Teaching Ideas Archives - Modern Teaching Blog NZ

7 STEAM-tacular activities to celebrate sports

If you’re looking for ways to make STEAM education as thrilling as a sprint to the finish line, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve crafted seven hands-on activities that will have your students thinking like engineers, creating like designers and competing like champions – inspired by the spirit and excitement of sport! Each activity

6 hands-on sensory tray activities you’ll LOVE

Bring on the tray play! Versatile, engaging hex trays give children endless learning possibilities. Also known as a tuff tray or sensory table, the humble hex tray is an open-ended, moulded plastic tray typically in a natural sand colour with a hexagonal shape inspired by the shape of honeycomb (you can also get a charcoal

How to build the ultimate indoor play space in your kitchen corner

Kids in the kitchen! 🌽🍳 Bringing play-based learning to life Children learn best through play. It’s a vital part of early childhood that encourages children to learn, develop and grow whilst having fun. In The Early Years Learning Framework, play-based learning is a central focus, and emphasises the intentional role of educators in enriching

Celebrating Matariki in the Classroom

Haere Mai! Today we’re exploring arts & crafts inspired by Aotearoa New Zealand and the dynamic Māori culture. With some basic supplies, and a few simple steps, you’ll soon have a classroom full of creations inspired by the Land of the Long White Cloud. We’ve got crafts for Matariki, the famous cluster of stars heralding

6 easy heartfelt, handmade Mother’s Day gifts Mums love and little ones love to make

Every mum is a gift. But on Mother’s Day, it’s their turn to receive some love in the shape of a special gift. Help your little learners say “I love you, Mum” with these super simple craft activities. Key tags in candy colours. Wooden flowers that always bloom. Sweet note holders that cradle special messages.

Have A Crafty Easter With These 6 Egg-citing Craft Activities

Break out the bunny onesie, because Easter’s coming! It’s time for hat parades, egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and colourful craft egg-tivities! Here are 6 egg-cellent, egg-straordinary and egg-stra special craft activities to help little crafters create gifts, ornaments, cards and other seasonal cuteness. They’re easy, and they produce beautiful Easter treasures! Let’s hop right into

Deck The halls: 7 Christmas Craft Activities That Bring The Festive!

From wreaths to snow globes, it’s time to get Christmas crafty with these 7 elf-approved activities! While Santa is busy in the North Pole preparing for his big appearance, that’s the cue for all of us down here to plan our festive season arts and crafts. We’ve put our Santa thinking caps on and come

Ten Frightfully Good Activities For The Spooky Season

Penny Groen

Halloween is such a fun time of year for spooky crafts and activities, with plenty of opportunities to bring out children’s creativity and imagination. From dressing up in costumes and decorating the classroom or home to scavenger hunts, and arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone to have a wickedly good time! Read on for some

Alphabet Letters On Coloured Rice Hex Tray Sorting Activity

5 Educational Ways To Use Your Hex Tray In The Classroom

Heidi Overbye

As an early years teacher, I am always looking for resources that will help my students learn through hands-on experiences. When choosing materials for my classroom, I endeavor to find versatile resources that can be used for multiple purposes.

Using Electricity As An Art Medium

Olivia Siddaway

Visual art lessons have progressed over time, and art educators have pushed beyond the humble papier-mâché pig and into the realm of endless possibilities. A mixture of new mediums and technologies paired with classic favourites, a well-rounded art program can provide students with the necessary skills and tools, to not only become well-developed artists, but