be effected?
Pacific Islands

- Samoa
-Fiji
- Rarotonga
- Niue etc

What does this do to our drinking water?
Put salt in the drinking water

What are the main concerns?

1. Flooding

2. Erosion




What can we do to prevent climate change?

1. 

2.

3.

                     CURBING CLIMATE CHANGE


What is the one, silver bullet solution?
There is no one silver bullets



What is the mix of things we need to start doing?

1. Using Renewable energies

2. Use Solar Energy

3. Using Electrical Transport that uses Solar Energy or batteries


What are 3 others you can think of?

1. Eating less meat

2. Using less plastic and more reusable stuff

3. Recycling

4. Walking to your destination
  
  

My Investigation
Where does our food come from?

Italy

Choose your favourite food.


Upload a picture of it.
Draw a picture of it on A4.    

On your blog answer the following questions.


Where does the food come from (e.g. is it from another province or country, was it purchased or made locally)?
Cheese - Colorado
Base - Made in store
Pizza sauce - Mexico


How many kilometres away did the food travel to get to you? 
1km - Car
850.0 m - Walking

What are the main ingredients? 
Base
Pizza Sause
Cheese

How is the food packaged? 
Cardboard box

What resources do you need to produce this food item (e.g. land, water, oil, food, etc.)? 
A field for the cows so they can produce milk
A field for the wheat and tomatoes


Would this item have been processed? 
Yes

Is there anything unique or significant about the food item (e.g. fair-trade, local)? 
It is local

What else do you notice about this food that affects its climate friendliness? 
It comes in a cardboard box

Do you think this food is climate-friendly (Circle)?       YES   NO 

Why?


If no, what would be a better alternative?  
I think a better alternative would be to have vegan cheese.