There's more than one way to cut the hedge

What do you think of this for thinking outside the square? Not sure if OSH would be impressed but they've got themselves in the news.

Click here to read the newspaper article

Fibonacci in Nature

Well done to those clever mathematicians who have posted their findings.

Fibinacci Numbers can be found all around us. Below are some more research questions to guide your inquiry.

Where in nature can you find Fibonacci numbers appearing?
What occurences are related to flowers?
What relevant pictures can you find?
Where do spirals come into this?
Are any special names given to these spirals?
Can you explain what is going on in these situations?
What else have you discovered about this topic?

Good Luck Mr E

Fibonacci Continued

Well done to those of you that worked out 144.

The Fibonacci Sequence is; 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,377,610,987, ...

How far can you work it out?

How would you write this pattern as an algebraic equation?

Research Questions:
What does the name mean?
What other names did he have?
When did he live?
What was the Liber Abaci?
How was it printed?
Why was it written?
What else can you find out about Fibonacci or his family?

Use the links below to conduct some research afterwhich you will present your findings.

http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/fibonac/index.asp

http://www.mi.sanu.ac.rs/vismath/jadrbookhtml/part42.html

http://www.mathsisfun.com/pascals-triangle.html

Fibonacci Number Challenge

Medieval mathematician and businessman Fibonacci (Leonardo Pisano) posed the following problem in his treatise Liber Abaci (pub. 1202):

How many pairs of rabbits will be produced in a year, beginning with a single pair, if in every month each pair bears a new pair which becomes productive from the second month on?

Thanks to Mr Woody in Hamilton for this great idea. Chiefs and Blues are you up to the Fibonacci Challenge?

Proportions & Ratios Activity

How good are you at working out proportion and ratio questions? These are the type of questions that ask if $X allows you to buy Y amount of things then $Z will allow you to buy how many things?

Try this simple interactive activity or learning object to test and improve your skills.

Driving Test

Redcliffs TV

Well we're on our way. Team one has started work on our business venture - creating an online tv station. The creative team have started scripting their programmes, the sales and marketing team have been busy seeking customers and begin creating their ads very soon, and the production team have been creating some videos and learning about iMovie.

The technical and production team have been using a website www.animoto.com to create music style videos. It is very easy and quick to use and the results look good.

Nga Numa Quiz

Click here for full screen version

Crazy Crash Spider

Here are the first animated movies by the next famous movie directors.

Ethiopia

Today in Room 1 we started reading 'The Garbage King' by Elizabeth Laird. The story is set in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. We've only just started but already I want to know what Merges is up to, and if Mamos is going to be safe.




Some places to learn more about Ethiopia:
Wikipedia
BBC
Addis Ababa

Kiwiana Quiz

Kiwiana Quiz

Click on the link to test your knowledge of New Zealand geography.

Can you beat 15/18? It's a tough ask!!

DNA Fingerprinting

DNA Fingerprinting

Click on the above link to learn more about DNA fingerprinting. You can even put your knowledge to the test to solve a crime. Good Luck!

Basic Facts

Basic Facts Game

How well do you know your basic facts? Put your skills to the test with these two games.

Good Luck

The Breadwinner

I found reading the Breadwinner very insightful into things that are happening in Afghanistan. It made me appreciate how lucky we are to live in a country that is more tolerant of different beliefs and treats everyone more equally.

LTranimo asked if there was a sequel. We were left wondering what happens to Parvana's mother and sister. The good news is that there is a sequel titled Parvana's Journey. I will try to get a copy from the National Library.

What did you think of the book, its characters and life in Afghanistan?

Story Sports Champions

This afternoon our Story Sports team competed at the Town Hall against three other schools. They had to write a hook for a science fiction novel, a rap about lost homework, a scary story using show not tell, and a job application from a Kahzakstanian for a job at McDonalds.

They consistantly wrote some funny and clever pieces to win the competition and walk away with Brian Falkner's new book amongst other prizes.

Well done team! Exceptional work!

Brian Falkner's Website
Story Sports Website

Cantamaths

I can't believe I haven't blogged about our two great cantamath teams. A few weeks ago our Year 7 and 8 Cantamaths teams took part in the annual competition. Organised chaos is the beginning of an apt description of the events that unfolded. Both teams did very well. Interestingly both teams got stumped on some early questions before making late rallies. The Year 7 team score 45 points (9 correct) and the Year 8's scored 90 points (18 out of a possible 20) which is one of the best results for Redcliffs School in recent years. Well done everyone. A special thanks to Mr Rogers and Mrs Thomas who trained the teams.