The Year 3 and 4 students have been investigating our local area through stories and research. Each room investigated a different aspect and reported back to the other rooms in a sharing session on Thursday afternoon in Week 6. Our Inquiry culminated in a trip around our local area the following day.

Our first stop was at Gate Pa. Room 3 had researched the battle of Gate Pa and they had lots of background details to share. At Gate Pa we split into groups and completed a scavenger hunt, filling in gaps in our knowledge and enjoying the lovely autumn weather.

Our next stop was the waterfront. Morning tea was enjoyed and then fun on the playground. Two trains rattled past and caused considerable interest. A short walk took us to the Waka. Room 6 had shared lots of information about waka back at school so we all sat and sketched the waka and admired the decorations.

Our final stop was at Pilot Bay in the shadow of Mauao. A quick run on the beach was followed by lunch! Room 5 had shared some wonderful collaborative art based on the legend ‘Ko Mauao te Maunga’. Miss Johnson re-read the legend Ko Mauao te Maunga. Several passers-by enjoyed the story. The students then recreated part of the story in sand, using their hands and found objects. Their efforts were amazing!

It was a great day of learning out in the autumn sunshine. A big thanks goes to our wonderful parent helpers and our equally wonderful students for their participation and respectful behaviour.

Student Voice:

Georgia, R3: ‘The Battle of Gate Pa wasn’t the most fairest war, because the British has almost 2000 soldiers and the Maori only had 250.’

Savanah, R3: ‘The Maori won because they were hiding in their trenches and British came and thought they had won. Then the Maori jumped out of their trenches.’

Taylor, R3: ‘Mauao is special to us. He doesn’t have to be the biggest or the best looking; he’s special because he is ours.’

Eden, R3: ‘Mauao is perfect just the way he is.’

Aiden, R3: ‘You don’t normally see wakas down in town.’

Megan, R5: ‘We had to find all the statues and words at Gate Pa to learn more information.’

Alvin, R5: ‘Everybody built gigantic Mauao out of sand. We found our own water supply so we could make wet sand so it would not fall apart.’

Roman. R6: ‘The best part was the scavenger hunt.’

Charlotte,R6: ‘ I liked seeing the waka and the Hairy McLary Park was fun.’

Mila, R6: ‘I liked the patterns on the waka. It was fun sketching.’

Gabby, R 6: It was amazing because we made sand sculptures, sketched and saw the waka.’

It was a great day of learning out in the autumn sunshine. A big thanks goes to our wonderful parent helpers and our equally wonderful students for their participation and respectful behaviour.