Explore a mahi toi | artwork

The ‘Explore a mahi toi | artwork’ tool introduces ākonga (students) to primary source analysis. Download and print the tool and use its easy-to-follow prompts and icons to spark curiosity. Our simple text version provides an accessible option for ākonga.

Download/print the tool

Explore a mahi toi | artwork (pdf, 327KB).

Next, introduce ākonga to exploring artwork by working through the prompts in the printed tool.

Screenshot of the ‘Explore a mahi toi | artwork’ tool.

Simple text, accessible version

Ākonga respond to the following prompts and questions.

What am I learning about?

I am learning about … [complete the sentence].

Āta tirotiro | Observe — what can I see?

  1. This artwork is [select all that apply]:

    • a drawing

    • a painting

    • toi Māori

    • or, draw what it is in the blank space …

  2. Looking closely at this artwork, I can see [record which of the following you can see]:

    • people

    • places

    • objects

    • events.

  3. This artwork's caption tells me [record what the following tells you]:

    • its title

    • the artist's name

    • its date

    • its location.

Urupare | Respond — my feelings, ideas and thoughts

  1. When I look at this artwork, I feel [select all emoticons that apply]:

    • star-struck face

    • smiling face

    • uncertain face

    • surprised face

    • or, draw how you feel in the blank face …

  2. This artwork makes me think about … [complete the sentence].

  3. This is my drawing of the artwork. [Draw the artwork.]

Whakaaroaro | Reflect — what are my questions?

  1. I want to know … [complete the sentence].

  2. I can find more information from [select all that apply]:

    • my whānau

    • my kaiako

    • a library

    • a trusted website

    • I can find information from these other sources … [record who or where they are].

  3. My next steps are … [complete the sentence].