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?

You Are Not the Centre of the Universe

Putting things into perspective, we are tiny, really tiny.

Horrible History

If anyone ever told you history is boring think again. History helps us understand change and how the world we live in has come about. Thanks to the Horrible Histories book series there has been renewed interest in the world of the past. Of course history teachers are, and always have been, passionate about their subject and if you follow the link below you will find teachers that have breathed new life into their subject by telling ancient stories to modern music.
Modern Musical Tour Through the Ages

The Gravity Defying Worlds of Cinta Vidal Agullo

Barcelona based artist and illustrator defies gravity and architectural conventions to create beautiful works of art. Painted with acrylic paint on wood panels, Vidal says of her paintings, "I wanted to show that we all live in one world, but we live in it in very different ways."

View more of her art work