Scientists visit to Waihola School

On Friday two Scientists from the University came to our school to teach us about space and to answer all of our challenging questions. We liked how they used everyday equipment, like a basketball, marble and inflatable beach toy to show us a model of how large Earth and the other planets are compared to the sun. It painted a clear picture of our Solar system for us when they took us out to our field to show and explain the distances between our planets and the Sun. When the children spread out across the field we started to get clues about how vast the universe is. The highlight of the visit was speed-freezing bananas and making liquid nitrogen explode a plastic bottle. It was a great way to show us how cold it is in space.

We will never forget  ….

I loved how we got to look through the telescope

Tamati

I like when we did the explosion.

Elsie

I loved when they made mega lethal destructive liquid nitrogen bombs

Wiremu

I loved when they made the super lethal, super destructive ultimately awesome liquid nitrogen bombs of mass destruction.

Nathan

It was mega awesome how they made liquid nitrogen bombs. I feel bad for the poor frozen banana

Ryan

It was great fun listening to all the information,I wonder what it’s like being a scientist?

Tom

I loved the explosion because it blew up the whole bottle

Seth    

I LOVED making the liquid nitrogen bombs and freezing the banana. But in a way I feel sorry for that banana.

HARRY

 I loved making a banana frozen and making liquid nitrogen bombs.

Sean

Scientist Ian Whitaker talking to students

First a bottle was filled with liquid nitrogen. Then it was placed into the barrel that was partially filled with water. The water helped to amplify the sound of the explosion.

BOOMM!!! We all got a shock when it exploded! The sound was incredible!

Astronaut Applications

As part of our Inquiry learning we have been reading about Mars. We read a school journal story that told us it would take around 14 months to get to Mars. That is a long time to be cooped up in a space rocket with other people! This would cause some problems. We decided that it would take a special sort of person to be an astronaut. We discussed some of the qualities that you would need to have:

brave, caring, friendly, problem solver, honest, reliable. responsible, calm under pressure, self-reliant, wise, clever, well trained, team player, fit and healthy

Then we thought about what qualities we had that would make us a good astronaut.
Here are some of our 'applications'.

I will make a good astronaut because I will be fit and healthy. I eat lots of fruit and I run outside with my friends. I am also well trained.
I am friendly to other people and helpful. I am brave because I will say 'don't worry, it will be fine' and that will calm people down.
By Amber

I have what it takes to be an astronaut because I'm a space expert.
I can follow even the craziest commands, like if someone told me to fly into an asteroid belt - I'd do it! I'm so calm, I wouldn't scream if I saw the scariest horror movie.
Also 'friendly' is my middle name, because I've made a ton of friends over the years, that's how friendly I am.
By Tom

I would be a good astronaut because I know alot about space. Did you know that Jupiter is the biggest planet?
I am fit and healthy because I eat heaps of good foods and I play rugby. I am responsible so I would be a good person to drive a rocket ship.
By Jack G

I have proved that I have the right honour to be an astronaut. I am brave and wise and clever because I take on challenges. I am well trained and fit and healthy because I eat my vegetables.
 If something comes I will not be afraid. I am smart so I can fix lots of things in the rocket. I am cool under pressure, I can calm myself.
By Tamati

Cross Country

Mrs Jackson asked all of Room 2 for one word that came to mind when they thought about cross country. Then she turned them into a poem:

Bang!

Heart beating, legs pumping

Muddy, boggy, hills

Puffing, stitch

Finish line!

Wet, freezing, exhausted

Happy

Nau Mai Haere Mai!

The maori language word of the week for this week is - nau mai - welcome.