The Great Autahi Quiz

This week Autahi have been learning about the art of the quiz. It all started when posters went up around the school promoting our annual parents quiz. The children in Autahi noticed something in the middle of the poster. 

Hosted by our very own Quiz Master, Carl!

Wait is that our teacher Carl?

Some in the class have read the book you can see above called 'A fun quiz' where a teacher asks the children of the class some quiz questions about their learning. 

"Could we do a quiz?" they asked.

So we spent a writing session learning all about the different ways we can ask questions like starting with who, what, when, why, where and how.

Check out a couple of examples:

Then we got up and asked our questions to the parents who had come to see our school Assembly.

If you would like to take part in our school quiz then keep your eyes on the school newsletter for all the details.

And have some fun having a quiz at your house. The quizzing possibilities are endless.

 

Having a Jam

 No not that sweet stuff we often lather on a good piece of toast. This week we have been having the other kind of jam in Autahi. That's right, the musical kind.

In preparation for our Arts Celebration performance we have been practicing playing instruments together to create some soundscapes for our story. While we learn to play together to create something, we are also learning the benefits of playing music together.

What benefits you ask? How about studies showing that playing music together enhances pathways that create positive emotions. It is also linked to a release of endorphins that produce that feel good feeling.

 But more than that, new studies also show that creating music together also works on building pathways tied to working positively as a group. Working together to create and maintain a rhythm helps us build our synchronicity with others, helping us develop neural pathways we use to successfully function as a group. 

This shows us that music has in important place in augmenting our social relationships and building up positive emotions. In short, jamming makes us feel good and feel good about working with others. 

My challenge to you all is to find a little time to jam with your friends and family. Whether it's making music or just enjoying it together, there is always space for a little more jamming in our lives.

Creativity and Imagination

 Recently I was listening to a podcast around creativity and imagination at schools that talked about how children often start their journey at schools from Early childhood to primary with lots of curiosity about the world around them.

As we grow up we are constantly encountering new things in the world around us. Without the skills to access the information we need, our brains dip into the world of imagination to fill in the gaps. 

Fostering this imagination is a spark for creativity and risk-taking as we work to find ways of finding out about phenomena in the world. 

Our days are full of sharing stories about what the children know already and helping to provide them with the kinds of skills they will need to access the learning they want to pursue. 

One of the things I love to do is tell stories and use that as a way of sharing an aspect of creativity. The children know that the stories are made up but that they can still be enjoyable as we go along for the ride.

Creativity can be expressed as so many ways. Drawing, acting and storytelling are just drops in the bucket. I encourage you to find your own creative outlet and share that with the little ones around you. Keeping the flame of creativity and imagination alive takes work but can be lots of fun when we share our creativity with each other.

For any who are interested in learning more, here is a link to the RNZ podcast.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018948356/imagining-a-better-school-system-for-new-zealand

Ngake Me Whātaitai

Our Arts Celebration piece is inspired by a the story of Ngake and Whātaitai. This thrilling and moving pūrākau takes place in the ocean that is visible from our school, so it feels very immediate and close to home. It carries within it the story of how the land and sea in our area have been shaped by powerful forces, over time.

There are multiple versions of this story, some simple and some adding thought-provoking layers and details. Ben Ngaia's stunning book, Ngake Me Whātaitai, is a key source for us. Ben Ngaia sets out to tell the story from a Te Āti Awa perspective, capturing historical and cultural knowledge of local landmarks and offering a nuanced perspective on the characters of Ngake and Whātaitai. To find out more, click through to this article in The Sapling.

Here is a brief outline of the story.

We live on Te Ūpoko o Te Ika - the head of the great fish that Māui hauled out of the ocean (also known as  the North Island of Aotearoa). 

After it had been caught, the fish continued to flop about making it impossible to make a home on its back. The Kāhui Maunga, who lived on the back of the fish, put out a call for taniwha to come and help subdue the giant ika.

Ngake and Whātaitai are well-known. But actually three taniwha answered the call, the third being Naenae.

Naenae was a brave but smaller taniwha, and he did not have the strength to subdue the fish. However, the large and powerful Ngake was able to break the jawbone of the fish and stop it from flopping. In doing so, he broke through from the enclosed freshwater lake that is now the harbour, joining it up with the big ocean.

Ngake's friend, Whātaitai, was not as strong, but he was an intelligent and creative thinker. He decided to find a way to join his friend in the ocean. Whātaitai swam up the throat of the fish, hoping that the fish would spit him out into the ocean. 

Whātaitai flew out of the fish's mouth into the air, along with three chunks of fish spittle (these became the islands Mātiu, Makāro and Mokopuna islands in the harbour). Sadly, though, he crashed down before he reached the water and was killed.

But, his spirit was released and remained alongside Ngake in the form of a bird.

Your child will be able to tell you more. Do also check out Ben Ngaio's book (there's a copy in Autahi at the moment).

Our Arts Celebration piece will feature taniwha music, and we have been thinking about the three different taniwha in this story. Drawing always helps us to get our ideas clear.

Here is Naenae. He is smaller but we imagine him full of grit and energy. After all, he came to help, even though not the biggest taniwha.

Next up, Ngake. We took inspiration from Ben Ngaia's story to make him long and sinuous, with fins for swimming.

Finally, Whātaitai, the big guy, with strong legs and a chunkier body. He shows powerful determination to bust through the fish's jawbone.

Our challenge now is to find ways to represent them musically! Watch this space.