Art based on Maori Myths and Legends

Room 19 ART

This term our learning focus is CULTURE

We are learning how people keep their culture alive though traditions, beliefs, stories and the arts.

We have created these fabulous artworks after being inspired by the author and artist Warren Pohatu. In his book ‘ Maori Animal Myths” he retells legends from the past about the animals that were considered part of the ‘great family to which we all belong’.

Purpose:

To create an artwork based on a Maori animal myth.

To develop an understanding of traditional Maori culture through their myths and legends.

To use hot and cold colourways to create impact.

Process:

Read “Maori Animal Myths’ and examine Warren Pohatu’s art to use as a model.

Choose an animal and create a pencil sketch.

Section the background and fill with patterns and designs.

Both animal and background are made into a blackline drawing using vivid marker.

Use dye to colour drawing. If animal subject is coloured in hot colours the background patterning will be in cold colours to create contrast and impact.

The School Motto.

We developed a new school motto last year and have spent the first 3 terms of this year introducing it to the children and talking to them about what it looks like in action.

Room 10 have taken their own photos and used comic life to illustrate what they think following the school motto looks like.

Marae Experience

As one of our immersion experiences for our Culture learning concept we planned a marae experience for our children. During Weeks 1 -3 every class worked in their Whanau group to learn the protocols of being part of a Powhiri. We all practiced what to do as tangata whenua and manuhiri as well as learning prayers and songs in Te Reo Maori.

On Monday of Week 4 the whole school, in Whanau groups took turns as the tangata whenua and manuhiri on our 'school marae' (aka the Old School Hall). Each Whanau group had senior students that had learned the karanga and mihi. They did an excellent job, taking on their responsibilities with maturity and dignity.

When Whanau groups were not involved on the 'marae' they were split up into smaller groups to take part in Maori cultural activities such titi torea, weaving, art, string games and making putiputi. It was a fantastic experience for both the children and teachers.

ICT OPEN DAY

For the last three years we have been part of a Professional Development programme that focussed on developing our skills and knowledge around learning and teaching with ICT. Along with five other local schools we have worked hard to increase our personal and collective understanding of what it means to be 21st Century Learners - our children. As our contract nears its completion we decided to celebrate our new learning with our community. We held an ICT OPEN DAY on 20 August 2010 where parents and friends of the school were invited to come and look at what is happening in our classrooms across the whole school. The day was a huge success with approximately 75 people turning up in the pouring rain to see how our children are being taught, and are learning, through the integration of ICT tools.