Kia Orana!
I have loved becoming apart of the school community and the local community. The Cook Island curriculum is very similar to the New Zealand Curriculum. Every week we get 2 Te Reo Maori lessons and a cultural lesson every week where the kids get to dance, weave, sing, play the drums etc.
Although resources and internet are very slim to none over here we have 8 iPads in our Junior School that I've been able to use to incorporate movie making in the classroom as you can see below. My kids have been amazing at picking up different techniques and loving learning the process of making movies. I've also been able to share my site with colleagues in the Cook Islands.
We've been doing statistical investigations around sizes and species of crabs, then we usually have a crab race, because why not?! We have made boats and taken them down to the water to check buoyancy. We've learned how to husk a coconut and all of the amazing different things you can use the coconuts for. We go on a trip somewhere different every 2 weeks, the kids jump in the back of the ute and we are away! Visiting Ancient Taro Patches, local Marae, snorkelling, swimming and lots more exciting adventures.
I'm really looking forward to 2020, next year I'll be teaching a Year 5 & 6 class, we will be doing more movie making in our classroom and will try and create a news net work in our school as well. Will let you know how it goes!
My biggest highlight so far, the people, they have been so accomodating and very generous, never knew how many aunties, uncles, nieces and nephews I had! Everyone is family on the island, I love it!
Kia Manuia, Zac
