TOHU WHENUA

Plenty of history education at Tohu Whenua

WORDS: Caroline Toplis IMAGES: Tohu Whenua

Tohu Whenua landmarks tell some of our nation’s defining stories, which makes them ideal for students learning our history.

From 2023, the national school curriculum (which includes The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa) will feature Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories and Te Takanga o Te Wā. This update to our national curriculum ensures that all ākonga (students) will leave school or kura with an understanding of our histories and how they have shaped our nation. But are teachers aware of the education opportunities at Tohu Whenua places? The Tohu Whenua team is undertaking a project determining how we can get the word out to schools.

The first step was to get a detailed snapshot of what organised education opportunities are available to schools and kura across all our Tohu Whenua. The variety of support for teachers really impressed us. We found that each Tohu Whenua region has at least one Ministry of Education funded centre offering programmes at and about Tohu Whenua places. These centres have dedicated educators who offer many different heritage programmes fully linked to the curriculum. One such example is Lakes District Museum located in Arrowtown, a Tohu Whenua place with rich Māori, European and Chinese heritage. Amanda Viana and her education team at the museum offer ELC (enriching the curriculum) courses across all year levels. Teachers

History where it happened - Tohu Whenua landmarks are great for hands-on and interactive learning in an authentic environment. Photo: Clare Toia-Bailey

Lakes District Museum education programme manager Amanda Viana with a school group in historic Arrowtown. Photo: Lakes District Museum

Inspiring the next generation to care for our heritage places. Photo: Clare Toia-Bailey

can choose from online lessons, have an educator come to their school, or be immersed in heritage at the museum and around Arrowtown. Programme options are activity based and designed to suit all styles and stages of learning, and are well supported by pre- and post-visit material. Waitangi Treaty Grounds in Te Tai Tokerau Northland and Marsden Valley Education Centre located at Shantytown on Te Tai Poutini West Coast are the other hubs that run in a similar manner, with the latter hosting school groups across the entire region, including several different Tohu Whenua such as Brunner Mine, Waiuta and Denniston.

Also providing curriculum linked opportunities is the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust. The trust is currently developing six online enquiry plans for teachers who want to take their students on an actual or virtual trip along our country’s first Great Ride through historic farming and gold mining communities. Not surprisingly many Tohu Whenua places that offer guided tours or commentaries to visitors also often host school groups. These include Tohu Whenua that are cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Tours are usually very active and hands-on, and some can be tailored to what the class is studying. Olveston supplements tailored tours with a smorgasbord of curriculum-linked education programmes that explore the Edwardian era, and Larnach Castle provides a comprehensive teacher's guide to supplement their school tours.

Two other very special opportunities we need to mention here - Reefton i-site can arrange heritage school tours with a knowledgeable local, and the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust offer free heritage tours of Bannockburn Sluicings (and gold panning on request) to school groups. If you’re a teacher and reading this, it’s important to know that whether or not a Tohu Whenua has resources specifically developed for school groups, all Tohu Whenua have nationally significant stories to tell, are readily accessible and have plenty of on-site interpretation. Our next step is to work out how Tohu Whenua can develop promotions to ensure teachers are aware that these opportunities exist. This will likely be in the form of an education hub for schools on our website (tohuwhenua.nz), with easy-to-follow links to education providers, as well as complementing the promotion that’s already happening for each Tohu Whenua. n

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