The Arts · Inquiry A · Years 7–8
He Kōrero Auaha: Art That Speaks
You have something to express — about your place, your identity, or an issue you care about. Artists translate ideas into form so others feel and understand.
Your mission
Why it matters
Creating meaning is a deliberate process: respond, experiment, refine, present.
- You'll make
- An original work with artist statement for class exhibition or school performance.
- Who it's for
- Class exhibition or school performance
- How long
- About 4 weeks, in any term
- Who takes part
- The whole Years 7–8 class, together
Your first step
Choose your idea in one sentence. Collect three stimulus images or sounds. Sketch or trial two different ways to express the same idea.
Your journey: CREATE
- Connect
- Respond
- Experiment
- Arrange
- Transform
- Exhibit
Every stage has Getting started, On track and Stretch support, so the whole class can work on it together.
Explore more
Trusted New Zealand sites for your research.
- Te Papa Collections Online ↗
Te Papa
Artworks by New Zealand artists to respond to.
- NZ On Screen ↗
NZ On Air
New Zealand film, music video and performance.
For teachers: how to run it
Build in critique circles with descriptive feedback. Document process in photos. Celebrate exhibition as audience moment.
Run it with a combined Years 7–8 class in any term. Students record each stage in Kōkiri Learn; you see progress by stage, never rankings or scores.
Ready to run it with your class?
Free trial for NZ schools. One combined Years 7–8 class, any term.