Hmmmm, I wonder why Sonny Bear wanted to go with Father Deer!

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop critical thinking skills by making connections with the text.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use the ideas from the text that I have read to create five critical thinking questions about the text.

Is the word 'rarely' a modal adverb?

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop understanding of the English grammar.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that modal adverbs are adverbs that help us from being uncertain to very certain.

Do you know the least common multiple of 23 and 3?

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop our number knowledge.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain the least common multiple is the lowest multiple that you get between two digits.

Awww, that mascot is so cute!

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop our understanding of time, continuity and change.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I write down five facts about mascots.

Honesty is the best policy!

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop understanding of the English grammar. 
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that a proverb is a sentence that people normally say to each other and they all have a message.

Below are more examples of proverbs:
- The pen is mightier than the sword - convincing people with ideas and words are more effective than forcing people to do it.
- Keep your friends close but your enemies closer - if you have an enemy, make friends with them so you will know what they are planning.
- A picture is worth a thousand words - pictures show more emotions and clearer messages compared to words.
- Beggars can't be choosers - if you beg to someone for something, you have to accept what they give you.
- Cleanliness is next to godliness - be clean and not messy.

Is 'I hate salt and sugar' a compound sentence?

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop understanding of the English grammar.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that a compound sentence is a sentence that combines two related sentences together.

What a delicious chocolate flavoured brownie with chocolate chips!

I had the best birthday party ever on Saturday night!

On Saturday afternoon, my family and I were invited to a party because it was a celebration for my uncle, my uncle's dad and my birthday. My birthday wasn't on Saturday but I was included because my birthday was on Monday and we couldn't celebrate it then because it would be school time. My mother baked some brownies for dessert, my uncle cooked fried chicken and I helped by washing the dishes. My mother bought one 1.5 L bottle of Sprite and a bottle of Fanta for us to drink.

When all the food were cooked, my uncle took out 12 bottles of wine from our fridge for everyone to drink. By the time the food was cooked, it was dark. We used our small car to get there but we had to put the food in the trunk first because it was too much for us to hold. After everything was ready, we all hopped into the car and went to my friend's house which was only two kilometres away from our house.

When we got there, we opened the door to my friend's house first and then we started putting the food on the table. We carried one plate at a time because some of them were too heavy. After all the food was on the table, we closed and locked the door and we found out that there was already some food on the table like butter chicken. We also saw some desserts, there were two cakes with different flavours. We didn't eat them straight away because we were still waiting for more visitors to arrive. While we were waiting, my friend and I watched some programmes on the television.

After a while of watching the news, all of the food was finally ready for us to eat. We were all getting excited because we had already smelt the delicious aroma of the different food that we were having.

First, we said a prayer for the food that we were having and then everyone (except those having their birthdays) sang a birthday song to us. I was very happy to see that everyone else was happy. After we sang, we took some plates and utensils to share with everyone.

First, I had some butter chicken because it is one of my favourite food. When I first took a bite of the chicken, I was so delighted because it was delicious. However I resisted filling up my stomach because I wanted to save some room for the desserts. While waiting for the desserts, my friend and I watched different kinds of videos on Youtube.

After a while of watching the videos, someone told that the desserts were ready. I ran to the table and I took some brownies because I love brownies. The brownies had chocolate chips in it and they were chocolate flavoured. Other people saw me eating some brownies and so they tried it as well. They loved it as much as I did. When I was eating the brownies, the chocolate cake was cut and ready to be shared out, so I took some of the chocolate cake. There was also a mocha cake but we didn't eat it because we wanted to save it for another time. When everyone was full, my family and I went back home with all of our utensils. None of the birthday people received their gift, but we were told that we will receive it the next day.

Saturday night was a wonderful night because I got to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends. My favourite part of the day was when we sang the birthday song because it made me happy. Next time, I want to try other food besides butter chicken because there might be food I haven't tried yet that might be really yummy.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use descriptive language in our writing. Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I choose appropriate adjectives to describe my weekend birthday celebration.

Is 'ten' an adjective?

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop understanding of the English grammar.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that adjectives are words that can describe quantity.

What a delicious, juicy butter chicken!

On Saturday afternoon, my uncle, my mother and I went to my friend's house because we were invited to a party. We used our big red car  this time because we usually use our small red car for travelling on the weekdays. My friend's house was about 30 kilometres away from our house. We did not want to be late so quickly got  we changed then hopped into the car and started our journey to my friend's house.

