Almost minecraft

Almost Minecraft

Boom! The creepers exploded behind us. 

“Mwaaaah,” The zombies moaned in undead agony. Thwick thwick the skeletons fired their arrows which narrowly missed our heads. We ran toward a abandoned warehouse. But the mobs quickly broke down the door and blew up the warehouse. At that exact moment a Isuzu mu-x screeched to a halt beside us. Two men hopped out and started to gun down mobs. As the dust settled we got a clear view of our rescuers. They were strongly built men wearing military clothes. when they saw us they asked in a serious tone.

“Why are you dressed as a pig and why are you in a cardboard box?" 

“Well it's a funny story,” explained Harry. “A creeper blew up our house so we had to hide from it. But it called other mobs to track us down. Luckily for us the spiders were busy building the World Wide Web so we can play online. That meant that they couldn't come, but the zombies and skeletons were able to get us. We found an abandoned warehouse  and decided to go in to protect ourselves. It was then we realised our clothes had been pulverised by the explosion so we had to get some more. The only things we could find were a pig onesie and a card-board box. So that’s the reason why we are like this.”  

“Alright then,” said the soldier. "We’ll drive you to the residential part of town so we can get you a new house.”

“Thanks man.”

On the way there we saw the abandoned warehouses. Some of them are rumored to be haunted and there are animals who graze the outskirts looking for the freshest grass. 

“Whoah! The wheel's been popped, brace yourselves!” yelled the driver. "Because there is a prison bus coming at us and it is full of zombies." Smash! 

The zombies spilled out and the driver of our car was dead.

“Phil, wake up,” pleaded the other soldier trying to revive his partner.

“He’s dead,” said Josh in a sorry tone.

“Guys,” Harry warned “There is a bus load of zombies and a squadron of skeletons outside and they look like they wanna kill us.”

“Maybe not,” said Josh just as a zombie started eating the dead driver.

“Don't worry,” said the driver. “We crashed just outside of the city so we could hide amongst all the buildings.” 

We could see the giant buildings towering over us as we passed the broken down houses and burned down buildings. We saw bandits stealing from houses and shooting civilians. Harry and Josh were gunning down the zombies,  when a giant building collapsed and killed the rest of zombies in front of us,  completely crushing the remaining soldier. His blood started spilling out from under the building and the broken glass from the building shredded our clothing.

 “Great,” said Harry “We are clotheless yet again.” 

“But at least we are not like him,” said Josh pointing at the dead guy under the building in disgust. 

“I wonder what made the building fall?” Wondered Harry curiously. Boom! An explosion answered Harry’s question...

“Creepers!” yelled Josh as the the dust settled. But surprising them all some of the bandits started attacking the creepers. Once they killed the creepers they shot us but we bolted at them knocking them on to their back, which left them paralyzed. We ran as fast as a cheetah to a broken down house to hide in. Harry bolted under the bed to see a bag filled with military armour and more guns. The armour Harry found was a green camouflage and the two guns we got were a m16 and a mp5. 

“Now we are ready," said Josh in a excited tone. After a long time walking, we suddenly stopped to see a chopper. 

“Look over there, ” Harry said as he saw a few more zombies.

“Let's get out of here,” Josh cried. 

“Wait there is a man guarding it," said Harry. Josh and Harry thought of a plan “We will ask him,” Harry said in a serious tone 

“Are you kidding, he will not just let us use it,” Josh said dieing with laughter.

“No I mean you and I will trick that guy and fly out of here, let's go,” Harry said. Josh slowly walked down the hillside as Harry charged after the guy. “Can we use the helicopter?” 

“Wait, what is your name?” said the guy. 

"It's Josh and Harry Potter. Please, please, please can we use the helicopter?” 

“On one condition, you get me a Pepsi,” demanded the guy 

“A Pepsi, are you kidding me?” Josh said laughing hysterically 

“From the vending machine. I'm outta cash"

 “Oh look” said Harry “Hey look a quarter.” 

“Where?” asked the guy . "That’s all the money I need.”

“Told ya sucker,” yelled Josh as the two friends hijacked the helicopter and flew away to safety.

Gold Coast

Waves as big as a house,smashing against the rocks. A lighthouse doing its job -warning boats of danger. Buildings smashed to pieces by a wrecking ball. Other buildings frozen in fear not moving . People picking up rocks just to see crabs running in fear as the humans poke them with sticks.

driving a car

It was a burning hot summer day in Otematata. We went biscuiting in the freezing cold lake.  My family and I went there with my best friend Lewis and his family. A biscuit is a little inflatable boat that gets pulled by a real boat. Lewis and I do this in the holidays usually but this time something exciting happened. I didn't know that I was going to drive a van.

