kia ora and welcome back, how are you?
On week 3 term 2 our whole hub went to Margret Mahy playground to learn all about our Māori history and culture we went on a waka feed the eels went to Victoria square and we also learnt about all the things engraved in the ground, did you know that the things on the ground actually sing a song and one of them is called my mums a pirate.
So after the trip we all had to write a recount. This is what mine looks likes
On Thursday the 20th of May we all headed to town for our town trip to Margaret Mahy to learn more about NZ Māori culture.
We all spent a day doing 4 rotations. The rotations were waka, feeding the eels and learning about the Maori Mats, Margaret Mahy and Victoria Square.
The first thing I did was look at the Maori Mats and feed the eels. When we were looking at the Maori Mats we saw lots of cool designs and shapes and I also learnt lots of cool facts about them. Like did you know that if there was an earthquake you could actually take the Mat out without getting damaged and the bricks that they were made out of are put in sideways to look more interesting.
Next we went down to feed the eels. It was finally my turn, we went in groups of six and fed the eels cat food with plastic spoons. I didn't know that eels liked cat food, I found it interesting seeing the eels eat the food off the spoons. When I was holding the cat food I dropped some in the water, I then got some more but unfortunately they were mostly staying under the deck so we didn't get to see them much or feed them but it was still fun.
Next we set off to the waka, but before we went on the waka we had a little snack, then soon after we went on the waka. When we were on the waka we said a Māori chant while we were going along the Avon river. There were lots of ducks and swans around us and it was really fun and we raced the other waka because there were two wakas.
When we got off the waka we went to Victoria Square, the first thing we did when we were there was learn a little bit of the history about it. After that Sophie and I went to explore a little bit about Victoria Square. Here is one of the things we found out about Victoria: she was born on the 24th of May 1819 and died on the 22nd of January 1901.
For our last rotation we went back to Margaret Mahy to learn a little bit about the words and designs engraved in the concrete. Did you know that the words engraved in the concrete actually sing a song! We were given pieces of paper so we could go around and trace the designs on the concrete, we then had something to eat and also a little play at the end. My favourite things to play on are the big twirly whirly slide and the zip line.
Overall my favourite part of the trip was going on the Waka because I have never done something like that before and it is something I would love to do again with my friends and family or even my school. I also enjoyed feeding the eels because they are so cool.
Something I learnt was the words engraved in Margaret Mahy park actually sing a song, one of them is called “My mum is a Pirate” and that is why the sand pit is pirate themed. I also found out about Victoria and when she died. Margaret Mahy used to be a marketplace where people went to sell stuff or trade stuff for other stuff like tuna or some of the food they had back then.
Overall my favourite was the waka, it is so interesting because of the things that they say and all the cool designs on it I never knew people still had waka's
This trip has helped me with my PBL because it helped me understand my Turangawaiwai more and see the Māori culture and I really enjoyed coming here on a school trip.
Thanks for reading-bye bye.
