Freerice. Play the game, and every correct answer means 10 grains of rice donated by the UN World Food Programme. Paid for by adverts on the website.
In one lesson (about an hour) we managed to donate 20,790 grains of rice. We made a difference and enjoyed it. The life you can save.
Ethical education – doing what is right – is one of the important pillars in gifted education. George Parkyn, the “father” of gifted education in NZ believed giftedness needed to embrace the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of life and look forward to the future needs of mankind. This view has continued in gifted education within New Zealand and shapes much of what we do within the teaching of high ability students.
This term and next, Year 7 are looking at the concept of justice. They have been exploring absolute poverty and what to do about it. As Nelson Mandela said:
” OVERCOMING POVERTY IS NOT A GESTURE OF CHARITY. IT IS AN ACT OF JUSTICE”
And act is the key term. Do something. Doing nothing is not the same as doing no harm.
Check out this video from Peter Stringer. On reducing poverty, he has 3 messages: it makes no sense not to help; we should help; and most importantly we can help.
Gifted children have a keen need to play intellectual games. It is one of the over-excitabilities that they display, and it works when they play these game with like minded peers.
Here’s the Cromwell favourite – the Sofa Game ( we have to improvise with 4 chairs in a line, but you can imagine a sofa!)
Rules to follow:
The rules: (long but worth it!)
This is essentially a memory game. The object of this game is to get 4 members of your team on the “sofa”
To start, have everyone sit down in a circle (incuding the circle) alternating boy/girl/boy/girl. (If there are not enough of one gender, assign someone to join that group and make sure everyone knows… or pick a different qualifier such as seating them team A/then B/then A/then B. It will work as long as everyone knows who is on their team.) This means that two of the 4 designated seats on the couch belong to your team and two belong to the other. Remember the objective is to get the other team out of those seats and your members on.
So, how do you do that?
First, you write everyone’s name on a card and have everyone pull a name out of a hat. Everyone has a different name in their hand (it doesn’t matter if it is their own name). Once everyone is seated and has a name card you can start the game.
There should be one empty chair/place in the circle. Whoever is to the right of that empty place has the opportunity to ask someone to come sit next to him. The first couple people will just guess a name because they do not yet know who holds what name cards. Say the empty seat is next to you and you call the name Jeff… the person with the name Jeff on their card gets up… NOT the person whose name is actually Jeff. Once this “so-called Jeff” comes and sits next to you, you switch name papers. Now YOU have become Jeff and the person who sat next to you has the name you had (which only you know because no one has seen it but you).
Now everyone knows that You are Jeff. There is an empty space where the guy who just sat next to you used to sit. So the person to the right of the empty seat calls another name (Sarah). The person with that name on their card moves to that spot and switches cards with the caller. You now know that the caller’s name is Sarah. You just keep doing this until eventually you call the name (on the card) of someone on the couch and they have to vacate their coveted position.
If the person to the right of the empty spot is on the couch, they will want call someone from their team up to join them. (they will have had to remember from before).
People in the circle will want to remember the name of an opposing team member on the couch, so that in case an empty seat opens up next to them, they can call someone off the couch. A person on the couch will want to remember their own team members’ names so they can call someone on the couch.
Keep in mind however, that YOU may be called onto the couch and be required to remember your own team members’ names as well since it will be up to you to call team members onto the couch.
The only rule of the game is that you can’t call the same name twice in a row. Another note to remember if you are playing boy against girl is that it is the actual gender of the person HOLDING the card that counts, not the gender of the person whose name is on the card. Sarah may be called “Jeff” but she still counts for the girl’s team on the couch.
It’s all very well learning about leadership and learning what qualities you need, and how to develop them to be a good leader. But leading, by its very nature, means that you have to work with other people to get the best outcome for task, team, and individual. So what do you do when faced with a group that has one member who is passive (always agrees, never contributes), one member who is assertive (always right, fights for own opinions), and one member who is aggressive (takes things personally, offers personal attacks)?
Year 9 all had to lead a group made up of a passive, assertive and aggressive person, to a successful outcome. This involved a lot of fun role play as groups rotated so that everyone got to play each type of group member to:
1. Come up with 5 smoothie recipes
2. Make up a song about toe nails
3. Create the best paper plane
This is what they said:
” I learnt that you have to relate, include, listen and participate in a scenario like that. I liked the role playing and I liked it even more because I knew the people I was with could take it and have a laugh.”
” I enjoyed this activity because it was interesting to see how different types react together in a group. I learnt more strategies to solve problems which will help me in the future as I’m likely to encounter this at some point when at work”.
