Room 21’s MOTAT Experience

Since the beginning of the year we have learnt a lot about energy. To round up the inquiry we visited Motat the Museum of Science and Technology.

When we arrived we went to the interactive learning room. 

When I first walked into the room I saw tables covered with all sorts of equipment. 

The Motat educator talked about the positive and negative electrons around us. She also talked about conductors and insulators. It was all very interesting and I learnt new facts like how humans are conductors of electricity. We all stood in a circle holding hands and an electric current passed through us all to power a light bulb! Afterwards, we got to wear lab coats so we felt like real scientists and we checked out all the interesting equipment on the tables around the room. 

There was solar powered torches and cars, as well as a radio. The best bit for me was putting different circuits together to power light bulbs and buzzers. At the end of the session the Motat educator brought out a machine that creates electricity. It had a copper coil and magnets that rub together to create energy. At the top of the machine a steel ball holds all the built up electricity. When the educator waved a metal wand over it we could see the spark and hear a loud cracking noise. If we got to put our hands on it then it made our hair stand up on end!

The last half of the day we looked at different exhibits around Motat. We all interacted with the various equipment in the Challenge Zone. I really liked the infinity mirror and the earthquake simulator. We also explored the Mirror Maze, the old Pump Station, a old Telecommunications Centre and a Fire Station.

After lunch, we took a ride on an electric tram to the Aero Dynamics Centre down by the Zoo and back again. The tram driver talked about electric trams nowadays and what it was like to travel on them in the olden days. He also said the tram we were on came all the way from Melbourne.

We ended the day in the Tactile Dome. The dome is a pitch black obstacle course. We had to go single file and feel our way through the darkness. It was really fun.

I think the whole MOTAT experience was really good and the class learnt a lot that day.

A Rising Rugby Star

We have a very talented rugby player in our class. His name is Josh Pearce and he was nominated to play for the Bill McLaren East Auckland rugby team. 

It is a great achievement as only 21 of the best players across East Auckland make the team.

Josh is a Year 8 and is 12 years old.

He spends a lot of time playing rugby and he really enjoys it. He also loves many other sports.  

Josh recently joined the school 55 kilogram and over team. He plays the position open side flanker and is the captain of the team. The school team has played against other South Eastern Zone teams like Pakuranga, Sommervile and Ferguson Intermediate Schools.

Josh said he’s extremely proud and happy to represent his school by playing for the Bill McLaren East team. 

The final team will play against Bill McLaren West, South and Central in the tournament which will be held in July this year. 

During the upcoming weeks Josh will be doing lots of training.

We wish him all the best with his training and hope he has fun.

By Cale Ying 
Year 8

Energy Efficient Homes with the help of an Eco Designer

We learnt how to keep our homes and living environments healthy this week thanks to a visit from Eco Designer Eion Scott.

Eion Scott works with homeowners, builders, designers to help them build healthy, energy efficient, water efficient houses with better indoor environments, lower-impact materials and less waste.

Mr Scott says generally, the more you invest up front the lower the running costs will be and the less carbon you produce over the building’s lifetime. Mr Scott also gave us some tips on how to be energy efficient by installing double glazing, using curtains to cover windows and have insulation installed in bedrooms and living spaces. Mr Scott thinks that we all should have energy efficient homes, some advantages are:

• Energy efficient homes consume fewer resources

• They’re more energy efficient

• They use less water

• They cause less pollution

• They create less waste

• They are better for native plants and wildlife.                                               

He believes that we should make sensible choices such as planning ahead for the future by installing solar panels, high levels of insulation, energy saver lighting open plan living areas and solar and rainwater collection.

You can still make a difference with something simple, you could use draught snakes for doors or use door or window seals; they are cheap to buy or even possible to make! Also, concrete is great floor insulation because the sun warms up the concrete and the heat travels up through your carpet.

Lastly, did you know that 42% of heat escapes through your roof? So, you should insulate your homes if you want to keep it warm.

 

By Savanah Konia Year 8 and Emily Beach Year 7

Wow we saw the Sun and learnt about the energy it has

Have you ever wondered what the Sun looks like?

Rob Duff, from Genesis Energy, gave us all in Room 21 the opportunity to see this bright star. With a pair of dark glasses on we all looked up to see the Sun for the first time without it hurting our eyes.

Mr Duff showed us photos of people in Kenya who cook with open fires. We learnt that they are now starting to cook with solar ovens because a lot of people were developing illnesses and disease from inhaling the fumes from the fires. He also showed us the Waka Light. It is a solar powered led light torch used in third world countries that dont have electricity. It is better then using a kerosene torch because it is powered by the Sun and it causes no harm to your lungs.

He also told us that a solar panel boat called Turanor, went all around the world in 2012.

