Pianos

Pianos

By Lara

Intro

Have you ever wondered about what a piano is?

What it looks like

The piano is a musical instrument with a keyboard. A normal piano has 88 keys, which is 52 white and 36 black in total. Pianos come in two basic types a grand piano and an upright piano. The spinet piano is the smallest piano at the height of 35 inches and the width of 58 inches. A full size profesional piano has the height of 48-60 inches and the width of 58 inches.

The difference

Prices, New grand pianos can cost from $10,000 to $150,000, while upright pianos have a smaller price range at $2000 to $8500. Used piano prices stay about the same for horizontal pianos. Good vertical pianos are sometimes seen on sale for $500 - $2500. Weight, grand pianos weigh about 480kgs. A upright piano can weigh 136kgs.

History

The piano was invented by Bartlemeo Cristoffori of Padua, Italy. He made the first piano in 1709. The piano has been an extremely popular intrument in western classical music since the late 18th century. It developed from the clavichord, which looks like a piano but the strings of a clavichord, are hit by a small blade of metal called a tangement.

How it works

Pianos use the keys to move hammers that hit strings inside, making a sound. When you release the key, the hammer and the damper falls backdown again. The damper sits on top of the string, that stops it vibrating and brings the note rapidly to an end.

Conclusion

Now I have given you a basic knowledge on What it looks like, The difference, The history and how it works.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Introduction

Rhythmic gymnastics is a very active sport and you have to  be very flexible to complete the challenges that come along the way.

History

Rhythmic gymnastics  a women only event in which gymnastics perform with a rope, hoop, ball,clubs or a ribbon accompanied by music, in individual or group events. In the 1800’s Rhythmic gymnastics operated under the appearance of group gymnastics, and included a trace of elementary choreorgai. It grew slowly until the first experimental competitions appeared in the Eastern Europe in the 1930’s, when it’s newfound complexity began to draw a wider audience.

Equipment

You can use many different pieces of equipment in Rhythmic gymnastics. You can use a ball,ribbon,clubs and many more. What is a ball? The ball is made from either rubber or synthetic material. A ball is from 18 to 20 cms in diameter it must have a minimum weight of 400gs. A hoop can be made out of plastic or wood, provided that it retains its shape during the routine. The interior diameter of the hoop is from 51 to 90 cms, and the hoop must weigh a minimum of 300gs.

Olympics

Since its findings into the games in 1984 in Los Angeles, Rhythmic gymnastics has always been apart of the olympic programme. In its beginning year, it was Canda Lori Fung who won the gold medal. Until 1992 in Barcelona, only one individual event was on the programme. A second, team event was added to the programme in 1996 in Atlanta. At the 2000 games in Sydney, the Russian federation won 2 gold medals, the group and individual multiple completions

Conclusion

Rhythmic gymnastics is a competition and interesting sport. You can never predict what to expect because every group is individual performance is different.

By Lara

Elephants

Did you know elephants can grow up to various sizes? The common asian elephant can grow up to the tallest of 2.7 metres tall the African bush elephant can grow up to the height of 3.3 metres. Asian elephants can live up to the age of 48 years. The African forest elephant can live to the oldest age of 70 years.

Food

Elephants consume several hundred pounds of vegetation daily. An elephant spends sixteen to eighteen hours eating each day that’s 80% of their life. Elephants eat fruit such as mangos, apples and many more. They usually enjoy chewing on twigs and bark. Elephants use their trunks to bring food to their mouths, ripping up grass from the groundor pulling leaves from trees. They also use their trunks to drink. They do this by sucking water part way up their trunks and then squirting it into their mouths.

Aperance

How much do elephants weigh? Weighing up to 6000kgs. The African elephant is the largest land mammal. The elephant is knowen for its skilful trunk, long curved tusks and their massive ears. Have you ever wondered what elphants skin feels like? Elephants skin is a wrinkled texture, wrinkles act as a cooling protection by increasing the skins surface area. The additional skin and wrinkles trap moisture, which then takes longer to evaporate. Wrinkles keep elephants cooler than if they had smooth skin.

Habitat

Elephants live in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. They are found most often in the savvanas, grasslands, and forests. They can also live in deserts. Why are elephants indangered? Because ivory is very valuable to some humans, many elephants have been killed for their tusks. This trade is illegal today, but it has not been completely eliminated, and some African elephants popualtin are still endangered. At the turn of the 20th century, there were a few million African elephants left.

Conclusion

The amazing large mammal called an elephant is very unique and interesting.

By Lara Deans

Faster, Faster, Faster

Hair waving in Ella's face, Wind whistling past my ear. Sun glistening on the waves as the crash up against the rocks. “Wahoo” I yelled from the top of my lungs.

We were chatting between ourselves, As we released a hand from our life jackets and waved back at our sisters. AS we started on our 1 million mile journey we jumped into the air with excitement.

Dad brung the Jet ski down to 20k and swerved, We swung around the curve and up onto the sand bank. “Oops” Dad shouts. We’d driven the Jet ski up to far. “Who wants to go next”  He enthused.

‘I really want to go next I thought to myself’, As I jumped into the waves with fish circling me. “Can I go next” I questioned.

Hockey season

The hockey season is starting and its time for you hockey lovers to get outside with your ball and stick. You could ever play in the Te kiri team. This was our team last year.
Back row: Meryn, Ellie, Kiefer, Liam, Dani, Logan, Vikki
Middle row: Soul, Ryan, Richie, Jayden
Front row: Lara, Jorja, Renee, Madaline

Lemon Fudge Slice

Prep time 20 mins           Serves 12

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Ingredients

125g Butter
½ cup Chelsea Soft Brown Sugar
½ tin Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup Chopped Dried Apricots
1 x 250g packet of Wine Biscuits (crushed)
¼ cup Desiccated Coconut (to decorate)

Lemon Icing:
100g Butter
1½ cups Chelsea Lemon Flavoured Icing Sugar
1-2 Tbsp Hot Water

Method

Heat 125g butter, Chelsea Brown Sugar and condensed milk until the butter
Add chopped apricots and crushed biscuits. Mix well. Press into a greased 20 x 30cm sponge roll tin.

Ice with Lemon Icing:
Beat butter until pale and fluffy. Add Chelsea Lemon Flavoured Icing
has melted. Do not boil.
 Sugarand sufficient water so that you have a light, fluffy mixture. 
Spread over the slice and sprinkle with coconut. Set in refrigerator. 
Cut into squares.

The pillow I made at home

Today I designed a Minnie mouse pillow. The fabrics I used were lycra for the body and ears. I used netting for the bow and felt for the yes and nose. I had a lot of fun making and creating this pillow. It took me over an hour to make. I also use vivid for the mouth and eyelashes.

   I gave this pillow to my youngest sister Alyssa and she loves it.