Digitise It, Animal Habitat- August 2015

Learner: Tristan                                                                         Learning Coach: DWilkes       Date: August 2015                                                                       Learning Area:  Science

Learning Observed

This term the LH1 learners have been learning about animals, adaptations and habitats. Tristan has been building his language and developing his understandings of the many ways the natural world can be represented.  Tristan is able to recognise that living things are suited to their particular habitat and can discuss the adaptations of specific animals and used his curiosity to do some basic research on his animal, the jaguar.  Tristan is beginning to recognise that all living things have certain requirements so they can stay alive and could identify some of these for the jaguar.   Tristan was fortunate enough to go on a field trip to the zoo where many animals captured this curiosity.  He used the learning from the zoo trip to create his creature using the www.buildyourwildself.com wesbite.  Tristan then needed to create a habitat that would be suitable for his creature.  He opted for the ‘Digitize It’ option knowing that he wanted to design the creature habitat in Minecraft and demonstrate his capability at using it.   He went through a rigorous design process that involved connecting with information through researching to create a fact file on the jaguar, drawing a draft diagram of what the habitat would look like and then creating it in a digital tool of their choosing.  Tristan couldn’t use Minecraft in the end and created his habitat by drawing it.  Ask him to show it to you!

Evidence of learning

Next Learning Steps

write a reflective blog post about the learning and share with parents treat online spaces with respect follow through on your designs- finish the minecraft habitat at home practice presenting so you are prepared- why don’t you present to your family?!

Tristan's Zoo Narrative Assessment - July 2015

Learner: Tristan Learning Coach :   DWilkes                               Date: July 30, 2015

Learning Area: Science

Learning Observed

Our trip to the zoo was a lot of fun and learning for Tristan.  He was part of a smaller group while we toured the zoo visiting animals from around the world and observing their behaviour and habitats.  Tristan enjoyed looking at the animals and asked lots of questions.  For example “why do they have pink bums?” about the baboons and ‘why do they stand on one leg?’ about the flamingos.  He thought is was very amusing that one of the elephants had the same name as his classmate “Anjli”.  Tristan was attentive, collaborative and curious.and enjoyed the opportunity to talk about what he already knew about animals and what they need to survive.

Evidence of learning

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

During the animal encounters with the zoo keepers Tristan demonstrated his curiosity when he got to touch the elephant tooth and ivory.  He asked ‘what do they use ivory for?’ and ‘why is the tooth so bumpy?’.  Tristan demonstrated progress with managing self during the zoo visit by staying with his group, buddy and listening to instructions.  He was collaborative and participated and contributed in all 3 animal encounters: flamingos, cheetahs and elephants.  His favourite was the elephants.  Tristan connected to his learning at school and could tell me which continent a lot of the animals came from.

Next Learning Steps

Tristan would enjoy and benefit from visiting the Auckland zoo website to learn more about the animals and their habitats. -share and contribute his ideas and questions with the wider group -use his learning and wonderings in his Habitat Design learning adventure when we go back to school -make connections to his observations of the animals habitats at the zoo to their natural habitats