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Month of culture and celebrations
At Beststart Kenderdine in the month of June our tamariki embraced in learning and exploring the different cultures and languages of our community.
Matariki 2022 was marked with a national holiday to commemorate the start of the Maori New Year. Thus, we were engaged in various activities in the entire month of June.
Children were involved in celebrating Matariki week alongside our tamariki. Children were developing understanding about how Matariki is celebrated by exploring the 7 sister stars of Matariki through waiata-songs and kanikani -dance moves and actions. Alongside waiata and Pū rākau (stories) we integrated art, science and mathematics through play and exploration.
Our tamariki were involved in decorating the stars with collage and painting the paper in black clouds while adding blue colours to represent glaciers. Children pasted the stars alongside the Matariki star to create a constellation (clusters) of stars in the sky.
These experiences enhanced children’s creativity and imaginative skills as well as developing their language and vocabulary while pronouncing the words of different stars. Children were also involved in designing the koru pattern with red and black paints.
This resembled a new beginning of a life and thus children were engaged in learning about the growth of each frond from the shoot. Our tamariki developed the concept of kaitiaki- taking care of our environment. These were practiced through cleaning our environment, protecting the natural resources as well as looking after each other as we engaged in healthy eating.
Tamariki were involved in doing hangi with the fresh vegetables that we found from the farm. Children explored the process of peeling and cutting the vegetables and eating it after it was cooked in an oven.
Furthermore, we also explored Samoan language through celebration. Children were fascinated to explore the coconut shell and listening to legend stories from Samoa of how the coconut (popo) first grew. Children used coconut shells to carry resources while playing.
We also discussed how the coconut water is used for drinking and the coconut flesh is used for cooking purposes in many households. These discussions developed an understanding about how we use coconut and coconut products within different home culture.
Furthermore, children sang songs (usu pese) and had discussions (talanoaga) to explore the words and phrases of Samoan language.
“Savalivali, go for a walk” was a hit song while our children learnt the actions to go with it.