Inquiry: Simple machines

Recently, Room 2 have been learning about the six types of simple machines which make our lives easier. The students chose and analysed an example of a simple machine to learn more about its function. Here are some examples:


by Yusuf



by Alessandra



by Kyle


by Vidur and Hamza

New Zealand Sign Language

Last week (May 6 - 12) was New Zealand Sign Language Week.

Here are some facts about New Zealand's third official language by Abdul, Raahul and Suhail.

Writing inspired by "Mechanical"

On an island in the middle of the vast ocean, machines work to harsh conditions. Clouds of billowing smoke and filthy dust rise up from debris that has been twisted into large mysterious figures. A colossal creaking claw clamps a pile of old metal like swans reaching for food. As the claw slowly retreats, the rest of it’s deadly body is revealed. You can almost hear the monster crane cackling at his plan. The spotlight on his head acts as his searching eye. This mysterious creature has weapons of great danger. Even though it’s only a machine, the presence of this ghastly disgrace makes you feel like a helpless, weak ant immune to absolutely nothing.

The little saffron coloured robot makes its way to the edge of the island, he says to himself, “Why, it would be nice to live there, in the city of freedom. His friend, the bulldozer, suddenly appears and says, “ Well, I would just like to stay alive!” The little saffron crane exclaims, “ You didn’t need to give me a fright!!!” They had a conversation a rather argumentative one. They argued about how it’d be like on the island and also argued about how you could or couldn’t escape. After several hours, they finished the argument with “ I’m leaving, you don’t understand me. There’s no point in me listening to you.” the weirdest thing though  was that they said it in sync. As soon as the bulldozer left, the little saffron truck mumbled, “ I’ll get there, I’ll definitely find a  way”.

As the little digger works in the morning with his fellow friend, they spot a floating barrel bobbing in the water. They quickly come up with a plan together to escape this dreadful island in which they are trapped on. They decided that they would build an escape raft to float hopefully very safely to the city across the ocean. They dreamt about the wonders on the city, staring at the glimmering skyscrapers everyday. Starting from that night on the secretively collectd pieces of metal to build this raft they were to escape on. This included large pieces of rippled metal, screws and bolts, some rope and even a blowtorch to melt the metal together. Every night they secretively worked to build the escape raft. It was coming together very well. Every now and then the security camera nearly caught them red handed. They always managed to hide themselves and the creation though. Not long after, they

were done.

Day after day, night after night, they worked on this escape raft as hopeful as can be. It was not long after, they realised that they were done. They then hid the creation in a safe place where ‘ The Claw ’ couldn’t  reach. Their next plan was to decide how and when to escape. They knew that the security camera was highly sensitive and that he was ‘The Claw’s ’ eye. They wanted the camera though to betray ‘ The Claw ’ and help them escape. They came up with a plan to convince the security guard to be on their side. The first thing that they needed to do though was to attract the security guard.  They did that by working at night and moving slowly so that the security camera would be alerted. They then cautiously whispered their convincing words to the camera. They were exceptionally lucky the camera had agreed to be with them. So then... the action started.

Day after day, night after night, they worked on this escape raft as hopeful as can be. It was not long after, they realised that they were done. They then hid the creation in a safe place where ‘ The Claw ’ couldn’t  reach. Their next plan was to decide how and when to escape. They knew that the security camera was highly sensitive and that he was ‘The Claw’s ’ eye. They wanted the camera though to betray ‘ The Claw ’ and help them escape. They came up with a plan to convince the security guard to be on their side. The first thing that they needed to do though was to attract the security guard.  They did that by working at night and moving slowly so that the security camera would be alerted. They then cautiously whispered their convincing words to the camera. They were exceptionally lucky the camera had agreed to be with them. So then... the action started.

By Caitlin

"Mechanical" Narrative Shared Writing

WALT Describe the characters
WALT Describe the setting
WALT Write a conversation between two characters
WALT Write the next part of the narrative

Remember to use:
Powerful adjectives, adverbs and verbs
Figurative language (similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia and personification)
Interesting nouns (names, places and objects)
Speech marks
Compound sentences (FANBOY)
Complex sentences (which, while, as)
Variety of interesting sentence starters and sentence structures

Paragraph 1 (Describe the setting and a character)
On an island in the middle of a harbour, machines work day and night to sort through piles of metal. Clouds of filthy, choking dust rise up from debris that have been twisted into unrecognisable shapes. A charcoal steel claw reaches into one pile like a child grabbing fistfuls of sweets. As the claw slowly pulls its load from the ground, the rest of its massive, hideous body is revealed. The ominous mechanical crane dominates the island and towers over all other machines. A spotlight on top of the crane swivels from side to side, like a giant eyeball carefully scanning for any signs of trouble. At its back, a pair of gears with wicked-sharp spikes spin. Even though it’s a dazzlingly bright day, the presence of the crane makes you feel like all of the freedom and joy has fled this cramped, smelly island.

Paragraph 2 (A conversation between 2 characters)
Gazing wistfully at the metropolis in the distance, a cute, little digger sighs with resignation. It wonders if it will ever leave the dreadful drudgery of this island.
“Are you thinking of escaping again?” asked the little digger’s only friend, the rumbling bulldozer.
“Don’t do it,” the older rusty machine whirrs in warning, “You know what the guards will do to you if they catch you!”
The young, amber machine looks down and picks listlessly at the rubbish by its treads.
“I can’t help it. Staring at that glorious city every day and night when we’re trapped here? Don’t you just wish we could break free?”
“Oh, little digger, I just want to survive,” the bulldozer wheezes as it slowly rotated away from the glittering skyscrapers, “and that only happens if we do what the guards want.”

As its friend crawled back to work, the digger sighs wistfully again. “One day…” it whispered to itself.

Paragraph 3 (Problem = Hiding from the guard and escaping)
Suddenly, a stack of aluminium pipes and lead barrels clattered to the ground beside them. The little digger and the old bulldozer immediately stop in their tracks. They know what’s going to come soon...who is coming.

“Hide!” cried out the older machine in absolute terror.

Reversing into the shadows, the two petrified workers do their best to (hide) blend in with the junk and scraps. A glowing scarlet bulb burns away the gloomy darkness and illuminates the cramped space. The light was attached to a...

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