Tech - Painting

LI: to learn about the Color Wheel

For Tech we were learning about tints and shades. A tint is a lighter version of a colour, but a shade is a darker version of a colour. We were learning this while painting, we learnt how to mix colours and apply the colour on paper. We were learning about Primary Colours, and mixing them to make Secondary Colours. It was really fun as we got to do this with our friends, and with other people.  

Microbit Coding

LI: to see and understand the connection between the written code, the block code and the flow chart.

This is the comparison between the Python coding, the blocks and the flowchart for making the Microbit act like a dice. We did the task in partners, and it was really fun doing as we got to use different formats of coding such as blocks and python which was really cool, cause we got to learn the rules and codes of each format. 

Flowchart Practise and Micro Chat

Learning Intentions

To understand how flowcharts relate to coding blocks.

To understand how to get the microbit to talk to another microbit using radio signals.

Here is my flowchart practice document. 

The next activity today was coding the microbit to send a radio signal to another microbit. We had to make sure that both microbits were on the same group number so we didn't accidentally get a message from another group.

Robotics in the stars

LI: to try to get the mBot to move in the shape of a star

This week for tech Mrs Ferguson challenged the year 8s to code the mBots to move in a star shape for the Matariki celebration. Above is a photo of the code i used to create a perfect star shape, because the star wasn't perfectly drawn the coding wasnt as easy as doing one step and putting it on repeat, you have to adjust to the drawing. I found this interesting because I found it challenging as it was complicated. This was a fun task because I liked making iterations.

Coding In Python

LI: to

This week we learnt to create a code on our kittenbots to show different faces. Unfortuantely mblock wasn't working so we did our code on python. Python is differnt from mbock as it uses text such as brackets, hashtags, many more. The code works simply; once on of 2 buttons are pressed (a,b) the code will signal the LED's to show a certain icon (sad,happy face), but if both buttons are pressed (a+b) it will show a silly face. I enjoyed this task as I got to work on a different platform than mbot.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

LI: to learn how to code the microbit to play Rock, Paper, Scissors and understand the coding through a flowchart

Link of flowchart

For Tech we continued coding with our Microbit, this week we coded our Microbit to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. After learning how to code it, we broke it down by going step by step by creating a flowchart. The flowchart showed the mechanics and functions on how the Microbit was coded to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. It was really fun and interesting as we were able to see the functions and mechanics of each block and we were able to break it down. We also were able to play with the Microbit playing Rock, Paper Scissors with eachother. 

Flowcharts

 LI: to learn how to use flowcharts when coding

For Tech this week we were continuing our learning with Coding with Mrs Ferguson at Tamaki College. This week we were learning about Flowcharts, and were making a flowchart on how to code a digital dice. We learnt about how each shape represented a function and that all of them together could make such a sophisticated digital function. 

Link to Drawing

Building a Mbot

LI: to understand how the mBot is put together so that I can fix it when something goes wrong

Today, we took an mBot apart and then reassembled it. We then tested it with some code to make sure that it worked correctly. We started off by taking the parts without the tech in it such as the wheels, we then started screwing out the harder stuff like the sensors and the brain. 

Here are the parts of the mBot that I took apart.

Here is when I reassembled the mBot.

Tech Reflection

LI: to code the mBot into sensing objects infront of it

For Tech we were continuing our learning with coding with Mrs Ferguson. This week we were learning about Ultrasonic Sensoring, so we coded our mBot to sense something infront of it thats maybe 10cm or 50cm infront. When it senses an object thats infront it moves back, and when there is no object infront that it can sense it will keep moving. The coding blocks IF - THEN- ELSE gives the mBot to options to act on. We then used the Ultrasonic Sensor on the front of the robot to sense if something is infront of it in a certain range (10cm, 50cm etc). 

Tech Reflection

LI: to learn about coding

For this term we transitioned to Coding with Mrs Ferguson. It was really cool and fun because we got to learn these new tools on coding. We were able to make animations with the coding as well as learn these different tools such as name tags, and calculators. It was really fun doing this because we got to do these activities with our friends and it was amazing. 

Silver Attitude - Represent the school at an outside function

LI: to be able to explain how I was able to represent school out of the classroom

For one of my Silver Attitude activities I had to explain how I represented the school at an outside function. I was able to represent the school at Tech, which was located in Tamaki College. For Tech we were being taught design and wood carving. For the term we were able to learn how to use many tools such as chisels, mallets, tri squares to help us create our design. My design was to make a phone holder. For this week I was polishing up my design, and shaping up my measurements to help me get a higher score. 

