Explanation Writing

This week for written language we wrote pieces of writing related to this term's inquiry topic - Technology. We wrote a explanation writing about a certain need in our school or community.

I believe that our school needs netbooks because it has helped us develop our writing and it has been proven throughout the three years that our school has been with Manaiakalani. This is important to us because computers have already made their way into our generation and we have been greatly affected from it. If you asked every student that owns a netbook, they would choose to use their netbooks instead of writing in a book. Would you agree?

Can you fit all your ideas onto a piece of paper during a writing test?

Personally when I was younger I could never get enough time to finish my writing during a test, even when I did, the teacher usually couldn’t read it because my writing was too messy. This is a major disability for people who have great talent, but messy writing. Netbooks help me type all of my ideas and it is easy for a teacher to understand after a writing test.

Netbooks have been a great step for many schools to take. It has adapted from many other things including dictionaries, books, thesauruses, and many more! Schools are changing! This can help each student adapt to their environments in good ways. This affects others because I used to always get sore hands during a writing test; so I would stop writing and wait for my hand to feel better. With netbooks you can type as much ideas as you want, without the disadvantages of using a pencil and writing.

Being noticed online. This a great advantage that is given to Manaiakalani schools and this is being used by letting us work to our netbook motto: learn, create and share! After our students finish producing our work we get to blog it for the world to see. This is something that has been introduced since our netbooks were first introduced and it helps us gather the courage to share with others online and in real life.

Netbooks have been very important throughout our lives and many lives more to come. Something as simple as laptops can affect a whole education system. If you ask other students then you would most likely get the same answers as listed above. I recommend that most people should rethink their thoughts about netbooks.

Tuakana Teina Narrative Writing

Me and my buddy Edith worked together using pictures from the Art Technology group. We used them as places and characters in our story to help us create this writing. Take a look!

Writing Description

For this task we needed to create a piece of descriptive writing that relates to this terms inquiry topic which is 'Tagata O le Moana', Take a look!




Waves march against the sand as they scream for war before being forced to retreat from their march as they grasp for the remains of life before them. As the beacon of sunlight shines upon the scraps of driftwood and seaweed, the wrath of the army wasn’t over as the tide began to close in on the remaining grains of sand. An unfought war was nearly over.

 The bitter air foretells the approaching storm; there to celebrate the endless victory of the ocean. An aroma of salt-water indicates the tide’s cycle nearing it’s end, like a phoenix at the point of rebirth. The putrid smell of the moss gasping for a breath of air as the sun sets across the horizon.

 Engines moan at their driver’s as they return to whence they came. Crashes and smashes show the water trying to seize the land. Although the beach was empty, you could still hear the crying of the birds scavenging the remains. The water was tainted a slight green hue, this was a cause of waste and pollution already starting to take effect.

 The rusty surfaces of the railing are blocked from the slight touch of the steadily increasing power of the wind, sweeping the dust off my skin and revealing goosebumps hiding under the layer of dust like a cave exploiting it’s coal. A treasure chest without a lock.

 Rain taunts the tip of my tongue as it freefalls from the sky. The insides of my mouth are begging for a drink as the dehydration nearly causes me to succumb to the thirst. The taste of fish overcomes my taste as I stare into the empty, moonlit sea. It was time to go home.

Narrative Writing Reflection and Presentation Tasks

For this task we started off using a plan to organise our ideas into a single piece of writing. We also needed to work in groups to allow us to combine our creative thinking to create a piece of writing. After this we needed to make a presentation and make pictures that suit each of the different scenes and it suits our writing. After we finished that we needed to do a reflective task on what we did that week, Take a look!

Jayden and Nesbert - The Phoenix from Tamaki Primary on Vimeo.

Character Profile of a Scientist

We have been learning about the fields of science that one certain scientist contributed to in this writing framework. Take a look!

