Biography: Agatha Christie

WALT: write biographies

AGATHA CHRISTIE

Her books are a mixture of murder, mystery, crime and thrills. She was born on the 15th September 1890 in Torquay, Devonshire, England. Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born to two lovely parents Clarissa Margret Boehmer and Fredrick Miller. Agatha Christie was the youngest of three. Her oldest brother was Louis Montant Miller who was ten years older than Agatha . Agatha had a older sister Margret Frary Miller. She was eleven years older than Agatha. Agatha married Archibald Christie in 1914 and they had a baby girl called Rosalind .

In 1926 she disappeared because her husband Archibald was in love with another lady called Nancy Nelee and wanted a divorce with Agatha . She went to a hotel in Harrogate , Yorkshire called the Swan Hydropathic Hotel. When she left Christie left a note for her secretary saying she was going to Yorkshire. Once the world knew about her disappearance there was a giant man hunt for her. She was missing for eleven days. She was registered at the hotel as Mrs Teresa Nelee from Cape Town. She was thought to be having a nervous break down.

Christie wrote, “Every murderer is probably someone’s old friend.” Christie is best known for writing murders and mysteries, mixed with romance and crime. Her very first book was, ‘The Mysterious Affair of Styles’. It was published in 1920 and introduced the long-running detective Hercules Poirot. He featured in 33 of her novels. Christie also had another detective Miss Jane Marple more commonly known as Miss Marple. She was introduced in ‘The Tuesday Night Club’ that was published in 1927. Some of her most famous novels were ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Death on the Nile’. Christie had many influences as a writer such as Anne Katharine Green and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In 1955 Agatha was the first mystery writer to win America’s highest honour “ The Grand Master Award “ given by the Mystery Writers of America Group. According to the ‘Guinness book of World Records’ Christie is the best crime writer of all time. “Evil is not something superhuman it is least than human”.

By Ariana, Year 6, 2011

Biography: Anne Frank

WALT: write a biography

ANNE FRANK

“Have you ever been to a concentration camp?” Anne Frank was one of the many people who was tortured and  sadly died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during World War 2.

Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt  in Germany on June 12th 1929 to a Jewish family. In 1933 the Frank family moved to Amsterdam. On Anne’s 13th birthday she received  a diary,  she named it ‘Kitty’. By Anne’s 13th birthday the Nazis were taking over and making anti- Jewish rules in Amsterdam. Anne and her sister Margot had to go to a Montessori school because  Adolf Hitler disallowed  Jews to go to school with other non-Jewish children. Jewish children had to wear the star of David to be identified.

When World War 2 started Otto Frank and some of his clients created a hiding place for them and the Frank family . They all moved into the cramped living space. Anne Frank wrote about life in the annex (they couldn’t leave at all), in her diary.

One day in August 1944, a little after two years of hiding, the Frank family was found and put into concentration camps. Anne and her sister died of typhus, Edith died of starvation. Otto Frank was the only one who survived  out of the frank family

After Anne Frank died her dad (Otto Frank)  published her diary. Here is a quote, “I’m honest and tell people right  to their faces what I think even when its not very flattering. I want to be honest. I think it  gets you further and also makes you feel better about your self,” March 25, 1944.

Anne Frank is remembered in many ways. Her diary has been made into a play and a movie. Margot had kept a  diary during the hiding period  but after she died nobody could find it or had any  idea where it was and where it went too.

By Frederica, Year 6, 2011

Biography: Miley Cyrus

WALT: write biographies

Miley Cyrus: A world wide sensation   

                           

Do you wish you could be a teenage popstar? If you do, there is a girl living your dream. Her name is Miley Ray Cyrus. On 23rd november 1992 Destiny Hope Cyrus was born. As  she grew up Destiny picked up the nick name ‘Smiley’ which ended up as ‘Miley. Miley also changed her middle name to Ray because of her grandfather Ronald Ray. “They loved each other to bits,” says Miley’s father Billy Ray Cyrus.        

Miley has a big family. She is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus and Leticia Cyrus, younger half sister of Brandi, Trace and Christopher Cody and older sister of brother Brason and sister Noah Lindsey Cyrus (also an actress).                                                                                                                                                                                                               

In 2000 Miley’s family moved to Toronto, Canada for her father’s T.V programme ‘Doc’. Miley took part in this by playing a girl named Kylie. This was the beginning of Miley Cyrus’s T.V career. When Miley was 11 she was chosen for the lead role in the Disney Channel TV show ‘Hannah Montana’. Miley has been in nine movies since then including ‘Bolt’ and ‘Hannah Montana’. She has also been on two tours, ’Best of Both Worlds‘ and ‘Wonder World’.

