Tinder Box
Testimonials
A
few words from our satisfied clients. We would print them
all but there isn't enough space!
From Teachers
and Principals
Mauku School November 2008
Great resources - really
neat that the kids could have a play. thank you for visiting us again.
Tinder Box Comment:
I have visited Mauku school
three times. This time the teachers had selected the Victorian toy programme
which I have provided before. It was satisfying upon my arrival
to be approached by students who had seen the programme before, were obviously
older, but still remembered the the names of the toys and the
visit with pleasure.
Summerland School November
2008
All the students had a
great, positive experience. Thanks.
The afternoon sessions were a bit rushed because of the amount of toys to
look at (Toys before Electricity ( also known as Victorian toys)
Possibly a microphone may have helped to hear some of the comments
made, particularly at the beginning of the session.
Tinder Box Comment: Toys before electricity affords a
very exciting presentation for the students and they love playing with
the toys. Experience has shown me that the toy sessions could never
be long enough and students would happily play with the toys all day! The
Tinder box toy resources is extensive. However, I have to work within
the time frame. Sessions should be 40 minute minimum. Construction was
taking place on a building right alongside the hall and it was difficult to
compete with the noise. Unfortunately, I don't have a small Pa system
but will consider getting one for the future.
Waitoki School July 2008
The children were highly motivated by this programme. It was great
for them to see real artefacts from the past, that we have talked about in
class. Theyparticularly enjoyed playing with the Victorian toys - one child
said, she wished she lived in 1900! the toy making activity was excellent
and very well prepared! thank you Richard!
Cathy Kemp
Tinderbox
comment: Waitoki school selected a programme of Food for thought (original artifacts),
Victorian toys (Toys before electricity)
and Craft in support of the Victorian
toy activity (toy making). This was a visit
to a small school with 18 students participating, My third visit to
this school
Kingsway school July 2008
A most valuable learning experience for our students! Thank you!
Jenny Harvey
Tinderbox comment: Kingsway school selected
the Victorian toys (Toys before electricity) and Craft in support
of the Victorian toy activity (toy making). This was my first visit
to Kingsway school. There were 122 students seen in 5
classes over two days.
Stanmore Bay School
Very enjoyable - children really enjoyed the hands on times with
the toys. Mr. Lees was very knowledgeable and approachable
Thank you
Erin Surtees
Our Lady Sacred Heart
Fantastic resources. Perhaps more hands on available for juniors,
but well presented and all children can tell adults how to make butter.
An enjoyable day had by all.
Albany School
Your visit
was enjoyed by both staff and children alike! I have had so many
positive comments from other staff members and the children's work following
the visit is fantastic. Its so nice for children to gain an understanding
of the 'physics ' of simple toys and even more complicated ones -
as today's' 'push a button make it go toys'; lack this. The children
also really appreciated the hands on nature of the visit. I have given your
details on to other syndicates to use at future dates, and enclose a select
few pieces of writing from some of our 5 year olds. Thankyou!
Leanne.
Mt Eden
Normal School
(Mt Eden School
selected the Victorian toy presentation)
All teachers and
children really enjoyed and learnt heaps from your visit. We could
have spent longer playing but this is only what the children
expressed. Good information shared. Excellent hands on resources
Thanks
Grace Brougham.
Westminster Christian school
(West minster Christian school selected two toy activities.)
Absolutely fantastic.
Children fully participated in the program and felt they had really accomplished
something major in successfully
making a toy
Very interesting and excellent for getting creativity
going - they all want make their own toys now!
Laetitia Breytenback.
Weymouth School
- A photo and
explanation of each toy for reference.
- raised interest
level and knowledge of the children.
- All the children
were " absorbed."
- A great "hands
-on" delivery.
- Great "value
for money"
- Knowledgeable
presenter.
Thanks Richard.
The children and staff thoroughly enjoyed your visit - :
a "great springboard for our topic."
Waitoki School
The children were highly motivated with the "Tinder box"
presentation. They particularly enjoyed the toys section and being able to play with the toys
that are very different to their own.
The transport section was a
little less motivating but as you said this more difficult to get
across, with just photos to draw on as a resource.
Pomaria
Primary School Henderson
Pomaria
school selected a dual activity programme of Victorian toys and
Craft in support of toys.
Their syndicate wrote:
- Highly recommended
programme to other schools.
- Highly enjoyable,
informative, interactive.
- Children
get to work with materials, very much a hands on exhibition and
experience.
- Extremely
well organised!
- Children
were engaged, motivated, enthusiastic the whole time.
- Worksheets
were relevant to the topic and to the presentation. Thank you so much.
Point View School
Point View School
selected a three activity programme Victorian toys, Craft in support
of Toys and Food for Thought (original
artifacts).
Jean Mallinson for the middle syndicate wrote:
All activities,
were relevant to the curriculum, presentation of the activities was good.
Our expectations were met and the post-visit resources were useful.
