Explore a whakaahua | photo

The ‘Explore a whakaahua | photo’ 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 whakaahua | photo (pdf, 293KB).

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

Screenshot of the ‘Explore a whakaahua | photo’ 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 photo is [select one]:

    • black and white

    • colour.

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

    • people

    • places

    • objects

    • events.

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

    • its title

    • who took it

    • its date

    • its location.

Urupare | Respond — my feelings, ideas and thoughts

  1. When I look at this photo, 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 photo makes me think about … [complete the sentence].

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

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].