Just because Miley is famous doesn’t mean she can’t have down time with friends. Some of her good friends are stars as well like Mitchell Musso, Emily Osment,Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale

Miley plays the guitar and the piano. She is also an actress, author, fashion designer, song writer and already a world wide sensation. Miley’s album ‘The Climb’ became a top 40 hit in twelve countries. The really impressive thing about Miley is that she’s only 18 and already achieved so much. Who knows what she’ll do next.  

By Pipi, Year 6, 2011

Term One Reflections: Georgia, Felix, Mary Jane and Thomas

Reflection of Term One
I have surprised myself this term by how much work I have done while managing time wisely. I have enjoyed 'The Colonisation Game' and learning about how sailors lived on boats in the middle of nowhere in the 1600's. 
I especially enjoyed using my presentation skills on my homework project about England in the 1600's.
I have always struggled with maths but I am finally getting little skills to subtract, times and so on, thanks to being in Ruth's class.
I need to develop my leadership skills in groups by making sure everyone in my group can express their opinions.
By Georgia


Reflection on Term One
One of the best things about coming to Grey Lynn School is being a class leader and looking after the younger kids.
I enjoyed writing biographies on our famous person. I also enjoyed learning about the art like landscapes and the foreground, mid-ground, background, horizon lines and much more.
Above all my most favourite thing would have to be The Colonisation Game because it was full of decisions to make.
As you can see we have done alot of work this term and it was all fun! I loved being at Grey Lynn School this term, it is awesome!
By Felix


My Life, My Goals and My Achievements in Term One
This year has been a busy year so far and I have learnt millions of things but I am going to write about what I liked the most.
I pushed myself to become better at what I struggle at....maths. In maths I learnt how to add and subtract big and small numbers. In writing it took me ages to write two biographies, a made up one about the wolf from The Three Little Pigs and a real one on Roald Dahl. 
I am amazed at what I have done in reading. I worked on a poster called 'The Vile Vessel' and its about people exploring for new lands and their boats. It was amazing to learn about.
In handwriting we learnt how to link our writing. It was quite confusing because it was hard to link some letters together. In spelling we did cool activities about homophones and long and short 'a' and 'e' sounds. It was hard because they can be hard to spell. 
There is heaps more to write about but I will take forever!
By Mary Jane


Work! Work! Work!
We learnt about colonisation, England in the 1600's, landscapes, algorithms.....and my favourite, swimming. 
Swimming sports meant heaps of awesome practice and before we knew it, "Clap", went the clappers which sent us racing down the lanes with people cheering you on the whole way. Just finishing is enough for me, I love it!
Guess what?! I am getting better at spelling! I have noticed a huge change at school and at home. I can spot where there is a silent letter and where to put in speech marks (spelling isn't so bad!).
This term was awesome.
By Thomas

Term One Reflections: Liam, Charlotte, Matthew and Frederica

Term One Reflection
In Term One, what happened? Well, I learnt how to subtract decimals. I also now know what prime numbers are, but my favourite thing in maths was learning about integers. In reading I liked doing 'The Spice Race' poster and in writing I liked doing my biography about Ole Kirk Christiansen aka 'The Lego Man'.
At Aloha I liked doing the haka in the rain and having some pizza. I also enjoyed seeing all the people there.
By Liam


Term One Reflection
I really surprised myself this term. I've really improved in my basic facts recall and I've also learnt about decimals. Now I know what they are and I don't get confused with tenths and points. I now know how to read numbers properly without getting confused. 
I think I need to improve in my spelling alot but I am loving writing and reading at the moment and I think the posters have been really fun. 
I learnt alot about colonisation (from The Colonisation Game). Living in 1607 sounds really awful even from the rich. I'm glad I'm alive now.
Art has been pretty cool. I learnt heaps about landscapes.
By Charlotte


Term One Reflection
My favourite thing this term has to be having Ruth as a teacher. She is funny and our class has done so much together. I have learnt heaps about the 1600's and what happened to the poor and the rich. The rich got lots of better things than the poor so it has been a very interesting topic.
Our class has done many different sports games like Toe Tag, Go Tag and more but I think I loved swimming sports the most because I came first in freestyle and breaststroke and second in backstroke. 
In maths I have learnt about prime numbers and that 2 is the only even prime number because it is the only even number that can only be divided by one and itself. 
I have learnt in writing that your writing doesn't have to be long to be good. In spelling I have learnt long 'e' and 'a' vowel sounds and that there are eight ways to spell the long 'a' sound.
Next term I am looking forward to camp so I can have fun in the water and forest for five days.
By Matthew