My Dad had said that someday I could drive a car but I didn't know it was today. I lunged out of the lake water and carefully walked across the crab-like stones that pinched my feet, one by one. Sean and I asked my Dad if he could drive us to the restrooms, up by the entry.

We slowly drove over the dusty path to the restrooms, the stones under us we bumping up and down like waves hitting a boat. After using the restrooms,my dad hopped back into the car, but he went in the wrong seat. He went in my seat. As walked towards the car, I realised that I was going to drive the car.  I walked as slow as a snail to the driver seat.  I was shaking while my dad told me how to start the car.  I put my sweating hands on the steering wheel, and put my foot on the accelerator.  My dad had told me to put my foot down gently, but I didn’t listen...The car went flying forward.   I started driving, but it was hard because cars were driving past me.  I ducked down behind the steering wheel, so they wouldn’t notice a kid was driving the car.  

Nomads United

It was a cold winter's day at Nomads United. I could see the cold wet grass waving to me in the wind. I could hear supporters yelling at the top of their lungs from the other side of the pitch. 

Standing right in front, were the team we were playing:  Fc 2011. Their players were a mix of big and tiny kids in red tops in a line looking right at me. It was time to play. The ball was flying, falling and hitting the other players. The corner flag  flapped  as the cold breeze blew by. The whole game I was thinking about whether we would win or not. And I was feeling hungry just waiting until it was  halftime so I could eat the mouthwatering oranges and water. 

At halftime it was 1-1. I could see kids on playground jumping swinging climbing. I just couldn't wait until full time. Ollie was sent on and he knew he was going to score with that big smile on his face. 

In the end the score was 2-1 to my team. The purpose in football is to have and work as a team and show people what you can do.

Tree accident

joshua miller

Do you remember a time when you had an accident and you felt like you were about to die? Such as getting dunked under water, and struggling for air. Or maybe you fell off your scooter and you cut your legs so badly that you thought you'd have to get them amputated? Or maybe you slipped and hit your head on the concrete, and you felt so dizzy that you had to sit down?

Sometimes things don't always go to plan. Sometimes things go horribly wrong.

Aaargh! Help help help. One day I was at Lewis' house with Ari and Lochie. My three best friends and I having a fantastic time . We were running around playing in the forest at the front of the house and climbing a huge tree. A couple minutes later Lewis and Ari scooted away and  Ari stole my scooter and I ran down the footpath.  Yelling at the top of my lungs saying “Give my scooter back!” I bolted right at him smashing him right off my scooter then I scrambled to Lewis' house and Ari came too.  I scaled back up the tree like a cat gripping the branches. Nicki called  out to me to come down. I was descending when suddenly a branch snapped and I fell, smashing to the ground onto my back. I was paralyzed  I couldn't move. I was unconscious . Everyone ran to me like they were in the cross country and they were about to win. When I woke up Nicki said “Are you ok?” 

“Yes I am fine,” I said sarcastically .I looked in horror at the jagged  branch through my arm. Blood was oozing from the battle wound. Nicki rang my dad and I was rushed to after hours to get blue stitches. What a night. I got home to see my worried mother. The next day I went to school. It  was show and tell and when I showed the pictures of my arm everyone hid their faces. 

My lesson was to think carefully before you do something because I don't what to see another person have the same experience I had.

Art report

This term we have been learning about how participating in the arts can connect us with our community. Yesterday we went into town to show off our dramas to the community.  My highlight was watching Harry’s show, when he was singing Hall of Fame because that is my favorite 

song.

I think my performances went well because I was showing eye contact to involve the audience and me looking at them made them feel like I was talking to them. 

I saw Harry using kotahitanga when he let people join in and sing and dance, making the audience feel involved. I was one of those people who joined in the dance.  The crowd were clapping and yelling after our dance and after the all of the performances.

In my free time will make a play with a dance to go with it and show my mum and dad for critique.

  

Science report

During this term we have been acting like scientists focusing on water studies by using evidence, being  curious also taking action. I showed I took action by searching up stormwater drain to find out if they were healthy and I investigated the stormwater drain behind our school. I then made a pamphlet warning people about littering in our waterways.

I sort critical feedback to improve the quality of my sketch and what I should change or keep.

