Information Report Writing

For writing we have been going through the processes of writing an information report. Our topics were animals and natural disasters. The students had to choose a favourite animal and write an information report. We divided up the writing processes into three areas i.e. planning, language and structure. We also used reading texts to help understand the processes of an information report. The students then decided on a success criteria for each of these processes. These are in the link below:

Success Criteria

We spent a lesson on each of the processes and used a variety of brainstorming apps to collect information. The challenge came when the students had to simplify the information into three main headings and three specific key word facts. From there we looked at language features, and writing in the present tense provided some challenges. After plenty of practice writing their paragraphs, they came to grips with these features. We finally looked at the structure of the report, mainly focusing on the introduction and the conclusion. This was also tricky because they had to determine between a general fact and a specific fact. With plenty of practice, we learned to identify the difference.

In topic we are learning about Waharoa.  On marae, waharoa are the gateways where manuhiri (visitors) wait to be welcomed on by the tangata whenua ( People of the place). In this unit, the students think about their identities as members of the class community. They will each create a clay tile that reflects what they bring to their class, and they link them together by including symbols on them that represent important ideas about the group identity.
                


The students will be learning about:

• the purpose and significance of waharoa.
• the meanings of the images carved on waharoa.
• how to create images that represent important ideas about what contribute to the class identity.
• a variety of techniques with clay.
• how to use clay to create low-relief sculptures.
• sharing our waharoa with visitors to our class.

The students are excited about using clay but will be challenged about expressing their identity and relating it to the different types of waharoa found all over the world.

Persuasive Writing

The class has been learning about persuasive tools used in advertisements and how they are used to get people to purchase products. In groups they made their own advertisements and presented them digitally as well as orally to the class.  They also had to write a letter to the principal about something at school they feel passionate about or have an opinion about. Before they started their letter that had to plan their argument using a planning structure (Persuasive Burger) to make sure their ideas were clear and precise.   

Here are some of the learning intentions we have been working on...

• We are learning how persuasive language is used in advertisements to get the consumer to buy a product.

• We are learning about the different types of language features or persuasive tools, these are as follows: repetition, rhetorical question, exaggeration, emotive language, deferring to experts, and simile.

• We are learning how to create our own advertisement using the persuasive language tools.
• We are learning to use a variety of digital tools to make the advertisement visually appealing.

• We are learning how to use a graphic organiser to plan and structure our persuasive writing.

How do we know if our writing is successful and at a high standard:

• Identified three clear ideas and have elaborated on them.(Persuasive Burger)
• Included six language features in the advertisement and persuasive letter.
• Have used a variety of sentence starters.
• Have ticked off your success criteria check list with your buddy before showing the teacher.  Success Criteria

Troy	Ebony	Mia	Damon	Max
Ella	Olivia	Bella	Alanna	Emma
Liam	Adam	Noah	Andrew	Jacob
Ben S	Ben.M	Jayden	Harrison	Lily
Reagan	Coby

Kia ora

Thank you to the parents who helped out at the market day last term. The children really enjoyed their experience, especially selling to the general public. I have had many positive comments about the products they made and are still getting orders for the jam. It was great to see the children's enthusiasm and motivation as they worked through the stages of the Design Process and their ability to adapt to the challenges when things did not work out as well as they liked. We will be planning some more fundraising this term.

A quick insight into some of activities we are doing this term.

This term for topic we are looking at the legend of Poutini and Waitaiki. We are looking at the culture surrounding Pounami and it's significance to the Māori on the West Coast. The children will be creating stop motion animation films to re-tell the story of Poutini and Waitaiki. We are also learning Te Reo Māori so that students can pronounce the Māori place names in the legend.

For writing this term we will be working on persuasive writing. We will be studying advertisements, looking specifically at the language used to persuade the audience to want the product advertised. Then we will develop some ideas around how you form an opinion. This will enable them to write clearly expressing their own opinion on a matter that is important to them and persuade others to their way of thinking.

There are lots of other exciting things happening this term and I will share them along the way.


Kind Regards


Mr Davey

Kia ora

There has been a change in the date for our gala. We are now joining the market day at Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Greymouth on Sunday 9 April at 10 am.  The students are really excited about having an opportunity to sell the products they have made. See you there.

Kia ora,

This term the students are focusing on their fundraising for the end of year camp. We are going to have a city experience down in Dunedin. Dunedin is where I completed my Bachelor of Physical Education degree, so I have had first hand experience of the attractions that make Dunedin an exciting place to visit.  The Cadbury Chocolate Factory is high on the agenda to visit before it closes next year.
The students have been learning about design technology for topic and in small groups have been designing their own products to sell. They have had to work through the processes of designing a product and they have come up with some amazing things. To see them and buy them, we have decided to have a mini gala in Greymouth. We are planning to do this on Saturday the 8th of April in the Albert Street Mall at 10am. The students will be sharing about some of the products on their blog. If you need to know any more information please email me.

Kind Regards

Mr Davey