Tech Opportunities in Term 2
Ideas to light the digital spark in your classroom ✨
Kia ora e te whānau kaiako 👋
We know the curriculum is full and the school year moves fast. That’s why one of the most effective ways to include digital technologies is to connect them with the learning already happening in your classroom.
Whether it’s seasonal changes, school-wide events, or national celebrations like Matariki and NZ Music Month, Term 2 offers plenty of natural opportunities to bring in purposeful tech learning without adding pressure.
This blog is your self-directed PD pit stop, packed with practical ideas, classroom-ready links, and the “why” behind each suggestion. It’s designed to help you feel confident dipping your toes in or diving deeper into digital technologies this term.
🌌 Matariki: Exploring the Skies Through Digital Learning
Matariki offers a rich cultural context that makes it an ideal anchor for integrating digital technologies, from storytelling and coding to sky navigation and digital design.
Why it works:
The Matariki cluster signals the Māori New Year and encourages reflection, renewal, and celebration. It also aligns beautifully with the kinds of observation, design thinking and creativity that digital technologies thrive on
How to bring it into the classroom:
Junior learners can explore “Matariki: Twinkling Stars” on ScratchJr to create animated stories that introduce each star and its meaning.
Primary and intermediate students can dive into “Navigating the Matariki Cluster” with Bee/Blue-Bots, learning basic algorithms while “travelling” across a classroom star map.
Seniors and confident coders can take on the challenge of building a 3D Matariki Star Map in Tinkercad using real astronomical data.
Want to explore the stars outside the classroom? Try the Stellarium app, which lets learners observe constellations in Te Reo Māori and English, a great bridge between science, language and mātauranga Māori.
Bonus: Matariki Moonhack is a global event encouraging kids to create and share their own code projects. Try digital storytelling in both English and Te Reo Māori.
🏃♀️ Cross Country: Steps, Sensors and Coding in Motion
Yup, Term 2 usually means cross country and it’s the perfect chance to bring coding into the physical world.
Why it works:
Tamariki love movement, and linking digital learning with physical activity creates a high-engagement, kinaesthetic learning moment. This one’s also a sneaky way to introduce variables and inputs without needing any prior tech confidence.
How to do it:
Use Microsoft MakeCode to code a step counter on a micro:bit. Students can simulate their code, then download it to a real micro:bit.
Tuck the device in a sock, loop the battery pack through their shoelaces, and off they go.
Have tamariki compare results, talk about accuracy, and brainstorm how to improve their code or hardware setup.
Great for Year 4 and up, this activity turns PE into project-based tech learning with minimal setup.
🌱 Tech & Te Taiao: Seasons, Stories and Observation
Aotearoa’s natural environment is a taonga, and so is the opportunity to connect it with digital tech.
Why it works:
Observing changes in the season, the environment, and celestial movements taps into curiosity and encourages learners to document, reflect and ask questions. When paired with digital tools, it empowers them to become creators and explorers.
How to do it:
Get tamariki outdoors to take photos or short videos of what they see: trees changing, bugs buzzing, clouds shifting. Use these as the basis for storytelling or inquiry projects. Find out more about digital storytelling here
Use multimedia tools to record, reflect and present what they discover. Here’s an easy resource on taking photos using birdwatching
Introduce the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) and observe how moon phases align with environmental changes. This blends science, tikanga Māori and digital capability in one beautiful learning thread.
Need a digital project idea? Create a time-lapse video diary, a moon-phase tracker, or a class blog documenting seasonal shifts.
🎵 NZ Music Month: Remix Identity Through Sound
May is NZ Music Month, a celebration of local sounds, stories, and identity.
Why it works:
Music and tech are a natural fit. Students can create, remix, and share using tools that are accessible and empowering. It also creates a platform to talk about cultural identity, history, and the digital tools shaping creative industries.
How to do it:
Use this fun Program a Piano resource using Scratch to get students exploring NZ music and coding (Great for years 5-8)
Have a green screen (or something you can make into one)? Together with your class, learn the NZSL for Six60’s ‘Pepeha’ and film it. All instructions right here.
NZ Music Month isn’t just about the sound, and tech isn’t just about coding. The visual representations of music and how they’re digitally produced is an exciting pathway to explore. Dive into digital design and get students designing their own album cover art.
Feeling fancy? Use Scratch and a Makey Makey to turn everyday objects into musical instruments or compose original waiata and perform it live
Extra for experts: Experiment with digital audio workstations (DAWs) or even phone apps to create beats, loops and soundtracks
Encourage students to reflect on how they express themselves and their identity through sound or visual artwork for a rich inquiry.
💡 Techweek: Inspiration from the Wider World
Techweek usually runs in May (19th - 25th in 2025) and showcases the best of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity across Aotearoa.
Why it works:
It gives ākonga a glimpse into real-world applications of what they’re learning, from robotics and AI to video games and environmental tech.
How to engage your class:
Look for local Techweek events, expos or webinars, many are whānau-friendly and classroom-accessible
Use it as a launchpad for a class inquiry into “The Future of Tech” or career pathways in the digital space
Invite a local tech guest (in-person or online) to talk about their mahi and inspire tamariki to dream big
Use Techweek to expand horizons and start a kōrero about what the future could look like and how your learners might help shape it.
🎒 Wrapping it up: Small steps, big impact
Finding time for something new can be a challenge, we get it. But by weaving digital technologies into what’s already happening in Term 2, you’re not just ticking boxes — you’re creating richer, more relevant learning experiences for your ākonga.
Each of these ideas is about working smarter, not harder. Using the momentum of the term to explore tech in ways that are meaningful, local, and fun. Whether you try one activity or a handful, your learners will benefit from seeing that tech is not just a subject… it’s a tool, a language, and a bridge to the future.
🧭 Explore more ideas and resources in your Digital Pīkau, our free virtual backpack for kaiako across Aotearoa
👉 Jump into the Digital Pīkau
Mā te wā
The Digital Pīkau team