Week 2, Day 2, Activity 1,2,3

DAY 2: Fabulous Flora

Activity 1: Weaving a Tall Tale…[4 points]

There is a long history in New Zealand of collecting natural plants, including flax (harakeke), and using them to create cloaks, baskets (kete), mats, traps and ropes. Flax weaving is an art form. It can take years for people to perfect the art of weaving. Have you ever tried it?

For this activity, you are asked to watch a short video of someone weaving a fish (ika) out of flax.

On your blog, tell us whether or not you would like to try flax weaving. Does it interest you? Why or why not?

I have actually tried flax weaving before, a couple of us made headbands for our kapa haka group. I really enjoyed making them, it was a bit challenging at first. But when you knew how to make them, it became very relaxing. I would definitely like to try some more and create harder things.

Activity 2: Mighty Mangroves [4 points]

Here in New Zealand we have a native tree called a Kiwi Mangrove. Kiwi Mangroves grow in shallow water (harbours). The largest mangrove or manawa forests in New Zealand are located in Northland and in Auckland. According to many environmental experts, they are one of the toughest and strongest trees in the world because they can survive in really harsh (difficult) conditions.

For this activity you are asked to think of someone who is very tough and strong. They can be someone who you know personally or they can be a character that you have read about in a book, seen in a movie, or on a television show.

On your blog, tell us about this person. Who are they? Why are they, in your opinion, so strong and tough?

Who are they? Mowgli is a character from the jungle book. He lives in the bush with a bunch of wild animals. He was raised by a wolf pack and was accepted by the animals as one of them. He is very strong and can swig from tree to tree.

Why do I think he is so strong? I think Mowgli is so strong because he can swing from tree to tree. I also think is he strong and tough because he is living in the bush, with deadly and wild animals, that could kill him.

Activity 3: Stranger than Fiction [10 points + 5 possible points]

Here on earth there are more than 298 000 different kinds (species) of plants. Some of these plants live on land and some live in the water. Follow this link to read about 10 of the strangest plant species in the world. When you are finished, choose two of the plants from the list.

On your blog, list three similarities and three differences between the two plants that you chose. To earn five extra bonus points, post a picture of both plants on your blog.

Roses - Lilies

-Simlarities-
1)They are both very pretty.
2)They both come in lots of colours.
3)They both come from the kingdom Plantae.

-Differences-
1)Roses have thorns and lilies don't.
2)Roses grow for seeds and lilies grow from seed/bulb.
3)Roses need full sun and lilies need part sun.