- PATTERNS AND SYMBOLS -

SIGN OF THE TIMES

There are many patterns, designs and symbols that each of us identify with. What are some of the symbols you identify with, what do they stand for and/or mean, where have they come from and where would you be likely to see them?

For example:

• The silver fern is seen on New Zealand sports teams uniforms.
• The Koru, which is a spiral pattern whose shape is based on the new fronds of the punga tree and represents new life and new beginnings. This symbol is used in Maori art and as the symbol for Air New Zealand.
• The English Rose
• Celtic spirals, which are ancient patterns that still appear in designs today.

Look at home, school and around your community for more symbols and patterns, find out some information about them and draw or photograph them. Share the results of your research with your paired school.

Work with your pair school to design a new combined symbol. The symbol may include patterns and designs from both regions or they may be new ideas that you both agree to use.

The new symbol you design needs to represent both groups and how you have come together to work on these projects. The finished product might be a useful `signature' that you can use on the projects you do in pairs, so that everybody knows it was a combined British/NZ effort.

National Curriculum areas covered:
New Zealand - Level 4
Social Studies	Technology	English	Maths	Art
Strand B1	Strand A 3 Strand B5, 6abcd	Viewing 1,2,3,4 Presenting 1,2,3,4	Geometry 1,8 Measurement 2	Objectives 1-10
Britain - Stage 3
Art
1, 2, 3, 4, 5abc, 6, 7bdef, 8cdef, 9abcde