You should try this?

At Technicraft today, my partners and I did an experiment on bubbles. When we went through the door, we saw on each table, five cups of water, a stopwatch, stirring rod, straws, one big beaker and one small beaker.

• Then we started our experiment by pouring 100  ml of detergent into each plastic cup.
• After that we were all told to stir each of the cups with the stirring rod that we were given. There were five cups and four people so each of the four people in each table got to stir a plastic cup.
• Later we were given one bubble blower so that we all could each blow a bubble from each of the plastic cups. We each blew a bubble from each of the plastic cups, we had to time how long the bubble would last.
• Try this experiment at home, but remember to get permission from your parents.

Now it's time to leave to go back to school.

Mmm, that's delicious!

On Saturday the 12th of November, my family and I went to my uncle's house because he asked us to go over to his house   so that the gentlemen could have their meeting about my uncle's grave. We went to my uncle's house in my dad's van.

As soon as we arrived, we all hopped out of the car and went inside to see who was there because there weren't any cars outside. When we got to the front door, it was only my two uncles that were inside laughing. My sisters asked my uncle, "Where are the rest of the family?" He answered, "They've gone to the hospital because Mele has just given birth to a little girl." We thought that my uncle was lying to us but he wasn't. We were  all very shocked.

Later on, my other uncles came  over with their wives and their children. I was really happy because my uncles brought my cousins over which meant that we we could play volleyball. When we went to the front of the house to play volleyball, my male cousins went to the deck to cook the food on the BBQ. I was a little bit disappointed at my cousins because they didn't let me hit the ball. We played and played until the sky became dark.

After a while, three of my male cousins came and called us to go inside because it time for us to have some food.  We rushed inside because we were all so hungry. After we went inside, we all grabbed a plate and scooped our favourite food onto our plates. On my plate I had, a sausage, three small chicken  drumsticks and one small piece of hot casava. Together, my cousins and I said  food grace before we had eaten our food.

Afterwards we went outside again to play volleyball because the adults continued their meeting. My uncle was telling my other uncles that the grave has now gone up to $500 because we haven't paid for it in the last couple months. We were happy to go back outside and play so we could see who would win. Mele, my cousin was shouting, "Our team is going to win!"

Before long, it was time for us to go because it was time for my uncle to go back to the hospital for his rehabilitation, so I shouted out loudly to my family, "Bye, bye I will see you tomorrow!" They also said bye to me as well. We all waited until my uncle left the house so we could leave after him.

I was very tired after that game of Volleyball! I hope my team can win next time.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use language features in our recount.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use past tense verbs to describe the weekend that I had with my family before my uncle went back to the hospital.

Get well soon aunty!

After church on Sunday the 30th of October, most of my uncles, aunties, cousins, sisters, nephews, mum, dad and I went to the Auckland Hospital because my aunty was in hospital. We all went to the hospital in our vans and cars that belonged to my uncle, dad or my cousin. All of my cousins and I were really excited to see Malieta because we don't really like staying at home because it feels weird without her.


As soon as my dad parked the car at the drop off area, my mum was the first one to get out to go in the elevator while the rest of us had to wait for my dad because he went away and parked the car.  I was excited to go but I was scared to go by myself just in case someone comes and takes me away. After my dad parked  the van, we all went to the elevator so we could go up to level seven. Then we got to level seven and we all went  up to Malieta to give her a kiss  on the cheek. After that, my sister and I left to go to  the whanau room because it was a bit crowded in Malieta's  room.


After a while, my cousins arrived with my uncle. I was really excited to see them because my sisters and I were feeling a bit lonely in the whanau room . When we were waiting for other to arrive, w munched on  some chips that my mum had brought for us. My cousins and I were sitting next to the vending machine because the television didn't work in the whanau room. We were all shocked when my cousin told us that my aunty was going to die but my uncle tapped her chest and she started to breathe again. I was about to cry with the others because it would be very sad for everyone if she did pass away.


Soon we saw my uncle and Aunty walking pass us and we all said, "Hi aunty and uncle." We also kept sitting next to the vending machine until my cousin that we should go live on her phone so we could talk to my cousin who was also online because it was very boring. While they were chatting, I went to check on my Aunty incase she needed something. She didn't need anything because she was busy talking to my uncles and aunties.


