Sunday 23 June 2019

Aroha 6: Exploring a Volcano eruption!





Wahoo!!! It is Volcano Experimenting time!

Today we learnt how different substances react when they are mixed with each other.

The materials we used for our volcano experiment are simple and can be found in your very own kitchen! 

The items we used were:1 plastic cup1 drop of orange / yellow/ red food colouring Half a cup of vinegar 1 table spoon of baking soda

Aroha 6 were very excited to perform this volcano experiment.  It was like witnessing a real volcano erupt right before your very eyes! 

But this version is much smaller! 

Congratulations AROHA 6  you  have just created an erupting volcano!

Our discussion around this science experiment was

" What makes it behave that way?" Although there is actually a deeper explanation to that...

In other words,  the primary explanation to the chemical reaction we have just experienced is that mixing vinegar, which is acid, and baking soda, which is base, results in the formation of carbon dioxide gas, forcing the contents of the cup to come out of the volcano. 

When an acid and a base are mixed together, they react to neutralize each other resulting in production of salt and also in the process, produce carbon dioxide. 

In real volcanoes, carbon dioxide is also present when they erupt!







Aroha 6: Exploring basic chemistry: Does oil and water mix together?






In support of our Mad Science inquiry,  Aroha 6 took interest of exploring basic chemistry in which we experimented with canola oil and water and used materials such as test tubes, a drop of food colouring per tube and plastic spoons. 

As part of being a Science explorer we learnt to ask questions, form a hypothesis,  test our hypothesis,  record our hypothesis and come to a conclusion...

In conclusion to our science experience 
"Does oil and water mix together?"

The answer is " No!"


Oil and water experiment explanation: 
What is happening?
There are a lot of interesting things to note during this science experiment.
Aroha 6 discovered that oil and water do not mix. Even if you shake the test tube the oil will immediately separate from the water as soon as it settles. Oil molecules are attracted to other oil molecules so they stick together. The same goes for water molecules….. so they just don’t mix – they are immiscible.
We also observed  the oil always floats on top of the water because the oil has a lower density than water. 












Aroha 6: Exploring the Science Roadshow with Team Aroha!




Kia ora koutou katoa Aroha 6 whanau....

This term team Aroha's integrated inquiry plan is based on Mad Science! In support of this we travelled by bus on an excursion to a Science Roadshow situated at Sancta Maria College.

This Science Roadshow sure was fun and exciting.  Definitely was a new interactive learning experience for all of us.  We enjoyed engaging and participating with the live shows, hands on exhibits that enabled our learners to extend their knowledge of the nature of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.... 

Here are some of our learners voices:

What did you enjoy at the Science show? 

Lesego:  "I enjoyed when the water changed colours."

Eliki: "I liked the colourful smoke that exploded."

Aaria-Mei: "I enjoyed lying on the nail bed."

William: "I liked the rocket science experience."

Seti: "I enjoyed watching the green fire."

Kiran: "I liked going to all the different activities."

Ivana:" I liked observing the yellow explosion."

Hyrum: "I liked when the man put the stick in the fire and it turned green."

Pratik: " I liked the part when the man spun the glass of water around and it didn’t tip."

Mia: " I enjoyed when the man put wax on the stick and it changed colours."

Josiah: " I liked it when the man showed us about gravity."

What is gravity? Josiah : "It is about one thing is heavy and one thing is light."

Seira: "I enjoyed playing with different activities."

Grasmer: " I liked when the man put the water in the cup and spun it."

Giana : "I liked going on the bus."

Maisaele: " I liked standing in the tyre and was in the big bubble."






























Monday 3 June 2019

Aroha 6: Celebrating Gagana Samoa Rowandale styles!!!







Talofa Aroha 6 fanau and friends!

Unfortunately it  has come to the end of the week celebrating Samoan language.   We have had so much fun embracing Samoan culture such as counting in Samoan language, learning Samoan greetings, singing and dancing to Samoan action songs, creating our own Samoan inspired visual art pieces along with making a Samoan dish...








