Throughout the weeks, we have explored the impact of human activities on all four spheres of the Earth as apart of our Science course.

The experience was both demanding and stimulating, and it certainly piqued my interest.I learned the way human-induced activities affect one sphere which then leads to defects to the other three. 

Deforestation negatively impacts the environment by increasing carbon emissions and disrupting natural ecosystems. It plays a significant role in global warming and climate change, as trees release stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when they are cut down. As vast areas of forest are removed, the exposed land suffers degradation, and countless species lose their habitats. Additionally, Indigenous communities that rely on these forests for their livelihoods face significant threats to their way of life. The dangers to nature differ across various regions. For instance, in tropical areas, agribusiness often clears forests to create space for activities like cattle ranching, palm oil production, and soy farming for animal feed. The global demand for wood products, whether for disposable paper items or hardwood flooring, also poses a threat to forests everywhere.

While trees and wildlife may eventually return, the effects of deforestation extend beyond what is immediately visible.

Forestry activities and subsequent cultivation methods lead to decreased water infiltration and heightened runoff. The absence of trees means there is no mechanism to retain water, which exacerbates soil erosion and raises the likelihood of flooding, thereby increasing the risk of pollutants contaminating adjacent water bodies. These practices pose significant threats to Tangaroa.

Currently, approximately fifty percent of New Zealand’s land has been transformed into agricultural areas; for instance, much of the river flats along the west coast have been converted into pastures. The clearing of forests has played a significant role in the extinction of native species. Indigenous communities and rural inhabitants frequently rely on forests for their sustenance, which encompasses food, housing, and traditional medicinal practices. The process of deforestation disrupts these vital ecosystems, stripping communities of crucial resources and threatening their cultural identity. Maori, in particular, have a deep dependence on their whenua for their well-being.

When forests are cleared or disturbed, they emit carbon dioxide and other detrimental gases. The loss and degradation of forests contribute to 10% of global warming. Combating climate change is impossible without halting deforestation. It is imperative that we prioritize the protection of forests, especially the forest of Tane-Mahuta, now more than ever.

Deforestation has quickly become a topic that I am passionate about due to the number of effects it has on the world that we live in. It may pay well but soon we will have to pay it back to Papatuanuku.

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week is an extraordinary annual event that inspires us all, globally to embrace kindness and generosity toward one another! It began in 1995 when the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was established to motivate individuals to spread kindness and uplift society. The goal of RAK week is to ignite a wave of positivity, compassion, and goodwill, creating an amazing ripple effect of kindness throughout communities worldwide!

The impact of RAK week on our Te Whare Tapa Wha – Hauora/Wellbeing is truly remarkable! Engaging in acts of kindness has been shown to enhance mental health, reduce stress, elevate happiness, and strengthen our connections with others. By participating in RAK week, we can elevate our own wellbeing while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us!

Recently, 1HLT dove right into the BOIC community to take part in RAK week. We joyfully performed various acts of kindness—helping friends in need, giving compliments to strangers, and volunteering with a local charity. We were excited to see how these actions would create a positive and uplifting atmosphere, fostering unity and camaraderie among everyone involved. We painted affirmations on rocks, set up fun challenges, and had an absolute blast!

The impact of our RAK acts on others was nothing short of heartwarming! We witnessed smiles, expressions of gratitude, and an overall sense of warmth from those we reached out to. These simple gestures of kindness had the incredible power to brighten someone’s day, lift their spirits, and remind everyone that goodness truly exists in the world!

Personally, engaging in RAK activities had a profoundly positive effect on my own Te Whare Tapa Wha – Hauora/Wellbeing. I felt fulfilled, connected, and deeply grateful for the chance to make a positive impact in someone else’s life. The joy of giving without seeking anything in return filled me with satisfaction and a strong sense of purpose!

In conclusion, Random Acts of Kindness week is an amazing initiative that can transform communities and individuals alike by promoting kindness, empathy, and compassion. When we join in RAK week, we not only boost our own happiness but also spread positivity and goodwill to everyone around us. Let’s make kindness a part of our daily lives—together we can change the world!

Our Science topic is  Heredity  ! Heredity refers to the way in which an organism’s characteristics, such as physical traits and genetic information, are passed down from one generation to the next. This is achieved through the transmission of genetic material, primarily through the DNA molecule, which contains the instructions for development and function of an organism. Heredity plays a crucial role in determining an organism’s phenotype, or its physical characteristics, and is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and epigenetics.

