Ngā roimata o Ranginui are more than raindrops. They are a reminder of our deep whakapapa with te taiao - each drop carrying life, connection, and enduring aroha between Ranginui and Papatūānuku.
At our kindergarten, the Enviroschools kaupapa shapes how we learn, explore, and connect with the world around us. Through this lens, our recent learning has been guided by a shared focus on wai – recognising water as essential to all forms of life, and understanding the role it places in sustaining our people, places, and living systems.
This focus has encouraged us to slow down and really notice wai – where it comes from, how it moves, and how it supports everything we do. As part of this, our kaiako have been introducing thoughtful pātai to guide conversations and inquiry with tamariki:
Where does water come from?
What do we use water for?
Why is wai so important to us?
Through these pātai, tamariki have been exploring the idea that water connects everything – from the skies above to the land beneath our feet, to the plants growing in our māra kai. They are beginning to see wai not just as something we use, but as something we rely on and need to care for.
After a long dry spell, the arrival of ua brought this learning into a real and meaningful context. With our rain tank empty, we began wondering together about how we might better collect and use the water gifted to us from Ranginui. Tamariki shared their ideas, asked questions, and explored different ways we could capture rain – showing curiosity, creativity, and a growing awareness of how our choices impact the natural world.
Catching raindrops, catching wonder. Sometimes learning begins with simply looking up!
We are excited to have received a $2,000 grant to support this whakaaro in action, helping us to develop a rain-harvesting system that will support our māra kai and outdoor spaces. As we plan this system, we are intentionally thinking about how to make learning visible and meaningful. One idea we are exploring is creating a rain collection area beside the shed near our front gate – a space where tamariki can see water being gathered, follow its journey, and understand how it is used.
Following the journey of rain – from sky to tank, helps tamariki explore how rain is captured and stored.
This approach allows learning to unfold in everyday ways. Tamariki will be able to:
- watch rainfall as it is collected
- notice how water is stored and used
- observe its role in growing and nourishing our māra kai
- revisit and reflect on their ideas over time
By making this process visible, we are supporting tamariki to build an ongoing relationship with wai – one where they can see the direct connection between natural systems and their own actions.
This learning journey reflects the heart of the Enviroschools kaupapa – where understanding grows through experience, relationships are valued, and action is taken in ways that support the wellbeing of our environment.
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