Same but Different

We've been learning about a way of showing that things can have similarities and differences.  It's called a Venn diagram.  We made two Venn diagrams on Friday.  The first one was quite large. 

We went up onto the court and everyone was given a little picture.  Some of us got a picture of a kitten, some got a picture of a puppy and some of us got a picture of a kitten AND a puppy.  Can you work out who got which picture?

The Dodgy Duckling

After morning tea we read "The Dodgy Duckling" again.  It's a New Zealand version of the traditional tale, "The Ugly Duckling".  

In the Kiwiana version, the extra large egg turns out to be ... 

a Kiwi.  He's big and has floppy feet and a long, pointy beak.  He can't catch dragonflies like the ducklings and when he tries to learn to swim, he sinks to the bottom of the pond like a soggy kumara.  He is described as being as blind as a short tailed bat and gets teased and laughed at for being different.  
The poor old dodgy duckling wanders off and finds a dark cave for a long sleep.  When he wakes up, it's night time and he is so excited because he can see!  He spots another bird strolling past and finds out that he isn't a dodgy duckling after all.  He's a cracker looking kiwi!!

We used another Venn diagram to show that, while the kiwi and the ducklings had some differences, they had many similarities too.  

During the Olympics we learned a little bit about many different countries.  Now we're going to be learning lots about Japan which is a country that is very special to a student in Room 4 and his family.  We're looking forward to learning some more about being a New Zealander and some of the similarities and differences between living in New Zealand and living in Japan.

See you next week Room 4.  Don't forget to ask at home for help to email me when you find out the name for the line that goes all the way around the middle of the earth.  Ms Little has my email address.
Remember there's a wee prize for anyone that emails me with the right answer before next Friday the 24th ...
Mrs B :)