Reflection of Term One
This term I have noticed that I have come out of shell in maths. I am becoming more aware of how to subtract 2 digit numbers from other 2 digit numbers. I am also learning to tell how many tens are in 3 digit numbers by reading from left to right then up. I think I could use my time more wisely doing text book work because I get distracted.
In writing I want to start my writing with a question or in an interesting way to hook the reader in. I want to make more writing more descriptive and I might do that by putting in more facts about what I am talking about.
Frederica

WALT: write biographies (Malachi)

Satoshi Tajiri: Creator of Pokemon

Satoshi Tajiri is famous all across the world for making a very well known cartoon and game called Pokemon. Tajiri was born August 28th 1968. He grew up in Machida in Japan and loved collecting bugs when he was little. Tajiri became familiar with arcade games when he was a teenager and was inspired to make a game about his childhood which turned out to be Pokemon.It was not supposed to sell for much money but it has become a multi-billion dollar franchise.

Tajiri has also made a gaming compony called ‘Gamefreak’ and thats how he published his Pokemon series. Believe it or not, Pokemon is the second most popular game apart from Nintendo’s Mario series. Tajiri has earned so much money from all this he has bought a private jet. Pokemon also has a trading card game. 

Pokemon has been criticized because one of the episodes, called Deno senshi Pyrogon (Electric Warrior Pyrogon) started with blue and red flashing lights and caused 600 Japanese kids to have a epileptic seizures. Pokemon has also been criticized because Jynx, a type of Pokemon, looked like it had a ‘blackface’, an old film making technique that made white actors look African American. It wasn’t an issue in Japan but caused a lot of controversy in America where episodes with Jynx in it are banned due to controversy. 

Tajiri works 24 and sleeps 12 hours because he thinks its easy to work at night.

By Malachi, Year 6, 2011

Thanks from the Year 6 campers

Untitled from Andrea FAle on Vimeo.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the parents who brought tickets to our movie fundraising night. Thanks to you we raised $1,200 towards camp. Kawau Island, here we come!

From Ruth, Margaret and the Year 6 campers

Jason and the Golden Fleece retold by Alyssa and Frederica

Jason and the Golden Fleece

WALT: retell narratives

Jason was born in the land of New Zealand. To the loyal king of Wellington, when his uncle Pelias took the throne. Pelias was always afraid of losing the throne because the way he took the throne and how. Pelias kept Jason’s father a prisoner and would have murdered Jason at birth but Jason’s mum was smart and cried as if he had actually died.Then she sent Jason to live with Chiron the centaur. Chiron cared for Jason and  home schooled him in a little cottage in Rotorua.

Now Jason was older he set out to claim  back the throne. Not knowing Hera had set a test for him to see if he really was a true hero. So he was on his way when there was an old lady (who was actually Hera) who was wanting to get across the Pauanui water way. Would he help the poor old lady across or would he be impatient and careless    and not want to help the poor lady across?

Jason saw the old lady and without even thinking about it he helped her across the Pauanui water way. Halfway across he started falling because of the weight he was carrying. For the old lady was

actually Hera in disguise. Some people say that Hera showed her true self to Jason on the shore, Others say Jason never found out that it was actually Hera. Jason lost one of his sandal in the Pauanui waterways. When Jason arrived to Wellington, he made sure he was noticed. But the only thing was that his uncle Pelias wasn’t keen and had not planned to give up the throne in like that!

So Pelias challenged Jason to see if he could go on a quest to get the Golden Fleece at the top of New Zealand in the north island. So Jason and his crew set out on the request to get the Golden Fleece.

When they came across the Harpies. They were welcomed on to this mini island called Rakino island but were not up for any mood of entertainment. The Harpies were a great nuisance to the king and luckily for Jason 2 of his crew could fly so they caught the Harpies. In return the king told them how to get through the Pt Chevalier rocks with only a bit of damage.

So they went through Pt Chevalier rock with only a bit of damage to the back of the boat.

Then another series of event happened they came across Aeetes who had no interest of Jason. Jason was wanting to continue on his quest but king Aeetes had not intention of letting him continue because he want’ed the Golden Fleece too.

Medea one of king Aeetes daughter had a lot of passion for Jason the moment she met him. So he promised his hand in marriage and was thankful for this day. Now Jason had access to the Golden Fleece and anything else he needed for his quest. 

