Lake Rerewhakaaitu School Climb our Hill...

A beautiful, crisp winters day blessed us as our school all walked up Rerewhakaaitu Hill.  The impressive mighty Mount Tarawera silhouetted against the blue sky kept a careful watch on us as we all wove through the farm tracks to to the top.  From the top we were lucky enough to see Mount Ruhepehu and Ngaruhoe in the south capped with white snow,  Mount Edgecombe to the north and the mirror like lake or Lake Rerewhakaaitu below us.

I OBSERVE 

I THINK

 I WONDER

Today Room 3 became scientists using our powers of observation!

Miss Coleman brought in some Huhu Grubs for us to look closely at.  

Our first task was to look very closely, making careful observations at the grubs and record our noticings...

We needed to think about colours, shape, textures, smells, sounds, movements and changes.

Some our findings were: It was bumpy, it looked slimy or wet.  It was moving, it was wriggling.  It expanded and contracted.  It has black substance coming out of it.  It had tiny spikes coming out of the white.  It had rolly rings up and down its body.  It was flexible. It was 4 cm long.  The grub reacts when we touch it by shrinking.

We then recorded what we think...

"I think it is alive because it is moving"  "I think the rings might represent its age"  " I think that the front of the grub is its mouth where the nippers are"  "I think the little spikes make it move faster" " I think it has a tail and a mouth" 

"I think when it extends and shrinks up this is how it moves"

Then we recorded our wonderings...

I wonder if the Huhu grub is related to the Huhu beetle?  Where does the Huhu grub live?  Why are they different colours?  How big do they grow?  How long do they live for?  Why do they have tiny holes?  What do the little spikes do? Can Huhu grub see?  What do they eat?  Is there different kinds of Huhu grubs?  Can Huhu grubs be other colours?

WAITOMO OVERNIGHT CAMP & CAVING ADVENTURES

With a touch of nervous anticipation Room 3 gathered at school, meeting to begin our overnight camp and caving adventure.

We headed across the central North Island, our destination WAITOMO….

Day one involved a visit to the Waitomo Discovery centre where we were well informed about the formation of the Waitomo area, cave systems, limestone, stalactites, and stalagmites.  We explored the discovery center examining fossils, skeletons of Moa, Kakapo and many more interesting creatures.  We learned about glow worms, their behaviours and how their beautiful glow is created.

We all embarked on the Ruakuri Bush walk, a beautiful walk through native forest, under rock formations, through tunnels and over a fast moving stream.  We could get a close look at cave weta up in cracks of the caves.

We toured the famous Waitomo Cave and travel down under ground  the glowworm grotto where we traveled through the cave in a boat and were all left speechless as we gazed up and millions and millions of glow worms sparkling down at us.

Our group stayed at TokiKapu Marae.  We experienced a traditional Maori Powhiri and stayed the night sleeping (some us!) in the Whare Nui.

Day two brought us to the Ruakuri Cave.  This was an amazing experience.  We were underground for an hour and a half, travelling down a huge man made concreate drum, around a giant spiral ramp.  Exploring tunnels, left speechless at the amazing stalagmites and stalactites, finding our way in the dark above the rushing stream.  At our lowest point we 65 metres underground!

We traveled to the Otorahanga Kiwi house to learn about the kiwi and we explored the bird and reptile park.

One final adventure found us at the Arapuni dam 65 meters above ground on a swing bridge, over the Waikato River.  We all made it across and back without too many nerves exploding!

A magic time was had by all 20 children and our supportive crew of teachers and parents.  We had a great team and all children were engaged, inspired and challenged throughout.

A special thanks to all the contributions from our families for the home baking, lasagne and apple desserts.  Also to our supportive parents who gave up work and family time to help out on camp.

By Hayley Coleman (Room 3 Teacher)

By Hayley Coleman (Room 3 Teacher)

LAMB, CALF & KID Agricultural Day 2014 - Lake Rerewhakaaitu School

This year there was a high standard of entries.  Calves and Lambs were well brushed, washed, and loved.  Here are some pictures of Room 3 and their animals and also some of our crafts and flower creations...