Treaty of
Waitangi Centre of Interest
In preparation for the significance of our New Zealand holiday on the 6th February, the children had been working on aspects of our Nation’s foundation document signed in 1840. Many of the children had some idea of this Treaty, in fact seven pupils had visited, some time in a previous holiday, the grounds and house in Waitangi, north of Auckland, where the signing took place.
We focused as a class on what the pupils knew of the Treaty, who would have attended this event on February 6, 1840, what the three Articles comprised of, and what rules could we devise in our current world.
Here are some events that occurred during the study.
In preparation for the significance of our New Zealand holiday on the 6th February, the children had been working on aspects of our Nation’s foundation document signed in 1840. Many of the children had some idea of this Treaty, in fact seven pupils had visited, some time in a previous holiday, the grounds and house in Waitangi, north of Auckland, where the signing took place.
We focused as a class on what the pupils knew of the Treaty, who would have attended this event on February 6, 1840, what the three Articles comprised of, and what rules could we devise in our current world.
Here are some events that occurred during the study.
A bubble map was demonstrated on the white board to
indicate planning steps for a story on the Treaty of Waitangi. The children had
already brainstormed in groups as to what they knew so were able to contribute
ideas when elaborating information on the teachers bubble map.
The ideas noted by the teacher in the bubbles included ‘February 6th 1840,’ ‘In front of the house in Waitangi,’ ‘Maori chiefs signed’…….. Children were now equipped with ideas to do their own bubble plan, then write a story.
However, several children, having studiously worked for a good thirty minutes, announced they had finished. Observing their work I announced I had not given clear enough instructions.
Written inside their bubbles, were not planning ideas, but completed, well written, punctuated sentences declaring the knowledge they had gained.
One bubble read, “The Treaty of Waitangi was signed outside on the grounds overlooking a harbour in Northland attended by many Maori chiefs.”
Great sentence. I didn’t have the heart to tell them they now had to write the story into sentences. They already had!
The ideas noted by the teacher in the bubbles included ‘February 6th 1840,’ ‘In front of the house in Waitangi,’ ‘Maori chiefs signed’…….. Children were now equipped with ideas to do their own bubble plan, then write a story.
However, several children, having studiously worked for a good thirty minutes, announced they had finished. Observing their work I announced I had not given clear enough instructions.
Written inside their bubbles, were not planning ideas, but completed, well written, punctuated sentences declaring the knowledge they had gained.
One bubble read, “The Treaty of Waitangi was signed outside on the grounds overlooking a harbour in Northland attended by many Maori chiefs.”
Great sentence. I didn’t have the heart to tell them they now had to write the story into sentences. They already had!
On the second day of our study on the Treaty of Waitangi we were interpreting a picture depicting a variety of people. They were samples of people that were in attendance at the signing on February 6 1840. One pupil said there was a leader from the Navy (probably Captain William Hobson). Another pupil suggested that one man, with a white collar around his neck told stories from the bible (probably a missionary). There also appeared to be a blacksmith and a farmer, as well as a local Maori chief and a support warrior from his tribe.
One pupil suggested one of the people in the picture was Leonard Mitchell . When asked where this name came from the reply was, “From the caption of a picture showing the signing of the Treaty as a wall display at the back of the classroom.”
I had never heard of him.
When referring to this picture Leonard Mitchell was an artist who had drawn, using his imagination, what he thought the scene looked like when the signing of the Treaty took place. He is a 20th Century New Zealand artist recognized for his skillfully designed etchings and wasn’t even born when the actual signing of the Treaty took place.
Another task, later in the week, was to create a modern Treaty of Waitangi using a nation-wide theme and to include three Articles as in the 1840 format. In our classroom discussion I had encouraged national issues to address including computer security, road safety and government regulations.
This hopefully broadened the children’s perspective on life in a wider community.
After partner sharing, the children began writing their modern Treaty of Waitangi, in the form of three Articles.
These were some of their samples:
* Listen to mum and dad.
* Keep the bedroom clean.
* Turn off the computer at night.
* Be kind to those in the community.
Given permission by Pearl, I have posted her story on
her understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi, and to indicate the knowledge she
had gained.
The
treaty of Waitangi
In North Auckland, Waitangi, years ago in 1840,
February the 6th, there were Maori chiefs, settlers, farmers, miners and
British. The Maori chiefs and British signed a piece of paper for an agreement
of peace in their country. They signed the piece of paper to make a promise for
bringing peace and no fighting.
There were three rules that they all agreed on. All of the people and the Maori
and the British went under a tree and everyone all signed the agreement on the
paper and they made peace. Before they signed the paper there was heaps of
fighting and no peace until now. Now all of the Maori chiefs and British’s are
happy that they agreed to give peace and care forever. Everyone all celebrated
for the agreement on the piece of paper.
Great writing Pearl! - Kaiya's mum
ReplyDeleteawesome I am famous
ReplyDelete