My Taonga...My Treasure

Room 15's Quilts/Tivaevae

Last week, we read the text 'A Quilt for Kiri' and the sequel, 'A Gift for Aunty Nga.' In the sequel Kiri visits Rarotonga with her parents to meet Aunty Ngā and gives her a tīvaevae that she and her mother have made. One of our follow-up activities included looking at some of the tivaevae designs to help create our own quilts.

Our Whanau/Family... Our Taonga

We have been using different e-learning applications to help illustrate our taonga..our family! All people are taonga as we are all tapu and come from God. Family histories, whakapapa and Te Reo Maori are all considered taonga too. To complete this task, we have imported images of us, our family, our taonga and researched different aspects to our name and ethnic backgrounds. We have used Kid Pix, Comic Life, iphoto, Photo Booth, and Safari to complete our 'taonga poster.' Here are just a few posters.





We

Our Special Taonga

A Taonga is a sacred treasure (such as an heirloom), a gift from God (such as our talents), anything that has its own intrinsic tapu because of its connection to God (such as land, water, sky and church sacred objects). All people are taonga as we are all tapu and come from God. Family histories, whakapapa and Te Reo Maori are all considered taonga.
Another aspect of this definition states, "special things like teddies or jewellery are precious treasures, but that does not make them taonga". What are your views on this and if you think such objects are 'taonga' or 'treasure?' Enjoy our taonga images from Room 15 tamariki.

Term 3's Concept...'Our Taonga-Our Treasures'

Term Three's concept is 'Our Taonga-Our Treasures.' The two essential questions are: What are Taonga? and How can Taonga be created? The enduring statements are: 1) A ‘taonga’ is a gift, belief or belonging that is treasured, and 2) Sacraments of the Church are treasured gifts from God. Below are whakatauki or proverbs that have strong connections within the questions and enduring statements of taonga/treasures. Maori proverbs called 'whakatauki' or 'pepeha' are sayings that reflect the thoughts, values and advice from past generations.

Ahakoa he iti he pounamu.
Although it is small, it is greenstone.

Ehara taku toa, he taki tahi, he toa taki tini.
My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it is not individual success but success of a collective.

Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo tau mapihi mauria.
My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.

He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important gift in this world? It is people! It is people! It is people!

"Let us keep close together not far apart. You are my taonga, I will not let you go" (Olivia)

"I want to keep close, not far away" (William)

"Talk to someone and they will talk to you" (Kaleb)