Tuesday 30 June 2015

Cuvier's Beaked Whale

After reading 'Kakera the Whale' by Maureen Goodwin the Justice League compared the two whales in the article the Cuvier's Beaked Whale and the Humpback Whale.



WALT - Compare and Contrast the Cuvier’s Beaked Whale and The Humpback Whale

Every year, between July and October whales visit the Cook Islands. These special visitors are often humpback whales there to have their babies in the warm waters surrounding the islands. However once a Cuvier’s Beaked whale was found stranded on Rarotonga Island. These two whales share many similarities and some differences, which would help you to identify them, if you are ever lucky enough to see one in the wild.

Mammals - Israel and Dev
Both whales are large mammals. The Cuvier's beaked whale can grow between 5-7 meters and the humpback whale can grow up to 15 meters. These whales are mammals because they go to the surface to breath whereas fish breathe through their gills.

Named after distinctive Body parts - Skye and Priscilla
The Cuvier’s Beaked Whale is named after the shape of it’s nose. The nose is a pointed shape that looks like a beak. The Humpback Whale is named after the arch shape it makes when it makes a big dive. The Humpback Whale can also make an arch shape when it comes to the surface to breathe. The Cuvier’s beaked whale was named after their discoverer George Cuvier who was a French zoologist.

Diet - Kalani and Sherlyn
Both whales have a diet made up of sea creatures. The Cuvier Whale feeds on several different types of octopus and squid that live in very deep waters. The Humpback Whales diet is plankton and small fish. The Humpback Whales feed in Alaska and in other cold waters.

Species of Whales - Arav and Anthony
The humpback whale and Cuvier’s beaked whale belong to a special family of whales. The humpback whale belongs to the baleen whale species alongside the Blue whale, Minke whale
and the right whale. The Cuvier’s beaked whale is a toothed whale belonging to the same family as the Sperm whale and the Beluga whale.

Conclusion - Chantelle
In the future you may want to attend a Marine Mammal Medic Course since it will provide you with instructions and tell you the right equipment to use if you ever come across a whale stranding. However there are no ways of preventing a stranding since it is a natural phenomenon and is not fully understood.

Monday 29 June 2015

What would happen if the Little Blue Penguin became extinct?

The Power Penguins (Israel, Jolui, Espen, Eli and Sebastian) investigated what would happen if the Little Blue Penguin became extinct?



The boys created this video to show the devastating impact of oil spills on penguins. The video highlights one possible cause of extinction


What would happen if the Leatherback Turtle became extinct?

The Marine Life Explorers (Chantelle, Anthony, Kassius, Kevin and Torres) investigated what would happen if the Leatherback Turtle became extinct.



The Marine Life explorers created this news report to highlight the impact of humans on the current population of Leatherback Turtles.


What would happen if the New Zealand Fur Seal became extinct?

The Party Animals (Samarah, Kalani, Skye, Amelia and Priscilla) investigated what would happen if the New Zealand Fur Seal became extinct?



The Party Animals created this news report from the future to highlight what might happen if seal hunting was again legalised.


What would happen in the Yellowfin Tuna became extinct?

The Super Scientists (Ansh, Kishan, Hemish, Dev and Arav) investigated what would happen if the Yellowfin Tuna became extinct?



The boys created this news report from the future to highlight how overfishing could cause the extinction of the Yellowfin Tuna.


What would happen if birds did not have beaks?

The Clawsome girls (Nuha, Sativa, Sherlyn, Risa and Aaliya) investigated what would happen if birds did not have beaks.



The girls created this news report from the future to highlight what would happen if birds suddenly lost their beaks!


Friday 26 June 2015

Describe an Environment

In writing we have been learning to use a range of language features to describe an environment. The pictures in the slideshow inspired our descriptions.



WALT - Describe an Environment


Through the musky air I crept into the green, gloomy forest. The long strangling vines were reaching out at me. The enormous trees were shutting out the gleaming sun. There was a quiet chirping noise from on top of the giant trees. I could hear footsteps, warning me something was coming close. I was terrified wondering what it could be. The environment wasn’t helping either with creepy howling noises filling the air and growls coming from behind the thick vines. What was going to happen next? I thought to myself.

By Skye

WALT - Describe an Environment

Crash! the sea rushed over my head. When I opened my eyes the sea had already covered my body. The angry currents forced me to move back and forth, back and forth. I clambered to the surface. The salty, sea spray rushed over my head. I took a deep breath and dived beneath the swirling waves. Beneath the waves I could see so many colours. The shimmering colours looked like they had been painted onto the fish. The coral was like an underwater table laid with food ready for the little fish to eat. I could see juicy sea slugs clambering onto the huge table sucking up all the yummy and nutritious food. The coral reef was like an underwater garden planted by Neptune and his helpers. Neptune’s necklaces were swirling everywhere. The ocean would hold many more surprises for me.

By Kevin.

WALT - Describe an Environment

The cave’s mouth was open wide to swallow me in. As I went inside I could smell salty water. Goosebumps were on my hands and arms. My mouth was dry with fear. I heard bats flapping. I felt sharp rocks pushing against me while I crept along. The cave had hundreds of rocks that were like doors blocking my path. It was a maze. The stalactites and stalagmites were almost joined by the dripping icy water. I was trapped in this fearful cave.

By Hemish.

WALT - Describe an Environment

The snow crashed on the ground like it was angry. The ice smashed on the ground like glass. I felt cold like I was in a freezer. The wind swished around like a whirlpool. The mountains looked like massive sand dunes. The people walked like zombies because they were so cold. The mountain started looking at me like it knew I had come the wrong way. I could hear the wind talking to me it was saying “go back you have come too far”.

By Kassius.