10 Science - DNA Extraction Experiment

 DNA Extraction Experiment

Aim: 

Extracting DNA from a kiwi fruit.

Method:

1. Mush half a kiwi fruit in a zip lock bag with a splash of water and a small teaspoon of salt.

2. Strain the solution through a cloth into a beaker.

3. Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and stir.

4. Pour into a test tube. 

5. Place the test tube in a beaker filled with WARM water.

6. Leave for 10 mins.

7. Slowly pour 5mL of methylated spirits down the side of the test tube.

Results:

Discussion:

Where do you find DNA?

DNA can be found in the nucleus.

What makes up DNA?

DNA is made of nucleotides, made in three parts;  a phosphate group, a sugar group and one of four types of nitrogen bases.

Conclusion:

Experiment did work because the kiwi fruit DNA separated from the kiwi fruit. I wouldn’t do anything different because the experiment worked.

10 Visual Arts - Street Art

 10 Visual Arts - Street Art

In art today we had to look for a piece of street art that we found cool and interesting. I chose this art work by Fin Dac. The piece is to show a Kaitiaki (guardian) to protect the area after the earthquakes. She is holding a Ruru bird that is a sign of warning in Maori Culture. The other bird is a Kingfisher that is found in Christchurch. I chose this piece because of the colours and cultural significance. 

10 Science - Wind Racer

 Aim:

To make a wind racer.

Research:

The internet

Equipment:

-Trolley

-Bamboo/metal rod

-Cardboard

-Newspaper

-Tape

-String

-Plastic Bag

-Popsicle Sticks

Method:

1.Put the metal rod in the trolley.

2.Cut pieces of material into squares.

3.Draw on the paper for creativity.

4.Gather and cut pieces of tape and string.

5.Stick the materials to the metal rod.

Result:

Discussion: 

What forces were acting on it?

The four forces acting on the wind racer were:

Gravity: The wind racer didn't fly in the sky, and the wind made it fall over.

Support:The ground kept the wind racer up.

Push: The leaf blower pushed the wind racer.

Pull: The wind racer stopped.

Why did it slow down?

The wind racer slowed down because the leaf blower was too far away so the wind coming out of it didn’t reach it.

Conclusion:

The wind racer worked but not very well.

Did it work?

The wind racer did work, but not that well. At first it fell over then the second time it went further.

What would you do differently?

Make the wind racer better in terms of: Structure, design and wind resistance. I would also use the leaf blower better and put the wind racer further away from the garden.

10 Maths - Measuerment

 10 Maths - Measurement

In maths we have been learning about the different times of measurements this includes:

-Weight (kg)

-Time (S)

-Distance (M)

-Temperature (K)

-Electric Current (A)

-Amount of Substance (Mol)

-Luminosity (cd)

In this topic we study different units of measurements like time, distance and temperature. At the end of this topic we threw paper planes to see the distance, speed and time they flew. 

10 Social Studies - Eco-Warriors

 10 Social Studies - Eco-Warriors

What did we do to help?

We picked up buckets of rubbish around the school to reduce the amount of rubbish that was there.

What are your thoughts?

There was too much rubbish around school. 

What do you want people to know?

To put their rubbish in the bin because leaving it out would make the environment a mess.

10 Science - Testing for Hydrogen Gas

 Testing for Hydrogen Gas 

Aim: To show that hydrogen gas is produced when a metal reacts with acid.

Method: 

1. Add your sample of metal to your test tube. Add 2ml of acid.

2. Carefully invert the boiling tube above the test tube containing the metal and acid.

3. Hold the test tubes together for a few minutes, allowing time for the inverted boiling tube to fill with gas.

4. When you think the tube is full, Mr Heath should light the wooden splint.

5. Carefully, but quickly, tilt the boiling tube full of gas upwards and insert the burning splint into the mouth of the test tube.

Results:

It made a popping sound.

Discussion: 

When the reactants (Metal + Acid) mixed together it resulted in two products (Metal Salt + Hydrogen). Because we trapped the Hydrogen gas into the test tubes it started to heat up and bubble. Because of this we knew that it was ready to have the splint put into it. When the splint was put in the test tube it reacted with the Hydrogen gas resulting in the popping sound.

