Pendulum Painting!

 

Trace it, build it, colour it!

 

Shape Fractions!

 

Shape Hunt at Kindy!

 

Standing Tall

 

Roll it, find it, count it!

 

Exploring Symmetry in our Environment - Ō Wairoa Marae

This week, we extended our learning beyond the kindy environment by taking our tamariki on a hikoi to our local marae, Ō Wairoa Marae, which is located alongside our kindy. The purpose of our hikoi was to encourage tamariki to notice and explore shapes within our natural and built environment, with a particular focus on the concept of symmetry. As we walked, tamariki were encouraged to stop, look closely and share what they noticed. They explored the shapes and patterns found in leaves, flowers, gates and other features of our environment. The most significant point of interest was the whare whakairo/kowhaiwhai patterns at the entrance of the marae. Tamariki were fascinated by the repeated shapes, lines and patterns and began making connections between what they were seeing and the artwork and pattern-making experiences we had explored throughout the week. It was wonderful to see tamariki drawing on their previous experiences and developing their own working theories about symmetry. They used familiar experiences to explain this new mathematical concept in ways that made sense to them. Hailey and Myra explained: “If you cut it down the middle it will be the same.” Ruby and Elsie connected the idea to our butterfly painting experience: “It’s like when we do butterfly paintings and fold the paper. It needs a line in the middle.” These comments demonstrated tamariki beginning to understand that symmetry involves two parts that are the same or mirror each other across a central line. Oliver noticed that a kawakawa leaf looked like a heart and recognised that if it were folded, the two sides would match. Some tamariki took this thinking further by sitting on the ground and physically folding leaves to test and demonstrate their ideas. What learning was taking place? This experience provided rich opportunities for tamariki to develop mathematical thinking through a meaningful, hands-on context. Rather than introducing symmetry as an abstract concept, tamariki were able to see, touch, compare, fold, test and explain their ideas using things from their own environment.

 • Developing an understanding of shape, pattern, position and symmetry. 

• Making connections between mathematical concepts and the natural and cultural environment. 

• Developing and communicating their own working theories. Using observation, comparison and problem-solving to test their ideas. 

• Building on previous experiences with pattern-making and art. 

• Sharing their thinking with others and listening to different perspectives. 

• Developing an appreciation for the visual patterns and designs within the marae environment looking through a bi cultural lense. 

The hikoi also created opportunities for tamariki to experience learning within a place of significance in our local community. Visiting Ō Wairoa Marae supported a sense of belonging and connection to place, while encouraging tamariki to look closely at and engage respectfully with the environment around them. This experience reminded us that mathematics is all around us. When we slow down and give tamariki the opportunity to notice, wonder and explain, everyday environments become rich places for learning.