Chromosomes, DNA and genes are organised in a very specific way. Organisms are made up of many cells.Cells contain chromosomes. Within those cells is a nucleus and within the nucleus is DNA. DNA is made up of segments called genes. Genes are the base of heredity and are made up of protein. To be exact  you inherit 46 chromosomes !  23 from each parent ! All of these new terms (DNA,genes,chromosomes and cells) give you physical characteristics or traits that make you unique. All of your genetic orientation comes from your lineage which in return allows us to re-call our whakapapa. 

A new topic within our social sciences curriculum is “FUTURE PLANNING” . It is where we choose our options for our chosen career pathways and basically, plan our future. We made a slide show on different things we needed to achieve excellence when assessed.

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Mauri Ora ! As a year 10, we are allowed to choose 2 options each semester. This semester I have chosen Maori and Food Technology.

10MAO

In my Maori class we learn new kupu each  lesson. Our current topic is Hangi. We experiment with different ways  of cooking our Hangi without using the traditional ways (In a steamer or in the ground)

We are allocated into different groups with each group having a different way to cook the Hangi. My group is called umu maoitai which is translated to cast iron pot/pan.

10FTY

Over the course of 5 weeks I have learned the process of making takakau or Maori flat bread, vanilla  cupcakes, pinwheel scrolls or cinnamon scrolls and weet-bix slice. Every week we have 2 lessons, one on Monday and the other on Friday.

Monday is our theory day, where we reflect about last Friday’s cook and re-clean our cooking stations. Friday is obviously our cooking day  where we explore the arts of cooking. Sometimes (if we’re lucky) & (Whaea Honey is feeling a bit risky) we cook on Mondays.

I have learned how to round into 2 decimal places with the help of my peers and Kaiako (Whaea Ramari) . I can now use it everywhere I go and in my maths mahi, the abbreviated term for 2 decimal places is 2 d.p.

I have also learned how to multiply and divide decimals with whole and decimal numbers.

In our Science classes with Matua Dion we have been focusing on “Science Fair” we work in groups and do the usual ; Aim, Hypothesis, Experiment , ect. In my group with Manawa-Rangi and Paranihia we are making our project on Aerodynamics. 

In our Aerodynamical project we are looking at the best way to shoot a Netball based on accuracy, strength and technique, we are also doing the best way to pass a Rugby Ball based on accuracy, range and strength. We looked over the magnus effect and the histories of Rugby and Netball. Here is what our slides consisted of:

HYPOTHESIS

Manawa-Rangi; I think that spinning the ball while shooting will help with your accuracy. 

Paranihia; I think that bending your knees and bending your elbows will make your accuracy a bit better.

Drisana; I predict that flicking your wrist will help with shooting a ball. I believe that spinning a rugby ball while passing can be good for accuracy and speed.

REASEARCH

Aerodynamic, techniques, different ways on how to shoot and pass. 

Spinning the ball will help increase the velocity and the direction of travel of fluid or air. Your arms should be 90-104 degrees facing the goal. 

The Magnus effect is an observable phenomenon commonly associated with a spinning object moving through a fluid. A lift force acts on the spinning object. We can use this in our passing experiment. 

Rugby is said to have originated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, in 1823 when during a game of football, William Webb Ellis decided to pick up a ball and go with it. Although there is very little evidence to support this theory, the Rugby World Cup Trophy is now named after William Webb Ellis. Rugby is an excellent participation sport. It can accommodate all different shapes and sizes of player, it requires a lot of skill and decision-making, it is probably the most team oriented of team sports outside of rowing, and it’s a great way for growing kids to let off steam.

Netball was first played in England in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg’s College. In the first half of the 20th century, Netball’s popularity continued to grow, with the game being played in many British Commonwealth countries.What used to be a girl’s game has become a game for virtually everyone – young, old, male, female, rich, poor, athletes, beginners, and even the handicapable. The way the game has evolved to foster inclusion explains its popularity in a nation that embodies multiculturalism.

EVALUATION

If we were to do it again, what worked well & something we found challenging?

In the experiment with shooting the netball we found that bending our knees and flicking our wrists worked well while shooting to improve momentum and accuracy. 