Food for thought (original
artifacts) was very well presented and a nice contrast to the toy presentation
( the Victorian toy presentation.)
Craft in support of toys.(The toy making activity) Fantastic. Maybe more
time could be allowed.
Very valuable experience. A fabulous hands-on experience
- great to see boys so fully involved. Children intrigued by toys - all
wanted to have "these toys" now. Perhaps more time allowed in the "Toy
experience"
Presenters note: We would love to give more time! The students
would have stayed all day however, each activity was 45 minutes
in duration, and the other students were keen to have their turn.
A great visit. Good to see such enthusiasm in students.
Conifer Grove School
This is rather
late but we would like to thank you for the very informative sessions,
way back in May. We all enjoyed your hands-on approach and your
generosity in allowing the children to actually experience the toys of
the past. That enabled the children to gain a good understanding
of the toys, and how they worked. The children were always anxious
and interested to see what they would be playing with next. Their
interest was always captured. We thought you had a lovely manner
with the children, and also gave them the right amount of information.
Your explanations could be heard amongst the noisy enthusiasm!
If you had any hand-outs of actual pictures of the toys, we
thought that may help with classroom follow-ups. We now have our
own pictures that will certainly supplement our next unit in two years
time!
We are aware of the other programmes you have available, and
maybe we would consider those next time, too - such as workshops that
involve making the toys.
Thank you very much
Kind Regards
Linda Ross, Senior Teacher - Middle Syndicate. Conifer Grove
School
St Paul's School
Massey
We
invited The Tinderbox team to speak to our Year 3 and 4 students when
we were studying TIME. We wondered...' what was life like in 1904
'? The children moved around work stations during the day and
gained such valuable information through this authentic experience.
I would certainly recommend Tinderbox to other schools who wish to study
life in the past.
Mariette
Poortman
Deputy Principal
St Paul's School Massey
Phone 832-7200
Fax 832-7202
Dear
Pru and Richard
Thank you so much for bringing all of your lovely
things and your knowledge to share with my children last week.
Your visit complimented our "Olden Days" study perfectly and
gave the children greater insight into life back then.
Cathy
Kemp, Waitoki School.
Dear
Mr and Mrs Lees
Thank
you for your visit. Room 2 really enjoyed what you had to
show, especially being able to touch these precious things.
Jan
Reid, Glen Eden Primary.
And from the students.
Feedback
following The Toys before electricity activity and Crafts in support of toys
Dear Mr Lees
Thank you for teaching us how to make toys. I enjoyed the part
when you showed us the toys and I didn't know that life without
electricity will be fun as well.
I like the marble race! Making toys was my favourite part. I enjoyed
the part when you taught us how to make spinning tops. It worked
out very well.
The toys from now and then is different, because we use electricity
now to make toys. Before we didn't have the use of electricity
and plastic but it was very fun as well and thankyou for coming!
Dear
Richard
Thank you Richard for coming to New Windsor school to show
the Tinder box and the toy and book you show us was Magic and there
was bubble pipe to blow and Jacob ladder and the marble race and yo yos
too. My favourite toy was toy marble race and my second favourite toy
is Jacob ladder and it was easy to play it and I played the peepshow
and was three holes to look. And there was soldiers and there was three
soldiers and I didn’t play with the pantin.
Dear
Richard and
Thank you for coming to the school. It was cool. The Jacob’s
ladder were cool. I like the pecking hens. I think you are talented.
I think all the toys were cool. I like these toys better then my toys
at home. I didn’t like the lead soldiers because they are poisonous. Did
you make all the toys?
From Loe
Dear
Richard and Prue
Thank you for taking us to the Tinder Box I really had fun
over there. My favourite toy was Magic Pictures because it was really
funny and the funniest thing on there is the nose. I had fun with it.
It was really cool and I had fun at Tinder Box. I want to go in the Tinder
Box again cause I had heaps of fun
From Teina. New Windsor School
Feedback
following the Toys before Electricity and Food for Thought Activities
Dear
Mrs Lees
I
thank you for bringing the toys and olden day things to
show us them at school. You showed us the iron and the dolly and
the spinning top too
from
Victoria.
Thank you
for showing us the Olden day things. I liked the washing tub.
from Jessica
Thank
you for coming to my school for Pioneer Day and thank you
for showing us things.
from Madeleine
Feedback
following Butter making, Toys before electricity and Food
for Thought activities
Dear
Mr And Mrs Lees
Thank you for visiting us. We liked the toys. Mrs
Kemp made a butter cake out of the butter you gave us. We all liked
it except Logan and Connie. We are writing a report about the
1900's.
from Logan and Charlotte.
Dear Mr and Mrs Lees
Thank
you for teaching us about the olden days. I really liked
the Jacob's ladder. I wish I could have more. We made
butter cake out the left over butter. I liked the pots and pans.
How many schools have you gone to? Did you have all this stuff
when you were little?
From Craig
Pru and Richard of