After the slideshow, we did activities with Mr Duff. In groups we created solar powered circuits to make a light bulb glow, an alarm sound, water to be pumped through to a sprinkler and a fan to spin.

Mr Duff also showed us a solar air heater he constructed. We have all decided we are going to make one for the class this week to test how well it works.

It was a fun afternoon outside using the Sun's energy.

By Stacy Harrison, Year 8

  

 

Vector visits to teach us about renewable energy sources and how to be energy efficient

A toy helicopter powered by a light bulb and a light bulb powered by a windmill are some of the things we saw when Vector's Tracey Rayner visited.

Tracey also told us about the different types of electricity generation in New Zealand.  We learnt about the path of electricity from the power stations to our homes. It was interesting to see a map of New Zealand with the types of energy generation highlighted in the different regions.

We were all very surprised to learn how efficient an energy saving light bulb is compared to the normal light bulbs. Tracey showed us the light bulbs connected to a device that measure the electricity current. Energy saving light bulbs used 12watts and the normal light bulb used 66.8watts. This means that we can save money and electricity by using the energy efficient bulbs.

All of us received a colourful and educational workbook at the end.

By Jack Bevan
Year 7

My family harnesses the sun and catches the wind to create energy

On Great Barrier Island there are a lot of natural ways to create energy.

There is a lot of wind on the island and that’s why there are a lot of wind turbines to generate power. We need to generate our own power because we don’t pay for power like we do here in Auckland.

Also, on Great Barrier Island there are a lot of solar panels. Most of the power that my family (the Blackwell family), generates is power from the sun. We rely on the weather to keep our systems going. If you only have solar and it’s a rainy and cloudy day you will not have lots of power to use. But, if it’s a sunny day we will have normal power for a few days.

Great Barrier Island is a very special place because of its environmental friendly ways and I’m glad to call it my home.

By Olivia Blackwell
Year 7

Our Outdoor Education Experience at the Auckland Botanic Gardens

We finally arrived!

After a long bus ride we hopped off the bus to find ourselves at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

As part of our Energy inquiry we are learning about living in the great outdoors without electricity.

We had a quick morning tea and afterwards had a discussion about how to keep ourselves safe during our stay.

We walked through the gardens to a tree lined base camp. At base camp we were organised into groups and met the Auckland City Council Co-ordinators.

Auckland City Council Coordinator Susie, shows us the 'bushman's friend' plant!

We did different activities in our groups. The activities were orienteering, pitching tents and cooking sausages, and a tramp. Tramping was fun. We learnt how to read a map correctly and find our way around the bush. Cooking sausages was cool. We learnt how to cook food safely in the outdoors.



Mr Niehaus showed us how to use the maps to find the flags.



But, I think orienteering was everyone’s favourite! We got to run around in small groups using a map to find flags. Orienteering taught us how to get to a destination without a trail and to look out for key features that are on the map.





Cooking yummy sausages outdoors.



I’m pretty sure everyone learnt at least one new thing on our trip and I’m definitely sure that everyone enjoyed it too!   

By Emily Beach, Year 7

Green Party MP Gareth Hughes Shares His Ideas on New Zealand's Clean Energy Future

Gareth Hughes explains solar energy to Room 21 students

On Tuesday the 25^th of February, Green Party MP, Gareth Hughes visited Room 21 of Howick Intermediate School to talk to us about clean energy.

We all enjoyed his visit. He told us about solar, wind, hydro and geo thermal energy. Mr Hughes told us that New Zealand is the Saudi Arabia of wind power. We also learnt about the different types of solar panels and how they work.

There are three political areas he is passionate about. He believes more homes in New Zealand should have the opportunity to generate their own energy as power prices in New Zealand have been sky rocketing over the past years. Mr Hughes told us that in New Zealand there are 1500 houses powered by solar energy but it is predicted by 2018 we will have 30,000! If a home generates too much energy they have the opportunity to sell it back to the grid. Mr Hughes wants to ensure that these people will get a fair price for the power they sell back to the grid.

When Mr Hughes was a university student he was unhappy with the services provided by the hall of residence in which he lived. He set up a Residents Association who meet regularly and took their feedback back to the university. Mr Hughes said it goes to show that politics occurs in everyday life.

Mr Hughes also worked for Green Peace on board the Rainbow Warrior to oppose illegal fishing.

Mr Hughes is now a member of parliament and one of his jobs is to be the ‘whip’. As the ‘whip’ he has to make sure his team is organised and it includes meeting the other whips from the other parties. He is also one of the youngest MPs in parliament.

He also feels strongly about the need to protect the biodiversity within our oceans. Lastly, that New Zealanders should have access to fast and free internet. We all like and agree with these ideas.

By Cale Ying
Year 8