Get in Your Waka for the Battle at the Mount
- Mar 3, 2016
- 2 min read
Student engagement in learning is something that every teacher strives for. We want our kids to WANT to learn- to WANT to know more- to WANT to ask questions- to STRETCH THEIR BRAINS! Today showed us the lengths that some teachers will go to.
Year 3 and 4 climbed halfway up the Mount today to reinforce their learning about the historic battles in history. In this case, the battle between the Maori people who lived on Mount Maunganui, and the Maori people from Makatu. There were approximately 70 students, 26 parent volunteers, 3 Mount Primary classroom teachers, and us, the 3 Canadians. All participated actively, all learned something new, all had a lesson in the importance of knowing your history.
The lead teacher in the excursion involved the students in reenactment of different situations and they were EATING IT UP! Then again, who wouldn't be when your teacher lines you up as if you were paddling a waka (canoe) and suddenly you have drowned and he yells AND YOU ARE DEAD. There was laughter. There was appreciation. There was parent laughter. There were QUESTIONS! It was such an enriched environment of learning that I heard a parent say, upon return to the school, "Thanks Teach, I learned SO much today. Glad the kids had the experience." It was heartwarming.
Pretty incredible what ONE lesson can do for someone trying to stretch their brain.
Today we also went to the National Surf Championships and went in search of Blue Penguins on the small Mount in which they nest. We were unsuccessful in locating the Penguins, but we definitely got to see some great surf!
Tomorrow is our last day here in Papamoa- Saturday we head back to Auckland- so we are going to be bringing Bannock for Morning Tea at Mount Primary and then possibly swing by Arataki for one last goodbye before we spend our last night down at the Mount with Ayn & Damien. Who knows- perhaps we will find something else to stretch our brains just a little bit more!
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