Using our Sound Smarts

On Friday Te Kinga students took a day to use their 'Sound Smarts'. First we explored water sounds using the xylophones, then we used a range of percussion instruments to create a 'storm'! Some students enjoyed conducting the 'orchestra' while others enjoyed sitting in the sound circle listening to the 'rain'.

Later in the day we listened to some sea shanties; 'The Edmund Fitzgerald', 'Nantucket Sleighride', 'Davy Lowston' and 'The Wellerman'. Many students in Te Kinga had studied NZ shipwrecks for topic studies so the challenge was to use the stories to create a short sea shanty. Check some of the results...

Using our Natural Resources

 Using our Natural Resources

In the past few weeks (when the weather has allowed) Te Kinga students have been exploring the traditional uses and properties of Harakeke. When we harvested the Harakeke we learnt and observed the tikanga of taking the older fronds and not the centre three, so as to keep the plant healthy.  

Luckily for us there are some large healthy plants growing around the water's edge. Once we had finished cutting we returned to class to strip the frond back with a kūtai (mussel) shell to expose the muka (fibre) hidden within. 

Next we plaited (as best as we could) simple lines and rope to use as fishing lines.  This process took us half a day! 

As soon as we could we went  down to the lake to test our lines (we tied the bait to our lines).  Although we didn't catch anything, small fish and water animals went after our bait. We had many ideas about how we could improve out lines and fishing strategies in the future. We also learnt by our experience how skilled, knowledgeable and resourceful early Māori must have been as hunters and gatherers.