As a class, we discussed the objectives of the promotion 5+a day fruit & veges and linked it to our current Mathematics Strand - Measurement (Weight, Volume & Capacity and Length & Area). We listed down all suggested ideas showing integrated learning of Math in promoting 5+a day messages. We set a tentative time frame, materials needed and other resources we need to get approval from and/or permission such as our School Principal, New World Birkenhead and the students' parents.

Plan 1 is to make a headband promoting 5+a day fruit & vegetables. Linking with our topic on Length and Area, students learned how 1 metre, 1000 mm and 100 cm look like. They measured the circumference of their head and using a 59 cm strip of paper, they decided whether to use 1 or more strips to make a headband that fits. Using an area of an A5 sheet of paper, students drew pictures of fruit and vegetables to fit within the specified area. This was used as a hat for our event.

We got our school approval. Although we planned to hold a FREE taste testing at New World Birkenhead, our alternative plan to hold it within our school premises worked really well too. New World Birkenhead pledged to donate 60kg of fruits and veges we need to make our version of flu fighter juice. During the school assembly, Space 3 Math students announced the upcoming event and invited everyone to join in the fun.

New World Birkenhead gave us a very generous donation - not 60kg but 80kg of fruit and vegetables to all our delight!!!! Six students, Mrs Finlay our ESOL teacher and I went to visit Terry and Tim, managers of New World and we collected several boxes of oranges, kiwi fruit, carrots and ginger. The kids were very excited and couldn't wait to get their hands on juicing it all up.

Space 3 invited Space 4 Maths class to join our group in exploring Maths while sending healthy messages to everyone. Linking to our Weight Strand, students compared and contrasted different weights, estimated weights of fruit and veges and even predicted how much volume of juice each fruit contained. Early that morning, we also shared to the whole syndicate of 120 students (year 3-4) how much 80kg look like. This had major impact when they compared how much juice were extracted for the event.

Students made a poster inviting students, parents and visitors to come along and have a FREE taste testing of our student's own version of flu fighter juice. Additional to the fruit juice to be offered, ice blocks will also be offered FREE. A Media Release was sent to NorthShore Times about our event - Give me 5 plus - High 5 plus! Info on flyers were about the fruit we're serving and were information sourced from 5+a day facebook page. Recipes of juice mix made were posted outside of Sp3.

Students, teachers and even our caretaker Dave helped out in juice all 80 kg of fruit & veges. Teachers and parents who owned juicing machines lent their equipment to help our class. Jugs, other containers as well as cups for serving were also donated by parents. We thank Ms James in allowing some of my Math students to be excused from ICT activities to help out in packaging iceblocks. They made 400 pieces. ESOL students volunteered to help pack too. They enjoyed being taste testers too!

With 16L of juice & 400 little ice blocks plus slices of oranges, kiwi fruit and carrots - we were all ready for the FREE taste testing last Thursday morning at 8.30 am. An amazing 86 carrots plus a few tablespoon of honey made up our sweetened carrot juice plus honey which was popular for the littlies. This mix was made to ensure some kids identified with kiwi fruit allergy can still benefit from the 5+aday fruit & vege taste test event!

These are some of the packed little iceblocks! This is the basic Flu Fighter Juice mix composed of 5 oranges, 3 kiwi fruit and 1 small slice of ginger. We made 5 different mix: Flu Fighter, Flu fighter plus, Flu fighter double Up plus, Flu Fighter CarKick (dedicated to a New Entrant teacher Mrs CarKeek) and carrot juice + honey.

Well, this is it! The most awaited Give me 5 plus -High 5 Plus Event. It was advertised in our school newsletter and even before the set opening of 8.30am, we already had a few people waiting to test our flu fighter juice! Some parents helped the kids set the table and the FUN begins. Students, parents, teachers and visitors started pouring in. Even the school principal and the BOT chair had a go at testing my student's version of flu fighter juice. People came for seconds and thirds, etc

Spread the message, share the juice... Students were oriented about the 5+a day message before they roved around the school with their trays of fruit & veg ice blocks and slices. Not only did my students helped, even those from other classes and syndicate asked to volunteer spread the message. We were more than glad to have plenty of helping hands. We thanked parent Mr Foot in helping serve our students too. Mrs Finlay was much too helpful in slicing more carrots whenever we ran out of it.

We went back to New World Birkenhead. This time with a different set of children. We returned the flag we borrowed and as requested, we brought in a sample of our flu fighter juice mix. Once again, we acknowledged their generosity and sealed it with a resounding "Cheers"! With all 16L of juice and 400 little iceblocks, we were only left with 1.7L of flu fighter juice and about half a box of ginger! As always New World was very accommodating and very gracious in complimenting our drink. :)