𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬

 On Monday, the 30th of November we went on a school trip to Travis Wetlands. Unfortunately the weather wasn't looking very good but my group managed to get through a 3.5 km walk around the wetlands but near the end we got rained off. The rain was pouring down and we all huddled underneath some shelter where we got told we'd be going back to school. The walk was tiring, we took 15 stops to talk about the scenery. I was feeling cold, and sniffly from the rain it was probably for the best we got rained off otherwise we'd all get sick.

The next day, I was 1 of 6 people who were lucky enough to go on the trip AGAIN. Except this time the weather was HOT, VERY HOT. First, we got to go catching and identifying bugs from the water. Next we went bird watching and identified different kinds of birds. Lastly, we went on the 3.5 km walk again in the boiling hot listening to all 15 stops again.

Travis wetlands was an okay experience, it's crazy to believe that Christchurch used to be about 90% wetlands and now it's only 3% thanks to the Europeans.

'The Cay' Moral

 Last term in English we read the Cay.

The moral of the story that I understand from the themes of the book is "Trust" trust is extremely important in all types of relationships. - especially when being stuck on an island with a stranger, you'll need to develop a lot of trust in each other.

I give The Cay a 4 star rating and my comment about the book is that it had multiple good themes especially about racism, and talked to my dad about it.

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝

 

California burger from Diner 66

Inside the California burger is: Double beef patty, double cheese, red onion, pickles, ketchup (there are going to be a lot of nutrients in there).

Nutrients from what we can see:

Burger bun: Carbohydrates.

Curly fries: Carbohydrates and minerals.

Beef patties: Protein from the beef and lipids from being fried in oil.

Cheese: Minerals, lipids and protein.

Coleslaw: Vitamins, specifically vitamin c.

Red Onion: Fibre and Vitamins.

Pickles: Minerals.

Ketchup: Carbohydrates and minerals

Process of the digestion system.

Digestion starts right in your mouth, starts breaking down the food we masticate (chew). Chewed food then travels down the oesophagus into the stomach. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to help break down food into liquid. That liquid food then travels to the small intestine where the liquids are absorbed through the villi. The liver, pancreas and gall bladder all release juices called enzymes and bile. The enzymes and bile help the small intestines absorb nutrients. The leftover liquid food is sent to the large intestine, it's the last chance to absorb any leftover water and nutrients before being stored in the rectum as poop. Finally, the poop exits our body from the anus when we use the bathroom.

The digestive system processes.

Ingestion happens in our mouths when we take in food and then swallowing it.

Digestion is when we digest foods in our stomach with gastric juices (acid and enzymes).

Absorption takes place in the small and large intestine, when they absorb nutrients.

Egestion is the final stage, when food exits out body through the anus.

My experiences dissecting the rat.

At first, it seemed really scary, gross and cruel :( But after getting used to it, it was actually really interesting. This little creature, has the same insides that we do! Just in miniature form.

𝐌𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

 

What have you learned in Media Studies?

In Media I have learnt about how to create my very own stop motion about something to do with the media. We also learnt about fake news, and ways to spot fake news.

What was the stop motion about?

In Ariana and I's stop motion, the main idea was about two friends, and one friend takes an embarrassing picture of the other posts it online without asking them beforehand.

Our main message was to "Be careful what you post".

What would you do differently?

If we had longer to work on our stop motion movies I would've added music or sound effects.

I also would've focused more on making the movie smoother by making smaller movements and trying to keep the camera more still.

𝐅𝐚𝐛 𝟒 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬

Predict -

What we guess will happen.

Question -

Something you ask to find out information.

Clarify -

To make something we don't understand more clear.

Summarize -

We shorten the key information into our own words.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩 1 ˎˊ ˗

Every living thing in the food chain is constantly finding other living things to eat. They all have different proportions to give them an advantage (spikes, sharp claws, etc) but in the end to live you must eat or be eaten.

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩 2 ˎˊ ˗

The Texas horned lizard can squirt blood from it's eyes when it feels threatened, they aim their blood towards the predators mouth or eyes. The predator will react instinctively, giving the lizard time to escape.

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩 3 ˎˊ ˗

When an opossum is in extreme danger, it gets so worried that it collapses and looks dead. They can stay like this for hours, and release an unpleasant smell. We more commonly know this trick as "playing dead".

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩 4 ˎˊ ˗

When a termite nest feels threatened, they will send the oldest termite out to give up their lives to protect the nest. The termite will squeeze a pouch in it's back that releases a sticky liquid which kills the threat along with itself.

𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐝𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭

Artist: Kevin Lodo

In my piece of art, I have an elderly Maori woman holding a delicate flower. 

The yellow above her head is like a halo, to give off an angelic vibe.

The colours I used were all subtle and creamy to match the wall on the Crowne Plaza building down Colombo street in Christchurch. I chose this location and these colours so that my art isn't hidden, 

but for those who look close enough to see.

Kevin Ledo's artist statements:

The elderly woman in this mural is Whero O Te Rangi Bailey. 

