13/08/2026
🌍🏴 Digging Deeper Into Our Tūrangawaewae 🏴🌍
This term, we have been digging deeper into the concept of tūrangawaewae – the places, people, cultures, and histories that help shape who we are and where we belong.
As part of this journey, we ordered a collection of flags from around the world. Each week, one of our tamariki pulls a flag from the bag, and together we spend the week learning about that country, its culture, traditions, stories, and the connections our tamariki and whānau have to it.
Last week, the flag of Scotland was chosen! 🏴
This was particularly exciting for Katie, who whakapapa back to Scotland and had a wealth of knowledge, stories, and experiences to share. As we began exploring Scotland together, we soon discovered that many of our tamariki also have Scottish ancestry. What followed was exactly what tūrangawaewae is all about – children and whānau sharing stories, celebrating their heritage, and strengthening their sense of identity and belonging.
Throughout the week, our learning was rich with culture. We explored Scottish myths and stories, listened to the stirring sound of the bagpipes, learnt about Highland dancing, and created Scottish-inspired artwork. Katie and Gill proudly brought in their family tartans to share with the tamariki, helping bring their ancestral connections to life. Katie even brought in her wee set of bagpipes, which sparked lots of curiosity and excitement!
One of our favourite moments came from a conversation with Miss Sofia. When she first saw the flag on the wall, she confidently told us that she wasn't from Scotland. Later that day, after we shared our learning with whānau, her mum let us know that Sofia did in fact have Scottish ancestry. When we shared this with Sofia, her face lit up. Her mana grew as she proudly told everyone, "I'm from Scotland!" 💙
Moments like these remind us why this mahi is so important. When tamariki see their cultures, identities, languages, and histories reflected within the learning environment, they develop a stronger sense of belonging and confidence in who they are.
This beautifully aligns with Te Whāriki, particularly the strand of Mana Whenua | Belonging, where children know they have a place and feel connected to the people, places, and stories that make them who they are. It also supports Mana Tangata | Contribution, as tamariki and whānau share their knowledge, experiences, and traditions with our learning community.
The buy-in from our whānau has been incredible. Thank you to everyone who shared stories, knowledge, and family connections with us. Together, we are creating a curriculum that honours the unique whakapapa of our tamariki and strengthens their sense of identity.
We are ending our Scottish week by sharing homemade shortbread at afternoon tea, showing manaakitanga as we come together to share food, stories, and connection.
What a week it has been, filled with learning, laughter, pride, and smiles. We can't wait to see which flag will be pulled next! 🌍✨
