Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog. I’m excited to share what my class, AlT, has been learning about over the past week. We’ve been exploring the concept of protesting. For those unfamiliar with it, protesting is a public demonstration that expresses dissent or objection to specific policies, actions, or social issues. It’s a way for people to come together, often in a designated location, to advocate for change and increase awareness about the matters that matter to them.
Our recent task was particularly engaging and involved creating a poster that highlights a specific type of protest. We were required to outline what this protest is, why people choose this method, and whether it’s effective, essentially, does it truly work?
Protesting can take many forms, from peaceful marches and rallies to more unconventional methods like sit-ins or online advocacy. Each type serves a unique purpose and can resonate differently based on the audience. Through this project, we’ve not only learned about the mechanics of protests but also about their historical significance and their impact on society.
Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today in science, we did another listening test where the teacher said some numbers and words and typed them in our blog. We couldn’t type them when he said them, or else that would be cheating, so we had to remember them for 5 seconds after he said them. It was kind of hard but enjoyable, and I have good listening skills as I got them all right. That’s all I have for this blog. Bye!
Hello everyone, and welcome back to another blog post for science.
Today, I delved into an important topic in the realm of science: conservation efforts aimed at protecting our wildlife and ecosystems. We explored how reducing pollution, promoting recycling, and supporting clean energy initiatives can help safeguard our planet. I emphasised the critical role of government and major organisations in creating protected areas for wildlife and enforcing laws against poaching and habitat destruction. Finally, I discussed the legal frameworks in place, such as the Wildlife Act 1953, which outlines protections for different species across New Zealand. Join me as we navigate these essential conservation efforts and their impact on our environment.
Protecting animals within an ecosystem
To protect habitats and ecosystems from serious harm, we need to focus on reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. This can be achieved by using less plastic, recycling more, and supporting clean energy solutions. It’s also important to create protected areas where wildlife can thrive without human interference. Finally, educating others about the importance of preserving our environment will help everyone work together to keep our planet safe.
Can the government or major groups help protect animals that live there?
Yes, the government and major groups can play a big role in protecting animals. They can create protected areas like national parks or reserves where animals can live safely away from threats. Additionally, they can enforce laws against poaching and habitat destruction to help keep animal populations stable. Working together, they can also raise awareness about the importance of preserving wildlife and their habitats.
Legal Protection
Wildlife Act 1953
The Wildlife Act is the main law that helps protect animals classed as wildlife, including some of New Zealand’s most endangered species.
The Act does this by controlling how people interact with wildlife.
It protects them in three ways:
Absolute protection
Varying protection
No protection
Absolutely protected wildlife
If an animal is absolutely protected, it means that without a permit from DOC, it’s an offence to:
Catch, hunt or kill it
Buy, sell or own it
Hold it in captivity
Release it
Export it
The protection applies whether the animal is alive or dead, and to all or parts of it, for example, feathers, skin, bones, and eggs.
Examples of absolutely protected wildlife
kiwi, kea, blue duck/whio, tūī, fantail/pīwakawaka, terns, albatross/toroa, tuatara and Wētā.
Varying protected wildlife
Some wildlife species are protected, but not absolutely. They may be killed in specific circumstances. These species are listed in schedules within the Act.
Game hunting during hunting season. Hunters must have a special licence.
Hunted because they are destroying land and other habitats.
Hunted with a special cause: Māori can hunt muttonbirds but only in special circumstances.
Unprotected Wildlife
Some of these unprotected wildlife species cause harm, for example:
Predators on threatened native species, for example, stoats, feral cats, and hedgehogs
Eating native plants, for example, wallabies
Causing damage to farms or orchards, for example, possums, Canada geese, rooks, or to people’s homes, for example, rats, mice
Causing risk to people’s safety through bird strikes at airports, for example, the spur-winged plover, black-backed gulls
These can all be killed under these conditions only.
Thanks, that’s all for my science blog today. I hope you enjoy it and find this blog post informative
Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I’m excited to share some important insights about the fragile relationship between humans and our planet. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it’s crucial to take a step back and reflect on our role as stewards of the Earth. With increasing environmental challenges, from climate change to habitat loss, understanding the significance of protecting our ecosystems and waterways is more vital than ever. Join me as we explore why conservation matters and how we can collectively make a difference for future generations.
