| The power of nature in all its glory |
|
By Mick Jensen - The power of nature has been the focus for Allenton School pupils all term. As a celebration of all their hard work, the school decided that each class should check out each other's work last week, the last week of the current term. Parents and family members were also invited along to view the impressive student achievements and the colourful classroom displays. Snow storms, volcanoes, hurricanes, flood and fire were amongst some of the subjects chosen for special attention by the pupils. “It was a true school project,” says Allenton school principal Ian Rive. “We established a planning team and took away a number of ideas from a display set up by the Timaru Museum,” he said. Slideshows, paintings, drawings and models were all used to demonstrate the powerful and often destructive forces of nature. On-line research and good old fashioned books and magazines were used throughout the project Computer generated graphics hung alongside hand written facts and detailed paintings and drawings. Group work and individual pieces kept the facts and messages simple and succinct. Ten year old Libby Fenwick focussed her attention on the subject of global warming. And she knew her stuff. “Global warning causes more natural disasters than anything else, so that's why it's important to make people aware of it. And the reason why we need to stop it happening,” said the enthusiastic Year 6 pupil. The project had been a fun, educational experience for her and her classmates, she said. As part of the celebrations and a way to help local people living in difficult situations, students brought in non-perishable items, which will be donated to the Salvation Army. The year long “Power” theme will continue next term, when the students tackle the subject of “Power to people”. |