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Matariki at Baverstock Oaks
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. For Māori, the appearance of Matariki heralds a time of remembrance, joy, and peace. It is a time for communities to come together and celebrate. To acknowledge this special time of year our tamariki engaged in various experiences to learn more about the Matariki stars and their meaning.
We started by reading stories and waiata - learning each of the names. To acknowledge tupuanuku and tupuarangi, our tamariki learnt special karakia for harvesting and planting. We then came together to prepare a special kai to celebrate with whanau. Our Budding Branches explored Pohutukawa by talking about things that are special to them as they created a special room Korowai.
Through art and weaving, the children were also able to visually create and further explore their ideas of the Matariki stars. Recreating their ideas allowed for a creative process in which they were able to translate their ideas across mediums, creating their own representations and consolidating their knowledge. Through art, they were also provided with opportunities for shared communication as they discussed their own Matariki experiences and what the stars represented for them.
By Celebrating Matariki, our Tamariki are provided with the opportunity to learn more about our bicultural history and practice principles of Tikanga.