Friday 22 September 2017

Football Koru Games

TOOT! Goes the whistle, we lunge forward eager to get the ball.

As I tackle, my opponent falls.

I soar across the field like an eagle, heading towards my target, the goal.

Just as I reach the goal my foot slips and I fall, then someone comes and snatches the ball.

Quickly I jump up and chase the ball, I have the ball once again and I am heading towards the goal then TOOT "games up" shouts the referee, seriously!

Tuesday 15 August 2017

How Matai and Kahikatea got their bark

A long time ago when Tane Mahuta was roaming the forest he came across a small seedling that was just poking out of the ground. “ Ahh, Matai I have been waiting for you to sprout. You are special, I know you are, that’s why I named you Matai and when you are older you will be very strong and you will know what your name means.” said Tane Mahuta and then he walked calmly away.


Matai felt so good that he decided that he must be the most beautiful, special tree in the forest. Though he did not know that he was not the only one that Tane Mahuta had spoken the similar words to. On that same day that Tane Mahuta had spoken to Matai, he came across Kahikatea and told him that he was strong and beautiful and had the characteristics of a great leader.


As Matai and Kahikatea grew up they started to get to know each other and soon they were great friends. One day, Kahikatea asked Matai where he grew up and Matai decided to boast about his talk with Tane Mahuta. Kahikatea became angry. “Matai you are lying because I was the one that Tane Mahuta spoke to”.  They then got into a fight and were making such a row that the Patupaiarehe* emerged from a flax bush and said “ You two used to be great friends now you are squabbling like a bunch of crazy keas! ”  But Kahikatea and Matai took no notice and carried on screeching at each other. After a few days the Patupaiarehe were fed up, “ That’s it!” they screamed “ You either leave the forest and never come back or you sort this out! ”
Everything fell silent, even the creek stopped chuckling.


Finally Kahikatea spoke up “So what do suggest we do if we want to sort this mess out?”
“What about a race?” suggested Matai
“Yes race,race,race!” chanted the Patupaiarehe
“Well that’s sorted then” said Tamati the Patupaiarehe leader “whoever grows the tallest by Dawn tomorrow  will replace me as the new leader of our iwi and will be blessed by Tane Mahuta”
There was a cheer from the Patupaiarehe.


In the evening when the race began everyone gathered round Kahikatea and Matai chanting and laughing like it was the best day of their lives. Anahera, the chief's wife, told Matai and Kahikatea the rules and then they started the race. An hour into the race you could hardly see Matai and Kahikatea’s faces, but you could still hear them moaning at each other.


When the night had fallen Matai could hear strange noises like someone was dropping little pebbles all over the ground.Kahikatea had also heard noises but ones like a small fire crackling and people stripping flax.


“PATUPAIAREHE,TAMATI,ANAHERA I WON, I WON” shouted Kahikatea in the following morning.


When the Patupaiarehe rushed to see Matai and Kahikatea they were astonished with what they saw. Matai’s once smooth dark bark was now broken and small circle like pieces of his bark lay next to him. Kahikatea’s bark was also damaged and it had cracks all through it.


“Are you sure it was worth it?” asked Tamati
“What do you mean worth it. Of course it was worth it-I am tall and beautiful with lovely smooth bark” said Kahikatea
“Look at yourself”,said Anahera,
Both Matai and Kahikatea looked down at themselves and a great sadness swept over the them.


“Look at us we are so ugly and scruffy a bird wouldn’t even want to land on us” Moped Matai
“Ae(yes)” said Kahikatea
“Oh Kahikatea, you did win, so do you still want to be chief?” asked Tamati
“Well I might be ugly but Tane Mahuta did say I was born to be a leader” replied Kahikatea
“Well that’s sorted then,” said Tamati “ Anahera, could you go to the top of Kauri and call Tane Mahuta for me? ”


After Tane Mahuta arrived he lay the chief’s kahu huruhuru cloak (feathered cloak) on the root of Kahikatea and sang this Waiata
“E tu Kahikatea Hei whakapae ururoa Awhi mai,awhi atu,Tatou tatou e, Tatou tatou e.
There you go Kahikatea you are now the new chief for this Patupaiarehe iwi.”
Everyone cheers. “Now I have to go and ask Matai if he has guessed what his name means. E noho ra.”


THE END


* Forest People/Fairies

Thursday 27 July 2017

Strange Machine

An odd  parcel arrived today, it was big and bulky with a handle poking out the side. Curiously I opened it up wondering what it could be. First a small wooden tube appeared which led to lots of little cogs all joined together. As I took off the last piece of bubble wrap I spotted the initials D.G which stood for Dave Guttle my lost uncle. "It's something from my uncle" I yelled " Pardon dear" said Mum from down stairs " Oh nothing" I replied knowing that Mum thought Uncle Dave was a bit of a weirdo.

As I inspected the odd present again I realised it was a machine, an old rusty copper machine with lots of levers,buttons,swishy things,sliding things,pistons,pipes and valves all glued,slotted,screwed and bolted together to make this interesting contraption.

Though what was it for? How did it work? And why had my uncle sent this to me? I had many questions and I had to tell somebody but who? This might be able to solve the mystery of my missing uncle though who could I tell? My mum,no,dad,no and I didn't have any friends. I would just have to solve this myself.

Suddenly the machine started clanking and rumbling-it looked like it was going to fall over.Then it stopped and out popped a small piece of paper. I picked it up carefully to see if I could find the initials anywhere but I could not find them.

The peace of paper looked like a little world with half of it chopped down the middle. I could see lions and elephants prowling the land with peaceful zebras sipping from the clean blue water hole. Everything was so clear. And then it hit me-things were getting closer. I glanced over to the other side of the world, big skyscrapers stood tall and proud among the dull,grey apartments. I wondered if I was seeing things. I slapped myself, no it was real.

I reached out to touch the paper but my hand went right through it! I went back to the machine , placed my hand firmly on the lever and pulled it down. The machine rumbled and growled, then it stopped and out popped a small round dish. Suddenly, my room spun around me and I hurtled into the map.

I woke up in a cold alleyway.
"He's awake boss" said somebody gruffly "Bring him to me" said a cold voice "NOW!"
To be continued......`




Stories with James Norcliffe

By the Sea
I sprint across the beach dodging the sharp twigs. I look out and see people screaming as they splash amongst the waves. I wish I was them but I forgot my togs and no way am I going to be seen wearing mum's pink baggy swimming suit. I spot canoes and ships trying to dock by the old broken wharf as the kids watch contentedly from the shore.


Tsunami! (Guess who I am)
I am swimming along waiting for the perfect wave when I feel an odd vibration, one that I haven’t felt before, wait a Tsunami! I watch for a short time as it rolls closer and closer, I have got to warn my family. I hear sirens and people screaming from shore, come on I have got to get back home. Suddenly a huge swarm of fish come my way and they are all heading towards the tsunami. I spot my family and get their attention. We follow the others just as the tsunami rolls over us, flipping me into the air. My fins relax as I dive back into the water. AHHH paradise.


Confused Pillow
I just don’t understand why I have to lie here all day when Miss Perfect Pink Shoes over there gets to got all over the place. I just don’t get it, anyway the only place I have been was picking nose Peter’s house. They only used me for pillow fighting but that’s just cruel if you ask me. I used get on with picking nose Peter’s pillow until I accidentally popped him. AHHH I just don’t understand. I never signed up for this.

Friday 12 May 2017

Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy



 
This is my Explain everything about Potential and Kinetic energy.
Hope you enjoy it.