For this unit we focused on Leaders and how an election system works.

We first focused on the Leaders that we admired. We made slides about their strategies as leaders, their wit, their personalities, who they were allied with, and just overall who they were. My group made our slides about Cleopatra, in her reign in Egypt. We also made a physical structure based on a leadership system we thought was best. I picked my workplace in Russell, Hell Hole. Hell Hole is a cafe in the B.O.I where I work as a bagel maker and runner. I talk about the hierarchy in a common cafe.

We then moved onto the government part of this unit.

we learned about what parties running for parliament were offering in the 2023 election, and we choose who we’d vote for. I chose Green party and Labour party, their medical beliefs resonated with what I would want in a government. But while learning about certain parties running for parliament and MP’s, candidates, list seats etc. What surprised me was that there is so much more that goes on during the parliament side of an election. You’d mainly focus on who’s running for prime minister, but there’s actually a lot more that goes on behind the scenes in creating a fitting government.’

This unit was interesting, and difficult to understand. I learnt that elections aren’t easy, and leaders don’t have it any easier.

The end

In social studies our new unit is about leaders. We had to make a slideshow about a leader we chose, and explain 3-4 ideas on a slide each about this leader. My group chose Cleopatra to write our slides on. Within the 4 people in my group we all wrote a slide each with the ideas we chose.

Indie – Indie wrote about the Naval battle of Acarnania, and the fleets Cleopatra directed and controlled in battle, along with her witty strategies.

Mali / me – I wrote about Cleopatra’s personal group of men that she commanded to carry her around Egypt. The act of being carried was only done towards people of royal status, which showcased Cleopatra’s pharoah position.

Marara – She wrote about Cleopatra’s intelligent alliances and relationships, she had with other pharoah’s and powerful rulers.

Aurora – And Aurora wrote about Cleopatra not being of Egyptian descent, but yet still showcasing Egyptian traditions, and fashion to gain followers. Portraying herself as a traditional and natural born Pharaoh queen.

These were all our Ideas about Cleopatra and what her leadership traits were like as Queen of Egypt.

In Social Studies, we’ve been learning about culture this whole term. We’ve compared different cultures, and learned about different cultures.  looked at the things different people wear, and the music different people listen to.

An example of what we’ve done is this poster I made overlooking the Kimono. A traditional Japanese “dress”, and the pattern and colour significance a Kimono holds.  –> Kimono

For this poster I also included some facts I thought were interesting, one thing that wowed me the most was that unmarried women wear Kimonos with long sleeves. While married women wear short sleeves, It’s a random little fact i would’ve never known until I researched about Kimonos. I found this with the other things i researched as well. When i compared Greece to Maori culture. In Maori culture, we tend to have a LOT of wind themed instruments while Greek people have a lot of string themed instruments. Although in Kappa Haka a guitar is always used, traditional Maori instruments do not use strings for the use of the instruments imitating bird calls, since that was Maori’s first only native animal. And needing to announce things quickly over a distance. Each wind instrument has a different purpose for announcing things like war, or child birth. Whereas Greek instruments were mainly used for entertainment, and enjoyment to their people or gods.

I found an interest in learning about different cultures, and learning about the different clothes, as well as music. I also think that having different cultures around the world is so cool, because it gives you a whole lot of different lifestyles and countries to explore.

– Mali 🙂

In social studies we were given the task to choose a europeon country to compare to New Zealand. Me and Indie (my group partner) chose Greece as our europeon country. We found several differences and a few similarities between our two countries. First we looked at food comparisons and differences. In Maori culture, we use a lot of meaty and fatty foods in our dishes. Like how Hangi includes lots of meat, and fatty vegetables such as potatoes. But for our poster 09082024130122-0001 (1)         <– this is our poster

We compared a Greek dish called Moussaka with a Maori dish known as boil up. The differences we found were funny since both of the dishes are sort of polar opposites. Moussaka is basically a healthy version of Lasnga. But instead of pasta sheets Greek people like to use eggplants for their layering, and it is a meaty type of relaxing dish. But Boil up on the other hand, includes a lot of vegetables and meat that are boiled in a stew. It’s a heavy traditional dish. The similarities between the two on the other hand don’t add up to a lot. The only things they have in common are the range of their vegetables in each dish, and the inclusion of meat.

We also had to compare the differences between each culture’s music. The instruments we picked were the Bouzouki and Pukaea. Bouzouki has a sharp sounding ring to it, and it’s also a string instrument. This instrument was also used for entertainment in Greek culture. With the Pukaea it is a war instrument that was used to announce a war. It’s also a wind instrument that is played by blowing into it. The Pukaea Holds a symbol of importance in Maori instruments.

The similarities these instruments have with each other is, they both are made of wood, they both are used in events and social gatherings, and they both are the leading instruments when both being played. Greek music and Maori music also include a lot of interest in giving to their gods. Greek music was seen as a gift to their gods, whereas Maori music is mainly about gods and legends. As well as war.  These are the interesting similarities we found between Greek and Maori music, and Greek and Maori food. We both find Greek culture and Maori culture awesome and they both have their differences as well as similarities.  – by Mali & Indie.

Cultures all have very important aspects, such as food, music, history, animals, plants, games, languages, and facial features. These are all important aspects because not only can they tell you about where a person is from, it can somewhat tell you about their personal identity. They may be someone really proud of where they’re from and wear their own traditional clothing. Like how Maori people wear taonga, or Indian people wear a sari (traditional Indian dress). Or how music produced from certain artists include different languages or meanings. Their music could be about their peoples troubles over the years, because they are unique to their country:(Such as Kapahaka being unique to the Maori, Indians with their unique dances/Music, cook islanders/ Fijians with their Hula dances/Music is unique to them. Etc.)with the uniqueness 

Although, culture and personal identity aren’t always connected. Sometimes different cultures’ foods  make themselves more known in other places. Like how tikka masala is more popular in the UK than other traditional UK foods: Such as Steak and kidney pie, and fish and chips.)tikka masala was originated from scotland but it made its way into england and became a traditional food because of how popular it got. Other people can enjoy other cultures’ food and events, even though it isn’t from their cultural background. Because you can taste what ingredients other countries have put in their foods.

Cultures all have very important aspects, such as food, music, history, animals, plants, games, languages, and facial features. These are all important aspects because not only can they tell you about where a person is from, it can somewhat tell you about their personal identity. They may be someone really proud of where they’re from and wear their own traditional clothing. Like how Maori people wear taonga, or Indian people wear a sari (traditional Indian dress). Or how music produced from certain artists include different languages or meanings. Their music could be about their peoples troubles over the years, because they are unique to their country:(Such as Kapahaka being unique to the Maori, Indians with their unique dances/Music, cook islanders/ Fijians with their Hula dances/Music is unique to them. Etc.)with the uniqueness 

-Chicken Tikka Masala

Have you ever been to other countries?

Thank you: Mali Johnston & Indie Thomson