Piopio Primary School - The Past Leads us Forward - Exhibition

Birdtalk Magazine Oct/Nov 2023
At Piopio Primary School this year, the concept for learning has been ‘The Past Leads us Forward’. During this learning the tamariki have learnt and shared more about their stories, and been to visit some significant places in our area. In addition to this learning, tamariki have become more technologically capable. They have learnt to code and use programmes to share their learning.

To celebrate their learning achievements each class created an exhibit so they could share their ideas with their whānau and the wider community. Each class developed a different theme for their exhibit. This did not happen on purpose. Through discussion as new learning occurred, tamariki in each class were interested in a different aspect of our past.

The junior classes focused on Kupe and Te Wheke and the journey to Aotearoa. Dioramas were built, showcasing their special place. There were also waka built and beebots (robots) programmed to show the journey Kupe made from Hawaiki.

The year 4 class were really interested in the contribution men in the community played during the World Wars. Their display had a military flavour, with videos and stories.

One of the senior classes focused on life in the 1940-50’s. They created dioramas and websites to share learning about transport, entertainment and food. To access the websites you needed to scan the QR code. The other senior class created newspapers that reported on the potato blight, signing of the covenant and Paemako School’s first bus along with other interesting local historical information. When visitors viewed the newspapers they thought they were from the 1800’s as the tamariki had aged them to look historic.