21.8.14 Our Journey to
Motukiore Island.
With the aim of building on our knowledge of local sites of
historical significance, as a kindergarten we planned a trip to Motukiore Island, an island that sits at the
harbour entrance to Parua Bay. We learnt that motu in te reo maori means island
and kiore means rat! We discovered the island has an old Maori pa site at it's
highest point and researched how early Maori tribes may have lived on the
island. We researched what food may have been eaten on the island and how it
could have been stored. We then acted out our theories creating stories about
the island.
We learnt that Zeke's Great Great Great Great Great
Grandfather was the first European settler to live and farm on the island. We
discovered that Elliott Ross also had ancestors that lived there and that the
island used to be called Ross Island. Grace Van Buuren's family also had a
connection with the island as her ancestors were the last family to live there.
With this knowledge and lots of questions in our minds we
ventured by bus to the beach at Headlands Farm Park. After a quick snack we were able to walk at
low tide out to the island. Some children raced ahead keen to get to the
island, others stopped to look at sea life along the way.
Once we arrived the children were keen to climb to the top
of the island and we headed up the steep hill to the top, passing sheep and
lambs that Zac's dad now look after.
When we got to the top we were rewarded with an enormous
view of Parua Bay with Mount Manaia and Bream Head in the background. Sally
suggested we may like to sing our special Mt Manaia song to our maunga, our
mountain. A special landmark in their daily lives of many of our children. Ka
rawe. We then enjoyed a warm milo drink and biscuit and soaked in the beautiful
view.
A number of the children then decided they would like to
run, roll or slide back down the hill. Great fun! Once back at the bottom we explored along
the beach towards one of the old homesteads and found some old fencing, a
cattle run and some old cattle troughs provoking more questions and thoughts.
Before we knew it, it was time to head back across to the
mainland to take the bus back to kindergarten. We stopped for another brief
snack and then hopped back on the bus full of tales to share with our whanau of
our great day!A big thank you to everyone who made this day possible.Tau ke
koutou! Sally, Anne and Becky.