Why is it important to protect our planet?
Protecting our planet is essential for the sustainability of life. The Earth provides vital resources such as clean air, fresh water, and fertile soil, all of which are necessary for human survival and well-being. Additionally, a healthy planet contributes to biodiversity, which helps maintain ecological balance and resilience against climate change. Our actions impact the environment, so safeguarding it ensures that future generations can inherit a thriving world.
Why protect the ecosystems?
Ecosystems are complex networks where living organisms interact with each other and their physical environments. Protecting these ecosystems is crucial because they provide essential services, such as food production, pollination, climate regulation, and natural pest control. Healthy ecosystems support biodiversity, which strengthens resilience against diseases and environmental changes. Moreover, they contribute to cultural, recreational, and economic benefits for communities.
Why protect our waterways like streams and rivers?
Waterways are vital for all forms of life. They provide drinking water, irrigation for agriculture, and habitats for various species. Protecting streams and rivers helps maintain water quality, preventing pollution that can harm both wildlife and human populations. Healthy waterways also support recreational activities, enhance local economies, and mitigate flooding by allowing natural water flow and absorption. Safeguarding these resources ensures the sustainability of surrounding ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
What’s so important about them?
Streams, rivers, and their ecosystems play a crucial role in the Earth’s hydrological cycle, impacting weather patterns and climate. They are essential for biodiversity, serving as habitats for countless species, some of which are endemic and cannot survive anywhere else. The health of waterways is often an indicator of overall environmental quality, reflecting the state of the ecosystem in which they exist. By protecting these areas, we not only conserve natural beauty and resources but also ensure the health and vitality of our planet for generations to come.
What can we do to help?
There are many things we can do, but we will look at three ways
Habitat Restoration – Restore the habitat to what the species originally had.
Legal protection – getting government and international support to protect the species.
Recycle, reuse, refuse – reduce the amount of waste in waterways and in landfills.
Habitat restoration
Our planet’s biodiversity is facing serious challenges, including a rapid, massive loss of wildlife.
It is up to us to reverse the damage and rebuild ecosystems to their former health, functionality and diversity.
This repair process is known as habitat restoration.
Task
Department of Conservation – Mata-Au Clutha River Freshwater Enhancements
The habitat is being restored through planting projects aimed at enhancing native freshwater fish habitat. Contact Energy implemented multiple planting sites within the Mata-Au Clutha River catchment as part of their resource consent for hydro-electric facilities. They collaborated with the Department of Conservation (DOC) for plant selection and site information. Large grade plants were sourced and planted directly in rank grass without the use of chemicals or site preparation, which helps revitalise the habitat for native fish species.
2. What kind of habitat is it?
The habitat being restored is a freshwater ecosystem along the Clutha River/Mata-Au, which includes vital areas for native fish populations such as giant kokopu, tuna, kanaka, and inaka (whitebait). This ecosystem is characterised by its complex interactions within the aquatic and riparian zones, providing essential breeding sites, food resources, and shelter for various species.
3. Where is this happening?
This restoration effort is taking place within the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au catchment, specifically at multiple planting sites, including locations such as Waitahuna, Elliotvate, Kouau branch, Riverside Farm, and others associated with the river’s ecosystem. The region has historical significance as well, being a traditional mahinga kai trail for Tāngata whenua and a site associated with gold mining and electricity generation.
Hello everyone, today we were doing listening skills. The teacher called out some numbers, then some words, and we had to write them down. He said the words so fast, which was my test of listening. Then we learnt a bit about Fossil fuels. That’s all I have. Bye!
