Discovering Matariki

We have been learning about Matariki through wonderings, stories, conversations and exploration into this important celebration in New Zealand.  

 Our Matariki expert and extraordinaire Miss Jan-Hai (Wiremus Mum) popped in to share her knowledge to further enhance our wonderings and understandings of the Maori New Year.

Wiremus Mum encouraged us to share what we knew about Matariki.
"Matariki is the new year," said William
"There are seven sisters. The oldest is Matariki," said Max 

We talked about celebrations and harvest time. If the stars are bright and high it will be a good season for harvesting. If the stars are low and less visible. Hazel said "It will be cold and not very good for harvesting." 

We discovered that there are nine stars of Matariki. We were fascinated by the water stars and what each star represented. These are some of our drawings of water stars on ipads.

After learning about kites being used as maori text messages, eating hangi and rewana bread, singing waiata (song) and it being a time to remember. The children were given stars to decorate and take home as a taonga (treasure) to share with whanau. (family)