Relief Activity – Music Class

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog.

Today in music, we had a relief teacher, so we were given some relief work. First, we played a music game where you have to guess different treble clef notes. If you want to try this game, click here. Next, we completed relief tasks. There was a set of slides, and I had to pick a task to finish before the period ended. First, I explored Music Lab, a fun and creative platform to make music. Then, I completed a task called Reggae. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my reggae task. I hope you enjoy it, and I would appreciate your feedback.

Task

Music Activity

 

That’s all for my blog

Goodbye👋

Shreeya❀

 

 

Safety in the Laboratory || Science Class

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog.

Today, my science class was held in the biology room. Before we began, it was essential for us to understand the materials required and the safety precautions we needed to follow. This helps ensure that everyone stays safe and has a successful learning experience. In this blog post, I will be writing about the importance of safety in the laboratory.

 

‘Safety Tips’

  1. Place your bag under your desk.
  2. Don’t enter a science laboratory without a teacher.
  3. Always wear safety glasses when using fire or chemical mixing.
  4. Walk into a science laboratory. No running.
  5. No eating or drinking in a science laboratory.
  6. Any breakages need to be reported to the teacher.
  7. All glass goes in the ‘Glass Bucket’.

 

Afghanistan to Aotearoa and Skiing in Afghanistan || Social Studies / Literacy

Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog. Over the past two weeks, I have been working on a task about refugees. But before I tell you what I’ve learnt, let’s start with a basic question: What exactly is a refugee?

A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country because of war, violence, persecution, or a fear of harm. Refugees cannot safely return home and seek protection in another country. They leave everything behind to find safety, often facing many challenges along the way.

For my task, I really wanted to challenge myself, so I chose the ‘Titan’ level task. My first step was to read two  passages: ‘Afghanistan to Aotearoa’ and ‘Skiing in Afghanistan.’ After reading these, I completed a follow-up activity that helped deepen my understanding. One of the tasks was that I had to summarise passages by focusing on the who, what, when, why, where, and how of each article, and then craft a brief sentence highlighting the key information I gathered.

Next, my task was to create an informative piece of peel paragraph writing that included ‘From Afghanistan to Aotearoa’ and ‘Skiing in Afghanistan.’

These tasks and articles have taught me a lot about the challenges refugees face and the journeys they undertake.

 

Here is a question that I have to answer as part of one of my tasks.

What challenges do people face when they become refugees?

When people become refugees, they often face a range of daunting challenges that can deeply affect their lives and well-being. They may be forced to leave behind their homes, possessions, and even loved ones, thrust into unfamiliar environments where language barriers and cultural differences can make integration difficult. Access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare is often limited, and refugees may experience trauma from both the events that caused them to flee and the uncertainty of their new situation. Discrimination, lack of legal protection, and difficulties finding employment or education opportunities further complicate their ability to rebuild their lives.

Some challenges they can also face are:

  • Loss of home and personal belongings
  • Difficulty accessing basic needs (food, water, shelter)
  • Language and cultural barriers
  • Emotional and psychological trauma
  • Limited job and education opportunities
  • Social discrimination and isolation
  • Uncertain legal status or lack of protection

Thanks, that’s all for my blog post today.

Shreeya

Wet day sports

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog,

Today, due to the rain, we had to adjust our sports activities. During this time, I completed two tasks that I would like to share with you. One task is about tennis, and the other focuses on the tennis player Maria Sharapova.

I hope you enjoy reading about my work.

 

 

Melting and Freezing || Science Class

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog.

Today in science class, we explored the concept of melting and freezing. In this blog post, I’ll share what we learned and help you learn more deeply into this topic. I hope you find it informative and engaging.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

– Understanding Melting and Freezing
– Particle Changes During the Processes
– An Exciting Experiment
– Melting and Freezing Points Explained
– Everyday Examples of Melting and Freezing
– And much more, so stay tuned,

Enjoy

Melting and freezing

Melting

  • A solid changes to a liquid when heat is added. Particles gain energy and move more.

 

Freezing

  • Liquid changes to a solid when heat is removed. Particles lose energy and slow down.

 

Particle changes – Melting

Solid Heats Up

  • Particles in a solid start to vibrate faster as heat is added.

Breaking Free

  • Particles gain enough energy to break from their fixed positions

Becoming liquid

  • The substance turns into a liquid, with particles moving past each other.