1,2,5,4 ✅
4,2,6,8 ✅
6,4,7,8 ✅
8,4,3,8 ✅
6,8,5,3 ✅
5,7,2,1,2 ✅
5,9,6,4,2 ✅
9,0,7,1,3 ✅
7,6,4,3,2 ✅
9,6,5,3,2 ✅
Fish, Duck, Lion, Tiger – ✅
Duck, Lion, Tiger
Fish is missing
Rugby, Hockey, Bowls, Football – ✅
Rugby, Hockey, Bowls
Football is missing
Pencil, Pen, Ruler, Rubber – ✅
Pencil, Ruler, Rubber
The pen is missing
Seagull, Chicken, Sparrow, Goose – ✅
Chicken, Sparrow, Goose
Seagull is missing
Blue, Red, Yellow, Black – ✅
Red, Yellow, Black
Blue is missing
New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Africa – ✅
New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Africa
Fiji is missing
Guitar, Piano, Violin, Recorder, Ukulele – ✅
Piano, Violin, Recorder, Ukulele
The guitar is missing
Hot, Cold, Up, Down, Big – ✅
Hot, Cold, Up, Big
Down is missing
Kakariki, Kowhai, Whero, Ma – ✅
Kakariki, Whero, Ma
Kowhai is missing
Hornby, Linwood, Hilmorton, Brighton, Sumner – ✅
Hornby, Hilmorton, Brighton, Sumner
Linwood is missing
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels are fuels that are made of decomposed organic matter. These take a long time to make.
Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today in science, we learnt about the impacts on the water cycle. But first, what is a water cycle:
The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is a continuous process where water moves on, above, and below the Earth’s surface, involving stages such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. It begins with the sun heating water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing it to evaporate into water vapour, which then condenses into clouds as it cools. Eventually, precipitation occurs when droplets grow large enough to fall back to Earth in various forms like rain or snow. Once on the ground, water either travels as runoff back to bodies of water or infiltrates the soil, replenishing groundwater. Human activities, such as urbanisation, deforestation, and agriculture, significantly impact this cycle, altering natural water flow and contributing to issues like flooding and drought. Understanding these effects is vital for sustainable water resource management and the health of our ecosystems.
In my blog post, we focused on humans destroying our water and some impacts. I will add the learning and achievement objectives, Gumans destroying our water, and then my activity.
Achievement Objective:
Seek and describe simple patterns in data, using them to identify relationships.
Learning objective:
Explore and describe the water cycle and its effect on climate, landforms, and life.
Humans are destroying our water
Human Impacts on the Water Cycle:
Urbanization: Construction of roads and buildings increases surface runoff and reduces infiltration, affecting groundwater recharge.
Deforestation: Trees play a crucial role in the water cycle through transpiration. Removing forests can reduce rainfall and increase runoff.
Pollution: Industrial discharge and agricultural runoff can contaminate water bodies, affecting the quality of water in the cycle.
Climate Change: Human activities that increase greenhouse gases contribute to global warming, which can alter precipitation patterns and increase evaporation rates.
Human Impacts
Clearing the forest along the river banks
Surface mining activities
Use of chemicals for fishing
Overuse of fertiliser
Damping of liquid and solid waste into water bodies
Hello everyone, welcome to another blog post about science. Today, we learned why the water cycle is important and participated in an interesting activity. In this blog, I will share six reasons why the water cycle is vital, followed by a description of the activity we did related to evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. The picture below shows what we created. Our project is currently displayed on our classroom window, which enhances our understanding of the water cycle we made.
Enjoy this blog post!
Why is the water cycle important?
The water cycle is incredibly important for many reasons. Here are 6 reasons:
1)Provides fresh water
It ensures that we have a constant supply of fresh water to drink, cook with, and use in our daily lives. Without the water cycle, we would run out of clean water very quickly!
2) Helps Plants Grow:
Plants need water to grow. Through precipitation, the water cycle delivers the necessary water to plants, helping them to flourish. This is essential for producing the food we eat, the oxygen we breathe, and maintaining the natural beauty of our environment.
3) Regulates Weather and Climate:
The water cycle plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s weather and climate. The process of evaporation and condensation helps to distribute heat around the globe, influencing weather patterns and keeping our planet’s temperature balanced.
4) Supports all living things:
Every living thing, from tiny insects to giant whales, depends on water to survive. The water cycle ensures that water is available to all forms of life, providing habitats for animals and helping ecosystems thrive.
5) Cleans and Filters Water:
As water moves through the cycle, it goes through natural filtration processes. When water evaporates, it leaves impurities behind, and when it seeps through the ground, it gets filtered by soil and rocks. This natural cleaning process is vital for maintaining the purity of our water sources.
6) Drives the Earth’s system
The water cycle is interconnected with other natural cycles, like the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle. It helps to drive these systems, ensuring that nutrients are cycled through the environment, supporting life and maintaining the health of our planet.
