Models bring lesson home for students

• Author: Jesse Wood
• Published date: 17 December 2020
• Publication title: Te Awamutu Courier

The display showcased the students’ research of the Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa over the last two terms where each Friday they came together to build a mini model of a significant historical site from the time period.

The purpose of the exhibition was to commemorate the important historical events that took place in New Zealand and the local area as well as celebrating the students’ learning through their long-term project.

The display was open in two time slots, one in the early afternoon and one in the evening coinciding with the school’s Twilight Gala.

The enthusiasm of the students showed how much they learned over the past two terms, creating the models and researching about each different historical site.

Many of them had not even known about the Land Wars around the area beforehand.

Some students had even produced QR codes for a takeaway slideshow.

The 15 sites recreated by the students were Great South Rd, Rangiaowhia, Ō-rākau, Kihikihi, Alexandra Redoubt, Koheroa, Mangatawhiri, Queen’s Redoubt, Te Rohe Pōtae — King Country, Whangamarino/Te Teoteo’s Pā, Meremere, Rangiriri Pā, Pāterangi, Waiari and St John’s Church in Te Awamutu.

Cooper Andersen learnt about Queen’s Redoubt at Pokeno, one of the largest European campaign forts in New Zealand.

“I didn’t know that there was an invasion to the Waikato against the Māori and I found out that that’s where the deployment was for all the British. That’s where Sir Duncan Cameron launched 1500 soldiers from.”

Blake Gower was part of the team...