A while later,  it was time for us to go because it was nearly night time. The nurse came and told us that it time for my aunty to get some sleep because she has dialysis the next morning. My aunty didn't want to sleep because she was happily talking and laughing about the good news with my aunties and uncles. We all gave a kiss to my aunty and said, "Goodbye, we will see you tomorrow after school."


It was a good day visiting my aunty because my aunty  was happy and excited to see her big family.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use language features in a recount.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use past tense verbs to describe the weekend that I had with my family going to the hospital to see my aunty.

Mmm, that dessert was delicious!

Yay! We're going to see Jessica (my cousin) on Saturday the 10th of September because she was having an unveiling. My family and I woke up very early because we had to make some crab salad, taro and yam before we left the house. I couldn't wait to go because I wanted to see my uncle, nana and also Jessica because it has been a long time since I've seen them.

As soon as we left home in our eight seater van, my uncle rang and said, "Church is starting now, are you guys nearly here?" My dad replied in a rushed voice, "Yeah we're nearly there, we have just left home." So dad quickly turned off the phone so he could drive us to church.

When we arrived, we all lined up to receive the Eucharist. After everyone received the Eucharist, my aunty told us that lunch is after the unveiling so we will have to come back to the hall that is next to the church. Then everyone left church to go to the Manukau Memorial Garden for the unveiling.

Eventually, everyone arrived at the garden. It was only my dad and I that went in while the rest of the family waited in the van because the car had to be parked far away there were a lot people. I only went to see the grave and then I came back so my cousin, sisters and I to go and see my uncle and nana who were buried much closer to the van.

Next we all went back to the Holy Cross hall for lunch. My stomach was rumbling because I didn't have breakfast. I talked about my cousin, sister and I visiting my uncle and nana's graves. I told my mum that the big flowers on my uncle's grave was missing.

When we got to the hall, I quickly hopped off and went to take the crab salad to my aunty in the kitchen.  While I was walking with the food, I stopped to say, "Hi" to my cousin Langi. Then my cousin came and told my family and I to take a seat because lunch wasn't ready.

After a while, my uncle announced that it's time for my uncle Mafua to say our opening and food prayer for us all. Langi had to call Mafua because he was outside talking with my uncle. When Mafua had finished saying our prayers, my uncle said, "Now can I have the McAuley girls to come up and scoop their food and eat." After they filled their plates, the rest of us filled up ours as well.

Before long, it was time for the candles to be represented. One representative from each family went up to hold the candle. I really wanted to go but my dad said for me to stay because it could be dangerous. The candle that my sister Anna held represented the time when Jessica started primary school.

YAY! After that, it was time for the children and the McCauley girls  to go and help themselves to get as many lollies or as much dessert as we wanted. My cousin was very shy so my sister Mel told me to go with her.

Later on, it was time for Mafua to say our final blessing. Then we had to go and help some people to put away the chairs and tables to where they belong. Once my family and I put away twenty chairs each, we went outside so that we could go to my uncle's house because my dad had to go there for their meeting.

My favourite part of Jessica's unveiling was when we went to see my uncle, my nana and Jessica because I have really missed seeing them!

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use language features in our recount.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use past tense verbs to describe the day that my family and I went to Jessica's unveiling.

Mmm, that was so delicious!

Last Sunday was the day for all fathers around the world to celebrate Father's Day. My mum's family cooked lots of food while the fathers and the children went to church. We celebrated Father's Day at my uncle's house which was at Mt Wellington.

As soon as church finished, my family and I went back home so that we can change from our church clothes to celebration clothes and proceeded with my sister and my step-sister Seneti to my uncle's house. Actually, everyone had a change of attire except me because I still really wanted to wear my poncho which was colour white, black and pink.

Soon after, we left our house because we still had to go to a lot of places like Pak'nsave, Laundromat and Sylvia park before we get to the party. When we drove past three houses from our house, my older sister said, "Dad, go to Pak'nsave."

When we got to Pak'nsave, my sister Anna, Seneti and I hopped off the van with my elder sister so that we can go and choose the things we wanted for our lunch. I grabbed a small trolley and went inside to start our shopping. The first thing we got was two boxes of lee snacks. Anna had to hold my sister's phone because it had the list of the things we needed to get while Seneti and I were grabbing the stuff from the shelves.

