Spaghetti Bridges|Brick Test

Since we are doing structures for Inquiry Ms Kirkpatrick's inquiry group has been building bridges out of spaghetti for the past two to three weeks. It was a challenge, but today we managed to finish it. For this task I have been working with Jeremiah, Chris, and Te Pounamu. The fun part today was testing it. By testing our spaghetti bridges there were 8 bricks and we were to put as many bricks as we can. Before testing it our group predicted that it would hold three bricks but unfortunately it only held 1 brick. We were shocked with our results but we had fun. As you can see in the photo our bridge has bent. Our spaghetti bridge was 42 cm which was long. The spaghetti bridge that held the most was Sanujan's group who held 6 bricks. I think next time our group has to strength our bridge by adding more bands and sellotape. At the end of our bridge testing we decided to see a group hold all 8 bricks. We were stunned by the results because it held all 8. 

VR (Visual Reality) Auckland University

This term as you know LS2 have been learning about buildings and structures for Inquiry. But today for Inquiry it was a bit different because Yvonne and her research team from the Augmented Human Lab at Auckland University came to see how their research affects our learning. This was a fun and an amazing experiment for all of us. We were lucky because not all  schools in New Zealand have the chance to learn this way. For this research we were splited into our groups according to how big our class was. I went in the middle block after morning tea. First we did the eye test. For this test you have to cover one of our eye and then read the letters that were written on the board. This was a easy test for me. We were to cover both our right and left eye. The second test was a bit easy as well. It was the balance test. For this test we were to walk in a straight line and come back. This wasn't a race but we were timed. The third test (which was my favorite out of all) was the Peripheral Vision test. For this test we were to put on special glasses that tell Yvonne what we can see on the book. I remembered there was a elephant, circle, tree, star, and a car. After all test half of the group got the chance to use the VR cardboard and the other half (where I was) used the Ipads to do the Magic Window which was based on buildings and structures. I really enjoyed this learning experiment. I would like to thank Yvonne and her research team for all their effort towards and the pizza bought us for lunch. I would like to thank Mrs Anderson and Ms Kirkpatrick for all their hard work as well.

Venn Diagram - Bridges, Tunnels, Towers

As part of Inquiry we were to finish off uncompleted work. Jeremiah and I decided to finish of one of our Venn diagrams based on the similarities and differences of towers, tunnels, and bridges. I've learnt that only bridges have suspensions and tunnels are the only ones that can go through ground. Did you know that only bridges and towers sway side to side. To make our DLO look more appealing we've decided to draw the structures. 

Venn Diagram - Water View Tunnel In Auckland

As part of Ms Kirkpatrick's Inquiry group we were to finish uncompleted work from our previous Inquiry sessions. So Today Jeremiah and I have found one of our  lying in our google drive so we decided to post it on our blog. For this task we were to compare and contrast the Water view & Gothard Tunnel. I've learnt that both tunnel are the longest ones in their country. Its sad to hear that 9 men's lost their live due to work related accidents. Next time probably I could compare and contrast a tunnel, bridge, and a tower. If I was to do this I would probably pick the Sky Tower, Gotthard Tunnel, and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. 

Note Making - Buildings and Structures

At the beginning of our learning of buildings and structures we wrote down what we knew about what they are and what their purpose is. The questions we were asked were what is a structure, who is involved what materials is it made out of, and famous examples. Their were a lot of famous examples as we hear about them fairly regularly. At the start we did not have a good understanding of what they are and we are now using that as foundation so that we can add more information. Examples of famous building or structures in New Zealand is the Auckland Sky Tower which stands at 1,076 foot tall. Did you know that the green lighting on the sky tower represent St Patrick's Day. As part of our buildings & structures project the seniors from Panmure Bridge have got the opportunity to visit the infamous sky tower. For this inquiry topic I am working with Jeremiah K. 

Similarities & Differences

This week for Inquiry Mrs Anderson has set LS2 a challenge which is to compare and contrast three different towers from around the world. This was a bit challenging because instead of a normal two Venn diagram we were to make a three Venn diagram. I have worked collaboratively with Jeremiah and Sanujan. The three towers we compared and contrasted was the Auckland Sky Tower, Eiffel Tower, and the Sky Tree in Japan. I learnt that the tallest tower out of all of them is the Sky Tree being at 2,080 ft. I have also learnt that the Sky Tree cost 65 billion Japan Yen dollars which is a lot of money. The Auckland Sky Tower is an amazing monument in Auckland I've learnt that it has 3 main decks which is the Sky Deck (highest), Main Observation level and the Sky Cafe. Panmure Bridge was very lucky because we were given an opportunity to visit the sky tower and see the amazing view of Auckland. Did you know that if the Sky Tower is decorated blue it symbolizes the Auckland Blues and the New Zealand Warriors.

