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​ How are we Kaitiaki? The Great Cicada Hunt

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Recently, as part of our preschool group planning, we have been exploring how we are kaitiaki (guardians) of our environment. The tikanga Māori value of kaitiakitanga means guardianship and protection. It is a way of looking after the environment, based on a te ao Māori world view. A kaitiaki is a guardian. This includes caring and showing kindness for our environment and the people, places and things within it. 

Within the preschool garden, many cicadas have chosen to make our beautiful trees their home. The cicadas are currently going through their life cycle stage of metamorphosis, where the young cicadas shed their shell. Nga tamariki have been fascinated by collecting the empty shells and looking at them closer, further investigating this incredible life cycle.

During one of our garden bug hunts, a group of tamariki spotted a cicada that had JUST shed its shell and had fallen from the tree, unable to get back up! This was a very exciting discovery! But with nga tamariki being the kind and caring individuals they are, their excitement soon turned into worry that the cicada wouldn't be safe on the ground and that it needed to be, "back up in the tree with its family," as Bella explained. Nga tamariki were quick to agree and jumped into action! "I wonder how we can get it back on the tree?" I asked tamariki, "maybe we could lift it up!" Millie suggested! "Hmmm I don't want to touch it with my hands though," Martha added. "A shovel!" Oscar yelled, as he was running to the sandpit!" What a good idea Oscar! 

Nga tamariki worked together to lift the cicada back up into the tree! "Be gentle," "careful don't hurt it," I could hear them say. The smiles on their faces grew as the young cicada walked up the tree! "We did it Marly! Look its happy back home." The kindness shown by nga tamariki was so inspiring! Throughout this experience tamariki showed that they have become kaitiaki (guardians)  and that their understandings of the importance of caring for their environment and the things within it is growing. Tamariki also showed amazing cooperation and communication skills which reflects kotahitanga, working as one.