Waiheke Primary School
Region: Auckland
Art form: Multi-Disciplinary
Project name: Growing Stories
Creative name:
Project information: Growing Stories is an interdisciplinary storytelling and environmental educational programme which draws upon the principles of the ‘EnviroSchools’ and ‘Garden to Table’ programmes, while exploring our cultural histories through the story of our food. We aim to use traditional stories and storytelling mediums to explore and reinforce the learning outcomes of these existing programmes, while also exemplifying best practice in arts education.
Students will have the chance to learn about, hear, and retell traditional stories that resonate with their mahi in their māra kai, and reinforce the requirements of their obligations as members of the 'EnviroSchools' programme. Not only will the tamariki, kaiako, and wider family have the opportunity to engage in an integrated environmental arts project, but the process will be documented as a resource that will be made available to other kura to use (using teaching videos and online platforms)
The response to the existing programme has been extremely positive in terms of both the use of oral storytelling as a teaching modality and the actual content shared. Enthusiasm and engagement for the project is shared by tamariki, kaiako, whānau, and the wider hapori. Areas of further development:
- Cultural food history of Aotearoa (in particular, an exploration of Matariki and Maramataka)
- The relationship between the arts, technology, and food
- Developing connections with wider community groups such as Waiheke GROW, Piritahi Marae māra kai
- Developing skills of oral storytelling using the tēina/tuakana relationship.
Project starting: June 2022
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