In talking to a number of parents at the Learning Celebration, they expressed their joy at being able to once again come on site to join in a whole school activity. This was expressed also in the very large number that turned up and became engaged in the visual and hands on displays set up and run by the ākonga.
However, judging by the animation of the ākonga themselves, they were even more excited than the parents to have whānau there and to show what they've been working on since the beginning of the year.
In their Module 1 inquiry, students explored significant historical events in Aotearoa New Zealand history from pre-colonisation, to the New Zealand Wars, to the present day.
On entering Koru Hub, we were met with a timeline along the floor which ran the length of the Hub and which clearly demonstrated the gap between all of the events that they learned about. Then came the engagement with all of the ākonga, all eager to share their story. Moving through the hub we were all met with a range of diverse illustrations of our history, whether it be a group paddling their waka, created arts or written stories - all accompanied by the Koru storytellers.
Already exhausted, we moved on to Harakeke followed by Pōhutukawa and each time we were met with the same enthusiasm and insistence on engagement.
In Harakeke we found that they had created a range of visual art artefacts each representing a significant event in the history of Aotearoa NZ. They did this by means of the three visual art mediums they had explored in the module - sketching with pencil, drawing with pastels, and drawing with charcoal.
In the Hall, the Pōhutukawa tamariki had set up a comprehensive timeline with illustrations and in depth stories of our history, with ākonga there to further expand and answer questions. Also dotted around the Hall were a number of artists demonstrating, in real time, the artistic techniques they had learnt. Their ability to use shading to show depth and shape was masterful.
Twenty minutes in each Hub was not nearly enough time to do justice for all of the learning that has taken place so far this year. Having said that, the intensity of total 60 minutes was, as I said earlier, exhausting. Well done to all of the tamariki - you learnt a lot and we learnt a lot from you sharing it with us. The best way for you to find out more is to sit down with your tamariki and talk to them about what they know.
For a range of photos of the Learning Celebration, please follow this link.
On to Module 2 on Monday ....