Particles changes – Freezing

Liquid Cools Down

  • Particles in a liquid lose energy as heat is removed.

Slowing Down

  • Particles move more slowly and get closer together.

Becoming a Solid

  • Particles lock into place, becoming a solid.

 

Experiment

Hypothesis: I think the salt will make the ice melt faster.

Materials:

  1. 4 ice cubes
  2. 4 beakers
  3. Salt
  4. Sugar
  5. Baking Soda
  6. Sand
  7. Stopwatch

Method:

  • Place the 4 ice cubes in the 4 beakers.
  • Place the salt on one of the ice cubes.
  • Place the sugar on one of the ice cubes.
  • Place the baking soda on one of the ice cubes.
  • Place the sand over one of the ice cubes.
  • Time the speed of melting of the ice cubes.

 

Results

After 2 minutes, the salt was number 1, sugar was number 2, sand was number 3, and baking soda was number 4.

 

5 minutes later –

After 5 minutes, salt is number 1, baking soda is number 2, sand is number 3, and sugar is number 4.

 

Melting and Freezing Points

What are They?

  • Melting point: The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid.
  • Freezing point: The temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid.

For pure water, both points are 0°C.

 

Everyday Examples

Where do you see melting and freezing?

  • Ice cream melting on a sunny day
  • Water freezes in a puddle overnight
  • Butter melting on hot toast
  • Ice melting in my drink, that’s te whakarewa.
  • Water turning to ice in puddles outside, that’s te whakatio.
  • Chocolate melting in my hand, te whakarewa.

 

Why does this happen?

Melting

Energy and Particles

When heat is added, particles gain energy and move faster. In solids, this extra energy allows them to break free from their fixed positions, causing melting.

 

Freezing

Losing Energy

When a liquid cools down, its particles lose energy and slow down. They get closer together and lock into place, forming a solid.

 

Māori perspective

Māori Knowledge

Traditional Māori knowledge recognises the importance of seasonal changes, including te whakarewa (melting) and te whakatio (freezing), in food gathering and storage.

 

Questions

  • 1. What happens to ice when it melts?

When ice melts, it turns into water (liquid).

  • 2. Why does water turn into ice in the freezer?

When you put water in the freezer, it will turn into ice. The water comes together, forming the water into solid ice.

  • 3. Why do some things melt faster than others?

Some things melt faster than others because of the differences in mass and melting temperature.

 

That’s all for my blog post

I hope you found it informative and interesting

Thanks for reading

Shreeya

 

Gases || Science Class

 

What is a gas

Gases are everywhere!

Gases are a state of matter, like solids and liquids. They are made up of tiny particles that move quickly and spread out to fill any space. Common gases include air, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Fun fact: the air we breathe is a mixture of different gases.

Gas vs Liquids

Gas 

Particles are far apart and move freely. Gases spread out to fill any container.

Liquid 

Particles are close and move past each other. Takes the container’s shape, keeps volume.

Gas vs Solid

Gas

No fixed shape or volume. No fixed shape or volume.

Solid

Fixed shape and volume.

Particles are packed closely and vibrate in place.

Where do we find gases?

Gases are all around us, even though we can’t see most of them.

  • In the air we breathe
  • In fizzy drinks
  • In car tyres

In Māori culture, the wind is seen as a life force.

Gases can be dangerous

Cooking – Natural gas is used in many stoves and ovens

Medicine – Oxygen gas helps hospital patients breathe

Science Experiment –  carbon dioxide is used for making bubbles and reactions.

Comparing matter in te ao Māori

He tirohanga Māori

In Māori culture, water is a taonga and changes state in many important ways, such as in rivers, clouds and rain. Understanding these changes helps us care for the environment.

 

 

 

 

Chinese New Zealanders || Social Studies

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog.

For the last two weeks of this term (weeks 1 and 2), I have been learning about Chinese New Zealanders. To start it off, we first had to choose either Ace Pro or Legend of Titan. I picked Titan, knowing that I could do it.

In my social studies class, my tasks were to:
1. Watch a video of Chinese teenagers talking about coming to Aotearoa.
2. Read about Chinese New Zealanders.
3. Complete our follow-up tasks related to the article (Step 2).

