Go All Blacks!

We have been having a fun week talking about Halloween things, plus getting excited about the All Blacks playing in the Rugby World Cup. Today at Allenvale we are having a Black Out Day to support our team. That fits in so well with our Halloween theme.

I wasn't too sure about whether we would do anything on Halloween. It can be a controversial topic! I gave all of the students a choice and they said "yes" to Halloween crafts and cooking. It is all a bit of fun.

The first Halloween activity we wanted to do was to make a carved pumpkin. Carving requires a very sharp knife, so Lulu took charge of that, and the students helped to scoop out the middle. We got enough flesh out of the pumpkin to make a small batch of pumpkin soup.

Look at our pumpkin!

Did you know that you can get little battery operated tealight "candles" which we used to light up our pumpkin? Just as well, because Matthew thought he'd take a close look.

 Look - a witch found our pumpkin!

We also decided to learn a bit about spiders. Some people are scared of spiders, but as long as you leave them alone, they will mind their own business and leave you alone too. We watched part of a National Geographic documentary about spiders. We learned that some baby spiders can fly on the wind for very long distances. Most spiders are very tiny. 

We made funny spiders out of chocolate kisses, with licorice legs and tiny eyes. Merit told us that spiders have eight legs. It was quite tricky - great fine motor practice! 

This is Dorota showing Alex what to do. Lulu was away, so we were thrilled to have Dorota helping us for the day.

We had to poke the licorice legs into the sides of the chocolate kiss body.

Here's one with the legs on.

Most spiders have eight eyes! Some have more and some have less. Some spiders that live in very dark places like caves have no eyes at all. This spider has eight eyes.

 It was quite tricky putting the tiny little eyes onto the spiders. Merit put two eyes on her one.

Kyle's spider looked awesome.

Here's Rawiri's spider.

 James made a spider too.

Can you count the legs and eyes on James' spider?

This spider has a grumpy face!

Alex put the eyes onto his spider. He read a spider book to see how they should look.

Aimee-Lee made a spider too. She and Fay did some drawings of the spider making sequence before they started.

 

 William made a spider with Fay. He thought the spider was very delicious and wanted to eat it before it was finished.

Yum - the spiders were gobbled up pretty quick! 

Homework 

• Device users - can you find "spider" on your Proloquo2Go? What other spooky things can you find? 
• Everyone discuss with someone: Who are the All Blacks? What game do they play? Where are they at the moment and what are they doing? 

GO ALL BLACKS!!!!!!!!!!

Botanical Gardens in Spring

Welcome back everyone. 

On Monday we went in the school van to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens are so colourful and interesting at this time of year. 

We always have a look at the river and sometimes spot eels and trout. We saw some little ducklings. 

Matthew has a special interest in animals. He watched the ducks carefully.

The colours in the garden beds are stunning at the moment.

Merit in front of the blossom tree.

Aimee-Lee was so happy.

Matthew looked around for birds.

Rawiri found a circle to stand on.

We walked through the fragrant garden. Kyle checked out the amazingly fragrant rhododendron.

Alex found something he thought was awesome. It was a vehicle called a "Gator."

The big glasshouse was open again and looking fantastic. Rawiri pointed to the big bunch of green bananas.

William seemed right at home in the glasshouse.

The cactus house was open again. We were NOT ALLOWED to touch the cacti. Why is that?

Take a look at the prickles on the cacti. Ouch!!!!! Don't touch!!!!

Are you having fun Rawiri?

Alex spotted the green "Gator" driving along by the herbaceous border. Can you see it?

Merit and Kyle posed by the incredibly bright bedding plant gardens.

William had his music and a lizard with him.

He was fascinated by the Peacock Fountain. The water sprinkled down and splashed into the pond.

Aimee was also really interested in the fountain. Can you see the birds on the fountain? Did you know those funny fishy creatures at the bottom of the fountain represent dolphins?

Aimee and Lulu noticed the huge orange tulips. Lulu wants to grow some in her own garden next year.

Alex said "Hello" to the man on the chair.

We all smelled the lilac - what an amazing, beautiful perfume.

The Botanical Gardens look so beautiful in springtime. Well worth a visit and a picnic would be fun. Maybe we'll do that next time.

Can you choose the picture you like best from this week's blog and tell someone what you see. Who is in the picture? What things do you see? How did the people in the picture feel? What are they doing? 

We try to fit some exercise into every day at school. Can you go for a walk with a family member, friend or caregiver at the weekend too?