 

Maori learning

This year I have been trying to enjoy and participate in Maori culture, learning Maori songs and learning our mihi. A mihi is introducing yourself like your name, your parents and your mountain. Last term I liked Maori culture values and if I had to do the haka on stage I would do it. 

This term He Tangata has changed how we do Monday meet up by adding parts of a powhiri, no longer shouting welcome to Waimairi at new students, but singing a song that we made up- a Maori song. The song says welcome to Waimairi but in Maori. And we give a gift of a flax flower that He tangata made by hand. This term I came out of my shell and did my mihi on stage and felt proud of myself. 

Here is an audio link to our performances and explanations about our learning. 

 Mihi Whakatau

https://soundcloud.com/waimairisounds/mihi-whakatau-for-ht-blogs
Poroporoaki
https://soundcloud.com/waimairisounds/poroporoaki-for-ht-blogs

Healthy waterway report Joshua miller

Christchurch Waterways

Fresh waterways in Christchurch include rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes and more. Man-made waterways include stormwater systems, piped systems, water races, artificial drains and some others. When it rains, if it goes on to concrete it falls into the gutters, then flows into the drains, then the river, then the ocean.

Habitats

A habitat is a home for animals and insects to live, and it makes shelter and shade and provides food to eat. An ideal shelter for a fish is under sticks lying around for shelter. Most of our rivers and creeks are polluted because people are littering making our waterways unhealthy. We need to stop - this is where they live and they may get stuck and die.

Everything in a habitat is connected

Crayfish relies on the common bully because the freshwater crayfish eats the bully. The eel (tuna) relies on the freshwater crayfish because he eats him, and if he wasn't there the eel would have no more food, than the eel would die. The eel and the duck connect because they both like shade. The bully and the mayfly connect because the bully eats the mayfly. The mayfly likes fast flowing water. Everything is connected to something else in some way, so we need to look after all of it.

Healthy or Unhealthy?

Invertebrates

You would find macroinvertebrates in healthy water, but in unhealthy water, there would only be snails and worms or you may find nothing, because the water may be too warm. Why? Because macroinvertebrates like water that is 15 degrees or under.

Water temperature

The water temperature depends if the water is murky. If it is it would likely be 20 degrees celsius and over and if the water was clear it would probably be 15 degrees celsius or under.

Algae

Algae is a tiny plant that lives in the water. They create a slimy layer on the surface of rocks. Algae can be good or bad. If there is a big thick mat it is unhealthy, but if there a small thin layer it is good.

Streamflow

A variety of depths and flow rates provide a greater range of habitat types. Deep pools make good fish spawning areas. Rapids and riffles help oxygenate the water and make good habitats for invertebrates.

Submerged plants

Underwater plants are a vital part of the freshwater environment. They provide food and habitat for fish to live and breed and hide from predators. They also play an important role in keeping waterways clean and healthy.

Erosion

Erosion is when dirt or sediment falls into our rivers

and creeks, lakes and more, making waterways unhealthy.

Method

Our class visited many waterways in Christchurch including Dudley creek, the stormwater drain behind our school and the Styx river. We used an “In-stream and Riparian Habitat Survey” to visually test the ecosystem. We also fished out macroinvertebrates using a technical retrieval device, also known as a sieve on a stick. We also tested how clean the water was by using turbidity tube. A turbidity tube is a long ttube that you fill with water and there is a disc in it. If you can see the disc into the end it is clean but if you can see very close it is bad, unclear and unhealthy water.

results

The stormwater drain behind Waimairi school is unhealthy. This is because there is no shade over the waterway. If there were trees and shrubs it would be colder but there are no trees and shrubs so macroinvertebrates will not live there.  

75% of the stormwater drain has hardly any stones. This is bad because it has no hiding spots for macroinvertebrates and they can't breed.

As well as this the sides are very unstable over the waterway, and half of the waterway is eroding or breaking. This is because there are no tree roots holding the bank together.

The stream also flows straight and at one depth with no variety. This is bad because animals like the mayfly like fast flowing water.

Suggested changes

Although there are parts of the waterway ecosystem that are unhealthy, there are many changes we can improve its health.

• plant trees and shrubs to give the waterway shade. And hold the bank together.

• Replace the dirt and put stones in so macroinvertebrates can hide and breed.