Famous Scientists

1. Pick a scientist from the list.
2. Think/Pair/Share - Discuss with a buddy the significant contributions your scientist has made to their field of science.
3. Complete the character profile below of a famous scientist.

character profile of a scientist

Name:	Archimedes (Last name unknown) C. 287 BC - C. 212 BC
country of origin:	Archimedes was born in the Greek city-state Syracuse on the island of Sicily.
science area:	Archimedes is a mathematician, inventor, engineer, astronomer and physicist.
Significant contribution to their field of science	Archimedes contributed to 3 discoveries: Although there is debate, it is said that he discovered how to use mirrors to burn attacking ships during an attack on Syracuse Archimedes also calculated Pi. Pi is exactly 3.14159265, this is one of the reasons why Archimedes is one of the three greatest mathematicians of all time judging by the tools he used to calculate it. Archimedes also created a miniature planetarium which people didn’t believe he accomplish due to Greeks not knowing about it. In 1902 it was proven that the Greeks had the knowledge of this.
What impact has their invention had on the world?	Archimedes has had an impact because he was around a few millennia ago, and yet he still had knowledge of pi and all of his inventions.

S.E.E Double Cheeseburger Structure

We have been learning to develop the main idea in our paragraphs by using the S.E.E structure:
S - Statement (Cause)
E - Explain (Define the cause)
E - Example (Effect)

Super Girl

Super Girl

In the dark misty day, in a modern parallel universe, was Super Girl. She had powers than nobody else could obtain. Everybody needed her help, but she liked to help her uncle Dave, he was all she had left.

Until one day...

Vaultrule the evil had a plan to capture Dave. He opened up a market store where everything is free. Dave rushed to the store and Vaultrule trapped Dave inside of the couch.

Super Girl used her powers to try and locate him and she flew to the evil store.
“Where are you?!” Super Girl yelled until she saw a couch moving.
“Dave!” She lifted the couch and Dave crawled out and used his mop weapon to blow up the store. Super Girl flew her and Dave out of the store. Booom! Vaultrule climbed out of the last remains of the store. “I’ll get you Super Girl!”

Volcano Description

The steam rising. The lava flowing. I can see the mix of the water and lava forming steam, rising in the sky. Ashes flying into the air. Water consuming the lava. I see the mountains trying to maintain itself from the ongoing lava.

I can hear sizzling sounds like someone cooking bacon . The lava slithering down. Rumbling sounds of the volcano like an earthquake. The lava forced out of the volcano making streaming mud sounds like it’s going down a slope.

The smoke, filling my nose with the horrible smell. Like a bushfire gone wrong. The smoke and ashes disintegrating into dust. The mountain with the lava burning its flesh to the bone.

I can taste the ash landing on my tastebuds. Bitter. Roasting. Smoke flying past my tongue.

My fingertips burning like a campfire. Hot steam - like putting your hand over a pot. Sweat rushing down my hands. Ashes burning flesh down to the bone.

Puriri Presentation

Here is my Information about the Puriri plant, check it out!

Jayden's Recount

I sat in the damp and dusty passenger's seat, holding the delicate gift basket and watching my frustrated mother drive... Concentrated on the road she drove to a hospital. Groaning. I knew she hated the Parking meters. She tugged the ticket and drove on as the sign was forced to move like a slave. Hungry. Tired. Bored. Irritating feelings inside me as I looked to the top of the hospital. Fear. The worst feeling of all. We finally found a parking space and we walked to the hospital gate. The word ‘Ward 6’ was the only thing on my mother's mind. We took the elevator... ‘DING!’ The elevator door opened and I drove back to reality having a small nap and I followed my mum to the counter; looking at the nurse she said “Room 7, that’s where you’ll find her.”
My mum simply nodded, and headed to Room 7.

I saw two women, one of them was my nan, but which one? I looked up and one of the metal plates that read ‘Topia.’ My dads family surname.
I walked up to my nan, noticing four women surrounding her. I mumbled “Hi, nan.”  She started to cry happily.  
“My Mokos!”
Her loud but croaky voice made me worry about her. I hugged and kissed my nan on the cheek after my sister who I forgot was here. I sat next to my cousin and lay there. Sleepy. My nan asked how school is. My mum replied because she knew I was tired. My sister used a glove as a balloon. Suddenly my nan asks if I missed my brother. I whispered “yeah.”My nan started to introduce my cousin and her children. One was twelve, one was eight and the youngest was about two and a half to be exact. My nan told my mother about how my dad was brought out of intermediate at the age of twelve and I started to feel sorry for him...

