DIY hologram projector

Today we made our own hologram projector.  I had seen blog posts about making one and thought it would be cool to do myself.  I am doing my own project at school on how holograms are made so this was a fun side project.

To make a hologram projector you need:

  • grid paper
  • pen
  • scissors
  • super glue (don’t glue your fingers together)
  • an old CD case
  • a Stanley knife
  • a smartphone or ipad

There is a cool online video of how to make it here

Here’s a vid of my end result – Projector

 

 

 

 

Treasure hunting

Inspired by the Giant Penguin exhibition at the Waikato Museum we were inspired to go treasure hunting.

There is lots of digging happening near our houses. We came across an area was abut 3 metres deep and 20 metres log and may be 5 metres across. What was very interesting is the very red soil and different levels of dirt and stones. We decided to collect some of the various stones we found.

Range of stones we found

Range of stones we found

We found out that the red in the soil is caused by iron oxide in the ground. We are very interested in the stone layer.  Would that be from an old stream bed or something else?  Since we have been here the developer has covered this area with sand.

Different layers in the soil

Different layers in the soil

Family walk around Lake D (Kainui)

We recently got a second dog and thought it would be cool to go somewhere different for a dog walk. Our Dad was also getting an operation on his knee so it was the last chance for a long walk for a while. Mum helped us look online for ideas and we found a good website with walks around Hamilton and Waikato. We decided on Lake D – Kainui. Dogs are allowed on a lead. it is a loop track with toilets and picnic areas and is close to our house.

The dogs enjoyed it as much as we did. It was muddy in some parts but that did not matter too much. The duck shooting hides were very interesting. Zoe took lots of photos. Mainly selfies. We had fantails follow us around the lake. it is a good family activity and is free.

We always thought Zoe had horns

We always thought Zoe had horns

One of the duck shooting hides

One of the duck shooting hides

Lots of cabbage trees. There are lots of new plants around the lake

Lots of cabbage trees. There are lots of new plants around the lake

We called these the haunted trees

We called these the haunted trees

The lake is very pretty

The lake is very pretty

Another hide

Another hide

A dog walk around Lake D (Kainui)

A dog walk around Lake D (Kainui)

 

Hottest Chocolate in the Tron

Throughout the holidays Blake and Finlay have been on an important mission to find the Hottest hot chocolate in the Tron.

We went to Scotts Epicurean, Mavis & Co, Café Inc, Babaganush, Pop-up Cinnamon, and our Dad’s home made hot chocolates.

Our least favourite hot chocolate was at Café Inc.  It was very cocoa-y and milky and not tasty. Plus the marshmallows were a little hard. No froth at all. 3/10

Next was from the pop up Cinnamon on Maui Street. It was extremely milky and not very chocolate-y.  Very good marshmallows. Soft and smooth. 5/10

Next was Babaganush. The hot chocolate was pretty good. Nothing wrong about it but nothing exciting either. 6/10

Then comes Scott’s Epicurean. Fin loves these ones while Blake rates them above average so they get a 8/10.  Usually they come with brownie which is awesome plus nice and chocolatey with good froth and texture. 8/10

Then comes our Dads hot chocolates – tied in second place on 8.5/10 They are very nice, milky, chocolaty, milky and frothy at the same time. A good balance. 8.5/10

And the winner is jaw-dropping Hot Chocolate from Mavis & Co. It comes with a big chocolate bar, it was everything you can dream of with the exact amount of chocolate, milk and froth and great texture. This one is clearly the winner. 10/10

Of course we are only ten year olds so we have many years of trying Hot Chocolates ahead of us and will need to try as many as humanly possible.

 

Finlay and Blake enjoying the Scott's Epicurean Hot chocolate

Finlay and Blake enjoying the Scott’s Epicurean Hot chocolate

 

Geocaching in the Tron

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It is a beautiful day so we are geocaching with our parents. Geocaching is where something like a box is hidden and you have to find it.  We need to read a map online and then follow hints to find where treasures are. When you find the hidden box or bottle or jar you then write in a notebook to say you found it and when.

