Frogs, Tadpoles, Caterpillars and Monarch Butterflies

Frogs, Tadpoles, Caterpillars and Monarch Butterflies

If you walk into Room 6 at the beginning of any year you are likely to see both Bell Frog tadpoles and Monarch Butterfly caterpillars. Room 6 children can then follow these small living things through their two separate metamorphoses into adults. It is interesting to see the Monarch caterpillars, which are insects, hatch from tiny eggs into minute caterpillars that get 2700 bigger in a couple of weeks before hanging up, spinning a cocoon and turning into a chrysalis, from which the butterfly emerges. Tadpoles grow quickly on high energy flaky fish food and begin changing into froglets by growing first back, then front legs. Once a froglet the tail shrinks rapidly until the small young frog is formed. The children are fascinated by these creatures and their life cycles. At the moment we have about 20 chrysalises hanging from a string or the ceiling waiting to hatch. We will soon also have lots of tadpoles turning into baby frogs. There are too many to keep so I will either be releasing the frogs into appropriate waterways, or children may take one home if they have parents permission. Encouraging children to become aware of the beauties of nature when the opportunity arises can be a great learning experience and can really hook them into learning more.  

Swimming - PE and Sport

       Swimming - Room 6

In term one Room 6 will be doing swimming for their PE lessons all term. We are swimming every day on even numbered weeks - 2,4,6,8 and 10. Mr Bach will be focusing mainly on the freestyle swimming technique - leg and arm action, breathing, body position etc. He will also cover a little of the other styles. Room 6 in 2014 are proving to be an enthusiastic bunch of swimmers with all time records for Mr Bach for 'number of children' swimming on 4 of the 5 swimming days in week 2 (between 25 & 28 children in the pool). This makes for a busy pool but ensures most children are getting quality time on swimming instruction. All the children seem to be confident in the water, which is the first key step to learning to swim well. They are also all on their way to becoming good freestyle swimmers and some already have the technique sussed. Please continue to make sure your child brings their togs every day on even numbered weeks.

If the children use their listening ears, and do well during the instruction, they get 5 minutes free time at the end, before the next class arrives. If they are extra good, Mr Bach will let them use the big foam mattress, which most children adore playing with en masse.




Others choose to have some quiet time alone or to play more sedate games in 2s or 3s with foam tubes and boards (see below).

Golden Time - Interhouse 'Tug of War'

 Golden Time

On Friday for Golden Time the whole of St Mary's School had an Interhouse Tug of War competition. MacKillop came first and Mill Hill second. Normally Room 6 children will vote for the Golden Time activity of their choice on Monday for Friday. Children can lose some of their 30 minutes Golden Time during the week in 5 minute lots if they do not behave correctly and follow the Golden Rules. We all hope that as many children as possible get to enjoy their Golden Time each week. On week one no child lost any of their Golden Time - it looks like overall Room 6 is going to be a well behaved class this year motivated to learn as much as possible.

 The children really got into the Tug of War competition.







..... and the teachers did really well encouraging the children along.

Welcome Back to School - Room 6, 2014

 Welcome Back Room 6 - 2014

Welcome back to a busy year of learning in room 6 in 2014. The children were well behaved and excited on their first day back. I will steadily update this blog over the next couple of weeks and put up weekly notices on the home page every Sunday for the coming week. The children should have received an introductory letter from the middle school today - please let me know if you want another copy. I look forward to meeting you all on the 13th February from 5:30 to 6 for a meet the teacher evening where I will explain my programme and expectations and answer any questions from parents and caregivers. I reposted below my last posting from last year's blog as it may be of interest to budding fishermen and women. 

Summer Trout Fishing

If you were out and about around the Rotorua lakes over the summer you may well have bumped into Mr. Bach, either fishing from his orange kayak or fly fishing along a stream bank. Above is a nice 4lb brown trout Mr. Bach caught after school one day last December just below the Devon Road bridge. This trout was returned to the water soon afterwards to continue its journey upstream to sanctuary. Summer is a great time to take kids out fishing, with the weather warm, and the trout seeking cold water to shelter from the warm lake water that they hate. The Utuhina stream has trout in it over the summer slowly moving upstream, as it is a cold, spring fed stream. It is easily accessed as it wanders through the city. Summer also provides streamside vegetation that hides the wary trout from walkers and wanderers, who may disturb them. There are fewer trout than in autumn and winter but also fewer anglers.

Tips to help kids start catching fish - 

1. Find out the pools, overhangs and other places fish generally lie in a stream and begin fishing into these places without looking in the water first.

2. Use streamside vegetation to hide yourself from the fish and wear camouflage or dull coloured clothing.

3. Use strong fluorocarbon nylon - fluorocarbon may be more expensive but trout just cannot seem to see it at all - unlike normal nylon. Trout can be hard enough to hook, as it is for a child, without the frustration of constantly losing them because of snapped nylon-  and what if a really big fish is hooked? You need to give a kid a chance - leave the sporting, light line fishing for experienced adults. I use 15lb Maxima fluorocarbon.

4. Be patient and move slowly and carefully near the water - sudden movements scare fish.

5. Try early morning - the early bird catches the worm - and beats other anglers to the pools with freshly arrived, gullible fish in them.

6. Try in the evening or at night when fish are usually more active and feel safe feeding.

7. Teach children to catch and release - children will obviously want to keep all of their fish when they first start consistently catching trout, but encourage them, at some stage (especially if the freezer is full), to start putting some trout back for others to catch, or to help sustain the fishery by allowing some fish to return to the water to spawn upstream, and produce the next generation.