My nan then introduced us to her two sisters and her cousin, my other nans. I had never met them before, “Sis, you can stay with me when you get out of this place”
“No, no no. I want my mokos to stay with me. They can meet their brother Harlum again.”
“Really?”
I stopped. Paused. Thinking about meeting my brother again after three years.
I noticed that my mum gave her the basket. Already, but how?
“Excuse me but it’s time to leave.”
“Bye!”
My sister was wide awake and walked out the door.
I simply hugged and kissed my nan goodbye again and walked out the door, hoping I might see her and my brother again.

Speech Reflection

How did you feel about presenting your speech to the class?

 I had butterflies and I was sick to my stomach.
What was the hardest part about preparing a speech? 

Making it 4 minutes long.
What did you enjoy most about speeches?
I enjoyed using hand gestures to support my words.
How could you improve your speech making next time?
Adding Genres of writing together.

Shade in the squares to give your speech a rating out of TEN:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

It’s a Thriller! With Tamaki College

We used the writing strategies theme and rheme to add detail for our writing, so check out this amazing piece of writing.

Is the king of pop your idol?
You should watch this chilling reenactment of the original Thriller. Thriller is also Michael Jackson’s biggest hit and one of the most sold album of all time!

I believe you should watch this movie because you can watch and listen to the song at the same time because it’s acting and it’s a song. That makes a perfect combination to influence you to do this as well.

Secondly, people who like zombies and Michael Jackson don’t need an ipod and zombie games just listen to this. Zombie games are one thing, Michael Jackson is another a mix and that makes a very entertaining video!

Another reason is because it has entertainment, dancing for fun and inspiration because of its brilliant zombie actors. You can’t find many zombie actors in this movie, thats why this movie is so awesome.

This is why you should watch thriller, www.manaiakalani.com is the place to be right now, so click the link and get watching!

Why the Moon Changes Shape - A Pourquoi Story

Long ago when the world was out of human touch, there was Marcus the moon. He had holes like Spongebob and was berserk, he also acted like a god.

But Marcus was a violent and an ebony moon.  He brawled and killed stars for no particular reason and you could hear him laughing “ Die!” Just because he was huge...

When the stars had enough of a beating and a difficult life, they begged to Dylan, the sun,
the leader of the Stars. Triple star screamed with his tiny voice, “Defeat The Moon, he kills and tortures us badly!” The Sun spoke aloud. “Ok! He’s a bad person anyway. ”

The Sun waited and waited until The Moon awoke.
“Ahhh” yawned Marcus, “Time for beating the stars up an...”
“No you shall not!” yelled Dylan, “I will burn a piece of you off until it grows with my laser vision because of your murderous crimes against the stars” Dylan screamed.

* “No! You will never obtain my powers! ” The moon shrieked
The sun burned him until he looked like a banana
“Now will you listen? “ The sun questioned.
“Never! “
Dylan burned him into space dust until only his eyes and mouth remained.
“Ok ok! “ The moon squealed.
“Hahahaha!” Dylan laughed.

And that is why the Moon changes shape.

Frizzle Chicken Report

A frizzle chicken is rather white or black with fuzzy feathers sticking out of its head, as if it was a hairstyle. They also have fuzzy feet like feather boots.

These chickens live in warm places like new zealand, america and even russia.

Frizzles often eat poultry layer mash and pellets from local stores.

To protect itself, a frizzle chicken guards itself from behind so that makes it harder to catch.

Frizzle chickens moves with its left leg first while its head goes back and forward, like a pecking motion.

They protect their young by keeping it at their warm feet and make sure nothing gets them, these are the most protective chickens of all the chickens in new zealand.

The problem for these chickens is the slow time it lays its eggs and it could get weakened with their legs.

Did you know these are the most fluffiest chickens in the world.

Gretchen Albrecht, Art Queen.

Did you know, Gretchen Albrecht has been to more than one university to study art? She also doesn’t just study art... she travels!

Are you aware that Gretchen is a tourist and travels a lot and was born in Auckland, Onehunga.

Have you heard that Gretchen Albrecht uses the colour field technique? This means she uses ovals in most of her artwork and the only thing different is her colour.

Her most favourite artwork is the ‘Marine Rose’ using an amethyst-like colour and her latest artwork is ‘Alba in Ashes’ made this year!

Did you know that Gretchen Albrecht has made a pourquoi in 2011? This is known as ‘Why the pig has a curly tail.’

