Uh oH ...

Some of you are uncovering conspiracy theories relating to Matainui.
Some of you have discovered major powers that can save the day!
Some of you have written amazing narratives to share with the whole world!!!
Has anyone received feedback from anyone outside our class yet?
Leave your promo one liners here so people can click on your names to link to your brilliant writing blogs :-)

And more WOodmonstas have been transformed...

Who do you think these characters might be?

New characters...

You may also meet characters like this and see artifacts like these.... [clues for art comp too]

EEEk! Mutations abound!

Some of you have been mutated into bizarre creatures...

One of you just stumbled into a swamp in the forest and became:

More clue pics...

These images are all clues to the rapidly unravelling story of Matainui...
Can you interpret or relate them to the story you know so far?
:-)

Scenes on Matainui

Here are some scenes from the first day ...

Packing for Survival on the "Return to Matainui!"

We are returning to Matainui to camp for two weeks. We shall travel by sea plane and you may take what you are wearing and a backpack with ten other items in it. Your lunch for the first day will not count as an item. Think about your list and pack for any potential survival situations. You may cooperatively pack to make sure you get more items amongst your group.
Weather will be similar to what we are experiencing in Hamilton at present, but possibly colder and wetter.
Island inhabitants, flora and fauna will be only as you would have found 1500 years ago, before the arrival of humans. Everything you say you want to do on the island will have to be something you can actually do with the equipment you have.
No other adults will be with us. We will travel from Kawhia Harbour in a plane like the one pictured above.
All skills and knowledge you wish make use of on the island will must be posted on your own "Return To Matainui" blog. Show images and descriptions of equipment, etc.
Daily diary entries of your adventures and experiences need to be posted, free of errors.
Good luck!

Links to relevant sites:

Survival items

Fire starters

To Ten Survival Tools

Survival kit ideas

Term 4, Week 1 ... Themes, Concepts, Contexts

Firstly, congratulations to our yr 7 and 8 class citizens. It was genuinely hard to choose. Based on my observations and your votes, it came down to between three and five people for each year level, so well done to the lads who made the grade.
As for this week's homework, you need to post something interesting on your blog that you have written in your own words and referenced any sources you used.
You also need to scan and skim the Room5ian personal blogs to find some quality narrative writing. Look for posts relating to Kakepuku Catastrophe and/or diary writing. Leave your chosen favourite blogger a comment showing your appreciation.



As for Term Four work, it is as follows:

• We have a novel study to work on in groups, based on short novels and with a booklet to work on through a process known as reciprocal reading. Your response work will be posted on a wiki set up by and for your reading group. Instructions will be given in class.
• Maths will be based around geometry and mapping for starters, as well as numeracy based on fractions, decimals, etc later in the term.
• Writing will be around the co-construction of creative stories [narratives] based on your experiences surviving in a fantasy-based life on the Matai Islands.
  
• You will also write and deliver a 3 minute speech [- you can use props and ICT] due in week 4.
  
• Your overall theme will be based on "Relationships" and "Making a Difference". We will write our stories to share with other students who find reading boring or difficult. We could also do something to make a contribution to the disaster relief in Samoa.
  
• In P.E. we will be developing our fitness and skills for athletics. We also need to learn social dancing skills for the Yr 8 formal.