Kānga pahū - Pop corn

 We felt like we needed a bit of excitement this week in Harakeke... Something to stimulate some conversation... to extend our language... and for a nibble!!

We looked at the seed - how hard and dry it was. We talked about the teeny tiny bit of moisture inside the popcorn - that with heat would expand - like the water from a steaming kettle - and pop the corn...

Harakeke sat down - back from the action to keep ourselves safe! They took it in turns to listen to the pot as the mixture heated up...

Then we sat well back as the popcorn exploded...

Then a nibble...

Poi toa

Tū Mātau Ora have been visiting Ōtaki Kura sharing their kēmu māori with us as kaiako. Every week they are working with different classes - firstly using the poi toa in a variety of ways.

Harakeke hasn't had a chance to work with them yet - we look forward to a session with them on Friday afternoon... 

We went out for a practice run this week just to get a feel for the poi - it is surprisingly difficult for the nohinohi to manage - with time it will come!                            

 

Tuna at Ōtaki Kura

 Whaea Bex brought in to kura some very special friends of hers! Some tuna! Other classes had been doing some learning about our local awa and who lives there. Tuna like to sleep during the day so it's hard to see them. So Whaea Bex brought some in to visit. We were lucky enough to have a little peek at them while they were sleeping...

They were returned to the awa by one of the kura taiao groups later in the day...

He kurī.

 Last week Harakeke read the book "He Kurī".

First we painted a grassy background for the kurī to come...

After painting a background - Harakeke painted some kurī. We thought about all the colours of paint that may have fallen on the kurī...

After lunch Whaea Gemma brought her kurī to visit Harakeke. Her dogs name is Rico. We talked about dog safety and how we should never approach a dog we don't know. That we needed to be calm around dogs to help them stay calm.

Rico is a really lovely dog that sat calmly as each tamaiti came to pat him.

Manakitanga applies to dogs too! Tino hiainu a Rico!

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe Whaea Gemma! We loved having Rico visiting us! He has really soft fur!

Freshly squeezed orange juice

There seem to be alot of mauiuitanga around at the moment. He rongā te Vitamin C! Harakeke had the opportunity to squeeze some juice for themselves to sip! Reka rawa!

 

Omaroa - Kura Cross Country at Harātai Park

 On Tuesday the full school walked down to Haruātai Park for our annual cross country. It was a beautiful day in 'Sunny Ōtaki', i whiti mai te rā! 

We sat on some whāriki under the trees. Tamariki from Harakeke were amongst the first to have their turn to run.

It was a very long way for the smallest of our kura! They did so well to finish the full track!

Ngā mihi nui to all the whānau that came out to cheer their tamaiti on! 

Bubbles - Mirumiru

 To round off our week of 'b' out came the bubbles. Just pure joy...