” I found it difficult dealing with such strong personalities. It has helped with the way I deal with leadership situations in the future”.
” I learnt to value passive people more. I also learnt the power of ignoring aggressive people. Keeping everyone calm is a good strategy. Also, having assertive people on your side works well. “
“It was good to see how everyone in our group handled the different personalities”
” This really tested our leadership skills. I found that by ignoring the aggressor, and concentrating on the passive person helped to have a positive outcome. It was a really valuable exercise”.
” I realised that you can learn ways to solve problems in groups”.
” I liked to think about what other people might be feeling”.
“I realised that in order to make the group work, the leader has to facilitate a way for everyone to get along”
“It was great fun acting different behaviours!”
Time we left the literary stuff behind. Mostly. This term and theme for year 8 is Science, so big and broad and plenty of choice for us all. Students have chosen their science badge topics. Check out this excellent scheme from the Science Award Trust here http://www.sciencebadges.co.nz/html/badges.html. Popular choices have been Large Animals, Technology, Home physics, Zoology and Conservation. Students will work on this self- managed programme at home and earn enough points to qualify for their science badges by the end of this term or next.
We’ve also been having a quick look at the brain. here is Liam’s cat’s brain:
Seen the doodle on the Google page? Year 7 and 8 have been entering the D4G competition with their doodle being on the Google web page for 24 hours if they win. the design brief? “If I were an explorer I would….” This competition has shown some very creative and divergent thinking and some clever conceptual thinking and explaining. It has actually turned out to be an excellent competition to get bright kids to really think. Here’s a few:
Exploring Evolution:
If I was an explorer I’d explore not where but when, viewing the evolution of mankind. I’d go back millions of years to when the first marine life had formed to creatures with arms and legs, then all the way to the present where humans have evolved to dominate the universe
Fracking
If i was an explorer I would show you how much fracking effects the environment. I am anti-fracking. you can see that there is the earth with a hole in it, an earthquake caused by fracking and dirty water
Olympus
Exploring Olympus, the home of Greek Gods would mean Jupiter’s lightning bolt, Cerberus the three headed dog that guards the underworld, Neptune’s staff and the flame of Olympus
Fantasy and Fiction
If i was an explorer i would explore fantasy and fiction because anything can happen. one minute a Hobbit could be fighting a dragon and Superman could be saving the day; the next minute you could be caught in a slithering snake trap under Hogwarts. With fantasy and fiction it’s up to you what happens and where it goes
Problem Gambling
If I were an explorer I would explore inside the mind of a gambler
At first sight, they look extremely useful and very helpful to everyday life. On second thoughts, absolutely useless- almost! Year 7 students have been creating their own Chindogu, following the 10 tenets that must be followed to create them. Here we go, for your viewing pleasure….
The Twice-Wiper
Are you distressed by using the same side of toilet tissue for looking after your ablutions? Well stop your fussing, introducing the double sided toilet tissue. use the rough side for doing your spring cleaning and the soft side to spend a penny. Works like magic!
Shiny Lippy
Sick and tired of lipstick that keeps smudging and coming off? Annoyed by dull lips? introducing the “Shiny-Lippy!” Simply place the ear pieces around your ears and enjoy. Only $59.99 – what a bargain!
Different Coloured Twink
Are you sick of always having plain white Twink? Well look no further. This ingenious invention has created the perfect things for you….. different coloured Twink! Brighten up your page with this affordable invention at just $5 a bottle. Comes in 7 awesome colours – make your friends jealous!
The Mute-anator
Frustrated with having to put up with the usual class noise? Well, here you go – the Mute-anator. The luxury green boxes sit comfortably over your ears blocking all the harsh sounds that roam the classroom. The two soundproof pipes poke out the window so the peaceful sounds of nature can join you inside
The Beard Eraser
Getting stressed by waking up in the morning and not having time to shave your beard? Well wait no longer the “Beard-Eraser” is here! All you need to do is place this invention onto your head, and now you can walk anywhere without having to worry about your beard. Now your boss doesn’t need to tell you to get a shave. one size and style only
On-Tima-Anator 2654
Do you get irritated when you need to be somewhere by a certain time? and don’t even know what the time is? Well don’t waste time standing there, come in now and buy the One Time – Anator 2654. It will help you to be on time and not lose track of it. Warning – you may have difficulty seeing
Wazoo
Is your bird tired of flying and hopping around? Well your problem is solved with the Wazoo! The Wazoo will make your bird feel like they are on a luxurious holiday. It’s like a beach in a can.
