WELCOME BACK ADVENTURERS!

HERE WE ARE, TOGETHER AGAIN! ARE YOU READY TO SET SAIL?

THERE’S LAND AHOYA!

  • Themes: We are surrounded by ocean; The canoe

    Someone from your class can read the following micro-meditation. Or listen to Marita read it in via the link below.

    —

    Close your eyes.

    Listen…..

    Imagine….

    Imagine you are sitting in a canoe, in the middle of the lagoon.

    Take a deep breath.

    You feel a gentle breeze brush up against your cheek.

    Take another breath.

    Your canoe is gently rocking on the water.

    This way. That way.

    This way. That way.

    Can you hear that? There are sea birds calling across the sky. They can see your canoe from high up above.

    You’re a tiny dot floating on bright blue ribbons of soft waves.

    The water is calm. The sun is so warm. The breeze is soft and cooling.

    Take another big breath and when you are ready, gently open your eyes.

    CURRICULUM LINKS

    The Arts / Drama

    AC9ADR6D01 Explore ways to combine the elements of drama to communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning in improvisations, devised drama and/or scripted drama

Do you remember seeing Nei Kinoia singing in the tree?

Well...she should have been on a Canoe to Neiko instead!

Now she’s missed it, and she needs your help!

Listen in carefully to see what you can do to help her become the Magic Spinner she is destined to be.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO NEIKO?

In Kiribati, there is more water than there is land, so it’s vital to have a way to travel on water. That’s why canoes are really important.

Every day canoes (and boats) are used to sail out on the ocean and catch fish to eat, to connect with people on other islands and to take adventures.

You have to have special skills to make a Canoe. It’s a craft that is often handed down through families.

Na Mangoia learned how to make a Canoe from his father, when he was 20 years old.

“The canoe to the family is very important. You go about your work - but you know that your canoe is nearby.

When you want some fish, you go out to the sea and come back with it. That is how useful the canoe is to us.”

— Na Mangoia, Canoe Builder

WHY ARE CANOES SO VALUABLE IN KIRIBATI?

Senior Curriculum Officer of the Kiribati, Ministry of Education - Raobeia shares his perspective on the value of the Canoe in Kiribati. His interview is accompanied by footage of a canoe crossing from Buota to Abatoa.

IN KIRIBATI, IT IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO BUILD A CANOE.

The main body is crafted with timber and is held together by strong and sturdy rope made from the coconut husk. All canoes have outriggers that are attached to the side which keeps the vessel steady in stormy seas.

Can you see the outrigger on the picture?

If you would like to see more pictures of a canoe, you can look HERE.

CAN YOU BUILD A CANOE USING YOUR BODIES?

Using just your bodies, can you make a canoe inspired by the illustration of a traditional canoe?

In groups of 4 - 5, find a space in the room, sitting in single file behind each other. Now you’re in your very own canoe.

In Kiribati, canoes are like a best friend or a family member - and just like a member of a family, every canoe must have a name!

Sometimes people name their canoes after a dream, but you don’t have time for napping!

In your group create a name for your canoe using the 13 letters of the Kiribati alphabet.

You can use some or all of the letters.

A E I, O U M, N B K, R T W and NG

NAME YOUR CANOE, AND GATHER YOUR CREW!

Write the name of your canoe on a piece of paper (you can decorate it if you have time) and have it ready to place at the front of your canoe when you start your adventure with Nei Kinoia.

A E I O U M N B K R T W and NG

A E I O U M N B K R T W and NG

LET’S SPIN MAGIC TOGETHER

NEI KINOIA WANTS TO TEACH YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC TO HELP THE CANOE FLY!

In case you missed it - there is a teachers note about Magic & The Spirits in Kiribati that you might like to read.

NEI KINOIA IS HIDING FROM THE SPIRITS, BUT ALSO NEEDS TO COME ON THE ADVENTURE WITH YOU.

WHAT TO DO…WHAT DO TO? CLASSROOM TO THE RESCUE!

Nei Kinoia is worried about the Spirits seeing her, so you’ll need to hide her in something you can take on your canoes with you. In your canoe groups find something in your classroom that you can use to represent her on this adventure - even a coconut if you have one! You’ll need to make sure you have her with you for every episode.

NOW… IT’S TIME TO JUMP INTO YOUR CANOES!

EPISODE CHECKLIST:

  1. Set up your canoe, with your canoe name at the front

  2. Check everyone is in their place in the canoe

  3. Check your navigation points (North, South, Ocean side, Lagoon side)

  4. Put your speakers on the Lagoon side if you can

  5. Make sure you have Kinoia carefully concealed

  6. Make sure you have your floral gifts for the Spirit (here’s the link if you need it!)

  7. Practice your magic spinning! Na Ko Ep!

EPISODE TWO:

THERE’S LAND AHOYA!

  • While Marita was visiting Kiribati, her daughter, Matari kept a diary of her adventures.

    <CLICK HERE>to see some of her journal entries.

    • Like Matari, use the adventure journal template to draw and/or write an immediate response to the episode. To access the journal template <CLICK HERE>

    • Share responses with teacher, elbow buddy, table group and class.

    •  After each episode, add to your journal so you have a collection of your experience in Kiribati at the end of the adventure.

    The adventure journal can also be used as a workbook to collect your responses to the learning experiences.

    CURRICULUM LINKS:

    English

    AC9EFLE02 Respond to stories and share feelings and thoughts about their events and characters

    Health and Physical Education

    AC9HPFP03 Express and describe emotions they experience

    The Arts / Drama

    AC9ADR6E01Explore ways that the elements of drama are combined to communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning in drama across cultures, times, places and/or other contexts

  • In this episode, you took your first flight on your flying canoe. Do you remember what people in Kiribati use to hold their canoes together? 

    You guessed it! Strong coconut fibres. 

    Think about the materials in your school and home environment that are used for building and holding things together. How strong do you think they are, particularly in comparison to coconut fibre?

    • In small groups or individually design, plan, experiment with and write up a Science inquiry that answers, “How strong are different materials?”.

    • Using natural and synthetic materials in the classroom and/or brought in from home test the strength of different materials, including rope and natural fibres, when put under different conditions.

    • Record, represent, compare and communicate your findings, drawing conclusions regarding the similarities and differences between the strength of materials tested.

    CURRICULUM LINKS:

    Technologies

    AC9TDE6K05 Explain how characteristics and properties materials, systems, components, tools and equipment affect their use when producing designed solutions

    Science

    5 - AC95101 Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned prediction

    AC95102 Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions, including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct investigations on Country/Place

    AC95103 Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate

    AC95104 Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships

    6 - AC96101 Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions

    AC96102 Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions, including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct investigations on Country/Place

    AC96103 Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate

    AC96104 Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships

READY TO MOVE ON TO EPISODE THREE?

CLICK ON THE CRAB!