Buoyancy – Swimming

This weeks swimming lessons were about Buoyancy. Buoyancy is when something or an object floats in water. We learnt how to float on our backs and how to float on our stomach.

What we did first was floating on our backs which was pretty easy to learn. Then we learnt how to float on our stomach which was hard because we were trying to float and breathe at the same time. After that we learnt how to float from our front to our back which was pretty hard at the start and after a while I got the hang of it. The most fun part was at the end where we had to go on the edge of the pool and fall in and start floating, it took me three tries to fall in and start floating.

Something I enjoyed during this swimming lesson was falling in and trying to float because it was a hard challenge and how it made me feel nervous when I was falling into the pool.

Duffy Role Model: Michel Mulipola

Last week LS2 had a visit from Michel Mulipola, a Samoan illustrator and animator who has his illustrations published in Marvel comics, school journals and Pasifika stories, and worked as an animator in Moana 2. His drawings tell a story and help us make visual connections to the plot. Michel illustrated one of the texts we are reading at the moment, Once a Panther. He chose to do this to help us remember it is important to not to repeat the mistakes of the past. 

Michel reminded us that dreams can become a reality if you remember where you are from and who you are, have a strong support system and keep chasing your dreams. What I really enjoyed during this time was when I learnt about how he was into wrestling and met many famous wrestlers on his journey and how he plays games.

Swimming

LI: To learn how to stay safe in water

We had our first swimming lesson for the year last week. This year’s theme for our lessons is ‘Float to Survive’ which is important because NZ is a country surrounded by water and we need all learn to stay safe in and around water. Something I enjoyed during my swimming lessons is when we learnt how to float on our backs. 

HCM

This week in math, Group 1 is learning about something called the highest common factor. Basically, the highest common factor is the biggest number that can divide into two or more numbers exactly, without leaving anything left over.

To understand this better, think about what factors are. Factors are numbers that you can multiply together to make a bigger number. For example, if you multiply 6 by 8, you get 48. So, 6 and 8 are factors of 48.

When we talk about the highest common factor of two numbers, we are looking for the biggest number that can fit evenly into both of those numbers. For example, if you look at 12 and 18: the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12; and the factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18. The biggest number that appears in both lists is 6. So, the highest common factor of 12 and 18 is 6. This means 6 is the largest number that divides evenly into both 12 and 18.

One interesting fact I learnt was if I taught students and learnt st getting good at finding the highest common factor it helps them to understand how numbers relate to each other and can be useful in many math problems, like simplifying fractions or dividing things into equal parts.

Samoan Language Week Phrases

Last week was Samoan Language week and for Samoan Language week our Teacher came up with an interesting challenge for us. The challenge was to create a Google video giving tips on how a new Samoan student surviving in a English class without having any trouble with asking questions. We came up with making phrases so that the English Students and the Teachers know what the new Samoan student is saying.

Cubed Roots

In group 1 maths we’ve been putting together every single maths DLO we’ve done throughout 2026, this includes Addition, subtraction, multiplication, long and short division, rounding numbers, lowest and highest common multiples, prime and composite numbers, significant figures and cubed roots.

Abstract Nouns

LI: To use metaphors and the 5 senses to describe the abstract noun

For Writing we learnt about what abstract nouns were and our task was to chose a abstract noun that is based on the boy in the striped pajamas. After we chose a word we created a poem that describes the word by using the five senses which are; Olfactory, Gustatory, Tactile, Auditory, and Visual. After that we generated an image using google gem that describes our poem. After we finished our poems, each one of us presented our poems to the whole class.

Moko-Ika-Hiku-Waru

Moko-Ika-Hiku-Waru a Maori Myth, a Taniwha that swimed through the Panmure Basin and the Taniwha that lived under the bridge. Our task was to create an digital image of what we think the Taniwha looked like. For me and my partners digital drawing, we used our creativity to create our Taniwha which had eight tails, and its colour which we think it is blue. This is what my Taniwha looks like.

 

Adding Decimals

LI: How to add decimals using algorithims

This week Group 1 have been learning about how to add decimals using algorithims. An example I could have is like 3.45 + 1.2. 1. Align the numbers vertically by the decimal point, line up the decimals so that the tenths match with tenths, and ones match with ones. This shifts the numbers to the right or left, regardless of how many digits they have. 2. Add placeholder zeros (Optional but recommended)Add zeros to the right of the decimal point so both numbers have the same number of digits. This prevents careless column mistakes. 3. Add column by column from right to left, add the numbers in the rightmost column first: (5 + 0 = 5). 4. Continue adding the remaining columns. Move to the next column to the left: (4 + 2 = 6). Then, add the ones column: (3 + 1 = 4). 5. Drop the decimal point straight down. Place a decimal point in the final answer, directly aligned with the decimal points in the numbers you added. Key Rules: Never align by the right side: Unlike whole numbers, you should never align decimal numbers to the right-hand side. Whole numbers have hidden decimals: If you are adding a whole number to a decimal (e.g., (5 + 2.75), place a decimal point at the end of the whole number and add zeros as placeholders: (5.00 + 2.75). Regrouping (Carrying): If digits in a column add up to 10 or more, write down the last digit and carry the tens digit over to the next column to the left, exactly as you would with standard addition.

Subtracting Decimals

LI: How to subtract decimals using algorithims

This week for today we got to make a DLO about how to subtract decimals using algorithims, Subtracting decimals using the standard algorithm is all about precision and alignment. The golden rule is to align the decimal points vertically, which automatically lines up your place values (tenths, hundredths, etc.).  Step 1: Set Up the Problem Write the numbers vertically so that the decimal points line up directly on top of each other. The number you are subtracting from goes on top, and the number you are subtracting goes on the bottom. Step 2: (The Placeholder Step)If the numbers do not have the same number of decimal places, fill the empty spaces with zeros.

This changes the value of the numbers, but it keeps them mathematically comparable and makes borrowing much easier to visualize. Step 3: Subtract from Right to Left Begin subtracting the digits in the furthest right column, just like you would with whole numbers. Step 4: Drop the Decimal Point. Bring the decimal point straight down into your answer. Make sure it aligns perfectly with the decimal points in the problem above it. Step 5: Complete the Left Columns Finish subtracting the digits to the left of the decimal point. The Technique: Borrowing (Regrouping) Sometimes, the digit on the bottom is larger than the digit on top. When this happens, you must borrow from the next digit to the left.