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Ata – Resource collection

Ata is a collection of cards and activities for teaching and learning social and emotional skills, knowledge, and strategies. Using these resources will help ākonga build awareness of themselves and others as they practise skills and develop strategies that help them live and learn together better.

Banner for the resource collection with the words ‘Ata: big stuff and tricky things’.

Tags

  • AudienceKaiako
  • Learning AreaHealth and PE
  • Progression rangeYears 4-6
  • Resource LanguageEnglish

About this resource

Ata is a resource comprising cards and activities designed to teach social and emotional skills, aiding ākonga to understand themselves and others better. The collection focuses on self-regulation, co-regulation, goal setting, decision-making, managing challenges, and navigating emotions, fostering improved collaboration and learning. Developed from the key competencies of Relating to others and Managing oneself, these resources can help students unlock their potential in culturally relevant ways, with adaptable activities for learners from years four to 10, usable individually or in groups, and provided as free downloadable materials.

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    Ata: Resource collection

    These skills and strategies include self-regulation and co-regulation through goal setting, decision-making, identifying and strategically responding to challenges, and recognising and navigating emotions. 

    By using the elements of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) - developed from Relating to others and Managing self key competencies - we can help ākonga realise their potential through mana-enhancing, socially located, and culturally sustaining ways. 

    Teachers can tailor the activities in the Ata collection to suit learners from years four to 10 in various learning areas and individualised or group settings. Ākonga can use the activities one at a time or in almost any sequence. 

    The cards, activities, and teacher support materials provided in this collection are available as free, downloadable, printable files. 

    Social and Emotional Learning 

    To find out more about these activities, please visit the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) support and collections pages. 

    View professional learning support

    View the related Oho - resource collection

    Activities

    • Elements Puzzle
      Explore the elements and key competencies. Combine the matching parts to discover their meaning. 
    • Sorting emotions
      Choose five emotions and sort them on a scale. There’s also a gameplay version. 
    • Developing strategies
      Exploring the challenges we face and developing strategies to navigate them. 
    • Approaching challenges
      Using the Element, Challenge and Approach cards, along with the Approaching challenges activity sheet, learners can find ways to approach challenges. 
    • Check-in
      Check-in and notice how you have faced challenges. 
    • Learning stories
      Plan your learning conferences. Choose an element to focus on. Then, choose a context where you will apply this focus. 

    Downloads 

    See Materials that come with this resource to download:

    • Ata blank cards (printable) (.pdf)
      Blank Ata cards in an A3-size printable format. Use for capturing ideas and customising the resource. 
    • Ata teacher support material (.pdf)
      Teachers support material for all activities in the Ata resource collection. 

    To order a copy of Ata and Oho please email [email protected]

    About the name and artwork 

    Ata is a word rich with meaning. It can mean the dawn, which talks broadly about Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother's creation story, and our appearance as tāngata into the world of light, Te Ao Mārama and the world of enlightenment. The new day as a metaphor also talks about new opportunities. Ata can also mean reflection or reflected image — this relates to the social and emotional learning mahi, in that the resource, imagery, and kōrero provoke thought, conversation, and reflection. 

    Big stuff & tricky things. A playful reference to the fact that exploring social and emotional learning can be a tricky but rewarding journey. 

    The Ata box artwork is inspired by the designs of traditional waka huia, papa hou or treasure boxes. The intricate illustrations are treasures in their own right — they are indicative of the rich and rewarding journeys that the resources inside can enable. 

    Credits 

    Co-designed for The Ministry of Education by Chrometoaster and IDIA | Indigenous Design & Innovation Aotearoa. 

    Co-design team: 

    Chrometoaster — George Frost, Aaron McKirdy, Qudsia Rashdi, David Read, and Dave Turnbull; IDIA — Miriame Barbarich, John Moore, and Dr Johnson Witehira; Cat Lunjevich; Judy Cochrane; Nic Gorman; Leanne Stubbing; Chrystal Doller; Ellie Tofts; Conrad Nepe Apatu; NZCER — Dr Rosemary Hipkins, Rachel Bolstad; Ben Sedley; Dr Melinda Webber; Nathan Wallis; Aatea Solutions; CreativeHQ; Dr Sonja Macfarlane; Dr Stuart McNaughton. 

    Informed by the research of: 

    Ted Glynn, Waiariki Grace, Dr. Angus Macfarlane, and Dr. Wally Penetito. 

    Thanks to: 

    New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), Curriculum Progress and Achievement Ministerial Advisory Group, and the schools, teachers, and learners who contributed and trialled resources. Special thanks to Newlands Intermediate School and Wainuiomata Primary School.