Mitchell - WLJ - Day #5 - One Step at a Time...

Hey bloggers! Today is Day #5 of the Winter Learning Journey! I have had so much from the past days. I am so excited! Let's begin!

Activity 1 : Lost in the Forest

After a long day at the beach, it is now time to move away from the water and drive inland, through the middle of the south island. We then arrive at our first stop Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve. It's a beautiful regional park in the Southern Alps.

Image attribution

Me and my group get out of the shuttle van and follow Curious Kiwi. He is going to lead us through a short walk in the park. During the walk, I see a interesting tree on the side of the trail and decide to examine it more. When I look back my group and Curious Kiwi and are not there. I am in the middle of a strange forest.

I have been asked to write a short story about 8 - 10 sentences about what's going to happen to next. I have to make sure to include lots of details about what you might be feeling, seeing and doing after you realise that you are all alone in the forest.

Let's start:

"This tree is really interesting" I say to myself. "I wonder what species of tree it is?" I say. I then turn back to my group to carry on the walk. "Oh No!" I cry. I look to my left and right feeling nervous and anxious about what to do. I creep in the bushes and try find my way back to the starting point. I can't find the starting point! "NO!" I yelp into the air. Then I hear something in the bushes walking foot by foot. I take a deep breath and hide behind a big tree. "Crunch" - there goes the sound of my shoes stepping on a large pile of dry leaves. "Ahhhhhhhh" I scream and run as fast as I could to a bush. I sprint with my breath heavily breathing and my legs sprinting. "Woahh" I bump into the group. "We were looking for you" - with relieved faces. "Where were you?" - the group said in relief. I reply " Long story, we shall carry on!" The End.

Activity 2 : Famous New Zealander's

After the adventure in Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve we decide to drive over the Southern Alps and decide to eat in Christchurch and have lunch. We then eat a meal at a cafe downtown then head back into our shuttle van and drive to Twizel at the base of Aoraki (Mt Cook). This is where Sir Edmund Hillary practised his climbing for Mt Everest.

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I have been asked to learn about a famous New Zealander. I have to use google to re-search one famous person from New Zealand and then create a DLO and post it on my blog. I have to be sure to include: 1. The name of the famous person, 2. Where they were born, 3. Why they are famous, and 4. Two other interesting facts about them.

I have chosen to pick Maisey Rika! Where was she born? She was born here in New Zealand. Why is she famous? She is famous because she is a popular New Zealand singer who sings popular songs in NZ. Here is 2 interesting facts about her: She is apart of the Ngâti Awa, Tuhoe, Te Arawa and Te Whanau-a-Apanui tribes. She is originally from Whakatane also in New Zealand (Aotearoa). I also love to listen to her song Tangaroa Whakamautai. Most of her songs are in Maori as well.

Image attribution - Rachel Williams

Bonus : Otago Central Rail Trail

Me and my group have had fun exploring the mountains but we're ready for a change of scenery. I ask Curious Kiwi if we can travel down to Otago. They have rolling hills and flat brown grass hills. When we get to Central Otago I decide to join the Otago Central Rail Trail - a 150 km bike rail track. 

I have been asked to tell you whether I would join the Otago Central Rail Trail. Of course I would! Does it sound fun? Yes it does sound fun doing a bike trail with big rolling hills! Why or why not? Who wouldn't love to have a bike ride?!

Well that's this blogpost for today's Winter Learning Journey! Tomorrow I will be visiting a very special place in the South Island before we drive back to Auckland.

Thanks for reading!

By Mitchell.M

12/07/17