Getting involved in science

Children got to check the Lake's water temperature and clarity at Rotokare. We got to look through leaf litter and find bugs. The activities to identify insects and leaves were interesting. We also got to see a tracking tunnel and try to identify the tracks inside-it wasn't that easy but good fun getting involved in conservation, nature and science for the day!

Visit to Rotokare Scenic Reserve

On the 19th May all 4 classes from our junior school headed down to Lake Rotokare for the day. We were met by Melissa the educator who planned an excellent day of activities for us. These included finding out about the pests that used to live at Rotokare and why the fence is up. Melissa did an experiment and showed us with a container of water how much fresh water there is in the world and why Wetlands are important and worth looking after. We all had an informative bush walk and managed to fit in a quick lunch as well!

Naming trees in our bush

Room 3 visited our Ngahere Reserve at Mangorei School and began to identify some of the native trees growing there. In class we looked at such things as different shapes and colour of leaves. With drawing pencils we made observational drawings of kawakawa,kowhai and mahoe.

Wetlands are important

One of Ms Hunt's messages to our children.

In class we will discuss more about what it means when "special plants and other animals have adapted to live in wetlands"
Janet also showed the children a baby kahikatea plant because they love swampy places such as wetlands to grow in.

A local author visits us

Inglewood author and conservationist Janet Hunt visited our junior classes this week.

Janet has a wealth of knowledge on Wetlands and has written a book on the subject.

She read us a book she has written- 'E3 Call Home'. This interesting story told of some wetland birds called Godwits, and their incredible journey to Alaska and back to New Zealand each year.

Visiting Wetlands

During April, all the Junior classes from Mangorei School visited some local wetlands near Lake Rotomanu.

Mr Archer, the environmental education officer from the Taranaki Regional Council told us that wetlands are important as they act like 'sponges' holding water and helping to clean it.

Lots of different birds live in wetlands and special plants grow there too.

Wetlands are sometimes called swamps, bogs or estuaries. They can have salty water in them.

Plasticine shapes in water

Room 3 children rolled a piece of plasticine to find out if it would float or sink.

It was interesting to see that most shapes sank but when we made the plasticine into a boat shape it floated. We talked about why this might be. Do you know why?