The Maori New Year

We have been using our research skills to learn more about Matariki.

Here is a movie to show you what we found out!

What is Matariki?

Matariki is a group of seven stars, it is also known as Pleiades. Most people know Matariki as the traditional Maori New Year. Matariki has two meanings; Tiny Eyes or Eyes of God.

When and Where can you see Matariki?

Matariki can be seen just before sunrise in late May or early June. This indicates the end of one year and the beginning of a new year. Some people believe that if Matariki is easily seen then it is going to a good new year.

This is only a tiny amount of information we read about Matariki on the internet and in books! Go to your local library to research Matariki more or use a search engine on the internet.

Let us now what you found out – Knowledge is Power!

From the Moreporks

The Monarch Butterfly

The Kiwis Literacy group have been learning all about the life cycle 

of a Monarch Butterfly. 

Do you know any interesting facts about butterflies? 

Playing with a Yo-Yo

The letter 'Y'. We had lots of fun learning about the letter 'Y'!
Check out our Yo-Yo movie and let us know if you can think of any other words that start with the letter 'Y'.


Can you do any tricks using a Yo-Yo?

Dancing Dinosaurs

For our recount experience we all got to dance like Dinosaurs!

Check out our movie to listen and see exactly what happened.



What part of our recount movie did you like?

Delicious Cupcakes

The Tuis group were learning all about the letter 'C' and we talked about lots of words starting with 'C' including cakes and cupcakes. We also read a book called 'The Best Cake' which inspired us to get in the kitchen. 

What is your favourite flavour cake or cupcake?

Goldfish

The Fantails group have been learning about goldfish.
Since they knew so much information, Miss Walters decided to get a class pet and guess what they their new pet is! A goldfish called Nemo.

Do you know how to look after goldfish?

Sunflowers

The Tuis group had a special treat last week. After reading the book Max and the Little Plant, the whole group got to plant a sunflower seed each. Next they wrote a story about their experience, so check out their movie to see what they did!

What do you like about sunflowers?

Don't Eat Me!

The Moreporks group were so inspired by the poem Don't Eat Me that they designed their own vegetable or fruit faces.

Can you think of any other creative ways to eat your fruit and vegetables?

Hangi

The Kiwis group looked at the poem Hangi and drew pictures to match each verse.
Have you ever had a delicious Hangi?

Check out the website to learn all about how a Hangi is built!

Lunch Box Heroes!

Are you a Lunch Box Hero?

The Parrots group have been investigating what makes a Lunch Box Hero.
Check out their movie to see if you are a Lunch Box Hero.

Do you know why it is important to have a healthy lunch?

Popcorn

The Fantails Literacy group have been experimenting with popcorn.
They each selected 3 photos to practise writing sentences that make sense.


What flavour popcorn do you like best?

The Letter 'G'

Each week the Tuis Literacy group have a letter of the week.
We think of as many words as we can beginning with that letter, then we write a story about one of those words.
This week our letter was "G".

Can you think of an other words that begin with the leter"G"