Aeetes had no choice but to lie and say that he had given Jason the Golden Fleece but he still didn’t want to. So without Aeetes noticing they crept through an underground tunnel that lead to the top of New Zealand which was where the Golden Fleece was but it was guarded by a fierce dragon. Jason and his crew were going to try to 

fight the dragon there selves but instead Medea gave the dragon a sleeping potion. Then they went and got the Golden Fleece!   Even though Jason promised Medea his love he ditched her and ran off with another girl. Then got back to Wellington and got back the throne which was rightfully his.

Georgia's biography on Nostradamus

WALT: write biographies

The Future Teller: Nostradamus

Do you ever feel like you need someone to tell your future. One person who could help you in the 1500’s would have been Michel De Nostradame (also known as Nostradamus), born December 14 1503 in Nottingham, England. He is best known for his book ‘Les Propheties’ the first edition of what appeared in 1555 with thousands of predictions in the book. He was raised by grain dealers. He was raised jewish but the family converted to catholicism later on in his child hood. His first wife and three children all suffered and died from the plague out break.

He travelled to Rome (the romantic town) and found his his true love Anne Ponsarde. They had six children three boys three girls. After his first child was born Michel De Nostradame decided to change his name to Nostradamus to give his name a latin feel.

Anne Ponsarde was born to a very very wealthy family. Back then if you were born to a wealthy family you had to be married to a wealthy man or woman. There was no possible chance your family would let you marry a poor person even if you were in love luckily Nostradamus and Anne were both wealthy and in love.

Nostradamus had his break and holiday and moved back to England with his new wife. He wanted to get back into writing predictions. He predicted some world disasters that changed peoples opinions about him when he first stared writing predictions. people thought he was evil and fake but some people were spiritually inspired by his work. He predicted world disasters that were far into the future like the first Atom Bomb dropped in Hiroshina killing thousands,Adolf Hitlers evil career and the Terriorist attack on the twin towers on 9th september 2001.                                                                                 

Nostradamus’s ability to predict the future was so good that he even predicted his own death he suffered from a painful condition called Gout that had painfully plagued him for many years.On the evening of July the first 1566 he told his secretary Jean Dechavighy “you will not find me alive by sunrise”.The next morning he was found dead.Since his death ‘Les Prophecies’ still continued to be popular book.

Fairtrade Bananas! Buy them at school this Friday (15th April) for just $4 per bunch.

Tom's slideshow about life on an explorers ship

WALT: summarise information

By Tom M

Sam's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Sam has summarised himself with this poem! Enjoy...

Sam, 

Athletic , funny and fast. 

Son of Mike and Sarah and stepson of Miriama.

Lover of all sport, homemade burgers, books and swimming.

Feels strongly about his pets, peoples’ feelings and littering.

Who needs exersise to release energy, raspberry drop lollies and company.

Who pays attention to others, gives support and kindness.

Who fears nightmares, crime and wasps.

Who would like to be an All Black, be happy and have two kids.

Who comes from Wellington and lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ariana's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Ariana has summarised herself with this bio poem

Ariana

Bubbly, kind, caring and funny.

Daughter of Jo-anne and Listin, and sister of Trey.

Who likes baking brownies, eating sushi and painting.

Who feels strongly about her friends and family, and camping in the great outdoors.

Who needs help and support with her learning and idols to look up to.

Who gives joy and respect to outher.

Who fears snakes, spiders (poisonous) and jelly fish.

Who would like a luge going from the top to the bottom of New Zealand.

Who comes from New Zealand and lives in Grey Lynn, Auckland.

Retelling of Jason and the Golden Fleece

WALT: retell narratives

Jason was born to the King Iolcus and brought up by Chiron, when he was older he set out on a quest to claim his rightful throne from King Pelias.

Along the way, one of his obstacles was to rescue an old lady from a river who was thought to be Hera in disguise.

Jason got a crew, to help him along the way and a ship that can see into the future.

Another one of his obstacles along the way was Harpies and the clashing rocks.

Luckily ,Medea fell in love with Jason and helped him stand the fire breathing bulls.

Finally Jason found the Golden Fleece but it was guarded by a dragon fortunately Medea was there to put a sleeping potion on the dragon.

Jason got the Golden Fleece and got his rightful throne back and left Medea for another princess!

 BY LOLA  AND ARIANA!

CHARACTERS: JASON, HERA, PELIUS, ,JASONS SHIP ,MEDEA,GOLDEN FLEECE,FIRE BREATHING BULLS AND THE DRAGON!

Tom M's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Tom has summarised his personality with this poem! Have a read...

