Exploring Energy at MKA

June 28, 2026

Tamariki and kaiako from across the Marlborough Kindergarten Association have been learning all about Energy. Here are a few examples of what they have been up to.

Mayfield Kindergarten

: The plates are moving it makes a volcano and earthquakes – Wairau

: Rūaumoko is in his māmā’s puku, he is happy. He gets angry he kicks his māmā’s puku and it makes a big earthquake – Wairau

: This is a tsunami, when the plates move and crack under the water – Wairau

At Mayfield Kindergarten they have explored energy through a te ao Māori lens and learnt about Ruaumoko, the atua of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Tamariki discovered that when Ruaumoko moves beneath Papatūānuku, the earth can shake, rumble and change. This supported them to hold both mātauranga Māori and scientific understandings alongside each other as they made sense of the natural world.

: Making a volcano

: Creating a tsunami

Tamariki have been creating volcanoes, which sparked conversations about why they erupt. This led to learning about tectonic plates and how their movement can cause earthquakes. To see this visually they experiemnted with covering their legs with sand and then slowly moved them to see how the land cracks and moves. Tamariki then evolved the earthquake experiment into a game, practising the turtle drop cover hold and teaching younger tamariki how to do it correctly.

Practicing earthquake safety

Wairau then shared the pūrākau of Kupe and Te Hau, a story passed down to her by her Pāpā. This pūrākau tells of the tsunami that created Kāpara Te Hau, the Wairau Lagoons. Through Wairau’s kōrero, our learning deepened as we explored how earthquakes in different parts of the Earth can create different natural events, including volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

Seymour Kindergarten

Exploring the energy from batteries

At Seymour Kindegarten they borrowed the MDC Energy Kit and worked through it over two weeks. Natasha introduced the different forms of energy on the veranda in week one of the term and re-capped on previous learning about energy presented last term. They extended on these concepts, including measurement, speed and direction.

In the third week the box was used inside, at a specific table for the week, as a welcome activity for the children arriving first thing in the morning. Children were invited to participate in the teaching throughout the morning in small groups. A form of energy was explored each day starting with batteries. The second day wind energy was presented. It was incredible how many children were familiar with windmill farms, having seen them on a road trip. On these two days the concepts were recapped during a quick mat time for all the children after lunch time.

Role playing a world with no energy

On the third day the story of Pounamu (what would happen if there was no energy) was presented again at the table. A few elements were changed to cover more forms of energy than the ones touched on the script. This story was retold at morning tea mat time. The use of a puppet as Pounamu was very effective.

On the fourth day water as energy was presented. Instead of using the funnel provided we used a mobilo set that doesn’t get used very often to make the funnel and water wheels. At mat a short video on hydroelectric dams was shown and the mobilo funnel was put into action. This was played with outside on Friday in the rain since all the children had raincoats on. The following week when Tamanuiterā was shining they introduced solar energy. They explored this through the use of a solar shower to heat up water and also experimented with ice in the sun.

: Testing the solar shower

: Exploring the energy of the sun with ice

Redwoodtown Kindergarten

Ramona facilitating the activity “Understanding where energy comes from”

At Redwoodtown Kindergarten Ramona facilitated the introduction to the topic of Energy through a brainstorm with the tamariki. This collated all of the children’s throughts and ideas. She then introduced the activity Understanding where Energy Comes From. As each form of energy was demonstrated – sun, wind, water, food and batteries, it sparked more conversations. The favourite of course was the battery operated truck. Kaiako then continued this learning by redoing the activity throughout the week to ensure all tamariki got to experience it.

Waitohi Kindergarten

Waitohi Kindergarten at Shakespeare bay

Waitohi Kindergarten have begun their exploration of energy through their trips to the moana where they have experienced the tides. This has sparked conversation about the energy of the moon. They have also been experimenting with the energy of Tāwhirimātea through windmills and paper planes.

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