Activity –
Materials:
Ziploc bag, water, blue food colouring, a permanent marker, and tape.
Steps:
Draw a sun, clouds, and waves on the outside of the bag with the marker. Add process names.
Fill the bag with a small amount of water and add a few drops of blue food colouring.
Seal the bag tightly and tape it to a sunny window.
Observe over a few days as the water evaporates, condenses on the sides of the bag, and then “rains” back down. We will look at these more next week.
Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today in science, we learnt about ‘The water cycle’.
Achievement Objective:
Planet Earth and Beyond: Earth Systems – Investigate the water cycle and its effect on climate, landforms, and life.
Learning Objective:
Students will describe the stages of the water cycle and create a diagram that accurately represents these stages.
Water
Liquid –
Rain
Hail
Snow
Sleet
Solid
Ice
Gas
Steam
Water Vapour
Water cycle
If all the water on Earth is continually cycled in this way, with no ‘new’ water being created, where did all the water on Earth come from originally?
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle describes how water evaporates from Earth’s surface and the oceans because of the heat from the Sun, rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls back to the ground as rain, hail and snow.
Understanding the water cycle
Rain is a natural phenomenon that is linked to the water cycle, a continuous process that regulates the distribution of water on Earth.
The water cycle, the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation that occur to maintain the Earth’s water balance. Rain is a direct result of the water cycle, serving as a vital component of this natural process.
The water cycle is like a big, magical loop that keeps water moving around our Earth. Let’s follow a drop of water on its amazing journey.
Evaporation
Imagine you’re outside on a sunny day. The sun shines down and warms everything up. When the sun’s heat warms up rivers, lakes, and oceans, the water starts to change. It turns into a gas called water vapour. This process is called evaporation. It’s like when you see steam rising from a hot pot of water.
Condensation
As the water vapour rises up into the sky, it gets cooler. When it gets cool enough, it changes back into tiny drops of water. This is called condensation. These tiny drops come together to form clouds. So, clouds are really just made up of lots of little water drops!
Precipitation
Now, the clouds are floating around, full of water drops. When the clouds get too heavy with all that water, the drops fall back down to Earth. This falling water is what we call precipitation. Precipitation can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature. If it’s warm, we get rain. If it’s cold, we might get snow.
Collection
Once the water falls to the ground, it needs to go somewhere. It collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some of it soaks into the ground and becomes part of the underground water supply. Plants and trees also drink up some of this water to grow.
Ace, Pro, Legend – Questions
legend
1. Explain in detail the water cycle.
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on Earth. It starts with evaporation, where sunlight heats up water in rivers, lakes, or oceans, turning it into water vapour. Then, the vapour rises and cools, leading to condensation, where it forms tiny water droplets that come together to create clouds. When these clouds become too heavy, the water falls back to Earth as precipitation, which can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Finally, the water collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans, ready to start the cycle all over again.
2. Describe two ways water enters our atmosphere.
Water enters our atmosphere mainly through evaporation, where water from oceans, lakes, and rivers turns into vapour due to the heat from the sun. Another way is through transpiration, where plants release water vapour into the air from their leaves.
3. Why do the sea levels not drop when water is evaporated from it?
Sea levels don’t drop because the water that evaporates eventually falls back to Earth as precipitation. Plus, water cycles between different forms (like gas and liquid) and doesn’t disappear, it just changes form.
4. Where does water come from?
Most of the water on Earth comes from the early days of our planet when it formed. Some of it came from comets and asteroids hitting Earth, while some was released from volcanoes. Today, the water on Earth is recycled through the water cycle, meaning we are using the same water that has always been here.
Since our textiles teacher was absent, we had to do some extra activities. I engaged in several tasks, including word finds, word art, and a few other activities. I hope you enjoy what I’ve shared.
Word Find
Word Art
Research Task
Research how sewing machines have developed over time.
Sewing machines have evolved significantly over the years.
In the late 1700s, Thomas Saint created the first sewing machine design, but it wasn’t built. In the 1800s, Elias Howe patented a machine featuring a lock stitch. Isaac Singer made it more popular by adding a foot pedal for easier operation.
By the late 1800s, mass production made sewing machines widely available. In the mid-20th century, machines gained features like zigzag stitches and automatic buttonholes, making sewing a popular craft.
