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Learning through listening and retelling
As our last group planning cycle of literacy has come to an end, we would like to share with you all our project that our tamariki enjoyed working on.
Nadia, Georgia and myself introduced the Māori legend of "How Maui Slowed the Sun" to the tamariki. The story is about the Sun - Tama-nui-te-Ra, who moved too fast across the sky, and Maui, who with the help of his brothers, made him move more slowly. We started introducing the book in our mat times over the week, and in spontaneous group mat times when they asked.
The more kaiako read the story, tamariki were able to re-tell aspects of the story to their peers, such as hiding behind the clay wall; and pulling the flax ropes to stop Tama-nui-te-Ra. As the story became a hot topic, Nadia, Georgia and I decided to turn this into a project that the tamariki could contribute to as a way of re-telling and sharing with their friends and whānau (family).
First, our amazing artist Nadia drew the face of Tama-nui-te-Ra and painted it "sun colours". Then one-by-one, we talked to the children about painting their hand to become the Sun's fiery hair. By the next mat time, we had Tama-nui up on the window and onto the next steps of capturing our beautiful tamariki "pulling the sun".
Each child enjoyed being a part of this class project and once it was finished, tamariki used their new knowledge to share with their family and friends by talking about what they are doing in their pictures. Each child showed such proudness and confidence as they shared their knowledge.
Through kaiako telling the story of how Maui slowed the Sun, the tamariki experience both English and te reo Māori in a structured setting. Their language and communication is extended through repetition as well as listening to and responding to questions asked. Kaiako also used visual cues to support tamariki to discover and experience different forms of literacy.
We are excited to share with you our next group project in our current group planning of construction!