Slimy and Legless...

As Term 3 draws to a close, our Education Team is gearing up for a busy Term 4 filled with a variety of exciting and interactive programmes at Puke Ariki. 

Next term we're offering a new programme: Slimy and Legless. Sounds intriguing, we know! Focusing on the Taranaki giant snail (Powelliphanta "Egmont") and its habitat, this lesson is an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about their local Taranaki environment. Slimy and Legless also compliments the Taranaki: Our Volcano lesson which students may have previously experienced at Puke Ariki.

Photo: Stratford Press

Discover more about Slimy and Legless and our other Term 4 programmes.
What programmes would you like the Education team to offer? Leave us a comment.

Our very popular programme focusing on the history of Taranaki rugby Rucks, Boots and Bulls kicked off at the start of September. Focusing on the history of Taranaki rugby and based in the fantastic new exhibition It's Not Just a Game, we've had several excited classes take part in the programme. The feedback so far has been brilliant: one teacher said "this has been the best visit - ever".

Educator Hoani teaches a class from Devon Intermediate. The amber and black looks great!

We really encourage you to bring your students to enjoy this fun programme, filled with interactive and engaging activities for students of all ages. Rucks, Boots and Bulls is available until Week 7 of Term 4 (week beginning 7 November): book online or contact us for more information.

Did you visit us for Rucks, Boots and Bulls ? What did you think? Leave us a comment.

Drawing on Chroma - free sketching workshop

Calling all art students, teachers, and wannabe artists! At 6pm this Wednesday 31 August Puke Ariki is offering a free sketching workshop run by Anne Smith and Pam Dohig.

In association with the exhibition Chroma: Paintings by Pam Walker, participants will learn sketching warm-up exercises, drawing techniques and tips, and be invited to head out into Puke Ariki to sketch something that catches their eye.

Participants will need to bring along a 2B or 4B pencil and an A3 or A4 sketching pad.

Bookings essential through the i-SITE at Puke Ariki. Phone (06) 759 0897 to register.

Penguin Experience 2011

Are you penguin mad? Keen to learn more about the Taranaki coastal environment and its natural wildlife? 60 Springs, the environmental education programme offered by Puke Ariki, is giving you a chance to enjoy your own up close and personal penguin experience on a three day interactive camp, based at Urenui Beach Camp, Urenui.

Photo: John Elliot

Learn from New Zealand penguin and conservation experts about the issues facing our Little Blue Penguins and what you can do to help. Use wildlife tracking techniques and a night‐vision camera to help survey local penguin populations, plus a whole heap more hands‐on activities.

Aimed at Year 9-13 students, the camp will start and finish at Puke Ariki, New Plymouth and will be primarily based at Urenui Beach Camp. Field trips include a visit to the Rapanui Grey Faced Petrel Colony (only mainland population in Taranaki) and Little Blue Penguin colony at Wai‐iti Beach.

Visit the 60 Springs page to learn more and to download an application form.  Applications close 26 September.

Rucks, Boots & Bulls

Our education office is abuzz with all things rugby in preparation for the launch of our new programme 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' on Monday 29 August. The reaction from schools to this programme has been fantastic, and we're thrilled that so many classes will visit us to participate. 

'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' supports the upcoming Puke Ariki exhibition It's Not Just a Game: Whanau, Whakapapa, Whutupaoro - A Social History of Taranaki Rugby, which opens on Saturday 27 August. Check out the Puke Ariki website for details.

Click here to book your class for 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' at Puke Ariki.  Meanwhile, here's a sneak peak at one of the very important lesson resources:

Our thanks to the Taranaki Rugby Football Union for their generous loan of several authentic Taranaki jerseys to use with students.

What does the amber and black jersey mean to you? Leave us a comment!

Puke Ariki Science Fair Workshops

This week members of our 60 Springs & Education teams - Nathan, Fiona and Hoani - organised a series of fun workshops focusing on the theme of 60 Springs: sustainability, education and creativity.

Based at Puke Ariki, 60 students from 4 schools around Taranaki participated in a variety of interactive, fun workshops which included demonstrations of electric bikes, promoting a sustainable future, inspirational videos and terraquaculture, with presentations from Michael Lawley (EcoInnovation), Kama Burwell (Hive Taranaki) and Nathaniel Benefield (New Plymouth District Council).

Did you take part in these workshops? What did you think? What future workshops would you like to see at Puke Ariki? Leave us a comment.

New exhibitions at Puke Ariki

Calling all art students and teachers! Check out the fantastic variety of art exhibitions currently on show at Puke Ariki. Several of these exhibitions - such as Renegade: Taranaki Independent Art Groups - have a strong Taranaki focus and will appeal to a variety of ages. Check out the full details of what's on here. You'll need to be quick to see Renegade, as it closes this Sunday 14 August.

Have you experienced these exhibitions? What did you think? Leave us a comment.