“Our Crafts are National Living Treasures”        

 

"Hands On Math's" : Okka Wikka Curriculum Structure

 

Links to Ethno mathematics

Educational Outcomes

Patterns

Class structure and delivery

Trainee teachers

Fibres

 

Links to Ethno mathematics

http://www.ethnomath.org/about.asp

http://www.science.org.au/nova/073/073sit.htm

 

Educational Outcomes

  1. All craft taught reinforces the primary Motor Nerve connections necessary to develop numeracy and literacy skills. Left right brain connection, hand eye coordination.
  2. Many of the patterns contain the archetypal /primary building patterns: cornerstones for all form.
  3. Geometry and  Math's principals are conveyed through 'Hands on Experience'.  
  4. These patterns such as string making belong to the Collective Memory and thus through simple folk craft the student is actively connected to a living continuum.
  5. Self esteem building underlies every lesson. What you make is what you take away. Every student has ownership thru making .

Patterns  

String: Fibres are prepared lying in a parallel bundle and twisted until when released it blips towards a solid bundle creating 2 threads running in the same direction.

 With this bundle held in one hand the 2 threads are worked by the other hand where each fibre is twisted away then pulled forward locking the thread into a double helix binding.

This double helix is the structure of our DNA threads.

 

              

 

 

Fish: This is a primary weaving lesson.  A coconut leaf is split off its rib. One side is wrapped about the hand WARP then the other side is woven in and out this set. WEFT.

                    

 

Because there are hundreds of relevant patterns, student skill is developed according to each lessons needs, time and interest.

15 headbands

40 animals

Food packaging contains plutonic solid models such as cubes, iconodedral and pure mathematical equations.

80 more toys and decorations

String body decoration bangles and necklaces

Children 4-7 years old Pre School – Grade 3

   1. Windmill   

 2.Bamboo leaf

3.Butterfly    4.Snake      5.Johnathan Fish                             

Simple cutting and folding products introduce and engage the student.                                         

Children  Grade 3 - up

1. Quack Quack Bird      2. Marlin     

3.Bird of Paradise   4. Star   5.Frog       6. Yabbie

 6. Grasshopper     7.Cockatoo    8. Pine tree   

Headbands:

   

1. Round    

2. Lightning rod        

3.Guam   

These patterns hold sophisticated mathematical and geometric language in simple 15 minute lessons 

Children Grade 6 - up

These 2 classes are exciting as they make practical products

Simple Platter Bag   Disk Hat

          

 

 Kites:

We developed the "World's Smallest Kite " as a bomb proof kite design easily self made by 5 year old up

1/3  2/3  asymmetrical cut paper, split kebab stick or coconut leaf rib, cotton wound onto cardboard              

Great flying lesson

Any numbers of students can engage this 20 minute kite building lesson, 20 min flying

 

 

    

                             

 

Class structure and delivery:

The day is run as a school or class Event Day.

Primary lessons in fine motor coordination are passed on with in a 10 - 30 minute class.

Children access that memory quickly and retentativly

We encourage participation in our program by any school community, parents or friends.

 

  PEER Teaching : We encourage Peer Teaching models:        

 

In a school day timetable  / 3 teaching sessions

 

String bangle and necklace

Coconut leaf woven Fish

 

Headband

2 more leaf patterns

 

Kite making and flying.

 

Cottage Industry Enrichment Program:

 A4 printouts available from our website.               

 

Teacher Training: Our program has 25 years committed teaching teachers

 Indigenous Pacific Basin Cultural background are the target Teacher Trainees      

 The curriculum is designed to be relevant to all teacher trainee programs

 Techniques are learnt in 5 minutes but the class teaching practice needs individual development

We have experienced many teacher trainee pick up our style and are competent teachers in a days session

 

Events:

As community artists we have often adopted our program to visual arts performance for the local event

E.g. Coconut leaves wrap all the trees and power poles with braided leaf, Balinese’s style event decorations,

Entrance Gates thatched with woven palm leaves, Costumes;  

We encourage integrated community participation in all programs       

                

 

Fibers:

All products can be made in school with fibers accessible to any coastal tropical township.

All fibers are in the students landscape and thus feely accessible and renewable.

These fibers are a free education resource for the gathering. 

Click link: Fibers