"This great project is where Stu photographs a white rose, an ancient symbol of peace, in the hands of 10,000 people from every country on the planet,”

The project was originally photographed for the global project "Peace in 10000 Hands"

𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝟓𝟐 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞

 

  

Ever since the industrial revolution, we have been using way too many machines and gadgets that release bad gases called fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are being trapped, creating extreme heat. Animals and people will lose their homes and living standards will become unbearable.. 

We need to stop this before it's too late.

𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭!

  Catch it! - Watch the cartoon

Scene One:   At home	I can see a small space and dim light. It reminds me of the burrows I have seen on tv that animals dig out as their home. I can see they are all huddled together sleeping so there is not a lot of room. The inside of the burrow is brown so it is dirt that has been dug under the ground. (example)
Scene Two:   First activity of the day	They climb out of the hole, and see a juicy fresh fruit hanging from the tree. They stare at it and start strategizing how to get it! The fruit looks a bit like a mango, it's bright red but I'm not quite sure.
`Scene Three:   A feared enemy	A vulture comes and rests on the branch, he sees the fruit and flies away with it! Looking back at the meerkats maliciously. (HOW EVIL!!)
Scene Four: Enemies revenge	All the meerkats are grabbing onto the vultures' claws, trying to take the fruit from him. But the vulture flies up dragging them around, then flinging them upwards (with the fruit!)
Scene Five: The Rescue	The meerkats catch the fruit, and start passing it around in the air. But they drop it and the vulture swoops towards it catching it! BUT flies into a cliff, dropping the fruit AGAIN.
Scene Six: Sport nirvana	The meerkats catch the fruit again! Passing it like a rugby ball to each other. They're working really well as a team.
Scene Seven: The End	One of the meerkats takes a kick..GOAL! But now the fruit is squished..

𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬 - 𝟓𝟏 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞

Magpies have been causing mischief, especially towards cyclists, walkers and even cars!

People are saying that magpies are deliberately attacking people, but they have their reasons.

During breeding season, magpies are aggressive towards anything they think are threats to their children. To prevent magpies from attacking, STAY AWAY FROM THEIR NESTS!

 

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐭

Word-	My prediction-	Dictionary definition-
Gallery	A display of a variety of artwork (photographs, art)	a room or building for the display or sale of works of art.
Mural	Artwork	a painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall.
Graffiti	Painting or spray painting  on buildings you’re not supposed to, which is sometimes offensive.	writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.
Theme	Theme is something it’s based on.	the subject of a talk, piece of writing, exhibition, etc.; a topic.
Commission	Paying for a custom piece of art.	an order for something, especially a work of art, to be produced specially.
Illegal	Against the law!!	contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
Expression	A face expression?	the action of making known one's thoughts or feelings.
Gesture	Moving your hands.	a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning.
Contrasting	Something to do with colours.	the state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association.
Mythology	Myths and legends.	a collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition.
Native	Originates from a specific country.	a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth, whether subsequently resident there or not.
Location	Where something/someone is.	a particular place or position.
Significant	Special	sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.

My favourite New Zealand native bird is the kiwi.

I just sent in a commission to my favourite Instagram artist! 

Oh no, the park has got more graffiti. 

What's the location of that cafe we went to on Saturday?

I gestured the taxi to pull over.

Artist: Brandon Warrell

Location: Christchurch, Central City 

𝐌𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐭

The Dunn Fantail is my bird mascot!

I chose to make my mascot a fantail, because in my family we believe that my grandparents reincarnated as fantails. Unlike other birds, fantails show no fear in humans.I consider myself a friendly person, who is territorial of the things I love. Fantails are friendly, territorial speedy little creatures who like to follow humans around, because of all the bugs we attract (free food!).

My mascot wears a silver necklace around her neck, and carries her phone in between her claws. She has black fur and bulging brown eyes.

 

"𝐂𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬"

“Cats make better pets than dogs” I disagree with this statement,

because dogs are much more loving than cats. 

Dogs are extremely affectionate, and studies show that when their owner cries, they will also feel distressed. Dogs are much more loyal, and will become attached to their owners.

They will do anything for them, even risk their lives.

Did you know, dogs have a hormone that produces five times more love for something or someone than cats feel! My uncle has two dogs, Winston and Pippy. They've been with him for a very long time, through thick and thin. The dogs have an undying bond with him and are super loyal, they wouldn’t let anyone hurt him. Personally, I think dogs make better pets than cats because they will always try to cheer you up when you’re upset and will be your best friend for life.

Winston & Pippy ♡

𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝

The book I have been reading is called 'FanGirl' written by Rainbow Rowell. 

FanGirl is about Cath and Wren, identical twins who are off to college. Wren wants to explore, meet new people, go to parties! Cath on the other half, would rather focus on the fan fiction she writes to her thousands of fans by isolating herself in her dorm and avoiding social interaction.

I've gotten up to a dramatic part in the book and can't wait to pick it back up again and continue reading! I would definitely recommend it. 

Original photo (here)

Here is the word art I created on WordArt.com! It's got some words that are in the book (characters, setting etc). It's in the shape of a laptop because the main character (Cath) writes all of her fan fiction online.