Rongoā and more tea!

This term year 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been learning about how nature can provide for us and heal us. 

Session 1: We looked at all the herbs we had in the garden. The students then helped make the 'morning wake up' tea with lemon, lemon balm and mint.  We all tried some! 

'It was really lemony' 

'It tasted plain but healthy!'

'I loved it... can I have more'

 

While looking at the other kinds of tea we could make, students in Room 2 spotted a herb that was familiar to their cultural - gotu kola - something used in Sri Lankan cooking. 

We then used this to make 'brain tea'. 

* Ingredients: gotu kola, rosemary, lemon zest  and hot water (and extra lemon juice for good measure!) 

You can find the tea recipes HERE. 

We also spotted that South African Day was coming up in the holidays so some classes tried Rooibus tea aswell! 

Session 2: We thought about which native trees we have at school and how they can help us. 

Firstly we visited the native garden and went on a hunt for mānuka, kānuku and pūriri. 

We studied the leaves and drew them. Then we listened to 'Koro's Medicine' to see how Maori use native trees and plants for healing. 

We then tried to match up the pharmacy medicines with the Rongoā.