Today, many sewing machines are computerised, allowing for advanced designs and embroidery, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.
Kia ora everyone, and welcome back to my blog. This week in literacy, my class has been learning all about women’s suffrage, something I didn’t know much about before. It’s actually been really interesting to learn about the history and understand how women fought for the right to vote and have a say in decisions that affect their lives.
In this post, I’ll be sharing some of the tasks I completed during our lessons, explaining what women’s suffrage actually is, and answering a few questions we explored in class. I’ve learned a lot about the struggles women went through and how their determination changed history. I hope you enjoy reading and maybe even learn something new too.
What’s Women’s Suffrage?
Women’s Suffrage: A Journey Towards Equality
Women’s suffrage refers to the movement advocating for the right of women to vote in elections. This struggle began in the late 19th century and gained momentum through the early 20th century, as women campaigned tirelessly for equality and representation in political processes. Advocates highlighted the injustices faced by women, arguing that their voices were essential in shaping laws and policies that affected their lives and communities.
The movement achieved significant milestones, with various countries granting women the right to vote at different times. In the United Kingdom, the Representation of the People Act 1918 was a pivotal moment, allowing women over the age of 30 to vote, followed by equal suffrage in 1928. The fight for women’s suffrage not only transformed political landscapes but also inspired subsequent movements for gender equality and social justice across the globe.
My Task –
In reading, we had to complete a set of tasks, which were:
Task 1
Prior Knowledge
We had to complete a task and fill in the first 2 columns – ‘What I Know’ and ‘What I Want To Know’.
What I know
I know that women were not allowed to vote, so they protested and worked hard to gain the right to have a say in parliament and elections. The women’s suffrage movement helped women gain other rights like fairness in society, access to education, etc.
What I want to know
Did the women’s suffrage movement help women in other ways besides voting?
What does women’s suffrage mean?
When did women start fighting for their rights?
Who were the important leaders in the women’s suffrage movement?
What have I learnt
From this article, I learned that New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote in 1893. Women had to work hard and fight for their rights through petitions, speeches, and advocacy, despite strong opposition from powerful people like Prime MinisterRichards Seddon. I also learned about key figures like Kate Sheppard and Mary Ann Muller, who played important roles in the suffrage movement. Their discovery helped bring about a major change in history and inspired similar movements in other countries.
Task 2
Watch
Watch this video with your teacher and take notes.
Using the article as a base, choose one aspect you would like to find out more about. Using reputable websites, research your topic and create a visual way to explain what you learned – video, poster, slides, etc.
Complete this ‘What I Know Now‘ task. Add to your blog (along with Task 4) and reflect on –
What you learned
Your thoughts and feelings on the topic
What I learnt
In my exploration of women’s suffrage, I learned that it was a really important movement for women’s right to vote. This struggle went on for many years, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There were amazing leaders like Kate Sheppard and Mary Ann Muller, who worked super hard to fight for equality. This movement was about more than just voting, it was part of a bigger fight for gender equality and justice. Learning about this has made me appreciate how far we’ve come in the fight for women’s rights and how important it is to be involved in making a difference.
My thoughts and feelings on the topic
When I think about women’s suffrage, I feel really inspired. It’s amazing to learn about the brave women who fought for the right to vote. They faced so many challenges and didn’t give up, which shows how strong they were. It makes me appreciate the rights we have today and reminds me that it’s important to speak up for what we believe in. Learning about this topic has opened my eyes to the ongoing fight for equality, and it makes me want to be a part of making the world a better place for everyone. Women’s suffrage is not just history, it’s a lesson about courage and the power of standing together for what’s right.
Reflection
I really enjoyed learning about women’s suffrage because it showed me how brave women were in fighting for their rights. The stories of their struggles and victories were inspiring. I didn’t find anything hard about it, everything I learnt was interesting and made me think about how important equality is today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the struggle for women’s suffrage was about so much more than just voting. It was also about equality and being treated fairly. This literacy week helped me learn about how women expressed their thoughts and pushed for change. We should remember and celebrate the hard work of those who fought for these rights. And let’s not forget, there are still many challenges for women today, so we must keep promoting education so everyone can have a say in our world.
Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you found it informative