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The first geocache we looked for was supposed to be near a bridge.  We read the wrong hints so ended up getting further away from it than where it was.  Finlay found it under a concrete rock area. There was just the notebook plus little plastic toys.  We wrote in the notebook and then hid it again.

 

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Zoe writing in the notebook for the first cache

Zoe writing in the notebook for the first cache

The second cache was also near a bridge.  We looked for it for ages and explored near the lake as well.  It was fun jumping across the stream. In the end, Blake’s Dad found it. It was a great hiding spot. There was all sorts of stuff inside it.

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The third cache was down a walkway we ride bikes on.  The clue was near a sideways growing cabbage tree.  Problem was we found three of them and looked everywhere for it but couldn’t find it.

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It was hard and frustrating work searching for this cache.  We didn't find it.

It was hard and frustrating work searching for this cache. We didn’t find it.

 

The fourth cache was off another walkway near a school.  There were so many places to look for it. There were dead leaves everywhere and they filled up all the possible hiding spots.  We couldn’t find it and decided it was time for ice cream.

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Geocaching was fun, exciting and sometimes hard and frustrating.

 

Eeling

We go eeling down a pathway that goes through the gully near Blake and William’s house.

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You have to look for fairly still water that is a bit murky with plants underwater or banks where the eels can hide. We catch the eels with a line and a hook with salami, worms or some meat for the bait.

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After we catch the eels we take photos with them and let them go.

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We looked up the type of eels that we catch.  We think they are Short-finned eels.  These eels are common and not at risk like long-finned eels.

Our Trip To The Museum

Finlay, William and Blake were off geocaching while Zoe was at the Waikato Museum.

 

There are a lot of exhibits at the Museum at the moment – the Giant Kawhia Penguin, maori cloaks and weaving baskets, Excite room, Planet Warriors, Waikato at war, and A beautiful game – all about the history of football).

Zoe seeing how tall the giant penguin was.

Zoe seeing how tall the giant penguin was.

Zoe sitting on one of the pretend toilets.

Zoe sitting on one of the pretend toilets.

Zoe dressing up in the  maori  cloakes and baskets area of the museum.

Zoe dressing up in the maori cloaks (Kakahu and Korowai) and Kete (baskets) area of the museum.

Zoe in the small intestine, a part of the body section

Zoe in the small intestine, a part of the body section

Our ideas of what to do in Hamilton

One of the first things we did was to mind map all the things we could do in Hamilton.  We split into two groups and came up with:

  • Hamilton gardens
  • Slow mo video
  • sculpture making
  • BMX track
  • Walk around Lake D
  • Dog walks
  • Waterworld
  • Bush walks
  • Eeling
  • Make your own Board games
  • Truth or Dare
  • Bike rides on the pathways, river paths and off road
  • Food testing
  • Plant growing
  • Art galleries
  • Baking competition
  • Kite making and flying
  • Tree climbing
  • Backyard cricket
  • Make your own pizza
  • Museum tour
  • Marae visit
  • Zoo visit
  • Running races and obstacle course
  • Parkour
  • Bird spotting
  • Tag
  • Café reviews
  • Trying new food
  • Make your own ten pin bowling
Darcie up close to Zoe's camera

Darcie up close to Zoe’s camera

Finlay on the log at the eeling spot

Finlay on the log at the eeling spot

Welcome to trouble in the Tron

We are a group of kids living in the Tron/Hamilton, New Zealand. We are aged between eight to eleven. Our names are Finlay, Blake, Zoe and William. Sometimes we will have other kids helping us.

We thought it was a great idea to create our own blog. Most of our posts are about what we do each day in Hamilton. We also thought it would be fun to be tourists in Hamilton and show you our city.

Sometimes Zoe will be the chief photographer but other times our parents will help out.

Finlay, Zoe and Blake hanging out in the Chinese Scholar's Garden at Hamilton Gardens

Finlay, Zoe and Blake hanging out in the Chinese Scholar’s Garden at Hamilton Gardens