Education With A Difference

Senior pupils of Kaiti School have in past weeks been learning their studies in a different and effective way, centred around a project on fishing.

Covering every aspect of the topic, from ancient Maori methods and customs to going to sea in a trawler and actually catching fish themselves, the children have found this approach to learning an interesting change from their normal classroom procedure.

General subjects, such as reading, written expression, arithmetic, social studies, arts and crafts, Maori history, and music, have all been covered in the project.

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Standard IV pupil Christopher Walton examines parts of a crayfish with a microscope.

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Their classroom decorated with fishing equipment and drawings, the children work at their desks under the supervision of teacher, Mrs M. Ballantyne.

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Terry Mephan shows slides of different species of fish. At right is Stephney Miller.

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Creative arts and crafts work surround the children as they study the project

The school's active Maori Club has scrupulously studied the ancient Maori methods of fishing, and were able to demonstrate them for our camera.

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From behind the counter of their fish shop, where the children learn practical arithmetic, "salesman" Mark Williams proffers his wares.

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Weaving Roros (food baskets) were Shirley Leach and Betty Goodnight

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The boys carve fish hooks from bone. From left: Marcus Paenga, Rodney Deare, Jo Koia, and John Fox.

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Surrounded by other club members busily engaged in making fishing equipment, a group of girls performs a canoe action song. They are, from the front, Piri Tupara, Matu Fox, Georgina Wharehinga, Kura Kopua, Margaret Cross, Rosie King.

The school's musical group, under the supervision of Mrs Janet Bodle, put appropriate words to the well-known tune "Dry Bones", which they sang with musical accompaniment from the school's orchestra (right).

The creative dance club, instructed by Miss Elizabeth Horton, designed and made fish-type costumes for a dance they created specially for the occasion (below).

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Lydia Ngaranoa scales a fish with a shell

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Papa Rigby, Jo Spring, and Kevin Swannell plait a fishing net from strips of flax

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