As kaitiaki , we understand the importance of supporting feathered friends, especially during times when natural food sources may be scarce. To provide a helping hand, we've embarked on a mission to create a nourishing sugar water solution for our local birds.
To get started, we gathered the following materials:
- Sugar: A crucial ingredient for our sweet concoction.
- Water: Pure and clean, ensuring a safe mix for our birds.
- Containers: Sturdy vessels to hold the sugar water.
Our recipe was simple:
Ingredients:
- ⅛ cup of sugar
- 1 cup of water
Steps:
- Boil the water: We ensured the water was clean and boiled it to make it safe for the avian friends.
- Mix the sugar: While the water was still warm, we carefully stirred in the sugar until it dissolved completely.
- Cool and pour: After the solution cooled down, we poured it into our containers, making sure they were clean and ready to use.
I took photos on Miss Robinson’s phone while Valentina was pouring her sugar water into her container.
We had to get one of the small cups of sugar and then tip it into the bowl and then we could add the big cup of warm water in the bowl too.
If the water wasn’t warm enough then the sugar wouldn’t dissolve.
I had to carefully and slowly tip the water through the funnel so I didn’t spill and waste the sugar water.
But why sugar water, you might ask? This homemade solution mimics the nectar found in flowers, providing a quick energy boost for birds like silvereye, tūī, and fantails. Especially in colder months or during dry spells when natural food sources may be limited, this sugar water acts as a lifeline for our feathered friends.
Room 9 students took home their sugar water to share with the native birds near their home.
“It costs nothing to be kind” is a philosophy I live by, both in and out of the classroom. Students are encouraged to adopt this mindset, embracing kindness in all aspects of their lives.
Reading for enjoyment is just as important as reading with purpose. Sharing my passion for books with students is one of the highlights of my teaching, seeing them discover the magic of stories and imagination.
While my love for reading runs deep, my true passion lies in solving mathematical problems. The clarity that maths gives—it’s either right or wrong, and students can immediately identify where they’ve gone astray. This passion for numbers translates into a dynamic classroom where students tackle problems with confidence and curiosity.
Every child deserves a safe space where they feel empowered to take risks in their learning, even when they’re unsure of the answer. There’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing the “lightbulb” moments when students grasp new concepts and exclaim, “Oh, that’s easy now!”
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important to me, and I encourage my students to value their well-being, both physically and mentally. This balance nurtures resilience and a positive outlook.
Just as I admire the beauty of a sunset at the end of a long day, I deeply value the growth in every student. Watching them evolve, gain confidence, and thrive in their learning journey is one of my greatest joys in teaching.
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