I hope you are all keeping well. Our inquiry is around Hauora and Te Whare Tapa Wha. It seems more important than ever, as we face challenging circumstances.
Taha hinengaro is your emotional and mental wellbeing. I hope you are being kind to yourselves.
Tahi whanau is your social wellbeing. Have you phoned your grandparent/s or an elderly relative who is home alone today? Just a quick cheery hi, how are ya? Getting on with whanau in a shared bubble can be challenging - but family can also be a great source of love and company. Tahi tinana is your physical wellbeing. I bet you're better at exercising than I am. A daily walk is lovely though. Remember to wash your hands and cough into elbows. There is a COVID-19 pdf in the wakelet.
Taha wairua is your spiritual wellbeing, "the values and beliefs that determine the way people live, the search for meaning and purpose in life, and personal identity and self-awareness (For some individuals and communities, spiritual wellbeing is linked to a particular religion; for others, it is not.)"
Imagine a compilation of some of your favourite children's authors around the theme of hope. What a tonic that would be! Well - here it is. Edited by Katherine Rundell (The Explorer), The Book of Hopes contains stories by Michael Morpurgo, Lauren Child, Jacqueline Wilson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Axel Scheffler, Catherine Rayner, Sophie Dahl and many more well-loved authors. It is readable online and will be hopefully be made into a paper book one day.
This is who it is dedicated to:
"This book is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, cleaners and everyone currently working in hospitals: you are the stuff that wild, heroic tales are made of."
What lovely weather we've had today to lift the mood.
I'm getting outside my comfort zone and doing video recordings of The Mapmaker's Race by Eirly's Hunter. It is a delightful story. If you would like to listen to the recordings, I have uploaded chapter 1-4 onto the school Seesaw activity library. I will keep posting new chapters as often as possible.
This looks fun!
Auckland Transport is asking for primary ages students 5-11 from across NZ to paint and draw some images at home, these images will be fired onto ceramic tiles and used to decorate the new CRL Aotea underground station! The tiles will be on show for 100+ years!
Here is the link to the activity, details, examples videos below.
Here are some resources - including quizzes, challenges, a turtle rehabilitation live with the Ocean Explorers, a plastic challenge, how to attract birds to your garden, and more...
I have also started reading The Mapmaker's Race by Eirlys Hunter, and sending links to Nick, who is kindly uploading them to SeeSaw. It's an exciting adventure with likeable characters, written by an award-winning New Zealand author. I will try to add a new chapter every day. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at library@woodlandspark.school.nz.
If you are looking for Ebooks, Audiobooks, Read Alouds, Activities, Teacher Resources, ANZAC resources, Te Reo resources, resources on Wellbeing, etc - please do check out the WPS library Wakelet.
It is organised into collections - to make it easier to find what you are looking for. I add new resources every school day. Thanks to a parent for sharing the Star Wars Read Aloud stories. Very cool!
I hope you're doing well. Up and down days, right?
I attended an encouraging webinar today with the National Library. We are being encouraged to take care of our wellbeing. To be kind to ourselves while doing what we can, working during a crisis.
They shared some helpful websites:
Sparkles - helps by sharing some simple wellbeing tools and ideas for parents, tamariki and whanau.
Te Papa has online jigsaws from their taonga, to help you relax. You can choose the number of pieces in your puzzle.
I also want to remind parents and teachers about EPIC, which is funded by the MOE. Please note, it is a different organisation from the epic digital library. If you would like to sign in to EPIC - the online Encyclopedia - please email your teacher or me (library@woodlandspark.school.nz) for the login and password.
A National librarian showed us around some of the EPIC features this morning. I particularly like the Gale interactive Science models (think dinosaurs, an interactive periodic table, volcanoes, etc), and National Geographic Kids.
MOTAT is adding new info daily - for kids, parents & teachers.
I don't want to overload you with info, but I'll leave you with something fun: Matt Lucas's NHS health video "Thank you baked potato" (warning - its an earworm!):
My teenagers think I'm going crazy. They caught me bopping to Wes Tank rapping to Dr Seuss. I've uploaded a couple of the links on the Wakelet. I had to watch to the end to make sure it was safe. Such fun!
