Nathan Parker talking about the creative in schools project for 2023 and how it fits in with our larger projects.
Coming in and working with Haidee’s class last year. But has been at Warrington School for the last 8 years around gardening and making an area for free play.
The kids have all the little things going on, and they have cafes and look for bugs.
Very much driven by the kids, but Nathan does a little bit for them to begin with e.g., planting some garlic.
Most of it is really native, has skinks and frogs, and children have developed a love of insects. Lots for the kids to watch on TV.
The children are directed and can go back to class if they want to, but they are still waiting for someone to do so.
Last year parents gave permission, and now the parents know what is happening. Multi-level working together.
The tricky part is managing safety - tools, climbing trees, etc.
Creatives at Waitati
Creating a classroom space, but so much space that we are underutilizing. The kids are already doing so much with it.
Creating art with natural materials, especially Willow.
We have the natives and the willows, which can be heavily harvested and won't impact the area.
Child-driven, children make their own decisions, talking a lot about what needs to be done.
Nathan has many ideas about what the children could do but wants it to be child lead.
Really take the learning deeper and call on the expertise of others.
What are some of the barriers?
Not having gumboots
Wot having wet weather gear
Safely managing the tools
What else do we need?
Using natural materials when attaching different pieces.
Need to work through what is suitable for us here…what works for us, and how does that fit with our values?
Finding the fine line between what's okay for our community.
We must discuss our beliefs and values to make them work for us.
Lots of room for discussion around how to use the space, and children have to learn the hierarchy of the animal world, i.e., slatters - stick insects, etc.
Wasps are pests, but honey bees are not.
Nathan here:
Thursday
9-12 pm
Wednesday
12:00 - 3pm
Work out the times within that and the groups. Will talk about that at Hui on Thursday.
This idea is mainly the wetland and will extend into the swamp. Not differentiating between the two. The wetland is there to be explored.
How are we communicating with Nathan? Email works really well for Nathan.
What is the outcome of the creative in school?
Hoping that we will have an outdoor classroom. It’s the journey that is important to get there.
