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Garry Hilton came to teach us about pests. He showed us all his pest traps. He also showed us his hunting ferret, Stella. Stella has teeth as sharp as needles. Stella is good at hunting rabbits and also at climbing trees. Garry puts Stella down a hole (wearing a special radio transmitter collar) and she races through and chases all the rabbits out into nets over the other holes. He has to feed her first so she doesn't eat a rabbit and fall asleep. Otherwise he would have to dig her out! 
Garry's record was catching 1200 ferrets in 10 days! Ferrets eat birds and there is no predator to kill mustelids so now the population has exploded. Garry taught us about Rabbit Arithmetic: 1 rabbit + 1 rabbit = 1,000,000 rabbits!!! Wow, that is a lot of rabbits! 

Term 4

This term we are working on our communication skills by learning about interviewing. An interview works best when:

• The interviewer asks good questions. Questions can be 'open' or 'closed' - open questions can start with how, why or what and get answers with lots of information. Closed questions usually only get very short or yes/no answers.
• The person being interviewed speaks clearly and explains what they are doing.
• The camera filming the interview is kept still.
• There is not too much background noise.

We want to present work we feel proud to share. Leave us a comment. We have only just begun so we would like positive and helpful feedback!

First Interview by Room 7 Reporters

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Drama Workshop with Evelyn Mann

Today the students worked with visiting drama expert, Evelyn Mann, in the Junction Suite for an hour. They listened to letters written by a husband and wife who lived 150 years ago in Otago. The husband had left to find gold and his wife was very worried about him! Then students created freeze frames (or living sculptures) in groups that showed different parts of the story. Evelyn used a magic remote to 'listen in' to certain characters in the frame - that way we could hear what they were  thinking out loud. One time we all made sound effects to go with the frame. It was an amazing experience and we will do these activities again as part of our inquiry into 150 years of Gold celebrations in Central Otago. Well done Room 7!

Swimming Lessons

Dear Room 7

Everyone is trying really hard at their swimming lessons! Lots of different skills are being practised -  freestyle arm stroke, backstroke, breathing technique, kicking on tummies and backs and floating...to name a few. Leave a comment about what skill you are working on. Is your swimming improving? What can you do better than last year? Do you think it is important to be able to swim in Cromwell?

Look forward to your comments!
Ms Claire

This might be Chris (?!) zooming along on his back!

Group 2's swimming instructor, Mitchell, working with Austyn.



Owain kicking on his back, arms at his side, keeping his chin up!



Swimming instructor, Helen, works with Group 3 children on their backstroke skills.



Group 1 children with Kirsten practising arm strokes and kicking on their tummies.

Les Riddell - Goldsmith

Today Les Riddell talked to us about gold and how he uses it in his work as a goldsmith. He has a workshop in Old Cromwell Town. He showed us lots of pictures of old Egyptian coffins made from pure gold. We saw pictures of old coins and rings and nuggets, too. He told us lots of interesting things about gold. He mixes gold with other metals to give it different colours. We think gold is beautiful! What else did you learn from listening to Les? Add a comment, try to write lots of different facts. See how many things we can remember!

Goldsmith Les Riddell showing students gold flake in zircon sand.

Corban tries on magnifying glasses used by a goldsmith.

Jack takes a close-up look at the hairs on his hand through the magnifying glasses.

Les shows us his jeweller's saw. It has a very fine saw blade so it doesn't make too much gold-dust, wasting gold. It is good for getting into small tight spaces. 

Here are Les' hand tools. In his workshop he has 16 different types of hammers! One is soft and made of leather so it doesn't mark the gold. One is hard and made of metal so it can put a pattern on metal.

Goldfields Mining Centre Visit - We learnt so much about the first gold miners in Central Otago back in 1862. Our tour guide, Dave, taught us how to pan for gold. Some lucky students even found real gold to take home! We saw the stamper battery and a water canon in action. The battery works as well as it did over 100 years ago! The Chinese miner's huts were amazing, so small and cold! How did those first miners survive the harsh winters? What an incredible day!

Welcome to Room 7's blogspot! I'm really looking forward to reading the comments and questions you have to share - our classroom blog will be like a daily diary of what goes on in Room 7. I'll be learning about it too - it's all new to me!