Cross Country and Nimthara

Cross Country
On Tuesday of last week we had our school cross country. Year 3 and up went to the Botanical Gardens. Seven students from our class got through to the Central Zone which happened on Tuesday of this week. The students from our class who went were Olive, Olivia, Nimthara, Melanie, Daniel, Olly and Matt. Olly did especially well and got into the Interzone. And Matt received a special mention for good sportsman ship because he helped a boy who had asthma.

Mathletics
As you might remember, we did Mathletics earlier on in the year. As our class got in the top 200 classes in New Zealand, we now get to go on Mathletics for the rest of the year for free. We do this as part of our daily mathematics, with each group getting at least one go on the laptops each week.
One student from our class got 58th in the country! She is Sam Panganiban! Congratulation Sam!

Nimthara
We have a new student in our class, Nimthara. She has moved from Sri Lanka. Nimthara is a Year 5 students and has just turned nine. On her first day at school she won the Year 5 Girls cross country race.

Whale Inquiry
We have finished researching and now we are writing our reports that will go into a book for the junior classes on New Zealand’s changed approach to whales and whaling.

P.E.
Our focus for the first half of this term is catching and throwing. We have been practicing with tennis balls, basket balls and netballs. Next week we get to practice with rugby balls.

By Georgina and Olly

Whale Inquiry

For this Whale Inquiry the Big Question we are researching and answering as a class is

In what ways has New Zealand/Aotearoa
changed it's approach from
viewing whales as a resource to be exploited
to seeing them as a resource to be protected?

The students came up with question categories for their research. They then devised questions to help them answer the big question within their expert group. I have found some useful links to assist with researching. The research groups, questions and relevant links are below.

Conservation
What is conservation?
When did whaling in New Zealand start declining?
When did we stop whaling and who started the movement?
Who are the conservation groups that are trying to save whales?
How does the New Zealand Department of Conservation help save whales?
Where in the world does DOC go to help whales and what do they do?
What is the main way the Department of Conservation is helping to save whales now?

http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/W/WhalingInNewZealandWaters17911963/ShoreStations/en

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/summary.aspx?id=33297

Maori Kaupapa
What is sustainability?
What is the Maori view of sustainability?
Why do we look up to our Kaumatua?
Do we still use whale bone for carving? Why/why not?

http://www.aoteamoana.co.nz/historical.html

http://www.maori.org.nz/whakairo/?d=page&pid=sp40&parent=44

Strandings
How do whales get stranded?
What type of whales get stranded the most?
Where and when did we first re-float a pod of whales?
Who saves the whales?
What type of equipment do they use to re-float them?
Where in New Zealand/Aotearoa do whales get stranded the most?

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=33304

http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/Whales/8/en

http://www.whalerescue.co.nz/

Tourism
Who gives whale watching companies a permit to watch whales?
How many companies offer whale watching in New Zealand/Aotearoa?
Do whale watching companies spend some of their money on whale conservation?
How much do tourists spend on whale watching a year?
Where are the whale watching spots?
Do whale watching companies send a 'save the whales' message to tourists?

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/4240/ws020_paper_08.pdf

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=33318

http://www.yachtchartersmagazine.com/read/320590.htm

Protest Groups
What impact do protest groups have?
Who is protesting in New Zealand and what are they doing?
What protest groups helped to stop whaling in New Zealand?

http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/W/WhalingInNewZealandWaters17911963/ShoreStations/en

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Greenpeace,_Sea_Shepherds_end_Southern_Ocean_whaling_protest