On the way, I was looking outside to see what the view was like and what different kinds of buildings or cars we could pass by. Not for long, I started to feel bored. I wanted to talk to my mother about anything but she was sleeping.  I also didn't want to disturb my uncle while he was driving because he might lose his concentration and we might get into an accident or lose our way. So I decided to continue admiring the view of the surroundings instead.

After a while, I realised that we had finally arrived at my friend's house. The house was a big two-storey brick and tile with a brown roof and white walls. The inside was  painted in white and the rooms were painted in different shades of blue, pink and  light brown. My mother felt very jealous because she also wants a big and modern house for our family.

We softly knocked on the door and one of my friends opened it for us. I said a greeting to everyone in the house and then I went to a room where all of the children were in. They  were doing different kinds of activities. Someone was playing on the computer and the laptop, some on their phones and two people were playing XBOX 360. I wanted to have a turn because they were playing Minecraft so they gave me a controller and we were in a world called, 'City'. Their world had many structures in it like temples. Their currency in the world for buying items was a gem called, 'Emerald'. When I was playing I got to build a little house with windows and I lived there with all of my emeralds. We all had a lot of fun when we played Minecraft. While I was building something, someone suddenly called us that it was dinner time. All of the children including me proceeded to the dining room where all the delicious food were. First, we said a prayer for the food we were going to consume. On the table there were some butter chicken, cooked fish, fried pork and brownies for dessert. I took some butter chicken first because I love butter chicken!  Everyone else took some fish and others had fried pork. When we all ate our main meal, we tried the brownie. Some guests liked it but not me because the brownie wasn't sweet and it was a little bitter for me.

After dinner, my mother told me that we had to go home so that we would be early for church the following day.  We said goodbye to everyone and thanked them for inviting us to the party.  When we got outside, it was already very dark and breezy so I stayed close to my mother so I wouldn't get very cold.

Saturday night was a lot of fun because I got to spend time with all of my friends. My favourite part of the day was when we played Minecraft because I got to build a house. Next time we play a game on the XBOX 360, I want to try other games that I haven't tried.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use descriptive language in our writing.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I choose appropriate adjectives to describe my weekend party.

I wonder how far the car is!

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop understanding of measurement.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I write down five steps on how we can estimate the distance of something.

I wonder what 'Tau ke Aotearoa' means in English!

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand Maori.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use blabberize to record the phrase 'Tau ke Aotearoa' and its translation from the song 'Ana Hi.

Is the word 'middle' a synonym for the word 'centre'?

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand the English grammar.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that a synonym is a word that means the same to another word.

Is 'ugly' the antonym of 'beautiful'?

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand the English grammar.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that an antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.

Do you know how to write 856 in Roman numerals?

Learning Intention: We are learning to develop our number knowledge.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I explain that Roman numeral is another way to display numbers.

That was such a delicious burger with so many delicious ingredients!

On Sunday the 7th of August, my family let me chose on where we could eat for lunch. I first  suggested Burger King and my family agreed. So we all jumped into the car and started driving to Burger King. While I was looking outside the car, my uncle suddenly said that my mother and him could eat at Noodle Canteen while I eat at Burger King. My mother agreed with the choice of my uncle so we drove at Burger King drive thru and placed my order of a combo meal called, 'The Bomb!' The burger had sweet bacon, sweet melted cheese, delicious cooked patty, tasty burger buns and fried onion rings. The meal came with Sprite, a chocolate sundae and some mouth - watering french fries. I had to eat my meal in the car while we were on the way to Noodle Canteen.

However, I must say that I did not forget to say a lunch prayer before devouring my scrumptious meal. I started eating the french fries. They were really  delicious that I could eat a mouthful each time but since I wanted to savour the flavour I only ate one at a time. When I finished my french fries, I became very excited to eat the burger. When I took the wrapper out, I could already smell the sweet aroma of the mouth watering burger. I took a bite and I was so delighted with its taste that I wanted to make last longer by chewing it slowly before finally swallowing it. "Mmm….". I felt so happy and contented after consuming my burger. Then I had my sundae which was also nice.  I was so full after drinking my sprite that my tummy felt like it was going to explode!  I thanked my parents for letting me have one of my favourite meals ever.

Sunday was a great day because I got to eat a very delicious meal at Burger King.  My favourite part of my weekend was when I ate the enormous burger and it tasted just the way I loved it!  Next time we have a meal when we're out, I want to try another fast food restaurant besides Burger King because I want to be adventurous with food.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use descriptive language in our recount.
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I add 15 appropriate adjectives to describe my lunch at Burger King.