Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Rāpare

 We have looked at the History of Māori, Māori Art and even some famous Māori people. Some of us have waited for this day, we were super excited! of course being that it is Māori Language Week, we are going to be exploring Kai Māori - Māori Food! Mmmm yummy!

Check out the facts that Raymon has put together to learn more about how to make a hangi!

Check out the research that Willy has done o ensure he knows about what goes in a hangi - and even where he can get some of the materials/food from.

We were also encouraged to design our own Paraoa Parai Pockets (fry bread pockets). This Kai Māori let us be a bit creative, having to choose between sweet and savoury, as well as the ingredients we would have in our fry bread. Yum! Look what Vienna came up with!

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Rāapa

 Continuing on from Māori History and Māori Art, today we looked at the different famous Māori people that we know, and even those we don't. People like Sir Apirana Ngata and Dame Whina Cooper, who made a big influence on Māori existence in society and loved their culture.

Check out some of the facts the Fifita has to share about famous Māori.

Check out research that soso has done to find out more about these famous Māori people. 

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Rātu

We are continuing to celebrate Māori Language Week and trying to find some fun things to showcase the beauty of Māori culture. Something that comes to mind is Art. There are so many different arts to explore in Māori culture - whether it be carving, tāmoko (tattooing), and even performing arts (singing waiata and performing in Kapa Haka). 

Check out what facts Ciannah has to share with us about Māori Art!

Check out what Kasaline has to share with us about Toi Whakairo, quite interesting I must say!

Naomi also has some writing where she describes Kapa Haka. She used her senses - sight and sound to describe what she can see in these Kapa Haka videos Check out what Naomi has done for writing!

Pukana hī, pukana hā, pukana, pukana, pukana, pukana!

Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori - Rāhina

 This week is Māori Language Week! All Language Weeks are important to celebrate, but Māori Language Week is very special because it is one of the official languages of New Zealand. The teachers decided that we were going to be learning heaps about Māori culture, and learning any new language along the way where we could.

Today we learnt about the History of Māori. Take a look at the facts that Moimoi has come up with!

We also had the opportunity to share some of our Whakapapa through a Visual Pepeha. Check out what Naomi has made for us!

Uike Lea Faka-Tonga: Tu'apulelulu

We have made it to day nima (five) of Uike Lea Faka-Tonga. 

Today, we thought "why not find a subject that a lot of people recognise about Tonga?" 'Ikale Tahi and MMT is big in New Zealand, and our children are quite familiar with them. We also looked into the Tongan Sports Academy, which is where a lot of our famous Tongan players have been through. Check out some of the learning that we have done today!

(Moimoi)

(Khalia)

(Willy)

Uike Lea Faka-Tonga: Pulelulu

 Yes, we have dedicated the week to Uike Lea Faka-Tonga (Tongan Language Week). And what a gift that was! Our learners loved the different learning experiences they were introduced to, and were even able to make connections with their own cultures (those who weren't of Tongan descent).

It wasn't just a treat for our learners though, it was a treat to us teachers. We were able to have a look into a popular culture in our school, even though we weren't Tonga. It was a lot of fun being taught by our students. Especially today where we looked at Food in Tonga *mouth watering*. A few of our children were able to find some similarities between different Pasifika cultural food, some having different names, and some having additional ingredients. Take a look at our learning for today!

(Moimoi)

(Ciannah)

(Willy)

(Khalia)

Uike Lea Faka-Tonga: Tūsite

Room 6 is continuing to learn, create and share our knowledge about the Kingdom of Tonga.

Today we learnt about the different landmarks in Tonga. They included both natural and man-made. It was a great discussion point as we got to talk about the different places that some of our children have been to in Tonga. Check out some of the learning that we did!

  

(Ciannah)

(Khalia)

Uike Lea Faka-Tonga: Mōnite

 This week is Tongan Language Week - or Uike Lea Faka-Tonga.

We will be learning a few things about Tonga. What a treasure too for a lot of children at Pt England School. It was time for our Tongan students to lead us, be the experts this week.

Our learning on Monday was finding out some general facts about Tonga, or I should say The Kingdom of Tonga (official name). Check out some of the learning that we did!

(Perseus)

(Raymon)

(Kasaline)

New Zealand Olympic Athletes

As a class, we looked at the different New Zealand Olympians. We wanted to know a bit more about our amazing Olympic team. In order to do this, they had to go on a deep dive research.

One task that I set out for them ws to do a Research Presentation about our New Zealand Olympic Athletes. Take a look at the Research Presentation that Naomi made.

Another task that I set out for my Literacy class this week was to write an interview between themselves and a New Zealand Olympic Athlete. Here is an Interview between New Zealand Olympic Medalist Valerie Adams and Point England student Temalisi.

Me: Hi Valerie Adams. My name is Temalisi, or you can call me Lisi, and I have been learning about you at school. So what we did was we got to pick a New Zealand Olympian and you were the first one to come to my head. Also I have a few questions to ask you. First of all, how does it feel to have won all three medals - a bronze, a silver, and a gold? .

Valerie Adams: Well it feels amazing. The most special one was the bronze though because I did it for my two kids and it feels so good. I feel like I'm the most amazing mum because I did it for my family and I think that family comes first and ya.

ME: I agree with you. I like doing things for my family too. Okay, next question. Is it hard to throw the hard rock ball as far as you can?

Valerie Adams: The shot put weighs 4kg for women and that is why I try to do my best to get fit so I can throw it. I have to do a lot of weight training so that I get used to how heavy the shot put can be. It is a professional sport, so I need to make sure that I am strong enough to be a sportsperson.

ME: I think I could try my best to do that because we have Athletics coming up in a few weeks. Also we are going to be having a mini Olympics next week on friday and i’m going to try and be fit like you so if we do shot put I can throw the ball so far that no one can get it. So, how do you feel competing for New Zealand?

Valerie Adams: Mhmm, okay, well it feels amazing playing for Aotearoa. It’s good to play for the place where I came from and grew up in. My Dad is from New Zealand, and my Mum is Tongan, so to be able to represent one of my cultures, it is a true blessing. It's actually wonderful.

ME: I’m Tongan too! I think that if I was in the Olympics and I got to represent Tonga, I would be just like you. So next question, how does it feel to be one of the most famous shot put throwers?

Valerie Adams: I don't know. I just feel like a normal woman but only sometimes like when I go shopping or out with my family, there will be that person that comes to me and goes “OMG!!” And I’ll take a picture with them without trying to be awkward. Hahahaha and ya.

ME: I think that is a good answer because I try my best to go for a run at least 12 time’s a week and 2 time’s a day, one at day light and one at night time but not too dark only when the sun is sitting. What do you eat to keep fit and what  do you do to grow your big muscles?

Valerie Adams: So umm what i do is that i make sure I eat a healthy diet and i go to the gym and lift weights. When it’s very heavy, it's better for me to keep practicing and ya. Thank you for asking me all of these questions. I hope you got to know me a little bit more.

Feel free to look at both Naomi and Temalisi's blog. Don't forget to leave positive comments!