4W

Class 4W has focused on refining their non-fiction writing skills over the last few weeks. Students moved away from simple dot-point notes to crafting structured informative paragraphs. Using research on extinct and endangered species—specifically the dodo and the passenger pigeon—the class practiced grouping like information logically so distinct facts about habitats, physical traits, and diets remained separate. 

They also focused on writing clear topic sentences to state the main idea of each paragraph upfront. Alongside this academic work, 4W has been engaging with The Resilience Project, exploring the direct link between physical health and mental wellbeing. To put their learning into practice, students created educational posters promoting good sleep habits, highlighting the practical steps everyone can take to ensure they get enough rest each night.

Lilly 

Passenger Pigeon 

The Passenger Pigeon is another famous extinct animal. They got extinct by people shooting them being trapped and by people destroying their homes. A pigeon called Martha was the last Passenger Pigeon in the world; she died on the 1st of September 1914. There were 3 million to 5 million Passenger Pigeons in North America. They had 15 to 50 nests in one tree. They were so heavy they could snap a tree. 

Matilda

Why did Dodos go extinct?

Like other animals there were a few reasons for their extinction. In 1598, the Dutch came in and invaded while hunting Dodos and bringing non-native animals. Dodos actually survived many things after the Dutch invaders arrived, they survived a major drought before the Dutch came, the Dutch ate some of them, they were being hunted and the non-native animals like pigs and rats ate the Dodos food. People thought Dodos were mythical when Dodos got extinct because they didn’t know what extinction was. Dodos got extinct because the non-native animals prayed on Dodo eggs and Dodos couldn’t fly so they were very easy to catch. Do you know other animals that got extinct for these reasons?

Tyson 

Dodos are a famous extinct species. Dodos are from south Asia and found on an island called Mauritius. The dodos nested on the ground and felt safe because there were no predators to murder the dodos. The European sailors came over and brought their animals that competed and threatened the dodo. Unfortunately by 1700 the dodo was extinct and gone forever.