South Canterbury Museum Educators at Caroline Bay to meet students from Waimataitai Primary School and share stories and history that inspired the playground design. Photo: Roselyn Fauth
Timaru, New Zealand - March 11, 2024
Timaru's latest landmark, the CPlay playground at Caroline Bay, isn't just about swings and slides; it's a living classroom. Local educators from the South Canterbury Museum are utilizing this $3 million community-built playground as a tool for hands-on learning about the region's rich heritage.
The Heritage Education Service, operating for nearly two decades, has found a new platform for engaging young minds. By integrating local history into play-based learning, children can explore everything from mana whenua creation stories to the heroic feats of the Rocket Brigade in the 1870s.
"It's not just about teaching from a standard curriculum; it's about embracing our unique identity," says Keely, a Museum Educator. "By anchoring our lessons in our local heritage, we can ensure that every child's educational experience is meaningful and relevant."
The playground's design reflects a deep dive into Timaru's past. Volunteers worked closely with various community organizations, including the South Canterbury Museum, Aigantighe Art Gallery, and Timaru District Libraries, to incorporate themes of creation stories, geology, Mahika kai, shipwrecks, and port history.
"It was important to us to get this right," says CPlay Volunteer Roselyn Fauth. "We wanted educators to visit the playground and deliver lessons in a playful way."
Indeed, the playground has become a dynamic space for learning. As children climb, swing, and explore, they're also absorbing local history. Interactive signage and exhibits provide nuggets of information about the natural environment and indigenous culture, aligning seamlessly with the New Zealand education curriculum.
"The aim is to help foster a deeper connection to the past and the community in a playful way at the new Caroline Bay Playground," adds Fauth.
One notable feature in development is the 'story circle,' which will showcase local art and artifacts, further enriching the educational experience for locals and visitors alike.
"We are already seeing students visiting the playground and learning about where we live," says Fauth.
Schools have eagerly embraced this innovative approach to education, with classes regularly visiting the playground accompanied by museum educators. Lessons are held in the playground's whare, where students learn about local fauna like tuna (eels) and immerse themselves in role-playing scenarios, such as simulating a ship in distress.
The success of the CPlay playground underscores a broader shift in education towards experiential learning and community engagement. By intertwining local histories and stories into the playground, educators are creating meaningful connections for students, ensuring a vibrant future rooted in the region's past.
The South Canterbury Museum educators visit the playground with a school class to deliver a mahika kai lesson. The whare themes and information panel was perfect location to help student learn about the world around them. - Photo Roselyn Fauth
School education lesson in the whare, learning about tuna (eels) - Photo Roselyn Fauth
School class visit enjoy imaging they are on a ship in trouble. - Photo Roselyn Fauth
Waimataitai held a after school meet the teacher event. - Photo Roselyn Fauth
Some of the many students that have visited the playground with the schools. - Supplied by Waimataitai School
Artworks made by students at Waimataitai School inspired by the Caroline Bay Playground
South Canterbury Museum Educators at Caroline Bay to meet students from Waimataitai Primary School and share stories and history that inspired the playground design. Photo: Roselyn Fauth
Waimataitai School class visit to learn about Timaru's history. Photo: Roselyn Fauth
Article by The Timaru Courier
New playground a hit for all ages
CLAIRE.ALLISON @timarucourier.co.nz
The new Caroline Bay playground is proving 15 times more popular than its predecessor.
Timaru District Council parks and recreation manager Bill Steans said the playground
— which officially opened in December — was drawing visitors from Canterbury, Otago and Southland for repeat visits.
Those using the facility ranged from 2 to 92 years old, and at times, the number of people enjoying CPlay had been impossible to count.
‘‘On occasions there have been more people using the playground than the thousands attending the free [Caroline Bay] carnival concerts.
Mr Steans said the playground was in use from dawn to dusk.
‘‘It has been difficult to find time to clean and inspect equipment. The popularity of CPlay is 15 times that of the previous playground at the same site. This is evidenced by having to install additional bins for waste and recycling.’’
CPlay is also the latest educational tool for the Heritage Education Service, based at the South Canterbury Museum.
Schools can explore the $3 million community-built playground to learn about local history from mana whenua creation stories right through to the daring rescues performed by the Rocket Brigade in the 1870s.
Museum educators expand on the stories introduced by the playground with free programmes that align with recent changes made to the government curriculum, emphasising local history.
CPlay volunteer Rose Fauth said a ‘‘story circle’’ with informative signs was under development and would feature local art and artefacts from galleries and museums to help locals and visitors learn more as they played.
Mrs Fauth has worked alongside the museum educators to develop a guide that helps explain the stories that inspired CPlay. The guide is available from the South Canterbury Museum, Timaru Information Centre or the CPlay website.
Mrs Fauth said the community wanted to see local stories in the playground, and the committee had worked hard to learn about the Timaru district and the history and stories of Caroline Bay.
‘‘We are grateful for the support we have received from The South Canterbury Museum, Aigantighe Art Gallery and Timaru District Libraries, Arowhenua, Te Ana Rock Art Centre and the many teachers and students who helped us identify what to include in the playground to help make our locals’ and visitors’ play even more meaningful.
‘‘It is an unusual approach, and we are already seeing students visiting the playground and learning about where we live.’’