The Arts – classroom activities, Ngā toi – ngā ngohe akomanga
Updated 29 Oct 2025
Examples of classroom activities to help students think about their future and how the arts might relate to the world of work.
In the arts, students explore and communicate ideas as they connect thinking, imagination, senses and feelings to create works and respond to the works of others.
NCEA subjects that link to this learning area on Tahatū:
Career activities for Year 7 and upwardNgā ngohe aramahi mō te Tau 7, i tua atu anō hoki,
Activity | Description |
Job vibes | Length of activity: Short Type of activity: Whole class Choose a painting or piece of music and discuss what job it could represent. For example, what kind of work might ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ suggest? |
Transform a job into art | Length of activity: Long Type of activity: Individual Select someone you know with an interesting job and express that work through a creative medium – painting, music, sculpture or drawing. |
Artist career pathway research | Length of activity: Long Type of activity: Individual Pick an artist you like and research their career pathway. Is this something you would consider? Use reflection questions to deepen your understanding of skills and pathways. |
Career activities for Year 11 and upwardNgā ngohe aramahi mō te Tau 11, i tua atu anō hoki,
Activity | Description |
Video CV for the arts | Length of activity: Short Type of activity: Individual Create or plan a video CV tailored to artistic careers. Include discussion on the benefits of video CVs for creative industries versus regular CVs. |
Different ways of working | Length of activity: Short Type of activity: Individual Read through the different ways of working and being your own boss guide pages on Tahatū. Discuss concepts like freelancing or contracting and how they apply to the arts. |
Work and art interpretation | Length of activity: Long Type of activity: Individual/group/whole class Explore how jobs or work culture are portrayed in art or music (eg, a Degas painting, a Bruce Springsteen song). Reflect using guided questions about meaning and connection to work. |
Plan a production | Length of activity: Long Type of activity: Individual/group Brainstorm an event, and the roles and responsibilities needed to host a concert or other type of events like conventions or festivals eg, Te Matatini, Rhythm and Vines, World of Wearable Arts and Polyfest. Identify roles and skills required to run these events. Who are you choosing to book for a concert and why? Discuss considerations like cultural visibility or keeping it local, ticket sales, future incentives, venue and capacity, and audience base. |
Find out moreAko atu,
Students can check out the study categories in the Explore study and training section of Tahatū to find out more about tertiary study in the arts.
Students can browse other study areas on Tahatū. For example: