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Our handmade Marae
The marae (meeting grounds) is the focal point of Māori communities throughout New Zealand.
A marae is a fenced-in complex of carved buildings and grounds that belongs to a particular iwi (tribe), hapū (sub tribe) or whānau (family). Māori people see their marae as tūrangawaewae - their place to stand and belong. Marae are used for meetings, celebrations, funerals, educational workshops and other important tribal events.
Previously in preschool Toru, we learnt about the Waka. During Maori language week we watched Maui’s myths. We learnt a bit about our New Zealand Map. In Maui’s Myths we learnt that the north island represents the giant fish that Maui caught, and the South Island represents the Waka that Maui and his brothers were travelling in. After watching Maui's myths, children were fascinated by the waka (Maori Canoe) So they drew representational drawings of the waka. We then made a 3D model of it, out of recycled material.
To extend on children’s bi-cultural learning and because we also had Waitangi Day coming up, In the month of January we have been learning about the Marae and been having conversations about it during Mat times.
We asked our children questions like:
What is a Marae?
Has anyone visited a Marae before ?
Do you think there are any Marae rules and what could they be ?
Has anyone visited the Marae before?
Who do you think can go to a Marae?
These questions helped children to think and to extend on children’s learning we decided to make a Marae out of recycled material. We researched Marae's on the iPad to get inspiration and ideas. Children used the recycled materials that they had gathered to make a draft Model of the marae. Then then took turns to hot glue gun the Marae together. After the Marae was constructed and assembled children painted it and put patterns and glued images on.
To extend on children's learning we are planning on going on a trip to the local Marae to further extend and support their learning about our community and Local Marae.