Whakaropiropi ai
This activity resource from "Tākaro ā-ringa - Hand games", is part of the resource collection Te Ao Kori.
About this resource
This activity resource has instructions that help kaiako support ākonga in playing whakaropiropi ai, practising safe and fair play practices, and identifying and comparing ways that playing games competitively can impact friendship.
Kaiako can adapt and develop activities from the "Tākaro ā-ringa - Hand games" (years 1–8), which is part of the resource collection, Te Ao Kori, to meet the identified learning needs of ākonga.
Whakaropiropi ai
Explore the resource collection, Te Ao Kori
This activity resource from "Tākaro ā-ringa - Hand games", is part of the resource collection Te Ao Kori.
Tākaro ā-ringa - Hand games collection
Background information
Te Ao Kori collection
Tātaiako cultural competencies for teachers of Māori learners
Intended outcomes
Ākonga can:
- play whakaropiropi ai and identify what made the experience enjoyable
- play whakaropiropi ai and demonstrate safe and fair play practices
- identify and compare ways that playing games competitively can impact on friendships.
Suggested approach
Whakaropiropi ai is played with two people facing each other. The two will start the game by beating their thighs with the palms of their hands in unison.
One of the two, the defender, will begin the game by calling to the other, "Whakaropiropi ai", and the challenger replies "Āe".
The defender then calls "Tēnei mea te hōmai" and chooses one of the five actions described below:
- Arms at the side of the body, bent at the elbows to point at the opponent, with both fists clenched.
- Arms at the side of the body, bent at the elbows to point at the opponent, with both hands open, fingers extended, and pointing away from the body.
- Arms at the side of the body, bent at the elbows to point at the opponent, both hands open with the fingers extended and fingertips touching to form an A shape.
- Arms at the side of the body, bent at the elbows to point at the opponent, both hands open with the fingers extended and fingertips touching to form a V shape.
- Arms at the side of the body, bent at the elbows to point at the opponent, both hands open with the fingers extended and the right extended fingers, on top of the left extended fingers.
The challenger then replies with, "Hōmai" and chooses a different action from the defender. This continues to and fro until one player unwittingly does the same action as the other. In other words, one player has been "tricked" into doing the same action as the other player.
At the completion of the game, ākonga will discuss how the points were won.
Ākonga then get into teams of four and play Whakaropiropi Ai in a round robin as for Hei tama tū tama.
As a class, ākonga share and record different responses from their group about winning and losing, and how people behaved differently.
Ākonga discuss the effect of some behaviours on relationships and friendships between class members, discuss how to show acceptance of success and disappointment, and discuss the importance of playing games, such as these hand games, just for fun.
Ākonga play another round of one of the hand games and use behaviours and strategies that enable them to play competitively and fairly. Ākonga reflect on their own play and identify how they behaved differently.
Ākonga can consider questions such as:
- How does your behaviour affect others around you?
- What behaviours or strategies encourage you to get along better with others?
- Identify ways in which we can behave to support positive relationships with those we play with and against.
- How can you remember to use positive strategies and behaviours in future competitive situations?