Early Years Education Foundations

The Te Whāriki provides a framework of principles, strands, goals and learning outcomes that prioritises the mana of the child and emphasises respectful, reciprocal and responsive relationships. This framework provides a basis for each setting to ‘weave’ a local curriculum that reflects its own distinctive character and values. In this class we'll be exploring the 4 principles that are woven into the Te Whāriki along with the learning strands that you'll explore within the coming lessons.

In lesson 2 you'll explore the first of the Te Whāriki's strands, which is the Mana Atua (the wellbeing strand) that dives into topics such as keeping themselves healthy and caring for themselves (te oranga nui), managing themselves and expressing their feelings and needs (te whakahua whakaaro) and keeping themselves and others safe from harm (te noho haumaru).

In lesson 3 you'll explore the Mana Whenua strand of the Te Whāriki's, which is all about the concept of Belonging and dives into topics such as making connections between people, places & things in their world (te waihanga hononga), taking part in caring for this place (te manaaki i te taiao), understanding how things work here and adapting to change (te mārama ki te āhua o ngā whakahaere me te mōhio ki te panoni) and showing respect for kaupapa, rules and the rights of others (te mahi whakaute).

In lesson 4 you'll explore the Mana Tangata strand of the Te Whāriki's, which is all about the concept of Contribution and dives into topics such as treating others fairly and including them in play (te ngākau makuru), recognising and appreciating their own ability to learn (te rangatiratanga), using a range of strategies and skills to play and learn with others (te ngākau aroha).

In lesson 5 you'll explore the Mana Reo strand of the Te Whāriki's, which is all about the concept of Communication and dives into topics such as using gesture and movement to express themselves (he kōrero ā-tinana), understanding oral language and using it for a range of purposes (he kōrero ā-waha), expressing their feelings and ideas using a wide range of materials and modes (he kōrero auaha) and recognising symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning and purpose (he kōrero tuhituhi).

In lesson 6 you'll explore the Mana Aotūroa strand of the Te Whāriki's, which is all about the concept of Exploration and dives into topics such as playing, imagining, inventing and experimenting (te whakaaro me te tūhurahura i te pūtaiao), moving confidently and challenging themselves physically (te wero ā-tinana), using a range of strategies for reasoning and problem solving (te hīraurau hopanga), making sense of their worlds by generating and refining working theories (te rangahau me te mātaurang).