
Discovery box Activity
Use items from around the house to make a discovery box. It's an easy way for parents to connect and communicate with their pēpi.
Why do it?
- A box of objects provides a way of focusing on certain characteristics — for example, colour, shape, texture or material.
- It’s an opportunity to widen your child’s vocabulary.
- Notice and talk about the similarities and differences between objects.
How to do it
You need: a box or a basket and a set of objects e.g. round, metal, wooden, blue or smelly things.
- Let your child explore the contents of the discovery box with one set of things in it.
- Name the things she picks up — for example, a wooden set may include a peg, bowl, stick, spoon and a block.
- Notice what they do with things and use parallel talk like ‘you’ve put the spoon in the bowl’.
- Try tapping things together so they make sounds.
- On another day, explore a different set of things.
Using more te reo Māori
Te reo Māori | English |
---|---|
Kohikohi | Collect, gather together |
Te tae | The colour |
Kakano | Texture |
Āhuahanga | Shape |
Aro | Notice, pay attention to |
Kōrero mai | Talk to me |
Rite tonu, ōrite | Same |
Rerekē | Different |
Maitai | Metal |
Kakara | Fragrant, scented |
Pīataata | Shiny, bright |
Tangohia | Pick up |
Waihotia | Put down |
Whakahokia | Put back |
Homai te... | Give me the... |
Mātiti | Peg |
Kumete | Bowl |
Rākau | Stick |
Pune | Spoon |
Awe | Feather |
Rakau whero | Red block |
Titiro mai | Look here |
He aha tēnei? | What is this? |
Whakaaturia mai te pōro kōwhai iti | Show me the little yellow ball |
Homai te rau nui | Give me the big leaf |
He rerekē ngā āhua | They are different shapes |