Rare White Giraffes Caught on Camera in Kenya

Today we discussed how animals that live in the desert have adaptations that allow heat energy to escape, while animals that live in the Arctic or Antarctic are adapted to retain their body heat. How do you think the surface area of an animal could make a difference to its ability to retain or release heat?
Then I came across this article about these rare white giraffes captured on video just recently and it got me wondering...are white giraffes better adapted to their habitat than regular giraffes or are they at a disadvantage? What do you think?

Last night two teams of students entered the WaiMath Quiz in Hamilton and there were some pretty tricky problems to be solved...can you calculate the obtuse angle of the hands of a clock at 9.25?
Both teams thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were impressed by the Berkley Intermediate teams that won both the Year 7 and the Year 8 competitions in double quick time. Our Year 8 team members are now keen to get to college to find out if they might be able to compete as Year 9s, but you don't have to wait for the competitions to come to you. Follow this Competitions link to find a whole heap of competitions for NZ students and find one you'd like to enter.

With the Science Fair coming up we have put our thinking hats on about suitable projects that could be worth investigating. There are lots of really fun experiments that sound exciting but how useful is it really, to know which cola works best if you want to make a cola and Mentos volcano? Trying to find investigations that are going to have some practical application to our lives could be the start of something much more amazing.
Look at these incredible young people that are exploring science that could change the world.

Teen Invents Better Way To Keep Germs Out

Amazing Teen Scientists Covered in the Media

Words Are Power. That's the Truth!

Have you ever come across a word you don't know the meaning of?
Understanding prefixes, suffixes and roots is one of the most essential strategies for unlocking the meaning of new words available. By understanding their meanings, you often have the tools needed for decoding difficult words. There are hundreds of roots, prefixes and suffixes but increasing your knowledge of them will improve your vocabulary exponentially and make it much easier to figure out what that unfamiliar vocabulary means.
Just to get you started watch this video from Educational Rap

To learn more Learn That should have enough to keep you going for a year or two or ...

Cool Jobs

Video Game Creators

Keeping  TV science honest

Have you ever wondered where that, some might say unhealthy, obsession with science might be leading? Read about some of the Cool Jobs some scientists have; from video game creators to keeping TV science honest. Where could it take you? 

Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky Read by Benedict Cumberbatch

Last year a small group of Year 3 students did lots of work with this brilliant and timeless poem. Benedict Cumberbatch reads it perfectly.

Jabberwocky
Benedict Cumberbatch readsJabberwockyby Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)'Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe;All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe."Beware the Jabberwock, my son!The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!Beware the Jubjub bird, and shunThe frumious Bandersnatch!"He took his vorpal sword in hand;Long time the manxome foe he sought —So rested he by the Tumtum tree,And stood awhile in thought.And, as in uffish thought he stood,The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,And burbled as it came!One, two! One, two! And through and throughThe vorpal blade went snicker-snack!He left it dead, and with its headHe went galumphing back."And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?Come to my arms, my beamish boy!O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"He chortled in his joy.'Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe;All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.
Posted by Poetictouch on Monday, November 28, 2011

Mondrian Inspiration

This term we have been looking at Piet Mondrian's De Stijl art work and other artists that worked around the same time. We have worked really hard at problem solving and goal setting in the creation of Stop Motion videos of our own Piet Mondrian inspired artworks.
Have a look at what we've been doing...

What's Pythagoras Got to Do With This?

Last week we explored the Pythagoras Theorem and used it to calculate the length of various sides of right angled triangles. So how can it help us with this?

Bizarre Triangle


You will need to click on the link to see the measurements of two of the triangle's sides.

Does vexillology have you vexed?

So you think we should change the New Zealand flag...or maybe you don't. Roman Mars is obsessed with flags, and after watching this you may be too. Right now everyone over 18 is being given the opportunity to vote on which flag they would prefer IF New Zealand votes to change the flag in 2016. There are five designs to choose from. Which one do you think is best? If you listen to Roman Mars discuss the elements of a great flag design you will be in a much better place to cast a vote.


If you were to design a Kimihia school flag what would it look like? How many features of great flag designs would your flag include? Have a go ...but remember to start on a very small rectangle of paper...

Money, Money, Money!

New Zealand's banknotes are being upgraded with new security features. While the notes will have similar themes to those we are familiar with there are a few changes, including something for people who are blind or have low vision.
Today the first of the new $5 and $10 notes were released. New $20, $50 and $100 banknotes are due to be released in April 2016.

Take a tour of the new notes and look out for them the next time someone hands you change.

How many differences can you spot?