Activity 1: The Waiata - A Song in Your Heart
In the past, Māori would often use song as a way of sharing information or communicating emotions. A waiata is the name given to a traditional Māori song. One of my all-time favourite waiata is Kia Paimarie. What about you?
Use Google to research traditional Māori Waiata. Listen to a number of Waiata and read the lyrics. On your blog tell us which one of the waiata you found you like the most. Why do you like it?
My favorite song was He Honore because I know the song really well. I learnt it a long time ago. I also sing it in school assemblies like everyone else.
Activity 2: Playing Games
Hundreds of years ago, young Māori children were taught to play a number of games, including Poi Rakau, Ki O Rahi, Koruru Taonga and Poi Toa. Read about each of these four games on the Rangatahi tu Rangatira website. Have you played any of them before? Isn’t it cool how the games have been passed down for generations?
Choose one game, and on your blog, tell us the (i) name of the game, (ii) the goal or purpose of the game, and (iii) two rules.
You could try playing some of the games with a friend.
Name: Koruru (Or knuckle bones).
What You Do: Pick up as many stones as you can while a stone is in the air.
Rules:
What You Do: Pick up as many stones as you can while a stone is in the air.
Rules:
- Every time you throw a rock up pick up one more rock than last time.
- When you don't catch the airborne stone you have to try again. (I think)
Kia Ora Thomas,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Rachel and I am working with Hazel, Jade F and Jade C on the Summer Learning Journey programme this year. It's great to see that you are actively posting over the break. I really enjoyed reading your post from today, particularly the second activity where you have shared two rules for Koruru. I have never played it before but I am a physical education teacher so I am always interested in learning about new games that I can play and/or teach my son (Aronui). He loves to learn new games!
He also loves to sing waiata. I didn't realise that you sing He Honore at school assemblies. Up here in Auckland we don't typically sing He Honore but it would be a nice tradition to start. I was actually born and raised in Canada so I am used to singing the national anthem every day at school along with important waiata. Do you sing the national anthem every day at Hornby High School?
Keep up the great work with your blogging, Thomas. We're really enjoying your posts!
Cheers,
Rachel :)