Resources for Teachers Working With Maori and Samoan Students

Maori and Samoan Design Resource Kits
(Scroll down for Ideas for Using Kits)
Each kit has a set of 10 designs using Maori or Samoan design elements, design element names and explanation sheet, curriculum links sheets (ECE and NZ Curriculum).
Early-Learning:
Maori Design Resource Kit, Samoan Design Resource Kit
- suitable for Year 0-1 Primary/Pre-School/Kindergarten/Home Educators/Aoga Amata/Kohanga Reo.

Middle-Senior:
Maori Design Resource Kit, Samoan Design Resource Kit
- suitable for Year 2-8 Primary/Intermediate.

These are hand-drawn using sharpies, each drawing uses my interpretation of a combination of the beautiful design elements from Samoan tattoo and tapa OR Maori carving, weaving and painting(kowhaiwhai). I have designed them mainly to be used as motivation for students to appreciate, enjoy, respect and learn about these cultural design elements and to be used by teachers in conjunction with Te Whaariki and The NZ Curriculum document.

Maori and Samoan Design Resource Kits: Ideas for Use

Pre-Literacy Skills/Colouring -in:
Exercising fine-motor skills for holding a pencil; manipulating writing materials; following and drawing within lines; building the foundations for eye-tracking, hand-eye co-ordination which are essentials for reading.

Visual Art:
Exploring design elements in the Pacific, where they come from and how they have developed within the NZ setting; playing with colour, (complementary / hues / monochrome); creating the 'stained-glass-window' look (using Maori and Samoan design); learning how to discern, participate in, and celebrate their own and others’ visual worlds; learning begins with children’s curiosity and delight in their senses and stories and extends to communication of complex ideas and concepts.

Social Sciences: Identity, Culture and Organisation:
Looking at different cultures and how they communicate visually; learning about society and communities and how they function; learning about the diverse cultures and identities of people within those communities through their designs, artwork and crafts.
Learning Languages : Cultural Knowledge Strand:
Learning about culture and the interrelationship between culture and language;  comparing and contrasting different beliefs and cultural practices.

Mathematics : Number and Algebra/Geometry and Measurement:
Algebra: generalising and representing the patterns and relationships found in numbers, shapes, and measures; Geometry: recognising and using the properties and symmetries of shapes and describing position and movement.

Principles:

Treaty of Waitangi :  Acknowledging the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the bicultural foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Cultural Diversity : Reflecting New Zealand’s cultural diversity and valuing the histories and traditions of all its people.

Inclusion : Ensuring that students’ identities, languages and talents are recognised and affirmed and that their learning needs are addressed.

Useful Links:

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/artist-paints/colour-mixing-tips.htm

http://www.education.com/activity/article/Stained_Glass_Drawings/

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/art/elements.htm

http://www.siapo.com/aboutsiapo.html

http://esolonline.tki.org.nz/ESOL-Online/Teacher-needs/Teaching-and-learning-sequences/Siapo

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/68/teacher-resources

http://www.artgallery.org.nz/files/artgallery/cont_maori_design.pdf

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/site_resources/library/Education/Teachers_Guide/Teacher_Resources_Library/Maori_Education_Kits/Maori_02Kowhaiwhai_1_.pdf