Similarities & Differences - Auckland Viaduct Harbor Bridge & Golden Gate Bridge

Today we have created a Venn diagram which compare and contrasts the similarities and differences of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Auckland Viaduct Harbour Bridge. The similarity which most people will not think of is that they are both built in Westernised nations. As Ofa (my partner) and I searched for information we found three similarities and fourteen differences. The Golden Gate Bridge is equal to 27 of New Zealand's viaduct harbour bridges as the viaduct bridge is 330 ft and the Golden Gate Bridge is 8,981 ft.

Human Body Quiz

Today for Inquiry Ms Kirkpatrick Inquiry group played a simple game based on the human body. There were questions that I've heard of before such as how many bones do humans have?, what is the smallest bone called, where in the body does most of digestion take place? I got a score of 10 out of 10 in 23 seconds. I was happy with my results because I did it before 50 seconds which some students in my class got. In this quiz I have learnt that the longest bone in our body is the Thighbone (femur) and that our skin is the heaviest organ in our body. 

Inquiry | Reflex Experiment

 

For inquiry this term we have been learning about the different body systems and Ms Kirkpatrick set up a experiment for us that helped us find evidence to support our learning of how our body systems help us in everyday life. The experiment was called 'The ruler drop test'. For this experiment we were to get in partners. Nickaela and I worked together and we did amazing job. Our first experiment was the visual test which meant our partner had to drop the ruler without saying anything to us. This meant the ruler could drop any minute or probably second. Our second test was the hearing test. For this test our partner had to close their eyes and the other partner had to say go and drop the ruler. Our last experiment was the touch experiment. For this test our partner had to close their eyes and instead of saying go our partner had to touch us and drop the ruler. This was the hardest test of all because sometimes our partners didn't touch us hard enough to feel it. At the end of the experiment we were to get into groups of four and make a bar graph that showed our results in each of the test. I learnt that girls have faster reactions than boys.        

Skeletal System Game

For Inquiry today we learnt 3 body systems which are the Digestive, Nervous and Skeletal systems. The digestive system is usually controlled by the stomach and the nervous system is controlled by your brain. We looked at all the parts of the Human Skeleton and read about the parts. I learnt that the patella (which is known as our knee cap) part of the skeleton is the circular bone that is in front of the knee joints (the patella protects and covers you knee joints). I also learnt that the patella is the largest sesamoid (a bone that is inside a tendon) bone in your body .The fun part today was we played a game where you needed to place all the bone parts of the Human Skeleton in the right place. We had 15 minutes which meant we got to try again and beat our high score. Every bone part we added to the skeleton it added up all the attempts even though if it was right or wrong. My high score was 29. I could do better but it was my first time. We have 11 body systems which are the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, lymphatic, muscular, nervous, renal/urinary, reproductive, respiratory and skeletal system. The thing I found interesting was that Little baby that are at birth have 270 bones but as they grow to adulthood the bones decreases to 206 bones after some bones have sticked or combined together.

The 7 Life Processes | MRS GREN

As part of Inquiry this week we have been learning about Mrs Gren. Mrs Gren is a Mnemonic which is used to help kids and adults remember all the 7 Life Processes features of what a living thing needs which is Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition. Some of us were doubting each other that a fire is not a living thing. A fire is not a living thing because it does not have any senses. As you know we are learning about the Body System and this week we were learning about the lungs which is why we did a bar graph of the Lung Capacity of students in LS2. 

Lung Capacity in LS2

For inquiry this term we are moving onto learning about the Body System. Today Ms Kirkpatrick group were to Compare their lung capacity of students in our class (LS2). First We used one breath to blow up a balloon.Then we measured the circumference of the balloon in cm. Then at the end we made a bar graph with the results to compare them. I found out that Savelina, Brooklyn, Fui and Affonso got the same lung capacity which was measured as 51 cm. The highest was Julian who got 68 cm and the lowest was Avalon who got 44 cm.