Aug 19
We started the week by timing children’s best running score
on the tiger turf up and back. Through the next couple of weeks we will record
a few more times and see who can improve their score. We have liked seeing
people focussed on improving their score instead of just trying to beat other
people.
On Monday, a small group set up an obstacle course using
cones and hula hoops. Competitors were asked to zig-zag through the cones, leap
from hoop to hoop, climb up the spider, drop down, fly across the flying fox,
negotiate their way down the hill then sprint to the finish line. Our best time
was an amazing 44 seconds.
On the oval we continued to have people trying their best in
the long jump. An interesting fact is that the long jump world record is still held
by Bob Beamon from 1968 with a whopping 8.9 metres. See the video here. Our
best was an impressive 3.1 metres.
For parts of the week we have kept the long-room shut off as
we wanted to encourage some physical activity while the weather has been warm
enough.
Tuesday was a success! It didn’t manage to rain until 6pm
when we were all going home. We celebrated the weather by spending all our time
outside. The long-room was closed again and had no wii or computers. We
recorded our best running times on the tiger turf again with some new best
times.
In the SAC we brought out the blue mats. Some used them to
relax, others used them to do gymnastics and some just used them to squash each
other. We also had painting and making inside, with some houses being made,
complete with furniture, separate rooms and designer kitchen.
Wednesday we were at the long-jump pit again. This time our
best distance was from our OSHC educator Damian who got a 3.3m score, almost
jumping clear across the pit. The best young person’s score was a whopping
3.2m.
Thursday was spent in the SAC and indoors while it rained.
Indoors we constructed vehicles and building out of recycled boxes, while
others drew and coloured. Fluxx was brought out again with lots of new players
trying it out. This game gets very exciting at times and demands players use
their problem solving skills. This means it gets noisy with lots of heated
debates about the meaning of rules. But we see this as another learning
experience, where players must critically analyse rules, argue fairly with
reasoning and remain polite all the while.
Friday we had a small amount of time in the SAC, stole
little moments in between wet weather and spent a lot of time indoors. We
watched Pokémon on the TV (because Pokemon is very in right now if you hadn’t noticed!).
We also drew Pokémon, we traced Pokémon, we coloured Pokémon, we traded Pokémon,
we talked about Pokémon, argued about Pokémon and even pretended to be Pokémon!
Some children at school were involved with raising money for
World Vision with the eight hour famine. Here is some reflections from two
girls on their experience today.
What is the eight
hour famine?
Aurelia: A fund raiser to raise money for people that don’t have
enough money to buy food clothes and get medical care.
Milla: It is where you eat barely any food to raise money
for World Vision that helps people in need. We didn’t eat food because so we
knew how it was to be a person who was starving.
What did you have to
do?
Aurelia: We had to collect money. Then we started not eating
and doing whatever else we gave up at 8am and then stop at 4pm. At 10am we got
a barley sugar, at 1pm we got a cup of rice and at 2pm we got another barley
sugar.
Milla: I had to eat barely any food, not talk and collect
money. We did this for poor people in countries who were starving to death and
didn’t have enough money for medical care and clothes.
How did you feel
about it?
Aurelia: It was hard and felt good about it because I was
helping people that didn’t have food. I now feel sorry for people without food.
Milla: I felt good, because I was doing something to help
the world, it will change lives. The money will go to World Vision who will go
over to poor countries and build schools, makes sustainable food supplies and
give people health care and medicine.
What do you think
now?
Aurelia: I think I will be more thoughtful to people that don’t
have as much food and I will try not to be wasteful.
Milla: It is not as easy as it seems. Talking is something
you do every day, so not replying automatically is really hard.
