The digestive and skeletal system

We have had an interesting inquiry into the digestive and skeletal system. It has created some fascinating discussion and the systems are more amazing than we imagined. The students have written explanations on the digestive system and information reports on the skeletal system, so look out for them on their individual blogs. They have also created a skeleton picture using the correct bone names as the visuals instead of bones. Here are a few of the pictures and videos that we used to help learn about these systems. The first one is real camera footage inside the digestive system - a little gross, but amazing.

Weight and temperature

This morning we looked into measuring weight and temperature. Some of the things we focused on were Net weight, Gross weight, Fahrenheit compared to Celsius, estimation, conversion between grams and kilograms, and how to use thermometers. Estimation was especially interesting. Unless you have used measured weight a lot, it is hard to estimate. The students estimated how many pens would weigh the same as a stapler, as well as how heavy a feather or a Boeing 747 (333 - 440 tonne) would be. Here are a few pictures of our learning.

The house full of secrets

As part of learning about personification and editing we have been doing some collaborative writing. The students wrote a section in pairs, then in groups of four they combined pieces together. Then a group of students edited the pieces so they would flow together. Excellent work guys, you can be proud. 

Well done Ellen, your title was selected as the best one for our writing.

As I walked through the lush green grass I saw the old house standing all alone on top of a hill. An elegant oak stood tall and quiet, swallowing part of the house. The scene around me was airy and silent. So quiet, I could hear the earth breathing. My emotions ran away on me and I started to feel sad as I trudged on towards the house.

When I arrived at the house I took a detour to the lonely tree. The monstrous drunken branches of the ragged tree drooped to the ground as if asleep. I started to make my way towards the house. I glanced back at the old leafy tree. I wondered what it had been through, what it had seen.

As I looked up at the old broken gate it towered over me. I opened the gate and it fell off its rotten hinges.

I stumbled past the rustic windows that looked like they had been abandoned for decades. It was like the house was alive and was peering through her smashed glasses. Ivy dressed her cracked body. A bad feeling began to rush through my spine.

Then I noticed the old, rusty door and wondered what it would lead me to if I opened it. I opened the creaky door and she screamed in agony as she swung open on her hinges. Brittle timber carelessly dropped to the ground as she took her last gasp of air.

I crept into the room. My eyes squinted from the broken light. A chair stood in the corner of the crumbling room. A shiver ran down my spine. The smell was musty and looked like someone had perished in that room. I then turned and walked away leaving the house’s secrets for ever.