Next we went to the laundromat at Glen Innes to drop off my sister's work uniform because she was working the next day. We only dropped it off because we didn't want to wait for a long time. While my sister went to take her washing, Anna went to the dairy and got us some bacon and egg pies and a bag of potatoes for the potato salad that we will be making later on.

Then, we went to the Sylvia Park Pak'nsave to get the rest of the things needed for our lunch. I was very excited to go to Sylvia Park because I haven't been there since the start of term two. We got some plastic plates, cups and celery.

After we paid our groceries, we went to my uncle's house to start the preparation for the party. Once we got to my uncle's house, the dad started cooking the meat on the barbecue while the mums were busy cooking the other foods in the kitchen. The children and the grandmas just sat in the lounge happily watching tv.

As soon as the adults finished cooking all the food, my five cousins and I got the tables from outside and from the kitchen and put them together in the middle of the lounge to create a long buffet table. I sat down while the rest went to get the tablecloth to cover the buffet table then to bring in all the food and place them neatly on the table. While they were doing all that, I decided to help my cousin to bring in chairs and to let the fathers know that dinner is ready. Some of the fathers said a speech to thank all their children and their wives for preparing the sumptuous dinner to celebrate Father's Day.

Afterwards, when the fathers went to the deck to chat, the wives came and sat down to eat. They kept on eating while some of the children were talking and I was taking photos using my sister's phone.

As time went by, the children had to go to the kitchen to wash the dishes. The kitchen was so small that only three people could fit there. Four of my cousins and I didn't do the dishes because we had to take back all the tables to where they belong.

Eventually, we all finished doing our chores just in time for my aunty to call us to take the cake and coffee to our loving dads. I felt really jealous because we, the children didn't get a piece of cake until my uncle said, "Come, take this and eat it!" So I happily took it and sat down to eat it. The cake was delicious!

Finally, it was time for everyone to go home because it was getting late and there's school the following day. So I went all around the whole entire house shouting, "Bye, family!" I didn't want to leave my uncle's house because it felt like the house was our family house too!

My favourite part of the day was when all the children sang the Happy Father's Day song because it felt like the fathers were going to cry with tears of joy and happiness.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use the language features in our recount.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use past tense to describe the celebration that my family and I had on Father's Day.

Happy birthday baby!

On Saturday the 27th of August, my family and I went to the Mangere hall to celebrate my niece's first birthday. We left our house at 11:00 o'clock in our eight seater van.

Before we went to my niece's birthday, we went to the church in Mangere to meet up with my cousin. When we reached the church, we hopped off to go and give my cousin a kiss on the cheek. My dad spoke with him while we ate peanut and lollies in the van. Then my dad turned over to my mum and asked my cousin if he wanted to have a sleepover at my house on Friday night and then go back to his house Sunday afternoon. My mum agreed with dad and said, "That's a good idea."

After that we went to the Mangere hall on Buckland road which started at 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon. As soon as my dad had parked our car, I ran out to my auntie who was holding the birthday girl and took her and gave her as many kisses as I could. While I giving her some kisses, my cousin called from upstairs for me to go and dance with her but I shook my head to show that I didn't want.

Soon, the birthday party started and I got my cousin's phone because she asked me to take some photos for everyone. I went and sat down in front of everyone and took as many pictures as I could. I took photos of my niece walking into the hall with my auntie. After they walked inside the door, I snapped a photo of them both looking at me. Next it was time for my uncle to say our karakia and our food grace for us.

Then it was time for the birthday girl to blow out the candles on her cake. Before the birthday girl blew out the candles, we all shouted, "Make a wish baby!"  and sang the Happy Birthday song. Next we went and filled our plate with food to take back to our table to enjoy.

Soon, it was time for our final blessing which my uncle said for us all. While the other families were leaving, my family helped out with putting away the chairs. As soon as I stacked twenty chairs, I went outside to hold the birthday girl. I walked with her to the park and swung on the swing.

I had such a fun time meeting my cousin, going to my niece's birthday and taking photos of my cousin, the birthday girl and me on my cousin's phone.

My favourite part of the day was when my cousin, the birthday girl and I took photos because I thought we both looked so beautiful.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use descriptive language in our recount.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use adjectives to describe the time with my family meeting my cousin and going to my niece's birthday.