Conclusion:

The experiment worked because the end result was a popping sound. I wouldn’t change anything because I am satisfied with the results.

10 Art - Michael Mew Art

 In art we have been looking at collage art specifically made by Michael Mew.

We first started cutting out and arranging different things from magazines.

Until I came up with an arrangement that I liked.

I then came up with thumbnail sketches to come up with different framing to draw.

This is my finished product. Over the arrangement I put a yellow line with the word caution on it. I did this to make it look like caution tape. The leading lines are the man and the women standing together; this is emphasize by the phone and the caution tape. It is made to make the eye look at the yellow then look up to the people.

10 Science - Neutralisation

 Neutralisation

Aim: To observe a neutralisation reaction.

Method: 

1. Get a test tube rack, 6 test tubes, acid, base and universal indicator.

2. Fill 4 test tubes with 3mL of acid.

3. Fill 2 test tubes with 3mL of base.

4. Add a squirt of universal indicator to each.

5. Add different amounts of acid and base to make the colours of the rainbow (ROYGBI)

Results: 

Discussion: 

We started with 4 red test tubes and 2 blue test tubes, but by the end of the experiment we ended up with  colours of the rainbow (ROYGBI). We did this by neutralizing some of the acid by adding base into it to make orange, yellow, and green. For the 1 of the base we add acid to make it a lighter shade of blue. 

Conclusion:

This experiment did work because we were able to neutralise the acids and bases to make the colours of the rainbow.

Anzac - The Last Post

Anzac - The Last Post

When do you hear this song?

At dawn service/Anzac day.

Why is this song significant/important to New Zealand?

I commemorate the fallen soldiers that have passed.

What is the History behind the Last Post -

Why was it played and when?

The Last Post was used to wake up soldiers in the morning and

to set a reminder.

It played in the morning and periodically throughout the day.

What does this song represent?

It represents the loss and efforts of our fallen soldiers.

10 Science - Testing pH

 Testing pH

Aim: To test the pH of a range of household chemicals.

Method:

1. Add a few drops of each chemical toa spot on your spotting tile. If a substance is solid or powdered you will need to mix it with a few drops of water before testing it.

2. Test the chemicals with litmus paper.

3. Test each chemical with a few drops of Universal indicator.

Results:

Chemical Being Tested	Colour in blue litmus	Colour in red litmus	Colour in Universal indicator
Dishwashing Liquid	Blue	Violet	Green
Vinegar	Red	Red	Red
Toilet Cleaner	Red	Red	Red
Spray and WIpe	Indigo	Indigo	Blue

Conclusion:

Chemical being Tested	Acid or base	Evidence from investigation
Dishwashing Liquid	Weak base	The blue litmus was blue, the red litmus was violet and the UI was green.
Vinegar	Weak acid	They were light red almost orange.
Toilet cleaner	Strong acid	Both the litmus and Universal Indicator Were dark red.
Spray and wipe	Strong base	Both of the litmus and Universal Indicator were a dark blue/ Indigo.

10 English - Genocide

Genocide 

In English we started reading about more information about the holocaust, the Nazi party and concentration camps where Jewish people were held. 

Genocide is the act of mass killing of a group of people that belong to one particular race, religion, or ethnic group. When Adolf Hitler rose to power in the Nazi party, the Nazi party performed genocide on Jewish people. They killed millions of Jewish people between 1941 and 1945. Although genocide is target at one individual but rather a group of individuals, individual people can be victims of genocide.

10 Social Studies - Parihaka

Parihaka

On the 5 of November 1881 crown troops stormed the Taranaki settlement of Parihaka. They took the men to prison without trial, rape and molested the leftover women and children. Parihaka was a peaceful protest lead by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi.

People even to this day are affected by what happened at Parihaka. Only recently the government and the crown apologized for what happened at Parihaka.