The Swamp King and the Mysterious Bull.

In the mysterious, deep, dark and damp swamp you could hear a stranger yelling “MANGAYA MANGAYA HI HI HI HAHAHAHAHAH!!!” A king of a swamp named Sufasa, yelled out his mystical saying of ‘meet meet us us us welcome.He is as hairy as king kong’s, great, great , great grandpa and he likes to sleep and eat,with his wife Su-Sophia.

But there was a bull called bogba he always scared the visitors away from the well known swamp owned by king Sufasa and queen Su-Sophia. One day the king came home to find his wife dead on his favourite swamp couch.

Sufasa picked up the royal swamp spear and yelled “Wollahoolamooolahoola” meaning ‘this is war prepare to die!’ He ran and prepared to throw is spear when the lion murmured “Please dont kill me” the king stopped in fright and wonder.
“I am an ancient beast that cant control himself, please lock me in a cage”
“Ok”
The king locked him deep down in the dark dungeon all the way under his swamp.
Everybody was happy or were they...

By Jayden Kenneth Charlie Roberts and Wiremu Dylan Liddicoat.

Buddy Reading With Ricky

Today room 3 came into our class and me and Ricki

were buddied up and I had

to write his story. We had a lot of fun working

together. Awesome!

My Beautiful Place

Far beyond the edge of the world is my beautiful place. I can see an orange delicate creature in this world called Trigger Happy and an endless realm of islands known as Skylands. I can also see a mysterious magical voodoo man in his lair using spellbinding spells of magic and a rock solid purple dragon.

I can taste fluffy fur from the orange creature in my mouth and the oozing liquid mud. The grass tastes like metal. I can also taste misty air.

Also I can hear the dragon’s red hot fire. I can hear blasts banging like bombs falling and something extremely fast you can’t see it running - stomping loudly. I can hear booming and blowing rapidly.

The ground feels like a silky pup’s fur and the orange monster feels like a velvet kitten being stroked.The dragon feels like delicate rock that is easy to break breathing slowly and the dark blue lizard feels like your skin when breathing.

Last of all, I can smell burnt crispy smoke from the fiery friendly dragon and a mysterious mystical magic smell from the voodoo man named Voodood (silent d). Also I can smell a muddy lizard and the mist from the misty air.

Would you dare come here?

Ireland Information Report

Ireland Facts Report

Are you aware that Ireland is famous for their four leaf clovers? Also their capital is Dublin.

Did you know that Ireland is famous for their “Queen Of Pudding” recipe? Ireland also has pancake festivals.Have you known that Ireland grow lots of potatoes

Have you heard of Brian O’Driscoll the Ireland legend? He is famous because he is the captain of Ireland and he has scored the most test point trys than any other player in Ireland. Do you know Ronan O’Gara? He is famous because he plays for Ireland in rugby and he has the most tries in the international matches.

Are you aware that Ireland celebrates St. Patricks day? People dress up as leprechauns. Also Irish like Irish dancing and shopping for the pot of golden nuggets.

Did you know that each leaf of the four leaf clover means hope,love,faith and luck.

Describing Piri-Weepu

It was windy as I looked out from the stadium to see Piri Weepu leading the haka like a Maori chief proudly. Mr Weepu is like an elite soldier in the war with an army called the All Blacks. He is yelling like a rooster, mad at another, ferociously shouting “Ka Mate!” He is stomping like a man going to the war for his family such as his daughter . He was born to be an All Black with his handsome looks.

Getting the ball passed to him, zooming like a cheetah as fast as the wind. Piri is fending a player with might...
Bam! He gets a try with bravery, representing New Zealand. Piri is proud to be an All Black wearing the #9 jersey once again.

He is non-stop again as he intercepts the ball and starts racing like a race horse. He’s as solid as a rhino evading aggressively, bulldozing all the people in his way. He is like an uncontrollable bull running loose. The almighty superhero gets another try without getting touched.

It looks like the other team is jealous of Piri Weepu’s muscles as he keeps on scoring tries like John Kirwan in the 1889 Web Ellis Cup.
Mr Piri is unstoppable. As Dan Carter passes the ball to Piri and he dives just on the half time buzzer and gets a try.

Thirty-nil is the score. No one can beat the All Blacks because of Piri Weepu’s greatness.