Akaroa Area School

Year 7

Newspaper stories

View student artwork

Context

This unit, based on the work of artist model Tracey Tawhiao, combines and relates aspects of customary Māori visual imagery particular to a selected location, with aspects of the relevant locally produced community newspaper. Through reflecting on these aspects of their own community, sourcing images, and sorting ideas the students create works which enable them to comment on, and convey personal responses to their own environment.

Learning sequence

Students were introduced to the work of Tracey Tawhiao, explored the meaning of koru, kōwhaiwhai, tekoteko, etc, and visited the local marae. The motivation behind Tracey Tawhiao's Newspaper series was explored and the class discussed her approach to composition, the effect of using limited colours and the significance of her use of a newspaper page.

Students drew carvings, patterns, etc from the marae and researched information about their chosen drawings. They then designed a grid composition using squares and rectangles and filled the shapes with selected drawings and patterns that each student related to life on Banks Peninsula.

Paper was pasted onto a sheet of the Akaroa Mail newspaper and students transferred their compositions. Each student chose three colours to paint their shapes and applied paint and ink to the background. Finally, they selected appropriate vocabulary and pasted on cut-out newspaper lettering.

Curriculum strands and objectives

For curriculum strand relationships and student learning objectives go to Curriculum strands and objectives.