Endangered Species

Saving the Whales

http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/Global/new-zealand/image/2006/12/there-are-more-economic-benefi.jpg

Why do we need to protect them?

Whales are an important animal in NZ. They play a big part to the food chain. 

What is the cause of the animal population decreasing in number?

The population of the whales are decreasing mainly because of humans. Some examples of human impact are, whaling, whales colliding with ships, and entanglement in fishing gear. There has been an estimated 40,000 whales that have been killed in NZ. Ocean pollution plays a part in this too. Plastic and other materials get into the whales, as they think that it's food. 
Remember to always put your rubbish in the bin, and recycle as much as you can.

What is being done to help them?

DOC (Department of Conservation) have set up whale watching operations. DOC have also set up a hotline you can call to report sightings of whales.

How successful is this help?

Effect of 1080

What is it?

1080 is a chemical compound (a poison) that is mixed into baits and is used to control pests in NZ such as rats, stoats, possums, etc.

FACTS

1. 

There has been an estimated 40,000 whales that have been killed in NZ since 1827

2. 
In 1986, commercial whaling was banned and made illegal. The only countries it is not banned in are Japan, Norway, and Ireland.

3.
Ocean pollution plays a part in killing whales too. Plastic that gets into oceans lead to the whales mistakenly eating it, thinking it is food.

4.
 Humans killed at least 2.8 million whales in the 20th century.
5.

A blue whale is larger than a basketball court.

Whales breed every 1-2 years.

PE Class - Last Gymnastics Class

Today in PE we did our last gymnastics class. This was only my second but last class because the previous weeks I was away. I was sick on the first week, and went to KORU Games on the second week. Today though, I learnt a lot. My group first went on the trampoline, then went on the mat, and lastly went onto the parallel bars. I learnt how to jump, and do things properly.

Drama Class

Today in drama, we were planning on making a short film, music video, or trailer. The points we needed for making our project was

Focus
Action
Rols
Time
Tension
Situation

Our group was thinking of making a horror trailer. We may or may not continue with that idea.

Introduced Species in New Zealand

Introduced Species in New Zealand

What does 'introduced species' mean?

Introduced species are species that have been brought to another place, outside of its native area, into another area, by humans, either accidentally, or on purpose.

Why were they brought to NZ?

They were brought to NZ with the thought that they would fix a problem with the environment. Soon after they came, they created another problem.

Stoats were brought to NZ to control rabbits eating food from farms, but soon spread out and killed young native
Possums eat many native species including snails and beetles as well as native birds. Possums decimate forest canopies and compete directly with native birds like kiwi for food and resources.

Possums spread bovine tuberculosis to cattle and deer, resulting in high costs and lost productivity, and also harm horticulture and commercial forestry crops.

Why have their numbers exploded?

The numbers have grown because the species are living a care free life. They have no other predators coming after them, and they reproduce to make more. 

What effect do they have on our native plants and animals?

The species have had both positive and negative impacts. Some of them were brought to NZ to fix a problem, but then made another problem.

How is DOC (Department of Conservation) trying to get rid of them?

Choose 2 introduced species :
- Write about how they are affecting our native forests, grasslands, and birds.

- What control methods are being used?

- Are these methods having any success?

LIST OF INTRODUCED SPECIES IN NEW ZEALAND :

Rabbits

Possums

Rats

Stoats

Ferrets

Weasels

Goats

Tahr

Red Deer

Wallaby

Pigs

Senses Practical

Senses Practical

Taste :
1. Vegemite

2. Apple Sauce

3. Cornflakes

4. Marshmallows

5. Sour Bears

Smell :

1. vinegar

4. Bananas

5. Coffee

6. Chocolate

7. Onion

Touch :

1.  Grass

2. Clothes pin

3.  Pinecone

4. Sponge

5. BUtton

6. String

7. Cotton

8. Beads - Wrong

9. Marbles

Today, we learnt about 3 of the 5 senses. Taste, Smell, and Touch. Miss Rhodes put out containers across the room, with food and objects. We were put into partners, and one of us were blind folded. The other partner had to record what the other person got. We went around the room, and used our senses, taste, smell, touch. According to my other partner, it wasn't hard, but it wasn't easy.

Drama Class

Experts in Role

A few experts and students in New Zealand joined together in a meeting to find out what this mysterious object found by Mr Sutton during the rebuild was.

I was a student from Hornby High that attended the meeting to find out and give opinions as to what this object was.

Dora the Explorer said that it

The other experts said that it looked ancient, round, smooth, looks like it came from a house, it looked dented, looked old because it was rusted, and had holes, and other things.
From what I saw, it was made out of some hard material, it was a bit round, and in my opinion, looked like a broken high tech toilet from Japan.

https://tictokyo.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/img_87301.jpg

Kaitiakitanga

Kaitiakitanga

What is Kaitiakitanga?

Kaitiakitanga means guardianship and protection - taking care of the environment.

Nuclear Disasters :

1. Fukushima

- What?

Fukushima Disaster was a nuclear energy disaster at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. 

- Where?

The Fukushima Disaster was located in Fukushima, Japan, at the nuclear power plant.

- When?

The Fukushima Disaster happened in 11 March 2011, during the earthquake and tsunami.

- Why are these important?

These disasters are important to know about, so that in the future, we won't make the same mistake again. We need to take care of our environment, and not destroy it. 

- What effect have they had on the areas around them?

- What has been done to protect the surrounding areas from Chernobyl's radiation?
- What have we learnt from them? 

http://ta1.universaltelegra.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/fukushima.jpg

In this picture, you can see that the Fukushima had a big impact not only in Japan, but in the Pacific Ocean. The nuclear power got transferred to the Pacific Ocean, due to the tsunami that occurred in Japan, and it swept all the power into the ocean. 

2. Chernobyl

- What

- Where

- When

- Why are these important

- What effect have they had on the areas around them?
- What has been done to protect the surrounding areas from Chernobyl's radiation?
- What have we learnt from them?

PE Class Week 7 - Gymnastics

Today in PE class, we started doing gymnastics. I thought that it was very fun because of all the new things we learnt, and the few fears we overcame.

I learnt a few new things, such as correct technique. I knew how to do a forward roll, or so I thought. I learnt that what I was doing was not the correct technique, but soon learnt how to do it correctly.

I was afraid to go on the beam, but I overcame the fear. As Mr Hilliard always says, "mind over matter."