Tech Reflection

LI: to learn how to construct our own toy

For Tech we were continuing our builds at Tech with Mr Grundy, at Tamaki College. I was making a phone holder. I was able to finish my joints and was able to clean it up. Make it look good. As I was finishing up I created more designs that could help me practise my measurements, angles, and how to express my creativity in a way.  It was really fun doing this because we were able to help each other and learn new things about wood crafting. Such as creating joints, how to use different tools, and how to create our own designs.

Tech Reflection

LI: to learn about woodwork and the tools needed to use

For Tech this week we were continuing on with our projects and wood. We first learnt about a lot of tools needed to use for this week or part of the wood work. To complete and finish our project we had to use tools such as a saw to cut off segments of the wood, a chisel and mallet to chip off parts of the wood not needed. Lastly a ruler and a pencil to find our measurements. It was really fun doing this because I got to use and learn a lot of tools, and was able to do it with my friends.  

Tech Reflection

LI: to learn about wood carvings and making our own designs using joints

The Year 8s were learning more about wood carving. This week we started making our own wood carvins. The model I wanted to make was a holder for a phone. We first started getting an idea by being shown and taught the basics by out teacher Mr Grundy. We then got our piece of wood, piece of paper, and a ruler to draw out the measurement and our design. It was really fun doing something new and it was even more enjoyable doing it with me friends. Tech

Tech Reflection

For Tech, this term we are learning about how to carve wood. Our teacher was Mr Grundy. He firstly taught us the rules of the workshop and told us a lot of safety guidelines. We first learnt about the joint which was the first thing to making a wood carving. We then started sketching some ideas and joints. We had to draw 8 different wood carving sketches. 

2020 Tech Reflection

LI: to reflect on tech

This years tech was a rough start. Having to go on lock - down and still going online and doing tech. It was a rough year but an amazing journey to go through. Being able to do different things such as Robotics & Coding, Food Tech, and Science. Being able to do those different things was such fun. Being able to meet amazing new people teaching us these wonderful new things. As us Year 7s first year of tech, having to go through this was not normal but we kept going and made it work. Robotics & Coding was amazing, we got to play with robots and code them into doing cool things like light up, move around, make sounds and much more. Food Tech was fun because we were able to learn being safe in the kitchen, while also learning how to cook and make delicious new foods. Science was amazing as well because we learnt about Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Being able to learn about Rocket Science, Earthworms, Pollution, and Chemicals was super cool, and the experiments were so fun. 

I'm looking forward for what comes next year at Tech. 

Tech - Plants & Foodmakers (Week 7)

LI: to learn about plants 

For the last week of Tech this year our 8th topic was about plants. We first talked about how plants grow and the structure of a plant. We talked about what plants need, such as Carbon Dioxide, Water, and Sunlight. We talk about how each need works and how it happens. We then got 10 leaves from the school, all different leaves. We categorized them using a table talking about their size, texture, colour, and pattern. We talked about how big the leaf is, how it feels, the colour of the leaf and the pattern on the leaf. 

Tech: Science with Mrs Sharma

 LI: to identify the different uses and type of plastics

For Tech this week we were learning and discussing more about Plastic, including the pros and cons of plastic. We first started off by trying to identify different materials in the classroom. The materials we tried to identify were Plastic, Metal, Paper, Fabric and Wood. We then got slips of paper about Plastic Pollution, and we tried to sort them out in Positive, Negative and Neutral. The positive slips were the praises and good things that plastic does, the negative slips were the cons and bad things about plastic. Neutral was both bad and good or something that hasn't have either. 

Science Equipments

 LI: to learn about the difference science equipments

 

At Tech we learnt about many of the science equipments, so we made a DLO about each of the science equipments. The equipments we were learning about were mainly tools for chemistry. The many science equipments we were learning about were Test Tubes, Conical Flask, and many more. It was really cool doing this because I got to learn about the tools people used to learn about different substances and chemicals. 

Science & Steam (Week 1)

 LI: to learn about being a scientist

For Tech we did science. Our topic for science this week was "Being a scientist". We first started off by talking about what we know about science. We then later talked about science equipment, and started listing science vocabulary. After that we answered three questions about science which were, "What do scientist do?", "What do you know about scientist?", and "Have you ever thought about being a scientist?". We then did a activity, we got a paper and folded it into quarters and did an activity on each quarter. On the first quarter we wrote as much science words as we could. On second quarter we drew what we thought science was. The third quarter was to ask a question about science and then to write our favourite area of science, and the last quarter was to pick a photo and explain the science behind it.