Team koru visited the Zoo yesterday. Our Topic this term is the Living World and we are learning about all the animals, their classification and habitat. It was really amazing to see what we have learned in real life. Some of our highlights were: the tigers, the black monkey that made such a loud noise – he really put on a show for us, the lazy lions and the meerkats. We also loved the dinosaur trail – there was even one that spat out water. This was fun to see. 
Here are some of our photos
Today, we took our number bonds to 10 lesson outdoors, using sticks, leaves and rocks as our math manipulatives! We gathered sticks to represent one number and rocks for the other, working together to find all the pairs that add up to 10. It was fun to use nature for our math learning, and everyone loved the hands-on approach!
Learning outside with sticks and rocks made math even more exciting! Here are some photos of our learning.
What objects could you use for math outside?
Today, we had a blast playing a game of Satellites with balloons! We practiced our counting by seeing how many hits we could get without the balloon touching the ground. Everyone worked together to keep the balloon up in the air, counting each hit as we went.
It was so much fun watching everyone focus and cheer each other on. We kept improving our skills and trying to beat our last score! Here are some videos of us playing!
How many hits do you think you could get without the balloon dropping?
At lunchtime today, our awesome PALS (Physical Activity Leaders) took us for a fun game of Tails! We all had a blast running around, trying to grab each other’s tails while keeping our own safe. Everyone was super energetic and worked together to make sure the game was full of laughs and fun!
It was a great way to stay active and enjoy some friendly competition. Thanks to our PALS for leading such a fun game! 
What’s your favorite game to play at lunchtime?
Last week, we had a special visit from Junky Monkey at GTS! Team Koru used their amazing imaginations to turn piles of junk into incredible creations like marble runs, castles, and so much more! Everyone worked together to transform everyday items into something exciting and new.
It was awesome to see how we could turn “junk” into something fun and creative. Team Koru really showed us how to think outside the box and make the most of what we have!
What would you create if you could turn junk into anything?
Today, we had a fun swimming lesson with our Life Jackets on! The lifejackets helped us float safely. It was so much fun!
When do you wear a lifejacket?
In Team Koru, we have been learning about the Kawa of Care for our iPads. We made a poster to show how we use the Kawa of Care in our classroom.
What are some ways that you take care of the Ipads?
We had an exciting day today in our Maths session. We started with our New Maths textbooks and worksheets. We are learning to work collaboratively with a friend and find the answers. Todays lesson was to count numbers up to 100 using concrete objects: counting in ones and tens, forwards and backwards.
In Team Koru, picture books play a vital role in developing early literacy skills. They help new entrants build vocabulary, understand story structure, and strengthen comprehension through engaging illustrations. Picture books also spark creativity, encourage a love of reading, and make learning fun. At Glen Taylor School, we celebrate the magic of picture books as an essential step toward literacy and imagination!
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Our learners love sharing picture books with each other, reading aloud to each other, George the ‘class monkey’, and even enjoying stories alongside Alan, the school dog. These moments help build confidence, foster friendships, and make reading a joyful experience for everyone!
What picture books do you like to read to yourself and others? Please share in the comments below.
Team Koru would like to warmly welcome four new learners to Room 10, who celebrated their very first day of school on Monday!
Valiant. Solo Kymani Isabelle
What an exciting first week we’ve had in Team Koru! Our learners have been busy exploring their classrooms, getting to know routines, and settling into school life with confidence. Through some play-based learning, they’ve enjoyed puzzles, blocks, and dramatic play while also beginning their journey with new words, letters, sounds, counting, and number games. Along the way, we’ve been practicing kindness, sharing, and building friendships. It’s been a week full of fun, laughter, and learning—we can’t wait to see what next week brings!