“As a class we really enjoyed hearing each others connections, when we dug deeper as a class we found almost every student had a connection with farming on some way and they also wanted to talk about it in the classroom environment. We are taking it further and plan on visiting some of the loacl farms and also connect with the farming that goes on at the local maraes.”
“we love the letters from the prominent NZ ers and it inspired us to look at our own school, family and personal values and to write our own farm anecdotes (which we are turning into books to read to our juniors) as my students are all from farms. The students are very keen to interview locals as well and are creating an online survey using Google Forms as well as hoping to interview some farmers, it is calving and lambing so that has been an issue getting interviews as people are so busy at this time of year. We have also used this to plan a community lunch next term with people's favourite childhood food made by the students and to showcase our learning on the topic. Thanks for the hard work and the inspiration this has given us.”
“We are only part way through this unit. Letter have been great, the discussion about values has been fantastic. I feel that the best is yet to come! Excited for our interviews etc!”
“Tena Koutou nga kaiwhakahaere o Grass Roots.
As a Te Aho Matua, Reo Rotarota, Marautanga o Aotearoa, Ao Kura we would have loved to have read stories about Tangata Maori.
Te Uru Tipua have learnt that everyone in their small class and kura are connected to a farm, gave students that sense of belonging and identity.
All the letters read spoke about lessons learned, hard work, career pathways and Farming life before students in Te Uru Tipua were born.
Just because we live in a Farming community does not always connect you to the Farming community was the first challenge some students faced.
The second challenge was Students hui with their perspective whanau members a task that they will strive to complete.
The Third challenge ,Fleur Beale was the only Letter that my students could connect to for our Taranaki Rohe, Mai Paraninihi ki Waitotara ki Taipake me te Kahui Maunga.
We have created a whole class project incorporating all things pertaining to the Land, Rivers and Sea. Researched an Incorporated Farming Society that had Tupuna Maori who support PKW via scholarships, we are part of a Maru Wai project that monitors waterways. Our Class have 2 students that will be speaking at a National Maori Womens Welfare League Speech Competition about Whakaorangatia ta matou wai (Looking after our Waterways), Waka eke noa (Career pathways).
We are a Kura Taiao, Aio, Waiora which researches kaupapa that affects our Land, Rivers and Sea.
We as a class have learnt heaps about Te Ao Aoraki,we appreciated the visions and aspirations from every letter we read !
We look forward to sending our Class project .
The resources provided have been used effectively we have changed korero to suit our mauri. Changed questions into our reo etc....
Na Whaea Cushla Close ratou ko Te Uru Tipua Tau 6-8 a roopu of 12 students from a Kura Kaupapa Maori.”
“Fabulous stories. The children made connections with their own upbringing such as stories about eeling. The children enjoyed conducting their interviews.”
“It looks amazing! We had negotiated to teach the unit a little later so I haven't taught it yet. However I've had a good look and it looks fantatsic!”
“The students in my class really enjoyed learning about the values that people who grow up on farms have, and how they use them in their everyday life. They researched farmers from all over the world - from NZ, to China to Canada!”
“Loved it! The students enjoyed the scavenger hunt at the beginning of the unit. They found it quite funny, and incredible how each person in the world is connected by a maximum of 6 degrees of separation. The students have loved interviewing the farmers of their choice and have gotten a real buzz out of getting responses from them as well!”
