New Zealand’s GLAM sector holds a wealth of local and national taonga including artefacts, photographs, artworks, books, documents, diaries, letters, digital media, and articles. The GLAM sector includes nationally and regionally funded facilities and services, and smaller local volunteer spaces. 

Teachers and students can work with the GLAM sector to:

  • understand the big ideas of Aotearoa New Zealand histories
  • learn about significant national and local people, events, and changes  
  • think critically about the past and interpret stories about it
  • engage with primary sources of history for first-hand, eyewitness accounts. 

Finding GLAM facilities and services

To make use of, and build connections with the GLAM sector, you need to identify what organisations are available in your area. The following four websites are good places to begin a search:

Larger GLAM organisations such as Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi, Te Papa, and the National Library have online collections and programmes to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories. 

Supporting learning about Aotearoa New Zealand's histories

Before you plan a school visit to a GLAM organisation, take time to visit yourself to:

  • view the taonga
  • meet with GLAM personnel
  • determine how their assets, exhibits, and personnel can support learning about Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories. 

You could visit a GLAM facility with your teaching team or entire staff. During your visit, consider and discuss the following questions:

  • What stories and perspectives about Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories are shared at this venue? 
  • How do these stories and perspectives relate to the Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories curriculum?   
  • How would a school visit to this venue deepen and enhance learning for ākonga? 
  • How can people who work in the GLAM sector support my own learning and students’ learning about Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories? 

Building relationships with GLAM people will add value and enable you to incorporate relevant knowledge into your teaching programme. Many people in GLAM organisations are responsive to schools and can tailor visits to suit your needs and topics. They may even be willing to visit schools to share their knowledge. This can be a dynamic and useful partnership to explore new opportunities, fresh thinking, and feedback. 

    Planning a school visit

    Once you have decided on a GLAM facility to visit with your students, work with GLAM staff to plan the details. Make sure that you have a shared understanding of what you want to get out of the visit and work collaboratively to design a rich agenda of learning. Things to consider:

    • What big idea/s do we want to explore through our visit?
    • What national, rohe and/or local contexts bring the big ideas to life?
    • What inquiry practices can the students use to think critically about the past?
    • When is the best time to visit? Consider the stage of inquiry and a suitable day and time. 

    Once you have established the purpose, objectives, and timing of the trip you can begin to prepare your students. This might involve:

    • completing classroom activities to build prior knowledge, curiosity, and questions 
    • going over practices and procedures for EOTC safety
    • creating a list of questions for ākonga to work through during the trip 
    • designing follow up classroom work to build on the understandings and skills gained. 

    Possible questions for ākonga to ask

    • What do I see, feel, think and hear?
    • What do I want to know more about?
    • Whose stories are being told?
    • Is there another perspective to these stories? 
    • What’s missing? Why?
    • How do these histories relate to present day life?