In class we are learning about courage. We had to choose a quote that we liked and create a motivational poster about it. I like this quote because I can try to remember it when I need to.
I learned that good posters are eyecatching. In mine I did layering and different colours.
In class, we are reading a book called 'Wringer'. The story is about a boy named Palmer that has to become a 'Wringer'. A 'Wringer' is a person that has to twist shot pigeons so they can get put out of there misery. Palmer has his ninth birthday and invites his friends, Beans, Mutto and Henry.
Great authors make characters with believable personalities.
They show personalities through these: Actions, Reactions and Dialogue.
I can see this in Bean's character.
He is a troublemaker, rude and doesn't care that much for Palmer, Palmer's mum and their stuff.
WALT understands how writers create characters that are believable
( we sense they have a personality type and can understand their strengths and weaknesses.
Writers deliberately use
Dialogue (direct speech)
Actions
Reactions
Physical descriptions
Thoughts
To show not tell what their characters are like.
Lets find examples of Jerri doing this for the character, Beans.
Beans was scooping chocolate icing from the birthday cake onto his finger.
With the drama of a sword-swallower, he threw back his head and sank his finger into his mouth. When it came out, it was clean. Mutto cackled and did likewise.
Henry stared at Palmer’s mother, who was glaring at Beans.Palmer’s mother did not like Beans. She wasn’t crazy about Mutto or Henry either, but she especially did not like Beans.“He’s a sneak and a troublemaker,” she had said. “He’s got a mean streak.” And she was right. But he was also leader of all the kids on the street, at least the ones under ten years old.
It had always been that way.Beans was boss as surely and naturally as any king who ever sat upon a throne.
“But he’s the boss,” Palmer would explain to his mother.
“Boss, my foot,” she would snort and turn away.
Some things mothers just did not understand.
“Open the presents!” Beans barked. He rapped on the table with a spoon. Mutto rapped a spoon also.
Palmer dumped the gifts onto the table and for the first time took a good look at them.
They were wrapped in newspaper, sloppily fitted and closed with black tape. No ribbons, no bows, no bright paper.
He tore open the first. It was an apple core, brown and rotting. “It’s from me!” piped Mutto. “You like it?” Mutto howled.
Palmer giggled. “It’s great. Thanks.” What a guy, that Mutto.
The other gifts were a crusty, holey, once-white sock from Henry,
and from Beans a thumb-size, brown something that Palmer finally recognized as an ancient cigar butt.
Silverware hopped as Beans and Mutto pounded the dining room table, laughing.
Palmer’s mother, still glaring, came with more gifts. These had ribbons and bows and beautiful paper.
“Gee,” she said, “after those nice presents you just got, I feel really cheesy giving you this junk.”
Palmer opened them: a soccer ball, a book, a pair of sneakers, a Monopoly game.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said.
It was pointless to say more, pointless to say, I like their presents just as much as yours, because they did it themselves.
That means something. It means: We came into your house. We gave you a cigar butt. You are one of us.
Palmer’s mother lit the candles, nine of them on the chocolate cake with chocolate icing.
She started off the “Happy Birthday” song but soon was drowned out by the boys, who screamed it rather than sang.
When they came to the line “Happy birthday, dear”—they glanced at each other and belted out—“Sno-ots! Happy birthday to you!”
“Make a wish,” said his mother, “and blow out the candles.”
He stared into the ring of candles. Beans leaned across the table, took a deep breath and blasted away.
The flames vanished. Wick tips glowed orange for a second, then turned black.
This term I think I have not achieved my goal of moving off Brick 22, I think it is because I'm always talking and not consentrating on what I'm doing.
Next term I plan to move off Brick 22.
In class, we have been learning about figurative language, We leant about Alliteration, Personification and Assonance. We also learnt how to use Some; other sentences.
In class, we have been making taonga puoro and learning about them.
What is a Puoro?
“Errr” comes a loud screeching noise. It was coming from a musical instrument named Puoro. What is a Puoro? A Puoro is a traditional Maori instrument; it can be used to worship God. Also, they are made of clay and other materials such as bamboo and wood and they can be shaped into circular or cylinder shapes. They are used to send messages, marking the stages of life and for other ceremonies. I’m going to explain how to make one.
How to make a Puoro
Firstly, find yourself some clay, your clay can be in the colour of your choice. Next, split the clay roughly into two equal parts. Then, grab one half and shape it into a sphere, once you do that use your thumb and poke a hole through the top of the Puoro. After that, use your index finger and middle finger to pinch the rim of the Puoro. Then do it to the other half, once completed use a toothpick or pin so that you can etch the rim. After that, put them together and smudge the line. Then, make another hole at the top with your index finger.