In the song ‘Parihaka’ by Tim Finn & the Herbs they speak about Parihaka, its effects on the people and how we will remember what happened at Parihaka.

10 Health - Bullying

Bullying

In health we are looking at different types of relationships the issues within them. I chose to look at bullying.

 Why do some people bully?

Most people who bully others do it to feel a sense of power, purpose or control over you. Others do it to let off built up anger from their own home life/personal environment.

Why are some people more likely to be bullied?

Most people who are targeted by bullies have something unique or different about them that a bully can make fun of. They could also be seen as something less than by the bully and/or others.

Why is bullying harmful?

Bullying can be harmful to a person by making that person feel insecure about their differences from other people. They could try to hide and mask the thing that can make them a target. This could seriously affect someone's Taha Hinengaro, Taha Whanau and Taha Tinana. 

What can you do if you are being bullied?

If you are being bullied you can tell a teacher, the school counselor, friend, family, or help line.

What can you do if you see someone else being bullied?

Instead of being a bystander you could be a outstander and step in to stop the person from being bullied. You don’t have to physically step in, you could also tell a teacher that a student is being bullied.

10 Art - Tone and Shading

 In art we have been learning about perspective and shading. We started learning about how to use tone and different shading methods to make the drawing look inauthentic. 

This year I want to improve on my shading skills to make more realistic drawings.

Social Studies - Slavery

 Slavery

1. Explain the use of Spirituals and what they were.

Spirituals are a form of song made by African american slaves. They explained christian values while also describing the hardships of slavery. These songs were also use to give slaves hope for freedom.

2. Explain who Harriet Tubman and what the Underground Railroad was.

Harriet Tubman was an African American woman born into slavery. She was an American abolitionist and political activist. She helped many enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad to free states and Canada.

3. Write about a spiritual you chose and highlight some lyrics and the hidden messages behind them.

Wade in the water was used by slaves to signal to others to hide in the water to lose their scent so they couldn’t be tracked.

4. How are these events still significant today?

Slave is still significant today because black people are still affected by slavery, and racism in general. This includes the Black Lives Matter movement.

10 Science - Model Atom

 Model Atom

Aim: To make a model atom.

Method: 

1. Choose an atom to make (one between Hydrogen and Neon)

2. Work out how many protons, neutrons and electrons it has.

3. Assign protons and neutrons to a particular colour bead.

4. Get a ball of blue tac and stick the protons and neutrons to this to make your nucleus.

5. Cut out the appropriate electron shells and draw on the electrons with vivid.

6. Connect the nucleus and electron shells with a piece of string.

7. Create a label to go above the model so people know what you have created.

Result:

Discussion:

I made a carbon atom model. It had the atomic number of 6 and the mass number of 12. It has 6 protons, 6 electrons and 6 neutrons. There are 2 electrons in the smaller ring and 4 electrons in the bigger ring. Carbon makes up about 0.025 percent of Earth's crust. It is sometimes considered in the metalloid element category. 

Conclusion: 

The model atom did work. There is nothing that would need to be done differently.

10 English - Camera Angles

 In English we learnt about different camera shots/angles, and how they are used.

Different camera angles are used to show the difference between characters in the scene. It can show the emotion in a scene without outright saying it. 

Example: A low angle is used to show that the character/s in the scene have a high amount of power and strength.

10 English - 321RIQ

In English we learnt about 321RIQ. This is used to remember and understand the past English lessons better.

3 Recalls - 3 things I remember about the lesson.

2 Insights - 2 new things I learnt in this lesson.

1 Question - 1 question about something I didn’t understand / would like to know more about.

3 thing I recall about this week’s lessons:

1 - Writing the benefits and advantages of blogging.

2- Thinking about the benefits of learning English in this course.

3 - The usage of prefix at the start of a word and suffix at the end of a word.

2 insights about this week’s lessons:

1 - I learnt two new words Enigma and Fallacy.

2 - I learnt about prefix and suffix.

1 question I would like to know more about:

1 - Why are prefixes at the start of a word and suffixes at the end of a word. Like why is dis in front of disappearance, ful at the end of careful?