There has been plenty of excitement in our Year 1 classrooms as we celebrated Matariki, the Māori New Year. Matariki is a special time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present with whānau and friends, and look ahead with hope for the future. Marked by the appearance of the Matariki star cluster in the winter sky, it is an important part of New Zealand’s cultural heritage.
Our learners explored Matariki through stories, art, writing, mathematics and hands-on learning, discovering the significance of this special celebration—and becoming rather good at spotting stars!
Little Kiwi’s Matariki certainly kept everyone busy! Room 1 created adorable Little Kiwi artwork. Room 2 made beautiful kiwi art, practised retelling the story in the correct order, and helped Little Kiwi find all of the forest creatures by following directions during Maths. Room 4 used the story to inspire colourful chalk pastel night-sky artwork and developed their writing skills using Skills Flow and Disappearing Definitions to explain what Matariki is and why it is celebrated.
After reading The Seven Kites of Matariki, Room 3 designed vibrant kites that looked ready to take flight across the playground! The story also sparked discussions about celebrating Matariki with whānau and friends. Room 3 continued the adventure with Flit the Fantail’s Matariki Map, creating artwork while learning the names of the Matariki stars and what each one represents.
Room 1 also explored the significance of taonga in Māori culture. They learned about the koru, symbolising new beginnings and growth, and the pikorua, representing the strength of whānau and connection. Using air-dry clay, students crafted their own taonga, which they will soon paint before proudly displaying and sharing their creations.
From kites and kiwis to stars and storytelling, our Year 1 learners embraced Matariki with creativity and curiosity. We are so proud of the way they celebrated this special time while growing their reading, writing, maths and art skills.
Mānawatia a Matariki!
