We welcomed our tamariki back this week and have launched into our new technology unit relating to our topics of wind and water forces and Aotearoa History.

Within this unit of work, the tamariki had to choose a topic from a selection that we came up with that extend upon our previous topics. They could also select their own project provided it connected to that learning. They need to design their project, create a prototype that they could test and then refine it to make it better.

Some options were; make a kite that will fly, a boat that will float, a Māori tool or scene, and the like.

Anna and Ettie: We are working on a Māori basket and we are making the fruits out of salt dough. It is going to be so exciting when we are finished and we are going to be so proud of it. We were thinking to encourage the younger Harakeke people who move into Kōwhai, to be proud of their work. We want to leave it in Kōwhai as a good example.

Sam: I am  making a double-hulled waka that I want to race. The latest thing I have added is a rudder. When I tested it I noticed that the sail actually worked and I felt really good about that. You can actually mould the sail. I used crinkly paper to look like rope between the two hulls.

Imogen, Fawn, Addi and Frida: are working on making a diorama of when people first started making houses in Aotearoa. We will use salt dough and papier mache.

Eden and Isabelle: are making a diorama using salt dough. We are making a house with a kō and a boat and people and it's going to have a water wheel and a pool. 

Evie: I have decided to make a cardboard Maōri house.

Heidi: I am making a diorama of an ocean scene. it has sand in the bottom and will have a wheke and leaves for seaweed. 

Jasmin and Piper: We are making a waka and it's made out of wood and we are going to make a hut on it, and paddles and we will make the sail too. The sanding is taking ages, but it is turning out good.