We also had to watch a video on how to write a PEEL paragraph. Then, we made a copy of two documents: one document discussed why parents should set a bedtime for their kids, and the second one compared the experience of coming to New Zealand in the past to now in 2025.

After completing both activities, we had to blog about our work.

In this blog post, I will be sharing my social studies work. I will explain what PEEL is and answer the question: Why do people decide to immigrate to Aotearoa?

Enjoy this blog! I hope you find it informative and learn something new today.

 

What is PEEL?

P: Point
  • It introduces the topic of the paragraph and states the main idea or argument clearly and concisely. 
E: Evidence/Example
  • This can include facts, statistics, quotes, or specific examples to prove the point. 
E: Explanation
  • It demonstrates your understanding and shows the reasoning behind your argument. 
L: Link
  • It either summarises the point, connects it back to the essay’s thesis, or provides a smooth transition to the next paragraph. 

 

Social Studies

This is my social studies task – Copy of Titan

 

Question

Why do people decide to immigrate to Aotearoa?

People decide to immigrate to Aotearoa for various reasons, but a common reason is the pursuit of better economic opportunities. New Zealand has a strong economy with a demand for skilled workers in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and agriculture, attracting immigrants looking for stable employment. Additionally, the country offers a high quality of life, including a robust healthcare system, excellent education, and a safe environment, which appeals to families seeking a better future for their children. Cultural diversity is also a significant draw, as Aotearoa embraces multiculturalism, allowing immigrants to maintain their traditions while integrating into society. Furthermore, many individuals relocate to escape political instability, persecution, or adverse living conditions in their home countries, finding in New Zealand a welcoming and peaceful environment. Overall, the combination of economic prospects, quality of life, and cultural acceptance makes Aotearoa an attractive destination for many immigrants.

 

That’s all for my blog

Thanks,

Shreeya

Relief Music Activities || Music Class

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog.

Today in music class, the teacher wasn’t here, so the relief teacher asked us to create some songs using Suno AI. After we finished our projects, we could choose to do some relief activities. Out of all the options, I completed two activities. One was about Diwali, and the other focused on movie music.

This blog post is dedicated to sharing what I learned from those two activities.

Enjoy!

Task –

Music Activities

Thanks, that’s all for this post

Bye, Shreeya

 

 

Liquids || Science Class

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. I’m excited to share my latest insights from science class. Today, we learnt about liquids. In this blog post, I’ll explore what I learned about liquids, their properties, and their importance in our everyday lives. From water to various types of beverages, liquids play a crucial role in countless processes and activities. Hope you learn something new today while reading this blog post.

Enjoy!

 

Learning Intention: Explore the properties of liquids

 

What is a liquid?

A liquid is a state of matter that can flow and take the shape of its container. Unlike solids, liquids do not have a fixed shape, but they do have a fixed volume

 

How do liquids behave?

Flow and shape

  • Liquids flow easily and can be poured
  • They always take the shape of the bottom of their container
  • Think of how milk spreads out in a bowl

Fixed Volume

  • Liquids keep the same amount, no matter the container
  • If you pour 100ml of juice into a cup or a bowl, it’s still 100ml
  • Liquids do not expand to fill the whole space like spaces

 

Properties of liquids

Can flow

  • Liquids move and can be poured from one place to another. This is called flowing

Takes Shape

  • liquids take the shape of their container but do not change their volume

Visible Surface

  • liquids have a clear, visible surface called the meniscus

 

Particles in liquids

In liquids, particles are close together but can slide around each other. This movement lets liquids flow and take the shape of their container.

 

Compare: Liquids and Solids

Liquid

  • Flows and takes the shape of its container
  • Fixed volume
  • Particles move past each other

Solids

  • Keeps its own shape
  • Fixed volume
  • Particles packed tightly, only vibrant

 

Experiment (if we did it)

Aim: To look at why some liquids float on top of other liquids

 

Materials:

  • Glass or cup
  • Tap water
  • Food colouring
  • Scissors
  • RUler
  • Rubber band (wide)
  • Small piece of wax
  • Craft stick
  • Small, clear jars or transparent mini cups (2~oz) with lids (at least 2)
  • Permanent marker
  • Masking tape
  • Small piece of Styrofoam
  • Tablespoons (3)
  • Dark corn syrup
  • Vegetable oil

 

Instructions:

  1. Take a clean tablespoon (tbsp) and pour 1 tablespoon of dark corn syrup into cup 1.
  2. With the second tablespoon, carefully pour 2 tbsp of coloured water into cup 1 on the tip of the corn syrup.
  3. Use the third clean tablespoon to pour 2 tbsp of vegetable oil into cup 1 on top of the coloured water
  4. Now take an empty cup 2 and add the same liquids, but reverse order. Start by pouring 2 tbsp of vegetable oil.
  5. Next, add 2 tbsp of coloured water on top.
  6. With a fresh tablesoon, carefully pour 1 tbsp of dark corn syrup into cup 2 on top of the water.
  7. Wait 1 or 2 minutes to let all the liquids settle in cups 1 and 2. Then look at both cups are compare how the different liquids are layered.
  8. Now take a cup 1 and close it with a lid. Carefully turn it upside down and set it on the table again. Observe the different liquids.
  9. Compare the upside-down cup 1 with cup 2 after a couple of minutes.
  10. Get all your cup-up objects and your penny ready, and drop the penny into cup 2
  11. Next, take the piece of rubber band and rip it into cup 2 with the craft stick, pushing the rubber band piece all the way down to the bottom of the cup. Make sure it does not stick to the bottom and can float freely.
  12. Now drop the piece of wax into cup 2 again, push the wax all the way down into the cup with the craft stick, but make sure it does not stick to the bottom or to the sides of the cup. It should be able to float freely.
  13. Last, take the piece of styrofoam and drop it into cup 2. Submerge it with the craft stick and wait for it to settle in one of the layers.
  14. Look at all four objects that you dropped into cup 2, and compare their locations.
  15. Finally, take cup 1, which is still upside down, and shake it really hard. Be sure to hold the lid tight. then pback on the table ( this time, right side up). Observe what happens for about 5 to 10 minutes

materials needed for stacking liquid density science activityTwo mini cups filled with dark corn syrup, green water, and vegetable oil are placed next to each other. A hand turns one of the mini cups upside down.

Rainbow Dish – Chromatography  (experiment)

Aim: To look at the density of skittles when mixed in water.

Materials: 

  • Pertri Dish
  • Water
  • Skittles

The experiment will be done in groups of 2. You will need to use the Skittles to see how the sugar in Skittles prevents them from mixing.

 

Method:

  1. I set up the experiment by placing all the skittles around the edge of the petri dish.
  2. Water was poured into the middle of the petri dish.
  3. I watched as the colours of the skittles flowed separately to form a colour wheel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading

Shreeya

Speech || Literacy

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I want to share something with you. Over the last week of term 3 and now, ALT has been working on how to write a speech. To be honest, at first, I wasn’t sure if I could write one. But as I explored different topics, I found something that interested me: “Are social media influencers beneficial or harmful to society?” I believe this is a crucial subject that affects many of us, and I would love to hear your thoughts on it as well. So, for the task, I chose to place myself in legend from the four options (ace, pro, legend, titan).

Now, let me present to you my speech:

My Speech

Hello, my name is Shreeya, and today I’ll be exploring a topic that impacts nearly all of us, the influence of social media influencers on our society. Influencers are everywhere, shaping trends, opinions, and even values. While some use their platforms to raise awareness, promote positivity, and support good causes, others set unrealistic standards or spread misinformation. 

So are influencers a positive force, or are they doing more harm than good?

Let’s start wth the positives. Many influencers use their voice to promote important issues like mental health, climate action, and body positivity. They often connect with their audience in ways that media can’t. For example, activists like Greta Thunberg have mobilised millions online for climate justice. Educational influencers also share useful content on topics like science, finance, and well-being.

But not all influence is helpful. Many influencers promote an unattainable lifestyle or advertise products without transparency. This can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and misinformation, especially among younger followers. Some content may seem harmless, but it can encourage harmful habits or unrealistic beauty standards. 

This brings us to a key point with great influence comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, social media isn’t always well-regulated, making it easy for false or harmful content to spread. Some influencers face backlash for insensitive posts, but many continue unacknowledged.

So, overall, are social media influencers beneficial or harmful? The answer is they are harmful. They have the power to mislead and exploit. It’s up to us, the audience, to think critically. Before we like, follow or share, we should ask ourselves, is this person spreading truth and value or just chasing attention?

 

Hope you found my blog post informative and interesting.

Bye,

Shreeya