Kiwi Identity

Social Studies Online

Visit ESOL Online for a version of this unit designed to support students for whom English is an additional language.

TEACHER Peter Thompson

TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Starter Activities

1. The Circle Game
   Play the circle game to establish ideas about identity.
   Divide the class into groups of 3-5 and provide each group with two sheets of A3 newsprint and felt pens/crayons. Each group has five minutes to LIST, as a group, everything they know about their own culture and identity, be it Maori, Pakeha, Pacific Island, Asian, Middle Eastern, European or any other group. All ideas are recorded on the first sheet of newsprint. Next, on the second sheet of newsprint, the students GROUP what they have recorded and LABEL each group with an appropriate heading.
   (Keep these sheets - you will need them for Activity 6 - Cultural Identity.)

2. Symbols, Emblems and Icons
   
   1. As a class, brainstorm as many countries as you can and for each country list symbols or objects that are commonly associated with it. If you need a few examples to get the brainstorming, start with this Word List.

      Kimono	tulips	kauri	Maori	kiwis
      Aorangi	elephant	whisky	kakapo	sombrero
      Big Ben	kangaroo	chevrolet	waka	Milford Sound
      All Blacks	Inuits	mud pools	volkswagen	kookaburra

   2. List different ways in which we identify people with their country of origin.

   3. Students imagine that they are going overseas as representatives of New Zealand. How will they identify themselves overseas?
      1. Students prepare a Souvenir Bag of at least ten items that they will take on the trip. Cut symbols out of old magazines, draw them, find clipart images and print them out.
      2. Organise the class into small groups of 4-5 and each student shares their Souvenir Bag with the others.
      3. Use a modified Venn Diagram to classify the items into exactly the same (middle frame), similar but... (right frame) and different (left frame).

3. Kiwi Identity?
   In pairs, create a large outline (at least A2 size - join two bits of A3 together) of a Kiwi About to Embark on His/Her OE. How will this Kiwi be identifable as a Kiwi? Let's start with official symbols.
   1. Flags and Anthems and Coats of Arms
      Official symbols of New Zealand include the New Zealand flag, the National Anthem - God Defend New Zealand and the Coat of Arms.

   2. Kiwi Icons
      There are many unofficial symbols that are internationally recognised as being associated with New Zealand.

   3. Speak New Zild
      Language is a great identifier. New Zilders speak perfectly well. It's just that sometimes other people from other countries don't understand them.

   4. Kiwi Heroes
      People may recognise themselves in their heroes, in the people they admire. Who are they? Can a Dog really be a Kiwi Hero?

4. Who is a Kiwi?
   Is there such a thing as A Kiwi Identity? Or are there Kiwi Identities?
   1. Survey your class. How do people describe themselves? As a Maori? As a Kiwi? As a Samoan New Zealander? As a Chinese New Zealander?
   2. Organise the class into groups of 3-5 with each group having a mix of identities. Each group will design a poster summarising some of the key elements of their identities. Display the completed posters around the room.
   3. Still in their groups, students engage in Values Exploration.

5. Developing a national identity
   How do we acquire the elements of our national identities? When do we recognise ourselves as...? Students create a Personal Timeline (modelled on a History Road), tracking and recording significant people and significant events that have shaped their identities.
   (Possible ideas)

6. Cultural Identity
   What role does cultural identity play in establishing a national identity? Refer back to Activity 1 - The Circle Game. What sort of things did students identify as being part of their cultural identities? What makes up a person's culture?

7. Wrap Up
   Students draw a large outline of one of their cultural icons on A3 paper. Using words, symbols and pictures they summarise their national and/or cultural identities on the icon. Display the finished icons around the room.

8. Follow Up
   Monitor the media, especially TV, for a week. How well does the media represent different cultural identities? Can it be described as a monocultural or multicultural? Why?

Collaborative online projects related to this unit: Kiwi English Project Language Alive

RESOURCES

Electronic

• Department of Internal Affairs
• New Zealand
• The NZEdge
• Speak New Zild
• Kiwi English Project