Kakaramea School pupils trek through time with Whanganui visit

A small room in the Sarjeant Art Gallery on Taupo Quay is a hub of Kakaramea School pupil activity.

Inside, they are planning how to create their dioramas, they're taking instructions, cutting shapes and working together to create the best dinosaur that they can.

Almost 50 pupils from the primary school in Patea have made the trip to Whanganui as part of their trekking through time inquiry project.

Kakaramea School teacher Kylie Manson said the next stop will be the Whanganui Regional Museum.

"We're going to go and look at bones and fossils there, so that ties in nicely. We're trying to link things as much as possible," Manson says.

"This is a follow on from our inquiry last term which was based on permian monsters, we're merging it into walking with the dinosaurs and we've got a big focus on sculpture."

Manson said that creating dioramas would get the students thinking, show off their creativity and have them asking plenty of questions.

The completed products will be on display at an end of term showcase, which will feature projects from throughout the past two terms, as well as a prehistoric production.

Manson said it was very important to get the students out of the classroom and into places like the gallery and museum.

"They're learning from the experts and they see the possibilities of where they might be able to take themselves in the future.

"We've got budding artists in our school, it's important that the children are able to express themselves and explore learning in a different way."

The pupils also had the chance to visit Puke Ariki museum and library in New Plymouth last term.

"We go out quite often, we're very lucky to have such a supportive community, we ask for help and we get it," Manson says.

"The feedback students give you and the enthusiasm they get from it is just next level."