Explosive Impact: Year 2025
In the vibrant city of Auckland, New Zealand, children aged 7-12 years have a unique opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of sound. This September, the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) is hosting the event "Squish! Bang! Splat!", an interactive experience that partially draws inspiration from the New Zealand Ministry of Education's Building Science Concepts Book 18 Exploring Sound.
The event, scheduled for the 5th and 6th of September from 10 am to 4 pm, promises a day filled with activities designed to stimulate imagination, experimentation, observation, and creativity. Children can expect to design their own Sound Makers, explore various instruments, and even participate in live Science Shows with Little Scientists. Prepare for mess and noise during the event, as it is sure to be a fun and engaging experience!
For those seeking additional activities to explore sound with younger students, resources like "Investigating sound", "Hearing sounds", "Investigating movement and sound with a pūrerehua", and "Musical sounds" are available.
If you're looking for more sensory-based experiences, consider attending the We The Young Festival, an inclusive event offering performances suitable for young children (ages 3-8). Shows like "The Tantrum" and "Pīpī Paopao" can engage children’s auditory senses in culturally meaningful ways, while workshops and immersive installations provide interactive settings for sound exploration.
For a more structured learning environment, creative workshops and theatre experiences at the Aotea Centre and Auckland Town Hall during the festival offer hands-on activities that can enhance young learners’ understanding of sound through movement, music, and storytelling.
In the classroom, resources like those offered by Sounds-Write, focusing on phonics and literacy, can provide interactive whiteboard activities, games, and decodable readers that build foundational sound recognition and decoding skills for early primary students.
Lastly, local primary schools like ACG Parnell emphasize integrating arts and connections to Auckland’s cultural landmarks, which may offer additional opportunities or field trip resources for sound exploration within a broader educational context.
For further emotional and sensory literacy development, online activities from Manahau such as “Finding Calm” can support tamariki in growing their emotional literacy, complementing auditory and sensory learning.
In Auckland, the possibilities for sound exploration are endless. Whether it's through arts festivals, creative workshops, or specialized teaching resources, there's something for every child to enjoy. So, get ready to make some noise and have a blast at the upcoming "Squish! Bang! Splat!" event and other sound-focused activities in Auckland!
For more information about the "Squish! Bang! Splat!" event, visit www.motat.nz/events/squish-bang-splat-2025.
[1] We The Young Festival, Auckland, New Zealand. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wetheyoung.co.nz/ [2] ACG Parnell College. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.acgparnell.school.nz/ [3] Sounds-Write. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sounds-write.co.uk/ [4] Manahau. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.manahau.co.nz/ [5] Finding Calm. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.manahau.co.nz/finding-calm/
- In addition to the "Squish! Bang! Splat!" event at MOTAT, families can also explore sound through the We The Young Festival, an inclusive event that offers cultural performances and workshops suitable for young children.
- For a more structured learning environment, educational resources like Sounds-Write focus on phonics and literacy, providing interactive whiteboard activities, games, and decodable readers to build sound recognition skills for early primary students.
- In Auckland schools such as ACG Parnell, children can learn about the arts and cultural landmarks of the city, which may offer additional opportunities for sound exploration as part of a broader educational context. For emotional and sensory literacy development, online activities from Manahau, like "Finding Calm," can support children in growing their emotional literacy, complementing their auditory and sensory learning.
