The Rhythm of Limericks

Today we started to learn about the rhythm pattern of a limerick:

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

Limerick's are usually silly.  Here is another example:

There was a bold pirate of Boulder
Whose cutlass was slung from his shoulder.
He’d mighty fine notions
Of plundering oceans,
But his mom said: “Perhaps, when you’re older.”

by Graham Lester (http://grahamlester.webs.com/kids.htm)

Try reading it out loud with the correct rhythm.  Can you do it?

What else do you notice about this limerick?  What is the rhyming pattern - which lines rhyme with which?

What do you think of this limerick?

Holst or Walker?

We listened to two pieces of music during our SSA session this afternoon.

One was 'Entr'acte' from Much Ado About Nothing Suite by James Walker, the other was 'Venus, the Bringer of Peace' from The Planets by Holst.

Which did you prefer?  Why?

You can listen to these tracks again if you want to remind yourself:

Entr'acte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GJnAAOG6nQ
Venus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1f8HjIkU3M

Representing art in dance

We were lucky enough today to be able to watch the results of Whanau Koru's Rich Task.  They had a visit to the Auckland Art Gallery, where they were inspired by paintings and created dances inspired by the paintings.

Which did you think best represented their chosen painting?

Room 1: 'Butterflies' by Salvador Dali

Room 20: Abstract art by Piet Mondrian

Room 24: 'Composition VIII' by Wassily Kandinsky

Room 21: 'Spring' by a New Zealand artist

Room 23: 'Lilies on a Pond' by Claude Monet

Room 22: 'Starry Starry Night' by Vincent Van Gogh

Stella's future

It's prediction time: What do you think the future holds for Stella the elephant?

The next chapter we will read has the title 'The Promise' - Stella will ask Ivan to promise her something.  Based on what we know already, what do you think she will ask?

Liz van der Laarse

How exciting!  Today we got an email from Liz van der Laarse, the author of our previous read-to book, 'Not Even':

Kia ora Joanna and Room 5,

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading Ms. Odds' questions and your comments about my novel 'Not Even'.

When I write I am by myself, with pictures in my mind of how the story goes. But of course I write to share the story with kids just like you. It was very cool for me to see how you felt about the characters and the story.

I have just republished 'Not Even' as an ebook/ibook and given it a new cover.

It's facebook page is:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Not-Even-by-Liz-van-der-Laarse/394054784057169

Thanks again for sharing,

Liz van der Laarse

We will definitely write back to her.  What would you like to say or ask her? 

Waterwise Day 2

Wow, how lucky were we with the weather today!

Another amazing day of watersport skills and fun.  The photos say it all.

Thank you again to Shona, Rachael, Glenys, Adam and Nicola for coming along as parent help.

Waterwise tomorrow

If the weather doesn't follow the forecast (which is for thunder storms!), tomorrow most of us will head back to the Basin for more Waterwise education outside the classroom.

What are you looking forward to most?