19th century inquiry ( 90's )

Koru Games slow write

Bang, I smashed the ball into the goal.

Tom managed to score, beautifully.

The weather was like we were in Antarctica.

Without Tom I wouldn't have scored my goal and we would have been screwed in terms of up front attacking. 

Amazingly we weren't the worst team!!!

Visual Mihi

Myth writing: Why does the Kea have orange under their wings?

Why do Kea have orange
under their wings?

Long ago, in the depths of a forest, a curious Kea went up to the God of bird life, Tanima Hukahuka (??), and said “Dear Tanima Hukahuka, I want to stand out more from the other birds, even if you can change something about me that I will be well known for.”
  “Well there, Kea, since you asked so nicely I give you the opportunity to have a unique colour under your wings, of your choice.”

 Kea was utterly astonished at this reply but still went forward with it. Tanima Hukahuka said he had to gather the other native birds to do a vote whether it was a good choice or not. He gathered the Kiwi, the Pukeko, Tui and Kakapo. As he explained to them what he had said to the mighty God of the birds, he then asked the native birds their opinion on the change, Kiwi said yes, Tui said yes, Kakapo said yes but, Pukeko didn’t like the idea much and decided against the idea. 3 on 1 makes it that Kea got what he wanted. He thanked everybody so much and Tanima Hukahuka cast the spell and Kea streched out his wings. “Ohh woooooow!!!” said Kea and flew off into the distance yelling “Yeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaa!!”

As the other birds watched, Pukeko said “Maybe it was a good idea after all.” Then they all lived happily from then on out!

Inventors Investigation: The Tractor

Composing machinery music

We have been learning about physical science and simple machines. We used Garageband on Mac to compose a 1 minute soundtrack for an imagined mechanical process. It needed a start and be gearing up, a middle section, and a shutting down. We had to include an ostinato track (continuing throughout). Sounds were added from Garageband's loops library, but we also had to create one track using Garageband's Musical Typing keyboard, and to create and record at least one foley sound of our own. We also had to edit sounds in some way - eg: 

• Pitch
• Effects - eg echoes, distortions
• Length of notes
• Speed
• Volume

This is our first effort and we've made some very interesting soundtracks. We had fun exploring all the different possibilities for creating sound and putting it all together. The idea of becoming a sound engineer, or even a foley artist, appeals to some!

The Strange Machine

The strange machine

Last year my Uncle passed away and in his will he wanted to give me a machine. Now, this machine wasn’t just an ordinary machine. It turned tree branches into $50 New Zealand notes. The machine has an internal chipper that chips, 2 meter tree branches into $50 New Zealand dollars.

My Uncle was pretty rich, as he had this marvellous machine, along side 2 Lamborghini Venenos. The money making machine was made out of Spruce wood panels with brass edges. Also it had cast iron wheels and copper pipes.

Every meter of tree braches chipped, makes one fifty dollar note. Really quite effective. The machine was powered with a diesel generator. You pour diesel in, start it and wah la, you have electricity.

Now, there was one slight issue, the letter my Uncle left me was in French, for some strange reason. I don’t know why, since my Uncle only knew about four or five words in French. I pull out my phone and go to Google Translate.

After 15 minutes of translating, I finally know what it says. “It’s hungry!??!” I say a little too loudly. The rest of the letter was about what my step Aunty was up to. Anyway I tried feeding it nuts and bolts but, they came flying back out. What about welding rods? I know this sounds odd but, it actually works! Up she starts and I can just imagine my Uncle saying “Well done, young lad!”

It starts clanking and rattling like there is no tomorrow. When I finally realise how to get the 50 dollar notes out of it, I am amazed. You have to put tree branches through it! How could this be in my favour! Good thing I am having a shelterbelt cut down this weekend. I will be living the high life in the future!!!