Kai in the basket

It is Maaori language week this week and the chosen topic for this year is kai.

After lunch I got a basket ready and I had some laminated cards I made with different vegetable/fruit pictures along with the Maaori name for that vegetable/fruit. Libby, Maia, Caelyn, Netana, Jorja, Shaydn, Acacia and Mania all joined in. I explained the game and we sung the song: "Kai in the basket for you and for me,
kai in the basket from the earth and from the sea,
thanks to the one who gave it to me
caring and sharing it round"
Some of the children knew the words while others didn't as we sometimes sing this song before meal times.

The basket got passed around and when the song had finished, the child left holding the basket got to choose a card. I would then ask, "what vegetable/fruit is that and if they didn't know, Maia and Mania were quite good at helping others with the vegetable/fruit name. I then taught the children the Maaori name for the vegetable and the children repeated it after me. Caelyn was quite good at pronunciation and the rolling of her tongue, Netana would name and repeat the English names of the vegetable/fruit after me.

This game encouraged the children to listen to the song and listening for the Maaori name for that vegetable or fruit. Jorja was so enthusiastic that most of the time she wanted to get a card straight away, but I reminded her about turns and passing the basket along to the person next to her. This game encouraged turn-taking, language (communication), listening skills, patience, being involved and helping each other. The children all enjoyed this game, so I plan to make this game available to them again. This also helps children develop an appreciation of te reo as a living and relevant language.

Here are some of the words the children practiced

Banana-Panana
Watermelon-Merengi
Pumpkin-Paukena
Nectarine-Neketarini
Corn-Kaanga
Grapes-Kerepi
Lemon-Reemona
Orange-Arani
Lettuce-Keetihi
Apple-Aporo
Peas-Pii
Potatoes-Riiwai
Strawberries-Toroopere
Plum-Parama
Beans-Piini
Carrot-Kaareti

Tamara