Rockin' Candle Science

Is burning a candle a physical or chemical change?  This was the question on everyone's mind as they played with fire.

In groups of three, we had to balance a candle between two cups or glasses. We had to measure and find the halfway point on the candle, poke a nail on each side - directly opposite each other to create a pivot point and balance the nails on the cups.  We used paperclips to make sure the candle did not fall off the cups.
We lit both ends of the candle and stood back to observe what happened.

Most of us predicted that the candle would stay still and the wax would melt.  One or two of us thought that it might move.

The result was that most candles rocked or see sawed back and forth as the wax melted on one end (the end that was facing downwards), making that end of the candle lighter and so it rose to the top. That meant that the other end was now dripping wax on the tin foil and so that end became lighter and rose to the top.
Check out the video...

A physical change is when something changes but can be changed back into its original state and no new substance is made. A chemical change is when a new substance is formed and you cannot reverse it. When we discussed the experiment and asked the questions about physical and chemical change we decided that the wax melting was a physical change that caused the movement of the candle. Most of the wax was on the tin foil in a different shape.  The wick burning was a chemical change as it couldn't be returned to its original state.

Camp montages

A very small selection of our camp photos.

We're Funky and we know it!

Check out the Funky Pigeon rap...

Do I look big in this?

Thanks to Stella's dad we checked out this website.  It certainly takes a lot to get your head around the scale of the universe aka cosmos.

Check it out for yourself.....                http://htwins.net/scale2/

Mrs H

Preparing for Mistletoe Bay

As part of our camp preparations, Mrs Hosie asked to check our rain proof coats and the shoes we were going to be wearing on the tramps.  We really got into it and strutted our stuff on the catwalk of Room 11.
Check it out!

Mad Hair Day!!!

On Friday 2012 Mapua School had MAD HAIR DAY!!!

It was a very strange day let me tell you that. It was also very hard to do jump jam with our hair all done up crazily.                                          

We had three categories; Culture Vulture, the Most Bizarre and Reduce, reuse, Restyle.



A great example of an entry in the Culture Vulture category.

Check out the  Most Bizarre and Reduce, Reuse and Restyle hair do's.

It was fantastic walking around the school and seeing the amazing styles and creativity applied to people's hair. In some ways Mapua School was like an art gallery on Mad Hair Day - one where the pieces on display moved around.

Dear Soldiers
I wish to say it is because of you that people of our country have survived and you are great soldiers. So thank you very much for standing up for your country, we will never forget you.

Dear James Kirkpatrick Simpson and James Henderson

This is a poem I wrote for you.

You are the Donkey Men
That saved many lives
Now many men can go back to their wives.
Many men were hidden in their den when
The Donkey Men came and saved many men.
People would say yo and James came to the rescue
And when clouds were above you saved many lives
And now we're proud!

From Ellie

Poem in memory of the Donkey Men

Thank you, James Henderson, for saving the day,
For taking the injured back home and away.
O thank you, o thank you for saving those lives,
to heal the cuts and stabs from knives.
Your valiance will be remembered even today,
For taking the injured back home and away.

By Catherine

Thanks

Dear Soldiers of the WW2 ANZACs

I would like to say thank you for sacrificing your freedom and, in some cases, your life, for letting us live in the freedom and peace we have today.  We are thoroughly grateful for your bravery and ability to step up to the plate when needed.

So thanks again.
Bethan

The Donkey Men!

 I have written this poem because I believe that if the donkey men weren`t there a whole lot more soldiers would have been killed or have died of injuries. I wrote this poem with the thought of what they had to see in the war and how they worked really hard for the soldiers and for the soldiers` families but in all of that time they were being kept apart from their own families. 

Duffy, Murphy, Abdul and Queen Vic,
Go searching around for the poorly or sick
Then the donkey men hop down with a sigh
Then on to the donkeys they get stacked up high
The donkey men wish they couldn't`t see such sadness
Why, oh why, can`t they end this madness.

You walked for days carrying poor injured men
So that they may see their family again
You saved the lives of poor grieved soldiers
While everyday you grow weaker and older

You take them away to be revived
But sometimes all they can do is just die
I feel your pain, your grief and your sorrow
And how you hope that it will be a better tomorrow.

By Stella

Max's ANZAC poem

Flanders Field 

After the war there was peace in the world
Peace between the lands that had fought in it
Peace on the island it was fought on
Peace on the field where so many had fallen
In Flanders Field
Peace in the trenches where the soldiers  felt safe
Peace in the outposts which had been riddled with bullet holes
Peace on the hillside where the donkey men saved so many lives
But darkness had overcome the island
All was dark and damp
Wxcept one field blazing with red poppies

Flanders Field

By Max

We are a Swim Safe School!

Monday 19 March 2012

Today we had two visitors explaining how to swim safely and to present the school with their NZ Swim Safe School Certificate. One of them was Brenda and the other one was a blue kiwi called Koru. Brenda showed Koru and the school a few swimming tips and gave out some cool prizes for correct answers to questions she asked.

Bugging around with Zane

Today Zane brought a stick bug into Room 11.
Most people probably wouldn't have wanted a bug crawling all over their face, one girl even admitted that she would be screaming but Zane loved having the bug's company. 

Mathletics Star of the Week

Zak was the first person to win the Mathlete of the Week Trophy.  He had a whopping score of 9332 points. I will be surprised to see that score again.

By Ben

high academic success

Here is an example of a student aiming for high academic success by taking time and effort to finish his work.

He is using Room 11 goals to get through the year confidently and trouble free.

Mac's eye view

 This image shows the amount of concentration that we put into the short story competition. Everyone enjoyed writing for the competition and wrote some good stories.Of course we are all hoping that we win the competition!

Part of our topic is to be ourselves and I think this shows a good example because this giraffe has an elephant head and I think it would seem out of place whenever it was with either kind. This means this elephant would have to be strong and be its self.

Teddy Bears' Picnic Photo Story

Max took a lot of great photos today and I thought I would add them to the blog even though he has uploaded his favourite already.

Teddy bear picnic

All dressed up for the Teddy bear picnic, face paint and all! By Max

Welcome to our class blog

This is the place to check out what's been happening in our class. We are starting off with a photo challenge and a competition with the other classes in the Senior and Intermediate Learning Teams.
Our challenge is going to be to upload a photo each school day. A photo of us in action, something that has made us go wow or a photo that shows a concept or theme we are studying.
Starting the ball rolling ...

We are enjoying having our library back now that it is no longer being used as a classroom.

Lessons in Espanol

At the end of Term 3 Room 7 followed up on their talents and passions. One of the learning activities they chose was to prepare and share a Spanish flavoured meal. What a great way to learn more about the Spanish culture. Thanks MOTEC for letting us use your kitchen.