Summer Learning Journey

Summer Learning Journey - 17/12/17 - Day 1 - Week 1

Week One: In the Beginning (1800-1870)

Cool Kiwi Fact #1: Did you know that the Māori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa?
Loosely translated this means ‘land of the long white cloud.’

Day 1: Arriving in New Zealand…

Activity 1: The First Settlers

It is widely believed that the first people to arrive in New Zealand came from Polynesia. Most historians believe that they landed in New Zealand over 700 years ago. Although they were originally from many different countries, these settlers learned to live together and, eventually, formed their own distinct culture known as ‘Māori.’  Māori have their own language, traditions, and culture.

Follow this link to read a short story about a famous man in Māori mythology – Maui.  

On your blog, post three facts that you learned about this interesting man. What other stories have you heard about Maui?

Three facts that I have learned about this interesting man?

1. Māui took a jawbone which his ancestor Murirangawhenua had given him
2. Māui's giant fish became known as the North Island of Aotearoa
3. I have come to fish because Murirangawhenua said I would be a great fisherman

What other stories have I heard about Maui?

1. How Maui found the secret of fire
2. Maui and the Sun
3. Moana

Activity 2

Activity 2: Setting Sail

The first settlers to come to New Zealand must have been really brave!

\They had to leave their original homes and sail thousands of miles

across the ocean on a special boat called a ‘waka’ to reach

New Zealand.

Imagine that you were on board one of the wakas.

On your blog, write a short letter to a friend telling them about your

voyage to New Zealand. In the letter be sure to tell them how you

feel about moving to a new country. If it was me, I would have felt

really nervous…

On your blog, write a short letter to a friend telling them about your voyage to New Zealand.

My letter to my friend

Dear Dianne,

I am very excited and nervous because I am going on a waka to

New Zealand.

I am sure that I will see animals and I will learn their names and then I’ll tell

you

and other things that I haven’t seen. I really can’t believe that I am going to

New Zealand it is so exciting.

Bonus Activity

Bonus Activity: Waka Ama

To this day, the people of New Zealand still use waka. Instead of

using their waka to transport them from one place to another,

they sometimes use waka in special events and in sporting

competitions such as Waka Ama. Both boys and girls

compete in Waka Ama boat races.

Watch this short video of a Waka Ama race. On your blog tell us whether

you would like to be in a Waka Ama race one day. Why or why not?

BONUS POINTS: 10

On your blog tell us whether you would like to be in a Waka Ama race one day.

Why or why not?

I would be in the Waka Ama races because it looks interesting and it

would be a new sport for me and it would help me to get better at

paddling.