Making music
Secondly, you can try to blow your Puoro and have half of your breath in half out. It should make a low or high pitched whistling sound.
Decorating and designing
Lastly, let it dry and you can get a pencil to make an outline then you can start to decorate and design your own designs onto it. Your design can have any pattern that you desire.
Summary
In summary, I really had fun making it and made a lot of mess. I also think that Puoro are cool instruments that I think that you should enjoy and I think it would be really fun for you to make.
In class, we are learning to use semi-colons and dashes and Figurative language (simile, personification, alliteration, hyperbole)
Descriptive language (see, hear, feel, think, adjectives)
Ask questions
The dreadful cousins
Intro
It was pitch black outside and I was alone. Scratching at the door, music playing aloud and snores came from down the hall. Beep Beep! It was my mum, sister, little brother and my cousins. “Oh no, mum’s home!” I whispered. “I better hide, so I don’t gotta do chores.”
Event 1
They were coming back from Auckland. My cousins came to my house so my mum’s sisters and husband could go down south to watch my cousin play touch. So my cousins stayed at our house for a couple of days. “Noo!”Jessiah shouted. As if he was going to die. “ It’s alright, Deddiah,” I replied. “you’re alright.” What was wrong? As he jumped into my arms we slowly walked to the living room. “Tadt,” (tag) Jessiah rushingly said. “I’m gonna get you, Deddiah!” I growled. Chasing him down the hallway. Typical. “AAAAAAHHHH!!!” Jessiah screeched. “Stop screaming, Deddiah!” As I was running after him, I saw him jump under the kitchen table by my mum’s legs. “Tag you’re in, Jessiah,” I laughed. “Ok, I’m finished now,” I remarked.
Event 2 Try add ideas without more speech marks (thoughts, describe what happened, adjective )
“Oi Jordan.” I yelled “What?” he replied. “Wanna play Monopoly?” I asked. “Yo….. I mean yes,” he decided. “Ok, I’ll grab it then,” I responded. Shuffling over to where the Monopoly was I grabbed it, to walk back to Jordan. “Ok then, let us play,” he replied in a challenging way. We set up the game and stared at each other. “I’m first!” Jordan quickly responded. As a few hours go by we finally decided to end our aggressive game. “I’m done now,” I responded. “Ok,” Jordan replied.
Reflection
In short, I would just thank my whanau for being there for me and making funny memories with me and my family.
In class, we have been learning to add and subtract decimal numbers and work out the problem. Here is a maths poster.
Before leaving to learn more about the Rangihoua area we needed to find 7 - 12 interesting facts about kiwi and make a poster to share these facts.
My Experience
After dinner on the beach, as the moon came out from behind the hills we had karakia. Then we walked around in groups to see if we could find kiwi. Then on our way back to the vans, a kiwi stopped in front of me and I froze. A couple of seconds later it ran away because of the noise.
In class I have been learning about narrative writing. This is what I did with my writing group.
Kupe’s voyage.
Orientation
One day in Te Moana a Nui a Kiwa on the island of Hawaiki there lived a man named Kupe. The island was small and the Village was cramped. Lush tropical trees covered the island. Standing on the golden sand, with his mere firmly in his hands, Kupe surveyed the empty ocean. The ocean karangatia to Kupe.
Problem
“This island is too cramped, there isn't enough food for us,” Kupe said to
Ngahue. “Ae! Te wheke is eating all the kai,” replied Ngahue. Te wheke was a monstrous kai eating octopus, with slimy tentacles. “We need to kill Te wheke.” growled Kupe, “Ae!” everyone yelled, “we need to kill Te wheke.” The next morning, Kupe and Hine-Te-Aparangi set to hunt Te wheke.
Climax
Weeks had gone by as the warriors chased Te wheke, with storms and towering waves as they sailed to find Te wheke. The chase was hard as the rain pelted down and the wind rocked Matawhaorua back and forth like a swing. Raging with anger as Te wheke ate their food. The warriors kept getting more hungrier by the hour. “Our people are getting hungry,” Ngahue said, “we need to kill Te wheke.”
Solution
Finally, Kupe came up with a solution. “Let’s trap that cheeky wheke in the cave.” With hooks and bait on the lines they waited for Te wheke to come out of the cave. Later, that night as Te wheke was swimming around Kupe threw the calabashes into the water and Te wheke got distracted and went over to the calabashes thinking it was one of Kupe’s men, then Kupe leant over the side of his boat and hit him with his mere. Then Kupe and his warriors caught some kai moana. Kupe, his warriors and their people were so hungry that they ate it like a lion.
