A Teaching Blog
One thing you need to know about me is I love Christmas, so I have been looking forward to writing this Christmas Activities for the Classroom blog post for a long time! Downunder, in New Zealand and Australia, celebrating Christmas in the classroom can be a fun way to end the school year, while in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a chance to take a
The end of the school year can be tough, it can be chaotic, and it can be wonderful. Most likely, it will be a bit of all three. I was given some great advice on surviving the end of year chaos when I started in the classroom, and I’ve also reached out to some of my teacher friends to share their thoughts in this blogpost.
The upcoming Rugby World Cup is a great chance to integrate a high-interest topic into your classroom program. Keep reading to learn more about Rugby World Cup activities you could use in your classroom. Rugby World Cup Activities The 2019 Rugby World Cup, hosted by Japan, will be watched by an audience of millions, and no doubt is already a topic of great excitement for
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Maori Language Week is coming up on the 9th-15th of September. The theme is Kia Kaha te Reo Māori – Let’s make the Māori language strong. I’ve put together this blog post to highlight free and low-cost resources to use during this week (and hopefully all year!). There are many free and low-cost resources available; learning and promoting
Kia orana! I’ve put together this blog post to highlight Cook Islands Language Week Activities. Read on to gather some ideas for bringing the language and culture of the Cook Islands into your classroom this August. Cook Islands Language Week: Te ‘epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani runs from Sunday, August 4th until Saturday, August 10th. Did you know there are three different languages
With our crowded curriculum, it is almost impossible to cover all subject areas without a level of integration. Matariki is a great topic to integrate across subject areas as it easily links into social studies, science, te reo Māori, social studies, drama, visual arts…and the list goes on. Read on for some practical suggestions on exploring Matariki across the curriculum. The Benefits of Exploring Matariki
Matariki, the Māori New Year, has many symbols that explain its significance. I’ve put together this blog post to explain how to explore the Matariki stars through visual language. Read on to see a step by step process of how the Matariki stars can be used as a great context for exploring symbols and symbolism with your students. What is Visual Language? Visual language is the
The celebration of Matariki, the Māori New Year, has grown in popularity in recent years and there is a wealth of information and ideas out there to help you commemorate the event with your students. Read on to learn 5 ways to introduce Matariki in your classroom. What is Matariki? Matariki is the Māori name for the small cluster of stars also known by a
ANZAC Day, held on April 25th each year, is an important event for both Australian and New Zealanders. We teach this integral part of our collective history in classrooms at all levels, which makes finding interesting and creative ways to teach this topic even more important. Keep reading to find some great Anzac Day teaching ideas to help you bring the story of the ANZACs
Anzac Day is an important and special part of both Australia and New Zealand and a topic that I have found can be very engaging for students. When introducing Anzac Day activities in your classroom, it is crucial to consider the prior knowledge and experiences that each child brings with them and how this can be harnessed to its best effect. What is Anzac Day?
St. Patrick’s Day is a great little holiday full of my favourite colour – green! This holiday, originating in Ireland, can be brought to life in your classroom in a variety of engaging ways. In this blog post, I will share with you my favourite St. Patrick’s Day activities for upper primary students. What is St. Patrick’s Day? Saint Patrick’s Day is observed on the
While Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day are important parts of New Zealand’s past, present, and future, these topics aren’t always easy to teach in the classroom. Read on to find some great Treaty of Waitangi teaching ideas for how to make the Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day engaging and thought-provoking topics for your students. For a lot
