For this Summer Learning Journey activity, I learned about feathers and created a quiz to test others’ knowledge on the topic. First, I gathered information about different types of feathers and made a note sheet that I can refer to whenever I need it. Here is my quiz!
For this Summer Learning Journey activity, I created a digital feather cloak using Google Draw. While you can also make it on paper, I chose this method because it’s more efficient and faster. I looked at various inspirations from people who were drawing it on paper, and was amazed by their detailed work and accurate information. I began my feather cloak on Google Draw, and here is what I ended up creating!
For this Summer Learning Journey activity, I explored the “Predator vs. Prey – Step It Up.” I began by researching food webs, and then I created a copy of the slide featuring various types of animals at the bottom. My task was to connect the animals: using green for those that are prey to a lion, red for those that are predators of a lion, and orange for animals that serve as both prey and predator.
I really enjoyed this activity because it was fun and helped me go from feeling bored to learning about a lion’s food web!
I’ve just completed the “Predator versus Prey” activity for the Summer Learning Journey activity! I learned that a predator is an animal that hunts for food, while a prey is the animal being hunted. I also found out two really interesting facts!
I really enjoyed this activity because it showed me the difference between these animals and why their prey or even predator!
For this Summer Learning Journey activity, we are going to learn about ‘Free Predator 2050’. Firstly, you had to explore the three animals that was given which were Stoats, Possums and Rats. I chose a Stoat because i’ve never heard of it before, it was actually fun finding information about it and creating a fact file! I learnt so much information and facts about Stoats and I’m going to share them.
The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the short-tailed weasel or ermine, is a small but remarkably fierce predator native to Eurasia and North America. Despite their adorable appearance—characterized by long, slender bodies and inquisitive faces—they are highly efficient hunters capable of taking down prey significantly larger than themselves, such as rabbits. One of their most fascinating traits is their seasonal coat change: in summer, they sport a reddish-brown back with a white belly, but in colder climates, they shed this for a pure white winter coat, retaining only a distinct black tip on their tail. While they play a vital role in their native ecosystems by controlling rodent populations, they have become a major conservation concern in places like New Zealand, where they were introduced and have since threatened many flightless bird species
For this Summer Learning Journey, we had to make a fact file about any tiger of your choice. We had to find out where its General Overview is, Physical Characteristics, Habitat & Diet, and Major Threats. If you click on the link below, you’ll see all the information I researched about. The tiger I decided to pick was a Sumatran Tiger, the Sumatran tiger is a majestic and powerful apex predator, but it is also one of the most endangered big cats on the planet. As the last surviving tiger subspecies in Indonesia, it serves as a critical indicator of the health of Sumatra’s forests.
For this Summer Learning Journey Activity, I was challenged to design my own animal trickster. Before starting, I watched two videos, one about different types of animal camouflage and another that encourged me to spot the hidden animals that use clever camouflage. These videos helped me udnerstand how animals use their appereance, patterns etc.
I was challenged to think carefully about my animal: Does it hide from predators?, does it try to catch prey?, does it use camouflage to blend in or mimicry to pretend to be something else? and etc… These questions got me into thinking mode of designing a creature using clever strategies.
For my animal, I drew butterfly on a flower so it can blend into the background. Imagine a butterfly playing a giant game of hide-and-seek! To stay safe from hungry birds, butterflies try to look just like the flowers they sit on. Some butterflies have wings that are the exact same color as the petals, like a bright yellow butterfly sitting on a sunflower. Others have special patterns on the bottom of their wings that look like blurry spots or wiggly lines; when they close their wings, these patterns help them “disappear” by breaking up their shape so they don’t look like an insect at all. Some even have wing edges that are shaped like jagged leaves or soft petals. By picking a flower that matches their outfit and sitting very still, the butterfly becomes almost invisible, just like magic!
For this Summer Learning Journey, I was asked to fill it in and watch all the videos to try and eventually work out the animal that does not belong or relate to any of these animals/insects. I found out easily that the anglerfish doesn’t belong because it lives in the ocean! After I completed that, I moved on making my own! Try it out and comment the answer!
Hint: check out there speices!
