Summer Learning Journey Day 2 Week 3

DAY 2: Cracking the Code
Activity 1: Through Careful Observation [4 points]

There are many incredible people in history who have changed the world. Some have changed what we know about the world and about how it works. We often call these people ‘scientists’ or ‘theorists.’ Famous scientists include Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Katherine Freese, Maria Goeppert Mayer and Sau Lan Wu.

Each of these scientists came up with a new theory (idea) about how things work. Much of what they discovered came from observing (watching) things closely.

For this activity, we would like you to select one of the pictures below and to study or observe it closely. What do you see? Create a detailed description of your chosen painting. Please provide as much detail as you can. Post your description of the painting on your blog.

Image 1

Image 2


So the picture that I'm going to describe is Image 2. I see some sort of paper or something turning into an animal. I also think I see a few Waka's on both sides of the picture, with a few buildings too. (This is just an idea) I think this picture is about the saying, "Light shines in darkness". I think this because the white birds stand out and the really dark birds just blend in with the background.

Activity 2: Overcoming Adversity [4 points]

Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) was an English scientist who was interested in studying the origin
(beginning) of the universe. When he was just 21 years old, he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease and, over time, he lost the ability to walk and talk. He needed to use a wheelchair to move around and a computer to help him to talk. The computer made his voice sound a bit funny but, most importantly, it meant he could still communicate with people.

Despite his diagnosis, Stephen Hawking lived a long and very productive life. He showed great
determination and perseverance because he didn’t let his physical challenges stop him. He didn’t quit. Instead, he overcame the odds and achieved a huge amount in his life.

For this activity, we would like to hear about a time when you, or someone you know, experienced a challenge and overcame it. Post your recount on your blog.

Example: I have a good friend who moved to NZ three years ago as a refugee from Myanmar. She had been living in Thailand for many years as it was not safe for her to live in Myanmar. When she moved to NZ she couldn’t speak English. Now, she speaks English really well and she had just passed her driver’s license! I’m so proud of her!

I have a friend who came to my school but left because he's going to college. He wasn't always the teacher's favorite student because he was quick-tempered and had anger issues. He would always have a fit if he'd get in an argument in class. He realized what he was doing and made a promise to change his ways. Ever since, he's been kinder to the teachers and to the students. I'm proud of him!


Activity 3: Hidden Figures [6 points]

Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, is considered to be the ‘first computer programmer’, even though
computers had not yet been invented. She was called a computer programmer because she worked
out a series of algorithms (instructions) that a machine could use to compute (calculate) difficult maths questions.

Katherine Johnson was another brilliant mathematician who worked with NASA - the North American Space Association. NASA was responsible for sending rockets and people into space. It was Katherine’s job to check all of the calculations that the engineers and astronauts used when designing the spacecraft and flying them into space. In 2016, a movie was made about Katherine Johnson and the other women who worked at NASA during this time. It is called ‘Hidden Figures.’ In the movie, the women had to do a lot of advanced maths!

For this activity, let’s imagine that NASA has just built a brand new rocketship. It is going to take three people to the moon. The rocketship can travel at 400 kilometers (km) per hour. The moon is 384 000 kilometers away. How many days will it take for the rocketship to reach the moon? Hint. There are 24 hours in one day.

Post your answer, along with an explanation of how you solved the problem, on your blog.