TOD - Local Curriulum @ Papakura Marae

Today, the focus was on bringing Local History Alive for us and our students through activities we can use in our class. 'Ko au ko Papakura, Ko Papakura ko au' is our theme for the year and we are teaching the students about their place and role in Papakura and having kaitiakitanga in our place.

Telling the stories of the Wharenui, TeNgira

It all started with an email ensuring teachers who were attending knew the protocols for visiting a marae. This was helpful even though I have visited a couple before, but understanding the Kaupapa behind what we were doing was wonderful and a chance to practise and know the songs we needed for the powhiri. 

When we teach, in the classroom, we share with students the purpose of the learning to help their understanding and this was the same, for those of us who have not been brought up on a marae. 

We started with a Powhiri. The tangata whenua then shared the history of the pou (the specific carvings and art pieces surrounding the Te Ngira) and how their role as guardians helps everyone feel they belong. This is what we want students to be able to do, share their stories with pride (poho kererū).

I have previously visited this marae with students, while I was teaching at another school and we had the opportunity to participate in different activities.

Today there were three workshops: 

1. 

   The other part of Pukekiwiriki, with housing in between.

   Pukekiwiriki, a hikoi up the Maunga to the Pā site with Wiremu and Hemi to hear the rich stories of the kumara pits and the richness of the area (EHS did this during the previous holiday, which I was grateful for as we ran the other workshops).
2. Maara Kai, Aunty Mā and Kristal shared their expertise on the history and planting, in conjunction with Maramataka Māori and the history of hākari (feast of years past). It can also be culturally responsive to the needs of our students as it is related to their current knowledge and makes connections with the land.
3. Purākau o Neherā, digitally telling our narrative using Storyboard That, Canva and Book Creator as the specific apps. Tools we were already using showed others the possibilities they can take back and utilise in class.

Hunua Ranges from Pukekiwiriki.

Before the term started we went on our own hikoi, wondering how many of the students had been up the maunga. It was a nice way to catch up and understand our theme, as I started into Term 1. I could see the connections back to Mangere, as I have been up there multiple times with schools and found many connections back to the information and people. The kumara pits, the Maramtaka, the fertile soil and the Maara Kai. 

Where there is kai there must be water. We could see the Hunua Ranges and thoughts of the dam came to mind, the flowing of water down to local streams, possibly behind the marae or the Hayes Stream. 

All of this fed into our topic for Term 2, some levels picked up on the water cycle and waterways and utilising science experiments to develop student understanding and ways to preserve water. We went with erosion and how water can affect the land we live on, Climate change, and the impact on the environment as we could see the quarrying from the maunga.

Kumara Pits.

View to the East with the Kumara Pits.

It was fascinating to listen to the history of the area I have lived in for over 20 years and spent most of my teaching career here. 

Much appreciate the knowledge of our Principal and Staff at Edmund Hillary and their willingness to share. Without this Kaupapa people will continue to feel lost.