Rebecca Cosner, a teacher from Ahipara School shares her story about how her class created their new picnic tables and outdoor games. We thought this was a great idea to encourage children to eat together in a nice space and get involved in some active learning, as well as highlight the great support from a community organisation.

Rebecca shares with us…

“So the rundown of the picnic tables and outdoor games came about because many of the students I work with love to do carpentry and I thought 'why not ask the local business if they can help us out with any form of donations they can’. The students and I wrote a letter, each doing a slide for the various games and tables we wanted to make this year. Then we went and hand delivered the letters to Placemakers and Carters. We got such an amazing response from Placemakers, who donated 500 lineal metres of wood, various tools and lots of nails, bolts, screws and more. 

Hamish, my partner, cut the tables out and along with him and another parent the students in Room 10, the parents, my TAs and I, we built the first two tables. Then later in the year I invited some seniors to come help put another table together while my Room 10 students continued making a set of 'Giant pick up sticks’, ‘Giant Jenga game' and a 'Giant Connect 4 game' for outdoors and the whole school to use.

Then again, I invited some more senior students to come help build the last of the 4 tables. We are going to be making some more so each of the classrooms have a table each to enjoy their lunch outside the classroom and we will be continuing with our outdoor giant games, making 'cornhole games' a sandpit for Room 10, an outdoor chalkboard, some more loose parts activities and whatever else my students want to give a go making.

We used some of the wood to make the podiums for our Olympics held in Term 3 and one of my students who is non-verbal made a carpentry table to donate to Room 1 (our junior students). He absolutely loves building; in fact, they all do.  We were so blessed and grateful for the amazing donations from our local Kaitaia Placemakers team, who supported us and our vision of hands-on learning and engagement.”

Story written by Rebecca Cosner, Ahipara School Teacher