Tom

Short, funny, fast and kind

Son of Matthew and Natasha and brother of Luke

Lover of cricket in the summer, labradors and skating

Who feels happy, proud and trustworthy

Who needs sleep, family and to learn

Who gives happiness, kindness to everyone and makes people feel good about themselves

Who fears nightmares, being hit by a car, tsunamis and earthquakes

Who would like to help others and ban smoking

Who comes from New Zealand and lives in Auckland

Statistical Inquiry: Lola, Alice and Sofia

WALT: follow the statistical inquiry model

Frederica's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Frederica has summarised who she is in this poem:

Frederica

Brown, tall, caring and kind

Daughter of Ma’a and Josephine, sister of Alicia , Ethan and Jozier

Lover of music and singing Beyonce songs

Who feels strongly about the environment and her family

Who feels needs her asthma pump and the support of her family and friends

Who gives kindness, respect and help to others

Who fears of losing her asthma pump, her friends and family

Who would like to always have a good relationship with her friends and family and achieve her life goals

Who comes from New Zealand and lives in Grey Lynn

Statistical Inquiry: Felix and Mary Jane

WALT: follow the statistical inquiry model

Alice's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information


Read Alice's poem that summarises herself

Alice

Kind, small, bubbly and sensitive,

Daughter of Shirley and Grant, sister of Lucy,

Who feels strongly about ballet, her school work and her family,

Who needs love from her family, laughter from her friends and the chance to dance every day,

Who gives joy to her friends, help to others and love to her family,

Who fears spiders, any insects and bears,

Who would like the environment to be clean, people to learn from their mistakes and animal cruelty to stop!!

Who comes from New Zealand, and lives in Grey Lynn.

Charlotte's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Charlotte has summarised herself in this poem....

Charlotte.

Tall, blonde, sporty and cheeky.

Daughter of Penny and Graham, sister of Toby.

Lover of chocolate, new clothes, books and swimming.

Who feels strongly about her pets (Griffin and Milky) the environment and her family.

Who needs family and friends, food and water and holidays to the beach.

Who gives kindness, friendliness and love to her family. 

Who fears her life being ruined, spiders and her house catching on fire.

Who would like to go to Disneyland see her cousins in England and travel the world.

Who comes from Australia and who lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Statistical Inquiry: Malachi, Floyd and Jackson

WALT: follow the statistical inquiry model

Statistical Inquiry: Mahele and Alyssa

WALT: follow the statistical inquiry model

Georgia's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information


Georgia summarised herself with this poem!

Georgia

Sensitive, silly, animal lover, loves her food.

Daughter of Tagi & Brian, sister of Max.

Lover of drawing, Tairua, laughter and adventure.

Who feels strongly against animal cruelty and racism.

Who gives thoughtful presents, and ideas to people who are stuck.

Who fears sharks, Micheal Jackson and hairy spiders.

Who would like a cell phone to contact people easier, to stop all gangs in New Zealand and to free all caged chickens.

Who comes from New Zealand and lives in Auckland.

Kiamana's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Kiamana has summarised himself with this poem

Kiamana,

Black hair, brown eyes, loves sport and video games.

Son of Nadine and Robert, brother of Te Ua, Khan and Manawa.

Lover of my aunty’s yummy cooking, sleeping with the light off and going to the skate park.

Who feels sporty, cool, happy and hungry if do not eat.

Who needs to go to the skate park and needs food and water.

Who gives support to his brother and sister all the time.

Who fears bad dreams, getting hit by a car and quick sand.

Who would like a new half pipe, a new bed and to play in the All Blacks.

Lola's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information

Lola has summarised herself with this poem

Lola 

Energetic, sensitive, nice and bubbly.

Daughter of Robert and Nicola, sister of Theo and Sam.

Lover of swimming, baking and music.

Who feels strongly about education, the neatness of her work and her family and friends.

Who needs love from her family and fun, as well as her bed.

Who gives her mummy and daddy lots of love and most challenges a go and support to her family.

Who fears creepy crawlies,bears and heights (and lots of other things).

Who would like to be an actress or a wildlife photographer or to put a stop to endangered animal poaching.

Who comes from New zealand and lives Auckland.

Sofia's Bio Poem

WALT: summarise information


Sofia has summarised herself in this poem!

Sofia

Caring, fun, sporty, small

Daughter of Jodi and Simon, sister of Lulu who’s crazy

Lover of touch and netball, sculpting and running

Who fears snake’s, nightmares and crocodiles

Who need’s books, close friends and her little sister 

Who would like to be a artist or a netball player or a runner

Who come’s from New Zealand and lives in Grey Lynn

Life On Board an Explorers Ship

WALT: summarise information in a text

Pipi and Frederica read about life on board an explorers ship in the 1500's. They summarised the information and have presented it in this slideshow. They also thought about choosing a suitable font, background and pictures.

By Pipi and Frederica