In the passing experiment with the rugby ball hand-eye coordination is key while following through with the pass . Starting the pass from your side and flicking your hips while passing creates strength in your pass.

I te timitanga o te hararei ka noho au ki oku whare. Ka mahi au ki te whakatika oku kainga.

I te wiki tua rua o te hararei ka haere au ki Rotorua ki te takaro te kemu Riki . I whakanui i te kaupapa ” Kotiro Maori Rugby League Tournament”. Ko te ingoa o oku tima ko Ngapuhi Ahi . Ka takaro matou ki nga kotiro mai i Ngati Kahungunu, Otautahi, Tamaki Makaurau me Tokoroa.

In the first week of my holidays I stayed home and cleaned the house while my mum started her new job at the Maori land court. In the second week I travelled down to Rotorua to play in the Kotiro Maori Rugby League tournament . I played with the team NGAPUHI AHI. The judges were biased and didn’t like our team because of previous tournaments. In our pool the teams were from Ngati Kahungunu, Christchurch, Auckland and Tokoroa. It was an amazing experience and an awesome learning opportunity for no just me but our whole team. On the second day while playing our first game I got injured while playing and had a locked jaw but ended up playing my second game not to far into it my jaw completely dislocated.

Thank you, AHI HARD

See Ya Simon by David Hill is one of my top reads . The book itself was and will remain to be the highlight of my work in English this year. My blog is going to be a review on the book and a few character descriptions.

The fictional novel See Ya, Simon is about a boy with Muscular Dystrophy. It is extremely articulated all through the story that Simon won’t live for one more year. Simon is a very moral and funny character who is not afraid to voice his opinions and doesn’t seem to care much, even though he knows he will die. His school is one of Simon’s primary settings, so if I had to describe one, it would be it. Simon is funny, cool, and funny. He had a best friend named Nathan who always helped Simon. Nathan is very happy, kind, and funny. At the beginning of the story, I was happy, but as it got closer to the end, I was a little sad because Simon was about to die.

Character review 1:

The first character I chose for the review was Nathan. The book was written in his point of view (POV) so readers were “stuck” with him . I grew to understand Nathan as his best friend was suffering all he could do was watch and that made me feel as if I were his “friend” because I felt like I was right next to him the whole time.

3 things positive about Nathan was that he was a great friend, he was mature and he was just a caring person overall.

Character Review 2:

The second character I chose was the MAIN character of the book and he made sure to let all the readers know that. The book revolved around Simon and his limitations but he never let them limit him. Simon was my favourite character, in the last chapter when Simon was finally at peace it was hard not to shed a tear because I felt as if I was a apart of his life.

3 positive things about Simon was that he was an eager and determined person never afraid to back down, he was persistent about everything he did and he was extremely humorous.

My takeaways from this story is to never be so judgemental about someone because you don’t know their story and to not let your appearance hold you back from doing the things you are passionate about.

ps.

I LOVED this book.

Our mahi (work) in Socials this term  so far has been a range of things. After moving on from Waitangi we started;

Ko au me Toku Tuakiri; We gave the whakapapa of our names. My first name Drisana comes from India and it means “Daughter of the sun”. Takoha means “gift” and Francis was my great-great grandfather on my mum’s side ( all of my siblings have it) and then Phillips is my dads last name and Hulmes is my mum’s last name.

Kiwi Icons; In this topic we chose 5 things we thought were kiwi icons and answered some questions ( Why did we choose it, Why is it an icon and who invented it and when?) I had chosen the indigenous culture called Maori, Manuka Honey, multiple brands (Stoney Creek, Hunting and Fishing and Kaiwaka),Kauri trees and our tourist attractions.

Taonga Tuku Iho; The work in this kaupapa was to find things that could be passed down in generations in families. We also found our own family heirlooms and wrote about them.

Cultural Meals; After finishing our previous work we chose a different culture and made a 3 course meal (Entree, Main and Dessert) I chose the Korean Culture with my food being: Entree-TTEOKBOKKI Main- Kimchi and Dessert- Red Bean Mochis. I gave the recipes and ingredients also.

Another Culture; Fast finishers got started on this topic while others were still finishing their meals and we chose a different culture of choice and depicted their traditional methods and clothes.

Overall my attitude in SST has improved over the last couple of weeks. The work can be challenging but nothing I can’t handle