Weaving Hope

Tamariki collaborate with others to create a mat display for the walls of your learning space.

Give each rōpū/group of 3:

• One instructions sheet (junior: year 2 - 5) (senior: year 6 - 8)
• One weaving frame* (junior: year 2 - 5 ) (senior: year 6 - 8)

*There are 3 different frames: left frame, middle frame, and right frame.
Pro-tip: Make sure the weaving frames are the right way up when tamariki begin weaving.

NB: Before printing, decide how to display the final visual on the wall. This may change which frames, and the amount, you print.

We love promoting kōrero around the way nature's influences your hauora. This allows tamariki to reflect on their identity and culture through their environment. We recommend this activity after exploring whakapapa and strengths. Climate Hope Actions and Speaking Up for Climate Hope may support your conversations.

We all have a unique identity and varying connections to te taiao/nature and surrounding environments. By weaving your diverse strands together, you can be reminded that we stand stronger together.

The challenge of weaving, and taking turns to share the work, allows collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity. Encourage tamariki to work to their strengths and watch how they develop their interpersonal skills. Check out the weaving tutorial videos for help.

Feeling climate change's impacts can make you question “what can we do?”. We all have strengths that can be woven together to bring about big and collective action.

This activity is a starting block to enter the kōrero around climate and its impact on your hauora. You're encouraged to notice our strengths and the benefits of building a relationship with nature.

When you get to know someone you tend to spend time with them, especially if you like their company! To build a relationship with nature it is important to find ways to connect.

Here are questions to prepare tamariki for the activity:

🌱 Where do you find joy when you’re outside?

🌱 How do you feel when you’re in this natural space?

🌱 What do you enjoy or value when you’re in nature? What captures your attention and why?

🌱 What does your hauora receive from nature?

Watch a few videos about weaving

Weaving is important to Pacific cultures and many cultures around the world. Explore more here with our 'extra for experts'.

You could spend a few lessons researching the whakapapa of tamariki and what weaving was found in their ancestors' cultures.

• Tongan weaving in the Tō Lalanga
• Fijian Woven Mats
• How to make a Cook Island ‘Ei
• A Samoan mat (mini)
• Nordic braiding

1. Speak to the kōrero section, about te taiao/nature, with tamariki.
2. Brainstorm the final look of the weaving frames on the wall before printing the weaving frames.
3. Have tamariki read the instructions sheet you printed.
4. Show this slide to prompt deeper thinking for drawing in the boxes/strands.
5. Let the creativity loose and send any photos of your mahi to [email protected]

Once all the woven mats are completed, you can organise the woven frames into a block of frames or a long-row of frames.

Example of how you could display Weaving Hope on the wall:

Further this kōrero by brainstorming Climate Hope Actions your learning community can jump into.

Thank you for the guiding support from:
✨ Future Curious

✨ New Zealand Health Education Association

✨ The National Public Health Service - and the Pacific Health Promoter who consulted with us to adapt this Pasifika-inspired activity.