There is also a link to a live event where Kate Di Camillo will read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. There is a COVID-19 book for kids by Phoebe Morris (called Super Felix), and a reminder about Fabo Story, which I posted about a while ago. Two days left to get that story in!
I am enjoying learning some Te Reo on the school TV channel. Hope you have a good first day of online school.
I have a few things to share with you. For ease of use, I will try to put all the good resources I find, onto a Wakelet. It's a platform where you can quickly and easily look at a collection (eg. audiobooks and books read aloud). But I will also continue to update the blog to draw attention to some of the new resources.
One resource that I really want to point you to, is epic!
Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under
Instantly access 40,000 of the best books, learning videos, quizzes & more
Now there is a cost for joining, but I want to draw your attention to the FREE options for parents and teachers for 30 days. Remember to opt-out before your 30 days is up.
Also, if you haven't yet, please check out Libby - the Auckland Library app.
To get eBooks and eAudiobooks on your smartphone, tablet or iPod touch, install and open the Libby, by OverDrive app from your device's app store:
Today I have worked on bringing many of the resources I've been sharing into a Wakelet. If you would like to see some of the links I've been sharing in one place - check it out. I will also continue updating the blog.
Here's a link to a free information book explaining coronavirus to children illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler. You can download it as a PDF.
Tomorrow is Good Friday. I will be celebrating Easter with a couple of online church services and staying in our safe family bubble, eating too much chocolate and hot cross buns.
I'll continue posting resources after the Easter weekend.
Simply get your guardian to sign you in with their email address to get a "backstage pass". There are stories, book trailers, activities and more.
Parents, this resource is for you.
Ever meant to read Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" or my favourite, Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre"? Here are 27 free literary classic audiobooks from Audible:
Well, it's day 14 of New Zealand's lockdown. The school holidays have been unusual, but I hope you have enjoyed the reading and writing resources. I will continue to share them as I find them.
Here is a wonderful website called Poetry Box. "A New Zealand Poetry Page for Children". There are poetry challenges, photo challenges and poems read aloud:
Also, you can watch Goodnight Kiwi where the "beloved Goodnight Kiwi and Cat are joined by celebrity storytellers to bring the magic of New Zealand storybooks to life." Here is the link:
Today I have a few reading-related resources to share with you.
Firstly, here is a link to RNZ's collection of free children's audiobooks - all written and produced in New Zealand for kids. You can search by author's name. There are sections like "Classics" and "Te Ao Maori", "Friendship" and "Fantastical."
Why not make a daily storytime? Cosy up with a good audiobook online. Here's the link:
Has anyone participated in Chapter Chat before? This is what they are all about: "Chapter Chat provides free tasks and questions for educators in NZ and around the world. We have weekly Twitter sessions where thousands of students interact with each other around a quality text." Parents and teachers with Twitter, why not hop on to guide a child to join in the chat? The current book is Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. Here is their Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/ChapterChatNZ
I remember as a child, finding my gran's childhood diary. She had written fairy stories, with characters like Puck of Pook's hill, and hand-drawn coloured pencil illustrations. It was the olden day version of 'fan fiction' and filled me with wonder.
The books in the collection above include Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series and books by Jules Verne. The fantasy and sci-fi books of a different era.
Feeling curious about a time gone by? Have a peek.
I love Libby! It is the Auckland Libraries Overdrive app, where you can issue audiobooks and Ebooks. I love audiobooks. But often one has to put a hold request in, and wait for the book to become available.
Today's news: Libby currently has "Guaranteed Available: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Pick your language".
If you don't have the Libby app, here is how you download it:
"Join number one best smelling author, Deano Yipadee live as he attempts to keep his own kids entertained (and might as well baby sit yours) for 20 minutes each night this week during the lock down. Join the fun as Deano sings fun songs from his collection of best smelling books. Kids (and grown ups!) can bounce, laugh and dance along. Also, one lucky person will win a signed copy of the brand new Nee Naw story before you can even buy it!! Share with you mates and have a watching farty! Share with any fans of little fire engines"
