Another visit from the firefighters

Today we had a visit from Pete and Danielle, two firefighters who came to school to check that we know what to do in a fire.



One of the activities that we did was crawling under a black sheet held by Pete and Danielle. This was practice so we know how to get down, get low, get out fast. The black sheet was the smoke. Once we reached the exit door, we stood up and walked quickly to our class' safe meeting point near the carpark. One of the things that we still have learn is our mailbox number, our street name and our phone number.

Firewise

During our 'Get Firewise' programme we talked about where the fire engines get the water from to fight a fire. Aiden discovered a yellow triangle near his house on the road. He asked to take our class camera home so he could take a photo to share with the class.

"It is pretty dirty though." Aiden told us.

These yellow 'lids' can be found in the middle of the road with yellow circles around them or they are on the grass verge.

Koru Paintings

Last Friday, Miss Swney introduced us to 'koru'. The koru is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new growth of a silver fern frond before it unfolds itself. To Maori it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an important symbol that is found in Maori art, carvings, and tattoos.


We are creating our own art using the 'koru' symbol. Firstly we had to look carefully at the shape and discuss what would be the best way to draw this shape. We drew some koru on a piece of paper with pencil. Each koru needed to be drawn starting from the side of the paper or off another koru.

Next we talked about 'hot' and 'cold' colours because we had to choose which of these we wanted to paint our koru.



Lastly we will draw around the edge of our koru with black pastel. Watch this space for the finished result.

More Firewise

Yesterday as part of our 'Get Firewise' programme we set out to find what is needed for fire to burn. We tested this using a candle, some matches and an upside down jar.

First we left the candle on the table. It had air but no heat.

Next we lit the candle and put the jar over the top .

Going.......

..........going...........

........gone.

Benjamin predicted before we started this experiment that the candle would go out because it would use up all the air in the jar.

He was right!!!!! We think that he might be a scientist when he is older!

Then we lit the candle and left it to burn.

We found out that a fire needs air, fuel and heat.
This is the fire triangle. It is showing what our experiments taught us.

Firewise

Yesterday we began our unit 'Get Firewise' with the arrival of some firefighters and a fire engine at Sacred Heart School.


The first activity was a visit in our classroom by a fire fighter who showed us his safety clothing that protects him when he goes into a fire.


He explained that he needed us to see what he looked like so that if there is a fire in our house, we would not be scared of a firefighter if we had to be rescued.




After that we went outside to look at the fire engine. We were split into three groups to look at the different parts.


A first aid kit to help people that are hurt.
These are places where extra bottles of air are kept for the firefighters.
A light to let people know there is danger.


For us the most exciting part was climbing inside the fire engine to see where the firemen sit.





We got to speak into the radio and look through a camera-like tool that allows the firemen to see into smoke-filled rooms. It was so cool!!!!

Liquefaction from Christchurch

Today Josh brought some liquefaction to school that his Mum had brought back from Christchurch.

Zane told us that "Liquefaction comes up out of the ground during an earthquake".

Firstly we passed the jar of liquefaction around the class and we felt the texture of it. The grains were smaller than the sand we have in our school sandpit and they were a blacky-grey colour.
Next we added some water to the sand. At first the water formed a puddle around the sand. Gradually the sand sucked up the water.

Then we put our fingers in the water and liquefaction mix. When we used a paper towel to wipe our fingers, only the sand was left.

"Where had the water gone?" was the question that we asked.

Our Holidays

Here is a selection of stories describing the exciting things that we got up to in the recent school holidays.

In the long holidays my Mum, Dad and I went to Monkey Island, Gemstone Beach and another beach. My Dad and I climbed the rocks at the other beach. At Gemstone Beach my Mum and Dad tried to move a really big log but they couldn't. I moved a little log into the water and out of the water.
Zane
I went to Stewart Island with Dad, Cade and Rosie. We went on a fishing boat and caught two sand sharks. We did lots of walking.
Luke
In Te Anau I went on a massive steering wheel and my sister Georgea made me go round and round. It was fun. When I came back from Te Anau, Oscar my dog died and on that day Mum had to tell my sister that Oscar had died.
Josh
In Te Anau I went fishing with my Dad, Brock, Justin and Mum.
ReillyIn the holidays me and my brother made some lemonade with Mum in the kitchen. It was yum but a little bit sour. Mum and Dad only put honey in for two days and that annoyed me.
Phoebe
We are going to 'Walking with the Dinosaurs'. I only have four days at school. I am excited. We have to drive to Christchurch, then we have to drive to Wellington. We don't know where we are going to sleep. It is in Auckland and it will be fun.
Benjamin
In the school holidays I went to Manapouri. We went on a bike ride. Charlie got tired all the time so we had to go home to Mum, Dad and Will. We went with my Nanny. My face got red. I wanted to stay on the bike ride. I was angry!
Lucy
In the holidays I went on a plane all by myself. I got to hand out the lollies and I got to keep two magazines. It was fun. I almost fell asleep. I went on the plane because I went to see my Dad. He gave me heaps of chocolate Easter eggs and two chocolate Easter bunnies.
Sarah