Art lessons with Ivan

Ruby asks a lot of questions!

Today she had a conversation with Ivan:

"I've always been an artist.  I love drawing." [I say]
"Why do you love it?" Ruby asks.
I pause.  I've never talked to anyone about this before.  "When I'm drawing a picture, I feel... quiet inside."
Ruby frowns. "Quiet is boring."
"Not always."

(excerpt from 'The One and Only Ivan' by Katherine Applegate)

Is there an activity you love to do?  Or a place you love to go?  Why do you love it?

Diamante Poems

Today we created some collaborative poetry, using Diamante form.

Noun

Adjective, Adjective

Verb, Verb, Verb

Noun, Noun, Noun, Noun

Verb, Verb, Verb

Adjective, Adjective

Noun

Here's a video of our first effort - a synonym Diamante poem about Monsters.

We performed an antonym Diamante poem about Superheroes at assembly too.

Ruby

Today we read about Ruby, the baby elephant arriving at the Big Top Mall.

Reread this chapter:

Guessing (p.58, excerpt from 'The One and Only Ivan' by Katherine Applegate

Bob fears our new neighbour will be a giant cat with slitted eyes and a coiled tail.  But Stella says a truck will arrive this afternoon carrying a baby elephant.

"How do you know?" I ask.  I sample the air, but all I smell is caramel corn.

I love caramel corn.

"I can hear her," Stella says.  "She's crying for her mother."

I listen.  I hear the cars charging past.  I hear the snore of the sun bears in their wire domain.

But I don't hear any elephants.

"You're just hoping," I say.

Stella closes her eyes.  "No," she says softly, "not hoping.  Not at all."


Why do you think Ivan thinks Stella might be 'just hoping'?  Why do you think Stella says she is not hoping?

Waterwise Day 1

What a lovely day for it!  The wind was a bit funny in the morning for those of us trying to be all Dean Barker and sail our Optimus dinghies, and the windsurfer team, but all in all a great day was had!

A few choice pictures to give you a flavour of the day.

Waterwise

The gear you need to bring for Waterwise:

If the weather is fine, please wear shorts, sun hat, t-shirt/rash vest

If the weather is cold/wet, please wear rash vest or warm jersey, raincoat.  Youthtown has some wet suits we can use.  If you have your own wetsuit you’d like to bring, bring that.

Extra items to bring:

Sun block, sunhat, insect repellent, change of clothes, drink bottle, snacks, packed lunch.

The bus leaves at 8.45am, so be at school on time or you will miss out!

Will the slobberers get them?

We've just heard from Rory in the middle of being chased by the slobberers...  Next we'll be hearing from Dawn again.  What do you think she is thinking at the moment?

How was your holiday?

Day 1, Term 4 already.  The holidays almost feel like a distant memory in some way!

I told you a little about some of the things that happened on my holidays, so tell me about yours.  What were some highlights for you?