Today I completed another activity as part of my Summer Learning Journey, and I really enjoyed this challenge because it helped me learn more about animals that live in extreme environments. I focused on the Mountain Stone Wētā, which lives high in the cold mountains of Aotearoa New Zealand. I found it very interesting to learn how this small insect can survive freezing temperatures by slowing down its body processes and even freezing solid during winter, then thawing out when the weather warms up. I enjoyed this activity because it made me think about how animals adapt in different ways to survive tough conditions.

As part of this challenge, I also compared the Mountain Stone Wētā with a polar bear, which lives in the freezing Arctic. Even though they are very different animals, they both have amazing adaptations that help them survive extreme cold. The Mountain Stone Wētā survives by conserving energy and freezing safely, while the polar bear survives by using its thick fur and a layer of blubber to keep warm and store energy. This comparison helped me understand that animals can use very different strategies to survive similar environments.

I am happy to blog about this activity because I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others and showing my thinking. Blogging also helps me reflect on my learning and feel proud of the work I have completed. I liked how this challenge combined science and thinking, and it made learning fun and interesting. Overall, I am really pleased with this post and excited to continue sharing my Summer Learning Journey.

Today I began another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges, and this time it was an especially exciting one! For this challenge, we were asked to create our own interpretation of two Taniwha from Māori legend. The Taniwha I chose to bring to life are Āraiteuru and Niua, two powerful and fascinating guardians of the waters.

I really enjoyed this challenge because it gave me the chance to explore my creative side and imagine what these legendary creatures might look like. I loved thinking about their shapes, features, and personalities, and then bringing them to life through my artwork. It was a fun way to combine creativity with storytelling, as each Taniwha has its own unique characteristics and presence.

I was also thrilled to be able to share my work with the readers of my blog. It feels amazing knowing that other people can see and appreciate the effort and imagination I put into creating Āraiteuru and Niua.

Below is my completed drawing of the two Taniwha, Āraiteuru and Niua. I hope my artwork captures some of the magic, mystery, and strength of these incredible beings from Māori legend.

Today I began another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges. For this challenge, we were asked to create a sea creature using a sculpting app. I really, really enjoyed this challenge because it allowed me to use my creative side and experiment with different shapes, textures, and details.

I chose to create a blobfish because it is one of the most unusual and interesting deep-sea creatures I have learned about. I find the blobfish fascinating because it looks so different from most fish we see every day, and it lives deep in the ocean where it is dark and mysterious. I wanted to make my blobfish look scary because, to me, many deep-sea creatures are scary due to their strange appearances and the extreme environments they live in.

This challenge helped me think about how sea creatures might look and survive in the deep ocean, and it was fun bringing my ideas to life through sculpting. I am also excited that I get to share my finished creation with the people who read my blog. Below is my completed sculpture of my blobfish.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey Challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to use a cartoon app to design and create our very own dinosaur. I really enjoyed this activity because it allowed me to be creative and use my imagination while customising my dinosaur in many different ways. One of my favourite parts was choosing and adding different types of armour to the dinosaurs, which made each one look unique, powerful, and interesting.

I also had a lot of fun experimenting with the colours, shapes, and features to make my dinosaur stand out. This challenge helped me think creatively and try new ideas while using digital tools. I was especially happy knowing that I could share my finished creation with the people who read my blog, so they could see my hard work and creativity. Below is the completed download of the dinosaur I created using the cartoon app.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey Challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to create a mosaic featuring one of the amazing Creatures of the Pacific. I really enjoyed taking part in this activity because it allowed me to use my creative side and experiment with different colours, shapes, and patterns to form a detailed mosaic design. I found it interesting how small pieces can come together to create a larger and more beautiful image.

This challenge was especially fun because it gave me the chance to turn my ideas into a piece of art that represents the Pacific and its incredible marine life. I also felt proud and excited knowing that I would be able to share my work with the people who read my blog and see what I have created. Below is my completed poster showing my mosaic Creature of the Pacific, and I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoyed making it.

My Mosiac is a Turtle which represents Pacific people as navigators, my Ancestors were navigators and that is how I see Turtles. The Turtles hard shell represents a shield, symbolising strength and protection of our people.

Today I began another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges. For this challenge, we were asked to create a poster about the Fijian myth called “The Great Octopus Battle.” I really enjoyed this activity because it allowed me to use my creative side and express my ideas through art and design. While working on my poster, I learned more about this interesting Fijian legend and tried to show the story clearly using colours, images, and text. I was especially excited because I could share both the myth and my creativity with other people who read my blog. This challenge helped me build my confidence and creativity, and I am very proud of the final result. Below is my completed poster for the Summer Learning Journey challenge based on the Fijian myth of The Great Octopus Battle.

Today I began another one of the Summer Learning Journey Challenges. For this challenge, we were asked to create a cartoon version of either a Megalodon or another extinct animal. I chose to draw a Megalodon because I think they are very cool, powerful, and a little bit scary too.

The Megalodon was a giant prehistoric shark that lived millions of years ago. It is believed to have grown up to 18 metres long, which is about three times bigger than a great white shark. Megalodons had huge, sharp teeth, some as large as an adult human hand, and they were one of the top predators of the ocean. Even though they looked very scary, Megalodons became extinct a long time ago, possibly because of climate changes and lack of food.

I really enjoyed this challenge because I was able to spend my time being creative and turning such a massive and fearsome animal into a fun cartoon drawing. It was interesting thinking about how to make it look friendly but still show how strong it was. I was also very excited to share my work with the people who read my blog and see what they think.

Below is my completed cartoon drawing of a Megalodon.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey Challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to create a mosaic artwork. If you are wondering what a mosaic is, it is a type of decorative art made by placing many small, colourful pieces of materials such as stone, glass, or ceramic together to form a larger picture or pattern. These small pieces are carefully arranged and stuck onto a surface to create one complete design.

I really enjoyed this challenge because it allowed me to experiment with different colours, shapes, and patterns. I liked thinking about where each piece should go and how the colours could work together to make the artwork stand out. This activity helped me be creative and patient at the same time. I also felt proud of myself once I finished because all the small pieces came together to make one beautiful artwork.

Below is my completed mosaic art of The Mighty Megalodon, which I had lots of fun creating.

Today I began another exciting Summer Learning Journey challenge. For this activity, we were asked to design our very own Pokémon-style trading card. However, instead of using Pokémon characters, we had to base our cards on animals that are native to New Zealand. I really enjoyed this challenge because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about my chosen animal, the Māui dolphin.

I chose the Māui dolphin because I think they are extremely cute and unique, and I was curious to learn more about them. While completing this task, I discovered many interesting facts about the Māui dolphin, including why they are so special and endangered. I also enjoyed being creative and designing the card while adding important information about the animal.

Overall, this challenge was very fun and educational, and I liked that I was able to share my finished work with others who read my blog. Below is my completed Pokémon trading card featuring the Māui dolphin.