Rowandale is all about reflecting upon our PRIDE values and growing our people. 

What a great way to end this week with a closing ceremony for Samoan language. 
In fact we were so spoiled with amazing performances from our teams Aroha,  Tumanako along with our special guests from the  Manurewa Intermediate Samoan group and so much more...
Thank you to all our Rowandale fanau that made this special assembly a memorable one.  
We surely enjoyed every moment of it... 

Thank you to all our Aroha 6 fanau that were able to attend and contribute to our shared lunch in our classroom.

We had a lot of delicious food to choose from that were made with so much love...Thank you so much... What can I say Aroha 6 were spoiled for sure.. We had so many traditional Samoan dishes provided on the day such as Suafa'i,  Koko laisa, Sapasui, Keke pua'a, panikeke and alot more...

Fa'afetai tele lava Eliki's fanau for providing the beautiful woven flax mat in support of our children's cultural learning environment.


We hope you all enjoyed our welcoming pese and blessing of the food!















Aroha 6: Making Suafai'i with our buddy class. Wahoo!!!



It is Suafa’i Time!



In celebration of Samoan Language Week / Vaiaso o le gagana Samoa. 
Aroha 6 and our buddy class Whakapono 20 were blessed to have Mr Sagote come  demonstrate on how to make a Samoan traditional dish called Suafa'i. 
It is also known as a Samoan dessert, pudding or a banana soup which can be eaten hot or cold.

The ingredients used for today's Suafa'i consisted of a big pot, wooden spoon, two cans of coconut cream, two bunches of bananas, enough water to cover and packet of sago.

It is ideal to use bananas that are past their prime and too mushy to eat, preferably covered in black spots, because these are sweeter and softer than perfectly ripe ones. 


  Method

- Mash the bananas by hand, leaving some      lumpy bits.

- Put the bananas in a pot and add enough        cold water to cover the bananas. 
  Stir through the sago.

- Bring to the boil on medium heat, then turn      down and simmer stirring occasionally until      sago goes transparent.

- Stir through the coconut cream.

- Serve warm or leave to cool and go jelly like    and eat cold.

Fa'afetai tele lava Mr Sagote for your valuable time we had so much fun preparing the ingredients for our delicious Suafa'i.


Fa'afetai tele lava Whaea Mareta for preparing the hot fresh bakery bread buttered with hard yummy butter.


Fa'afetai tele lava Whakapono 20 and Mrs Sagote for being fantastic positive role models for Aroha 6...

What a great cultural learning experience it was for all of us....


Cheee!!! Hoooo!!!














Aroha 6: Opening ceremony for Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa - Samoa Language Week 2019






We are halfway through Term 2, at week 5 and we are celebrating Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa !
 Samoa Language Week 2019!
 Loud and Proud!
 Our theme for this year is: 'Lalaga le si'osi'omaga mo se lumana'i manuia' - 
'Weave an environment for a better future'


This week we began with the Flag raising ceremony situated at the flag pole.  We were given the opportunity to come dressed in your choice of traditional Samoan outfit or something similar... Thank you to all our Rowandale fanau that made this such a successful memorable opening...






Aroha 6 had fun learning alongside each other such as singing the Samoan National Anthem and the Samoan hymn, Fa'afetai i le Atua

Samoan Language Week / Vaiaso o le gagana Sāmoa is about celebrating the identity, language, and culture of our learners from Samoa and their families. It is also about supporting our learners to engage and achieve a cultural success. 
Learning a new language provides a better understanding to different beliefs and cultural practices. It was great to observe our Samoan learners take the lead in blessing our food before eating along with giving it a go to pronounce the basic words of Samoan language...

Aroha 6 sure had fun embracing Samoan Language Week / Vaiaso o le gagana Sāmoa. So proud of you all. You showed PRIDE within your lovely singing, elegant dancing and creating your very own masterpiece inspired by the famous Samoan artist Fatu Feu'u...