Category: Ako | Learn

For the SLJ activity, I was challenged to create a piece of art using shells. I could either use real shell but if I don’t have access to shells in the moment, I could create on digitally. I decided to do the digital one since it’s raining where I am.

First, I went online to get inspiration of shell arts and stumbled upon a shell heart. So I went to find images on seashells and removed it’s background. Then, I shaped the shells into a heart and wanted to add something in the middle of my heart. I decided to do 2024 since the year is coming to an end. Lastly, I chose a sandy background and added it as the backdrop. Now, my art shell piece is complete.

I enjoyed this activity because I got to create my own shell art using my digital skills and what I liked about this activity is that I got the choice to do one in real life or digitally. I could still do the activity even if I didn’t have access to seashells.

For the SLJ activity, I was challenged to recreate my favourite aquatic animal. I chose to do an axolotl because they are unique creatures. Did you know that they can regenerate their cut off limbs?

I used Google drawings to create my axolotl. I took an image from google and placed in on my Google drawing. I used the draw tools that were provided and the pen to take my colours. Finally, I wrote ‘Axolotl’ to represent my drawing.

I enjoyed this activity because I got to recreate my favourite aquatic creature using Google drawing. What is your favourite aquatic se creature?

For this SLJ activity, I was challenged to create a menu with at least 2 dishes and one of them has to include Palolo. Palolo are sea worms that are eaten either raw or fried with butter and onions. They only appear either once or twice a year.

First, to create my menu, I had to come up with a seafood dish. I decided to do mea ota with cucumbers and tomatoes as my first choice, and I was just left with the Palolo dish. After lots of thought I chose to do the Palolo dish raw just like how it is eaten. I made sure to add a description of what it looks like. But I made it sound more appetizing using adjectives. I decided to add a wave to make it seem more oceany (if that’s a word), and named my menu Pacific delights since the my dishes can be found in the Pacific islands. Now, my menu is complete.

I enjoyed this activity because I got to create a menu with seafood dishes (which I love!), using my knowledge to seafood.

For SLJ activity, I was challenged to create a graphic that shows a Palolo and it’s home. But to do that, I had to learn about the Palolo Worms. In order to that, I watched the videos that were given. Did you know that Palolo worms only rise around once or twice a YEAR?

Then, I started on my graphic. I chose to do a midnight type of vibe since the Palolo worms are harvested when the moon rises. I added the moon and the ocean. In the water, I added the reflection of the moon and the Palolo worms. In my graphic, I had to make sure I added information like it shows up once a year. I added finishing touches like the stars and water waves. Now, my activity is complete!

I enjoyed this activity because I got to make a graphic using the knowledge I know of Palolo worms and art skills to create it.

For this SLJ activity, I was challenged to make an animation based on the story of Kupe and Te Wheke. I had to use a coding website called scratch. Lucky for me, I’ve used scratch before, so I’m a but familiar with it. To make my animation, I first had to read the text on Kupe and Te Wheke. Once I read and understood the story, I went onto scratch and looked at tutorials to get refreshed with how to use scratch. I used images from the text to use as my backgrounds. I added a narrator to tell the story to the audience. I hope you love my animation just as I do.

Here is the link –  https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1114645991/

I enjoyed this activity because I was got to use my scratch skills that I already know, and that I’ve learnt, to create an animation based on Kupe and Te Wheke.

For this SLJ activity, I was challenged to use Google slides to create a animation of what I would see if I was diving in the Hauraki Gulf. First, I had to see what the Hauraki Gulf looked like, so I watched a video to get inspiration. I chose to do an orca coming from below the sea to do a jump up above. I used the orca that I drew on my previous SLJ acitivty and started on animating. The type of animation that I am using is stop motion. Lastly, I added finishing touches and wrote the end at the end. Now, my activity is complete, I hope you enjoy watching it.

I enjoyed this activity because I got to create an animation using my imagination and art skills.

For this SLJ activity, I was challenged to create a Postcard based on the sea creatures found in Tikapa Moana (Hauraki Gulf). First, I watched the video on where is Hauraki Gulf and I saw different sea creatures, from fishes to orcas, and even fur seals! Did you know that fur seals were almost hunted to extinction? But now, their numbers are starting to increase fast and they are regular visitors of the Tikapa Moana. After watching the video, I started on my postcard. I had to base my image on one of the scenes from the video. I chose to do the orcas since they were my favourite. Then, I wrote my postcard and finished it off by adding the date, name, city, and address. I made sure to be cybersmart and used a made up address. Now my postcard is done.

I enjoyed this activity because I got to explore the Hauraki Gulf through the video and I learnt information about the sea creatures living in the Tikapa Moana.

For this Summer Learning Journey activity, I was challenged to create a photo mosaic on canva featuring Africa’s Marine Big 5 sea animals. That includes the bottle nose dolphin, Great White shark, southern right whale, the Cape fur seal, and the African penguin. I made sure to add all five into my photo mosaic.

First, I watched the tutorial on how to create a photo mosaic on canva. Once I understood what I had to do, I went onto Canva and started. The first step was to find a video of an African coast. So I chose on with a sunset and an African penguin. Then, I had to choose what size grid I wanted to use. I chose to use a 4 x 4 grid for my photos, and used photos that were provided on Canva and on Google. Lastly, I made the spacing smaller, and made it transparent. Something I found complicated was getting photos on Canva since a lot of the good photos are Canva pro, and I couldn’t use it. So to solve my problem, I went onto Google to take photos and uploaded them onto Canva.

I enjoyed this activity because I learnt how to create a photo mosaic on canva, as well as uploading photos onto Canva.

For this Summer Learning Journey activity, I was challenged to create a mosaic art piece featuring on one of the sea creatures from Africa’s Marine Big 5’s.

To create my mosaic art, I watched the video to choose one of the Marine Big 5’s. I chose to do the bottlenose dolphin as my sea creature because they amazed me with their rapid swimming skills and the way that they use echolocation like sonar to find their way around the ocean and hunt for food.

First, I went online and chose an image of a bottlenose dolphin. Then, I drew triangles and all sorts of shapes to create the mosaic design effect. I used the pen given on Google drawing to find colours that match the dolphin’s appearance. Then I added finishing touches such as the title and eye. Now, my mosaic art piece is complete. Something I found difficult was repeatedly having to draw the shapes, so to solve my problem, I chose to copy and paste it and change the colour when I needed to.

I enjoyed this activity because I learnt about the Marine Big 5’s, and I got to use my art skills to create my mosaic bottle nose dolphin art piece.

For this Summer Learning Journey, I was challenged to create an Among us at sea game using a template provided on the SLJ link. I had to research about a sea creature and write 10 questions on the Among us at sea game.

I chose to do the blue whale. Something that I found interesting about this unbelievable large creature is that it can grow up to a mindblowing length of 30m! It can weight from 180,000kg! That is the total of 72 average weight cars together! Did you know that the heart of a blue whale can grow up to 5 feet tall? Thats the average height of a 12 year old!

I enjoyed this activity because I got to create my own Among us at sea game using the knowledge I learnt from a chosen sea creature.