For this Summer Learning Journey, we had to create a taniwha karu in Tanga Kukara. We had to include this question; What are pūrākau? Well in Māori, pūrākau refers to traditional oral stories, myths, legends, and fables that carry cultural knowledge, history, values, and spiritual insights, serving as vital tools for identity, education, and understanding life’s journeys, including ancestral lessons.
I chose the colours black, red, and white because black signifies with mana (prestige), authority, and the strength of ancestors. It is often used in traditional carvings and tā moko (tattoos), lineage, and spiritual power. Red signifies strength and bravery required in battle, and red ochre (kokowai) was used ceremonially for protection. And white signifies purity, promise for the future, awakening, and the realm of being and light (Te Ao Mārama)
Taniwha originate from the oral traditions and mythology of the Māori people, the indigenous people of New Zealand (Aotearoa). They inhabit deep pools, caves, and the ocean, often in places with strong currents or dangers.
The story I picked to represent my taniwha is Āraiteuru and her sons.
Āraiteuru was a female taniwha, believed to have escorted the Māmari canoe to New Zealand from Hawaiki. In other traditions Āraiteuru and another taniwha named Ruamano guided the Tākitimu canoe.
When she arrived, Āraiteuru gave birth to 11 sons. All went exploring, and on the way they dug trenches – creating the branches of the Hokianga Harbour. One son, Waihou, burrowed inland and lashed his tail about to form Lake Ōmāpere. Another, Ōhopa, was angered by the large number of rocks he encountered, and came to hate all living things. He terrorised the people near the Panguru mountains.
Āraiteuru was a guardian of the Hokianga Harbour, and had her lair in a cave there. She lived at the south head of the harbour, and her companion, known by some as Niua, lived in the north head.
THE HOKIANGA
Is a region surrounding the Hokianga Harbour in the Far North of New Zealand. It is sparsely populated and has many little clusters of houses in a rural setting. Its full Māori placename is Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe – the returning-place of Kupe, the legendary polynesian discoverer of Aotearoa. Maori Legend has it that “Wairere was one of the eleven taniwha sons of Araiteuru (Āraiteuru) of Hokianga Harbour. His brothers, sent by their mother, all took it upon themselves to see who could burrow the furthest to see the country in which they lived.
Wairere followed the path cut by his brother Waihou and changed direction before he reached Horeke. He encountered a rough patch of land filled with boulders. Wairere found that the boulders were interesting shapes, and he wanted to bring one back to prove his story.
Unfortunately, the boulder proved exceptionally heavy, and he made it back to Waihou’s path. There, exhaustion overtook him, so he fell asleep with the boulder still atop his head. He has not yet shaken the load from his shoulders, so he remains there, sleeping most of the time from the weight over his head. Even to this day, waka (ships, canoes) may be upset by this stone if Wairere stirs in his sleep, or, worse yet, if he half-awake attempts to take revenge for his plight.
The icon for the Hokianga is the Kauri tree. 75 % of all Kauri are in the Hokianga, which has four protected Kauri forests (Waipoua in the South-West, Omahuta to the North-East, Warawara in the North-West and Puketi in the East.”
For this Summer Learning Journey, We had to choose a story to listen to then picture a taniwha in your head so you can draw it. Draw the taniwha on white paper and remove the background using Remove BG. Then you say which taniwha you created and the story of it!.
Taniwha originate from the oral traditions and mythology of the Māori people, the indigenous people of New Zealand (Aotearoa). They inhabit deep pools, caves, and the ocean, often in places with strong currents or dangers.
The story I picked to represent my taniwha is Āraiteuru and her sons.
Āraiteuru was a female taniwha, believed to have escorted the Māmari canoe to New Zealand from Hawaiki. In other traditions Āraiteuru and another taniwha named Ruamano guided the Tākitimu canoe.
When she arrived, Āraiteuru gave birth to 11 sons. All went exploring, and on the way they dug trenches – creating the branches of the Hokianga Harbour. One son, Waihou, burrowed inland and lashed his tail about to form Lake Ōmāpere. Another, Ōhopa, was angered by the large number of rocks he encountered, and came to hate all living things. He terrorised the people near the Panguru mountains.
Āraiteuru was a guardian of the Hokianga Harbour, and had her lair in a cave there. She lived at the south head of the harbour, and her companion, known by some as Niua, lived in the north head.
I found this story amazing to do because now I know the story behind, Āraiteuru and her sons.
