FLAX HARAKEKE
With special flax ropes, Maui and his brothers snared the sun …
Introduction
Using plants to weave as well as making ropes and cloth has been part of all cultures for a long time. Many of these plants are still used today such as cotton, flax, hemp and sisal.
You are to design a poster on the uses of flax by Maori. In your poster you will include the science and technology in the harvesting of flax, rope making and weaving. Where possible try to find out the names in Te Reo.
Harvesting flax
• Use the booklets provided to draw a diagram of a flax plant. Label the new and old leaves in English and Maori. Show on your diagram which leaves are used for weaving and rope making and explain why they are chosen. Also show how the leaves are cut so as not to destroy the plant. Describe how new flax plants are grown.
Making rope
• Draw diagrams with captions to show how the leaves are made into rope.
• Draw a picture showing the structural parts of the flax leaf that form the rope fibres (muka). You will need to look back at your Green Machine notes.
• Make a piece of rope using only one flax leaf and find out how much force is needed to break your rope. Find out if the strength of the flax is changed when the rope is wet. Stick a sample of your rope on your poster. Draw a diagram of how you tested the breaking force along with your results and conclusion.
Uses of flax rope
• Using the booklets provided, draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be made from flax rope. Explain how these objects are used by Maori and any special properties of the flax rope that make it a good natural material for its use. You may like to make some of these objects and demonstrate their use to the class.
Flax weaving
• Weave some flax using either your own pattern or one of the patterns provided. Fasten your weaving to your poster.
• Draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be woven from flax. Find out any special properties of flax that make it a good natural material for weaving.
Other uses of flax
• Using the resources provided, research other uses of flax. Describe each use and where possible illustrate with diagrams. You may like to make some of these items and include them on your poster.
Life on a flax bush
• Use the resource sheet to describe how at least four living things feed on flax. Include drawings of these animals and explain which part of the flax they feed on. For each animal explain whether it is harmful or helpful to the flax.
With special flax ropes, Maui and his brothers snared the sun …
Introduction
Using plants to weave as well as making ropes and cloth has been part of all cultures for a long time. Many of these plants are still used today such as cotton, flax, hemp and sisal.
You are to design a poster on the uses of flax by Maori. In your poster you will include the science and technology in the harvesting of flax, rope making and weaving. Where possible try to find out the names in Te Reo.
Harvesting flax
• Use the booklets provided to draw a diagram of a flax plant. Label the new and old leaves in English and Maori. Show on your diagram which leaves are used for weaving and rope making and explain why they are chosen. Also show how the leaves are cut so as not to destroy the plant. Describe how new flax plants are grown.
Making rope
• Draw diagrams with captions to show how the leaves are made into rope.
• Draw a picture showing the structural parts of the flax leaf that form the rope fibres (muka). You will need to look back at your Green Machine notes.
• Make a piece of rope using only one flax leaf and find out how much force is needed to break your rope. Find out if the strength of the flax is changed when the rope is wet. Stick a sample of your rope on your poster. Draw a diagram of how you tested the breaking force along with your results and conclusion.
Uses of flax rope
• Using the booklets provided, draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be made from flax rope. Explain how these objects are used by Maori and any special properties of the flax rope that make it a good natural material for its use. You may like to make some of these objects and demonstrate their use to the class.
Flax weaving
• Weave some flax using either your own pattern or one of the patterns provided. Fasten your weaving to your poster.
• Draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be woven from flax. Find out any special properties of flax that make it a good natural material for weaving.
Other uses of flax
• Using the resources provided, research other uses of flax. Describe each use and where possible illustrate with diagrams. You may like to make some of these items and include them on your poster.
Life on a flax bush
• Use the resource sheet to describe how at least four living things feed on flax. Include drawings of these animals and explain which part of the flax they feed on. For each animal explain whether it is harmful or helpful to the flax.
Tungia te ururoa, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu a te harakeke
Burn the undergrowth so the flax will shoot up.
(Clear away what is bad and the good will flourish.)
Resources
• ‘Flax – harakeke’ colour booklet, Christchurch City Council
• ‘Te Ao Kohatu – Maori Technology’ Auckland Museum www.akmuseum.org.nz
• ‘Flax – harakeke’ sheet p30,31
• ‘Preparing flax for weaving and rope making’ www.alibrown.co.nz/preparing-flax
• ‘Flax – The enduring fibre”, New Zealand Geographic, Number 42, April – June 1999
• ‘Fun with flax”, Mick Prendergast, Reed
No comments:
Post a Comment