Category: Hanga | Create

Today, I started another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges, and this time the task was incredibly fun and unique. For this challenge, we were asked to create our own story about escaping from a bird that was trying to eat us. I immediately knew this would be one of my favourite tasks because writing stories is something I truly enjoy and feel confident doing. I loved having the chance to let my imagination run wild, thinking about all the exciting ways I could escape and the clever tricks I might use to outsmart the bird. What made this even more exciting was knowing that I could share my story with the readers of my blog, giving them a glimpse into my creative world and the adventures I imagined. I felt proud and excited as I worked on it, carefully crafting each part of the story so it would be both thrilling and fun to read. Below is my story about the daring escape from the bird—an adventure I hope readers will enjoy as much as I enjoyed creating it.

The sun was just beginning to set as I crept quietly through the tall grass, trying not to disturb a single leaf. I thought I was alone—until a shadow passed over me. Looking up, my heart sank. A massive kākāpō, its sharp beak glinting in the fading light, was circling above. I had read they were mostly herbivores, but this one looked unusually… hungry.

I froze, hoping it wouldn’t notice me. But then I heard a low screech, and it dove. I bolted, my legs pumping like pistons. The grass whipped past me, tearing at my clothes, but I didn’t dare slow down. Branches snagged at my hair as I darted into the forest, the bird swooping close enough that I could feel the wind from its wings.

I ducked behind a fallen log, holding my breath. The kākāpō landed nearby, pecking at the dirt, its beady eyes scanning. My mind raced. Think fast. Think fast. I remembered the small stream nearby. If I could reach the water, maybe I could hide under the fallen leaves and muddy banks.

I sprinted again, leaping over roots and rocks, my heart thundering. The bird shrieked, startled, and flapped after me. I slipped into the stream, the cold water shocking me, and scrambled under a tangle of branches. The bird landed at the bank, pecking, confused, and I stayed perfectly still.

Minutes felt like hours. Finally, the kākāpō gave a frustrated squawk and flew off into the trees. I exhaled slowly, soaked, muddy, but alive. My legs were trembling, but a grin spread across my face. Next time, I promised myself, I’d stick to areas where the birds weren’t looking for dinner.

Today, I started another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges, and this one was especially fun and creative. For this Challenge, we were asked to create a comic strip that shows a “day in the life” of a Weta, one of New Zealand’s unique and fascinating insects. Originally, we had the option to make a video, but I didn’t have enough time for that, so I decided to focus on creating a comic strip instead.

I really enjoyed this Challenge because it gave me the chance to use my imagination and create my own story. I had fun thinking about what the Weta might do throughout its day, what it eats, and the adventures it might have in its natural habitat. It was exciting to bring the Weta to life on paper and organise the story into different scenes.

Even better, I loved being able to share my comic strip with others and show my perspective on the Weta’s life. It was a great way to combine learning with creativity, and I’m proud of how my story turned out. Below is my completed comic strip, which captures the daily life of the Weta from start to finish.

Today I began another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges. For this challenge, we were asked to create a Venn diagram. A Venn diagram uses overlapping circles to clearly show the similarities in the middle and the differences on the outside between two or more items or ideas. This helps organise information and makes it easier to compare and contrast different things.

I really enjoyed this challenge because I was able to discover the differences and similarities between a flying fox (the zipline) and a flying fox animal. Before starting this activity, I didn’t even realise that some animals are actually called flying foxes or that they can glide through the air. This challenge helped me learn something completely new and interesting, and I now feel confident sharing this information with others.

Below is my completed Venn diagram comparing flying foxes and the flying fox animal.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to create a Korowai, which is a traditional Māori cloak made using feathers from native birds. Korowai are very special and are often worn during important occasions, including traditional haka and ceremonies, to show pride, strength, and cultural identity.

I really enjoyed completing this challenge because it helped me learn more about the many different birds found in Aotearoa New Zealand and the beautiful feathers they have. It was interesting to see how each feather can represent something unique and how they all come together to create a meaningful design.

I also enjoyed being creative and thinking carefully about how my Korowai would look and what it would represent. I was especially excited to share this challenge with the people who read my blog so they could see what I created and learn more about Māori culture as well.

Below is my completed Korowai.

Today, I began another one of the Summer Learning Journey challenges. For this challenge, we were asked to create a template and decide which animal we thought best fit each question. This required me to think carefully about the characteristics, behaviours, and features of the two animals before making my choices.

I really enjoyed this challenge because it helped me learn more interesting facts about both animals and understand their differences and similarities. It also made me think more deeply about my decisions and explain my reasoning. Overall, this task was both fun and educational, and it helped me build my knowledge in an engaging way.

Today, I began another exciting challenge from the Summer Learning Journey. For this challenge, we were asked to either draw or find an image online of a weird or unusual animal. I decided to be creative and mix two different animals together to make one brand-new creature. I chose to combine a platypus and a kiwi because they both look quite familiar in their own unique ways, even though they come from very different places.

I really enjoyed working on this task because it allowed me to use my imagination and think creatively. Mixing two animals together was one of my favourite parts of the challenge, as it made me think about what features each animal has and how they could fit together. I also liked experimenting with ideas and seeing how the final animal would turn out.

Overall, this challenge was fun and engaging, and it helped me explore creativity in a different way. Below is my completed animal that I created for this challenge.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to create a detailed template that shows the different types of food that lions eat. This task helped me to better understand what lions prey on and how they fit into a food web as top predators. I really enjoyed completing this challenge because I learned how to create a food web for lions and discovered new information about their diet that I did not know before.

I also liked that this activity allowed me to share my learning with others by posting it on my blog, so people who read it can learn more about lions and predator–prey relationships as well. Overall, this was a fun and interesting challenge that helped me build my knowledge while also improving how I present my work. Below is my completed template for the Step It Up challenge, Predator vs Prey.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey Challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to complete a Pick a Path Quiz, where we had to think carefully and use our own knowledge to decide which animals were predators and which were prey. This activity encouraged me to consider the different characteristics and behaviours of animals found in New Zealand.

I really enjoyed this challenge because it helped me deepen my understanding of New Zealand’s predators and prey, and I was able to learn new facts along the way. One of my favourite parts of the challenge was creating the quiz using the template, as it allowed me to design something interactive and engaging for others to try.

Below is my completed Pick a Path Quiz template. Take a look, have a go, and see if you can correctly identify all the predators and prey. Good luck!

Today, I began another exciting activity as part of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges. For this particular challenge, we were asked to complete a Predator Template Card, which involved researching and presenting interesting facts about a predator. I decided to focus on the wolf, as I find them fascinating and they are among the most skilled and powerful apex predators in the animal kingdom.

I really enjoyed working on this challenge because it gave me the opportunity to explore more about wolves—their behavior, hunting strategies, and role in the ecosystem. It was rewarding to gather this information and present it in a way that can educate and engage the readers of my blog. I especially appreciated learning details that I hadn’t known before, which made the experience both fun and informative.

Below, you can see my completed Predator Template Card, which highlights a variety of facts about wolves and showcases why they are such impressive creatures in the wild.