Friends of Aratoi member Megan Slight said the project was inspired by photos from the museum's Featherston Camp exhibition -- which showed the outside of the soldiers' tents decorated from stones they had foraged from the nearby plains and river.
She said the project helped young people to learn about war history, focusing on aspects other than "the horrors of war".
"This commemorates the soldiers' lives and how they lived in our community," she said.
"It's important for our young people to remember their forebears, the things they gave up to go to war, the families they left behind, and the children that were affected.
"Plus, some of those soldiers would have been their age -- 17 and 18 years old. This is their mark of respect to them."
Friday's opening began with a whaikorero from Aratoi exhibition co-ordinator Asher Raawiri Newbery, who welcomed the students of Makoura College's Services Academy with a pukaea, a Maori war trumpet.
After marching on to the lot, the Makoura students performed the waiata Poneke E, which expresses grief for family lost in war.
Mr Newbery mentioned growing up in Canterbury, and praised the students for, like the people of Christchurch, "making something beautiful out of the rubble".
This was echoed by Aratoi board member Barbara Roydhouse, who said the students' work was a tribute to the soldiers' creativity.
"Throughout history, people have wanted to decorate their surroundings -- which is what these men did before that arduous journey to the battlefield."
Also speaking were Masterton RSA president Bob Hill, author Michelle O'Connell and Vietnam War veteran Kevin Benge.
Mr Benge referred to a photo in which soldiers stand by a tent, surrounded by stones, which is impeccably tidy before inspection.
"The soldiers were [transformed] from unruly young men into a fit, disciplined, well-trained unit," he said.
"Training for war was self-discipline and pride -- pride in your uniform, your company and yourself.
"These students have captured what those men were about."
He then gave the students a salute as a sign of his gratitude.
In conclusion, Neil Frances of Wairarapa Archive presented each school with a copy of the written history of the Featherston Camp by Tim Shoebridge for their library.
Ms Slight said the schools' designs have captured everything from crosses, to silver ferns, to the Tinui Taipo, to the outline of a war horse.
"I think they got a lot out of it. Seeing them at the opening, they looked really proud and protective of what they had created."
The installations will be on display until July 31.
