Come Round for Kai!

Taha Wairua – Matters to us

We respect our values, beliefs and culture through kai and inu wai. 

Taha Whānau – Connects us to others

We nurture our past, present and future relationships through kai and inu wai.

You can use the Come Round for Kai worksheet — which explores three parts of whānau kai time: before kai, during kai, and after kai — to guide your kōrero around how different whānau share kai together, exploring the beautiful diversity of meal traditions and discovering how sharing kai connects us all.

Once tamariki have had time to fill out the worksheet individually, encourage sharing in small groups of 3 to 4, so that everyone has the chance to kōrero about their whānau's kai traditions while discovering similarities and differences with their classmates.

This activity helps tamariki understand that every whānau has its own way of having kai - and that different doesn’t mean wrong.

• It reflects real life: when we travel or go to someone’s place for kai, we learn about other people, cultures, kai and traditions.
• It encourages gratitude, mindfulness and small routines that make kai time special.
• It allows tamariki to explore kai diversity safely, respectfully and builds social awareness.

Bring your tamariki together and kōrero about the times when you have assumed that the way you do things is the usual way – you might refer to when you’ve travelled, when you’ve entered spaces that you thought would be the same, but are different, or when you’ve been invited into others’ homes to join them for kai.

Acknowledge that we often assume that our way is the “usual” way, so discovering new traditions, rituals and ways of doing things can be exciting.

Invite them to share some of their experiences to remind tamariki that there are many ways of doing things. This is part of learning about others and celebrating diversity. Encourage curiosity rather than any judgment and help tamariki notice how everyone’s approach reflects their culture, routines and values.

Individual reflection – Come Round For Kai worksheet

Introduce the idea that kai routines vary from home. Today we are looking at 6 different parts:

• Let’s set up... – Who gets things ready? Is there a special way to set up?
• Before we eat, let’s... – How do you get ready for kai or show gratitude?
• Serving up – Who dishes up? Is there an order?
• During kai we’ll... – Do you eat together? Talk? Follow specific tikanga?
• After kai let’s... – How does kai time finish? Who helps clean up?
• The part you’ll love best is... – What makes a good kai time, and what’s one thing you’d like to bring to kai time at kura?

Small group kōrero - finding connections

Make groups of 3 to 4.

Invite them to share their worksheet and notice:

• 1–3 similarities – things they all do in some way
• 1–3 differences – things that are unique across whānau

Create a class kai time agreement

“ Now let’s think about when we eat together at kura. What would make kai time feel good for all of us?

You can then create your Te wā kai | Kai Time poster which displays your shared tikanga kai.

phrasing like:

“Let’s ___ and ___.”

For example: “Let’s all wash our hands and then say karakia kai together.”

Roleplay ‘Come Round For Kai’ and act out – how it normally goes, and then your worst nightmare if you’re hosting your friend e.g. Mum is in a bad mood, your little sister flings food in your guest’s hair...

Each group plays their kai time twice.

Teachers may use these reflective questions as a formative assessment to understand how students:

- Express their ideas about kai and wellbeing.

- Make connections between kai, whenua, relationships and wellbeing.

- Reflect on their own experiences.

- Communicate their thinking through drawing, writing or discussion.

Year 0-3: Draw

• Focus: Expressing ideas through discussion and pictures.
• Reflection question: Why is Kai important for our bodies and our whānau?

Year 4-6: Draw and Write

• Students draw or write their Kai stories
• Focus: Describing ideas
• Reflection question: What does Kai teach us about connection?

Year 7-8: Write and reflect

• Focus: Critical thinking, identity, and wellbeing
• Students write a short reflection or paragraph about their kai story and the connections it reveals
  Reflection practice:
  • This Kai is important to me because…
  • Sharing Kai helps people…
  • I learned that Kai is connected to …..

Your ideas show the special ways your whānau share kai and look after one another.

These moments help us see what matters to us as whānau, and one of the ways your whānau look after each other.