Why these changes are important  

These changes are important so we can swim and play in

our waterways. No one wants to swim in a polluted river, and a lot of macroinvertebrates and fish and ducks will love making it a great place to be, like fish will search for macroinvertebrates. A lot of people will visit the stormwater drains like classes and other locals we see it daily because it is by a main footpath.

It is also important to look after our rivers because we want to respect kaitiakitanga. Kaitiakitanga is a Maori cultural value that means to protect and care for our land and water. We want people to be able to love our rivers in future so we need to keep them healthy.

Snake bit cat

Hissssssss hisssssss.

It was a cold day. The wind was pushing me from behind. That wind zapped up my spine. It felt like a thousand little men trying to climb the biggest mountain in the world.

Hope was in the playhouse, the 2 ft high and 3ft long playhouse. Two cats were slowly walking around like something was going to happen. I looked at the cats. One of the cat's’ fur stuck out like a hedgehog and its eyes were as big as marbles.

I gasped, then suddenly- hisss hisss. Out of nowhere a snake slid  as slow as a snail towards one of the cats. It was hiding in the grass, camouflaged.  The scared cat watched  the snake like a hawk, while walking backwards.

The snake emerged closer to the cat. The cat scanned the area to see if there were any hiding spots. The cat was looking at the tree. It ran as fast as a cheetah. The snake slid to the cat. I dived towards the cat trying to save it but noooooo! The snake opened its mouth then it closed.  Fur gone, drowning to the ground. I gasped. My uncle ran out and stomped on the snake head with his rugby boots -squash! The snake’s head was a flat screen TV. I turned my head for a second and it was gone. The cat was paralyzed and he looked stuffed. We ran to the closest vet. My uncle went in, then came out.  

“He is fine but he is paralysed,” he said sadly, “but only for a day.”

Autumn comes late

The cold grew and the wind blew

Leaves drowned to the ground, forming

A damp, leafy carpet. I heard brown

Leaves crunching  under my feet.

Crunch, crunch. Drips of rain snake

Down my neck.

School camping trip

There I was sitting down listening. Sounds boring, but we were doing archery. The man was giving us information so no-one gets  hurt by an arrow. He started putting  us in to groups. I was in group 3.  Group 1 went, Then 2, then my  group I gasped and walked as slow as a snail to the shooting range.

I firmly grabbed the bow. My hands were sweating and in the corner of my eye I could see the red And blue and yellow target . It looked a easy target in the middle of  a open area with a couple of trees. I was trying  to remember  what he said I aimed and fired. I got the bullseye!

I was about to yell but no, I kept it in my head. I was about to burst but everyone was saying how bad their shot was so I kept quiet.  

In me sorry to everyone who were in group 3 I looked Where I hit I was I was frozen in the moment. I skipped In glee to my seat the oak wood hard seat my sweat . Attached to my skin I sat down ready for my next turn. Then the man said “We are going to play games called Pizza and Holiday. Pizza is game when you shoot at the target. Blue is frozen pizza base. Yellow is cheese. Red is bbq sauce. White is a good base. Black is burnt pizza. Grass is vegetarian.”

The first time I got triple grass. Then I got a good base, bbq sauce and cheese. “Yes!” I shouted I was so happy .

Then we played Holiday. Where you shoot that's  what you get. The first one is you go with the Principal to Gore with 5 dollars. I got to go with a Famous person to a Pacific Island with 5000 Dollars. We got to improve our shot.  

When he said we were going to go, I could almost taste the mouth watering hamburgers.  

Boating

I remember the blazed day, it was like the sun was right in front of me. My family, friend and I went on a boat but the bad thing was that it couldn’t fit us all. The boat slowly dragged us across the water. The dark sea and was filled with boats we we're heading to a  island. It was a dream come true just to look a the stunning water the ice cold water I was shivering just looking at it. I attempted to jump my breathing got heavy so I jumped.  I landed on seaweed. I immediately hopped out of the water and the first thing I said was “Can we go biscuiting?”

I started to look around and noticed the big mable it was a big biscuit shaped like a couch that goes on water. So Lewis and I asked if we could go on.  The waves were crashing on the couch-shaped biscuit. Paul said “Are you ready?”. I said  yes trying not to sound scared.

We zoomed out of the water. The biscuit bounced and slapped across the surface. A wave of pain zapped up my spine. It was like  the couch was saying no. Each time we hit the water it sprayed in our faces.  The water ran down my face. Lewis and I were laughing nervously, worried we might fall off if we let go of the handles that we were tightly holding on to.

Finally our turn was done and I was happy I did it, but not happy that it was over.