Mahi Tahi – Working Together

Overview

In this second lesson of Exploring Pātaka Kai in Art, tamariki explore how whānau and communities work together to care for, store and share kai. Through discussion and a collaborative collage, they practise mahi tahi and manaakitanga while using images, colour and simple drawing to communicate an idea.

Learning intentions

• WALT understand how whānau and community care for kai.
• WALT recognise that sharing kai is an expression of manaakitanga.
• WALT work cooperatively to create a shared artwork.
• WALT use pictures, shapes and words to show people caring for and sharing kai.

Success criteria

• I can describe one way my family helps to store, prepare or share kai.
• I can explain that manaakitanga includes caring for and sharing with others.
• I can contribute an idea and materials respectfully to a group artwork.
• I can help create a collage that shows people working together.

Curriculum links

• Toi Ihiihi: Exploring visual art processes, ideas and responses through collage, drawing and shared artmaking.
• Te Ao Māori: Connecting artmaking with mātauranga Māori concepts, including whānau, manaakitanga and collective responsibility for kai.
• Marau ā-Kura: Adapt examples, stories, imagery and language to reflect local whānau, hapū, iwi and marae practices.
• Te Marautanga o Aotearoa framework: Developing communication, participation, cooperation and a sense of belonging through meaningful collaborative learning.

Vocabulary: pātaka kai – food store; mahi tahi – working together; manaakitanga – caring for and sharing with others.

Lesson structure (45 minutes)

Time	Learning section and teacher action	Student task
0–5 min · Welcome and connect	I Do. Gather students in a circle and revisit the idea of a pātaka kai from the previous lesson. Open the opening question and pātaka kai images and ask: “Who helps to care for kai in our homes and community?”	Turn and talk about a person who helps collect, prepare, store or share food. Listen for examples such as growing vegetables, filling cupboards, preparing meals or sharing kai with manuhiri.
5–12 min · Model the idea	I Do. Share age-appropriate examples of whānau working together to collect and store kai, such as gathering kai from a māra, preserving food or organising kai for a shared meal. Explain that manaakitanga means caring for people and showing generosity. Use the whānau working together examples and model a quick collage piece showing a person passing food to another person.	Identify what the people are doing together. Practise saying: “This shows manaakitanga because…” Students may respond in te reo Māori, English or both.
12–18 min · Plan the shared collage	We Do. Show the large paper divided into four broad areas: collecting/growing kai, storing kai, preparing kai and sharing kai. Co-create a simple picture bank on the board. Demonstrate safe scissor use, using a small amount of glue and placing images so others have space. Refer to the collage instructions and cooperation reminders.	Suggest images, colours and symbols for each area. Agree on what the whole collage should communicate: “Our community cares for and shares kai.”
18–34 min · Create together	You Do. Place students in five groups of five, with each group contributing to one part of the large collage. Give each group paper, magazines, glue, scissors and markers. Distribute the family kai sharing idea sheet for students to sketch or draw one idea before adding it to the collage. Confer with groups and prompt: “How will your part show mahi tahi?”	Choose, cut, draw, arrange and glue images. Take turns with tools, invite others’ ideas and add people, food, storage places or sharing actions. Students who finish early may write a short caption on the collage.
34–40 min · Gallery kōrero	We Do. Place the completed collage where everyone can see it. Invite each group to explain its section and identify one example of mahi tahi or manaakitanga. Use the gallery discussion prompts.	Look carefully at the artwork and share one observation or positive comment about another group’s contribution.
40–45 min · Reflect and close	You Do. Revisit the learning intentions. Ask students to complete the final section of the family kai sharing idea sheet by drawing or dictating one way their family or community shares kai and one way they helped their group.	Share a response with a partner, then place the worksheet beside the collage. Finish with a class statement: “Ka mahi tahi tātou ki te manaaki i te katoa.”

Resources

• the pātaka kai collaboration slide deck
• the family kai sharing idea sheet
• Large paper or joined sheets for the class collage
• Magazines and food-related images
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue sticks
• Markers, crayons or coloured pencils
• Board or display space
• Table coverings and wipes

Assessment

• Observe whether students can describe a whānau or community role in collecting, storing, preparing or sharing kai.
• During group work, note cooperation: taking turns, listening, sharing resources and responding respectfully to others’ ideas.
• Check the collage and worksheet for evidence that students understand sharing kai as manaakitanga and can show this through images, drawing or oral explanation.

Differentiation

• Provide pre-cut images, larger collage pieces, thicker markers and adult or peer support for students who need assistance with cutting, drawing or fine-motor tasks.
• Offer picture prompts and sentence starters: “My whānau helps by…”, “This shows manaakitanga because…” and “We worked together when…”.
• Accept oral responses, home-language explanations, pointing, labelled drawings or dictated captions as alternatives to independent writing.
• Pair students thoughtfully and assign accessible roles such as image finder, arranger, gluer, drawer or speaker.
• For advanced learners, invite them to write captions, add a second example of community care, or explain how their section connects to another group’s section.