The Change-Roomatic
Do you get tired of getting changed after swimming and other sports, with people watching? Well look no further – we have come up with the ultimate Change-Roomatic. It combines the brilliance of getting changed in public with a curtain to hide behind! All you do is simply pop it over your shoulders, shut the curtain and get changed. Only available in Cromwell. Only available in one size
Junk Accenter
Upset because you don’t fit in? Look no further. This accenter will change your voice. Just move the knob and talk. Then walk away. This will definitely change your popularity level (no guarantee) 
The diary holder
Ever forgotten your school diary? Now you can never forget your school diary again? With the diary holder velcro it to your arm!
Safety Box
Are you tired of getting your sandwiches squished and smashed? Well look no further. All you need is a safety box. It may look big and bulky but that is just an illusion. It can adjust to any size sandwich, big or small. You now no longer need any box except Safety Box!
E.M.A.I.L.E.R
See your friend when he is below you, and you can’t get his attention? Well, use the EMAILER – just drop eeh device and your message will arrive ASAP.
Sucker Glove
Do you hate it when you have overflowing plumbing and your plunger is broken? That could all change with the sucker glove. The sucker glove and its single sucker will let you pull out the block in minutes! The secret is the single high-powered sucker with the little cup that can trap most air and water into it ans stick to it when you pull it back. When you are done, just stick it to the wall. (Warning: any injuries involving this product will not be treated. No refunds).
This week is Gifted Awareness Week, the 17th -23rd June.17th June is significant because it was the birthday of George Parkyn, the first New Zealander to achieve international recognition in the field of gifted education. We hope to draw attention to gifted people and the nature of giftedness. One of the events is the NAZGC competition, for all ages, in writing, art, film and photo, on the theme “the Face Of ….”
The Face Of Diversity
What is the meaning of diversity?
I’ll tell you it doesn’t decide your destiny
It means to be different and unique
It means to not make critiques
It means not to be categorized
It means freedom and civil rights
It makes you who you are.
There is a dark side to being different
It’s sometimes limits your decisions
And often people use it as racism
Overall humans are all the same
We’re just defined by skin, color and name
Diversity, it makes you who you are.
Harris: My poem represents diversity, in my poem I wrote about difference and uniqueness, and that everyone should be treated equally despite their appearance/nationality.
And Cowan who says: “the Face of peace wonders whether peacekeepers really do keep the peace. We all need to keep asking questions
And Chloe’s Face of Eternity: “It symbolises that even though eternity has no end it does have a beginning
And Ella’s The face of capitalism : My art represents the face of capitalism. the overall image is of money (plenty of it). I wanted to ask the age old question ” is money worth it?” because I want young people to really think about their priorities. Passion for what you do and doing what you love is more important than counting your cash
And Liam’s: The face of mystery. Look closely and you can see what Scooby Do is made of
Year 9 Half Day School are looking at Time as a concept and a theme (and an abstract concept as far as getting out of bed at the weekend goes!) Here they are making a time machine (that measures exactly 20 seconds) using the Engineering Design Process
Designers frequently jump around the design process and going back to earlier steps is common and expected. This is called iteration. The time machine must measure 20 seconds three times, so Habit of Mind “accuracy and precision” is key here.
After Liz the poet came in to support, offer advice, critique and suggest poetic things to year 9 Half Day School, the really hard work started. The result? Entries of villanelles. sonnets and haiku for the NZ International poetry competition. And a lot of pride in their efforts.
Below is Tegan’s villanelle.
Turning Turtle
Innocent and oblivious the turtle swims free
Feeding on Neptune’s Necklace, swaying gently
Gliding through still water of the emerald sea
The tidal rip drags plastics swiftly
out into the sea, unintentionally.
Innocent, oblivious, the turtle swims free.
Plastic is all around; makes the water blurry.
It floats green, yellow and clear, mimicking algae,
drifting through still water of the emerald sea.
Ocean currents converge, spiralling with debris.
Debris from our beautiful coastline and scenery.
Innocent and oblivious the turtle swims free.
Millions of years from now, we might see
our oceans blackened, empty of life.
Waves undulating weakly.
Silence glides through still water of the once emerald sea.
Or Ella’s
Tolerance is overrated
I’d like to smack you in the face
With a steel-legged chair
You make my emotions race
You brag about your running pace
I don’t care, like, I don’t care
I’d like to smack you in the face
If your existence was erased
I’d breathe a fresher breath of air
You make my emotions race
Perhaps I should give you some space
Or let my soul lay bare
I’d like to smack you in the face
My thoughts I need to retrace
and sanity I need repair
You make my emotions race
A better me should embrace
you as you are, but to be fair
I’d like to smack you in the face
You make my emotions race
Half Day School 