Let’s make a map Activity
Making a map of your garden is a great way to explore and plan your next backyard adventure with tamariki. It allows tamariki to explore and learn more about the things around them. It helps to strengthen the fine muscles in their hands and fingers.
Why do it?
Making a map is a good way for tamariki to:
- strengthen the fine muscles in their hands and fingers, which will help them when they start writing letters and numbers
- looking for objects, features and creatures appeals to a curious toddler who enjoys finding and exploring independently
- adding vocabulary through parents naming and describing objects their toddler has seen
- enrich their language through describing and comparing items in their picture
- observe and talk about maths ideas like same, different, more, less, small, big, longer and shorter.
How to do it
Me whai koe i: Tētahi pepa, he pene, he pene rākau karakara, he pene hinu, he karakara rānei.
You will need: A piece of paper, a pen, colouring pencils, crayons or felts.
- Mēnā he rangi ua, he makariri rānei, tirohia tō māra mai i tō matapihi, mēnā e pai ana, haere ki waho ki te āta tirotiro haere.
If it’s a cold or wet day, study your garden from your window, otherwise, head outside to take a closer look. - Tāia ngā āhuatanga o tō māra, pērā i ngā taiapa, ngā rākau, tō rāinakākahu rānei.
Draw the features of your garden like fences, big trees or your washing line. - Me tohu ka karakara i ngā wāhi mīharo o tō māra – he wāhi ngāngara, te wāhi pārekareka, te wāhi mahana…
Mark and colour the special places in your garden – the bug area, the fun area, the cosy area… - Ina oti ana tō mahere, whakamahia hei mahere i tō haerenga tuarua ki waho!
Once your map is complete, use it to plan your next outside adventure!
Using more te reo Māori
| Te reo Māori | English |
|---|---|
| He pene | A pen |
| Māra | Garden |
| Kara | Colour |
| Mahere | Map |
| Haerenga | Adventure |
