Otago Problem Solving Challenge Set 2

We have recently completed the second problem solving challenge and overall we did much better than we did in the first one. In the first set we achieved 25 correct out of 60! That's 42%. There was definitely room for improvement as a group. This time we achieved 36 out of 55! That's 65%. What an improvement! Now we need to aim for an even better result. If you did the challenge and would like to know your score you can ask your teacher.

It's A Problem

In maths today we were able to use the digits 6,5 and 5 to create the numbers one to ten with the exception of 2, 9 and 10. The chocolate fish challenge is to find a solution for these numbers.

1 = 6! / 5! - 5

2 = chocolate fish

3 = 6! / 5! x 0.5

4 = 5 + 5 - 6

5 = (6 - 5) x 5

6 = 5/5 x 6

7 = 5/5 +6

8 = 0.6 x 5 + 5

9 = chocolate fish

10 = chocolate fish

Remember to blog your solution if you come up with one.

Kids Lit Quiz

We are all looking forward to the Kids Lit Quiz on Thursday at St Paul's Collegiate. Tomorrow our quiz will be created by the children in the teams. What will the questions be? Each child is creating 10 questions on a theme of their choice for the other team members to answer? It will be interesting to see just how difficult they make it for each other.

Kids Lit Quiz

Today the teams for the upcoming Kids Lit Quiz were announced. Congratulations to Joel, Amy, Katie, Jennifer, Sonya, Kirsten, Luca and Liam. Make sure you keep reading between now and next Thursday. Every minute counts! Thanks to the rest of you that came along to the library in your lunchtimes to take part in the practice quiz sessions. Keep up the great reading and it could be your turn next year.
You can find out more about this exciting competition by visiting the Kids Lit Quiz website.

Science Alive Pt 2

Yesterday a group of students from Team 2 investigated capillary action. We already knew about molecules of air and found out about molecules of water. They like to stick together and this is called cohesion. We also discovered that some materials like paper and fabric are made with fibres and have tiny holes between the fibres that the water molecules are attracted to. This is the reason some materials mop up spills better than others. The plastic bag didn't work at all!

Fonterra Science Roadshow

This afternoon 85 students travelled to the Fonterra Science Roadshow at Te Kauwhata College. What a great afternoon we had exploring scientific concepts through hands on exhibits. We learnt all sorts of things about light, density, colour, the human body, earthquakes,      tsunamis, liquifaction and lots, lots more.

Science Alive

This term two groups of budding young scientists will be working on a range of experiments to make discoveries about the world around them.

Have you ever wondered how water and nutrients from the soil reach the leaves of trees? Or why a sponge mops up a spill when a plastic bag doesn't? It's all down to capillary action and we spent some time discovering how this works. Watch as we see capillary action at work

.

If you would like to do this experiment at home you can find the instructions to make your own Magic Flowers here.

Anzac Poster Competition

On 25 April 1915, eight months into the First World War, Allied soldiers landed on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula. Every year we remember this important day in New Zealand's history. A day which helped New Zealand to define itself as a nation.

This year the New Zealand Defence Force is running Operation ANZAC Spirit 2012, a design competition for Year 7 & 8 students.Click here to find out more.

Chocolate Fish Challenge

Who among us can resist a challenge? Especially when the prize is a quintessentially New Zealand chocolate fish!
Some of the students in the GATE programme are resisting the opportunity to reflect on their learning through their blogs so I decided a little encouragement (AKA bribery and corruption) might just do the trick. Katie was today's lucky chocolate fish spot prize blogger. Who will be next? All you need to do is reflect on your learning or encourage your friends and family to comment on your reflections and it could be you!
Comment now on KIDBLOG.

Bug Lunch

Did you know that different insects have very different mouths depending on what they eat? Some insects chew, some suck and some lap. You can watch several insects at work through the links below, but watch out....when you are an insect you need to keep your eyes open or you might BE lunch!

House fly

Wart-biter Cricket

Bullet Ant

Monarch Butterfly