BLEND AOTEAROA'S HISTORY

The histories curriculum is all about learning what matters. Aotearoa New Zealand histories curriculum content supports a focus on critical citizenship – understanding the past to make sense of the present and to inform future decisions and actions. It focuses on stories of interactions across time that connect us to one another and to our place. There are three elements to the histories curriculum content: UNDERSTAND, KNOW, and DO. Blend can work with teachers to unpack the content in easy to understand bites within their learning context and planning.

Blend is a member of the Ministry of Education PLD Provider Panel. Contact us to support you with your application for MOE Regionally Allocated PLD.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING

An effective way to actualise and plan delivery of the histories curriculum while engaging students, is to blend digital technologies into this learning. Students can tell stories digitally of voyages, traditions and timelines.

Students can become historians using digital mapping, retelling pūrākau, describing artefacts, creating timelines, comparing and contrasting perspectives - all using a small kete of free and easy to access digital tools.

BLENDED INQUIRY

The histories curriculum prioritises the critical thinking aspects of student inquiry through the DO practices. Blend has long held belief, backed by research, that planning guided integrated inquiry allows students to experience rich learning across the breath of the curriculum through DOING. Using an inquiry model, students are prompted to think critically and creatively within the contexts and then TAKE ACTION and CREATE to share their learning. Blended or integrated inquiry means, looking for local contexts, that have connections to science, social studies, technology and sustainability.

Students are engaged through hands-on relevant learning with teachers guiding students. One of the most important advantages is time saved through integration when dealing with a very full curriculum.

Blend can help you develop your unique school inquiry model, support you to choose relevant contexts for integrated learning, and develop teachers' ability to plan rich learning opportunities which promote critical thinking.