This week we have be learning about Matariki, through our reading and writing, the Whakamata stations and during break time activities.

Matariki is a celebration of the Maori New Year and happens as the seven stars of Matariki appear in the night sky near the beginning of winter each year.

We have learned that there are many stories about how the seven Matariki stars came to be in the sky above Aotearoa.

• Was it the God of Wind throwing his tears of lightning into the night sky?
• Was it the seven naughty sisters who were told by their parents to stand still and do an important job?

We do know that the one thing that stays the same in all of the stories is the Seven Stars of Matariki. We reflected on what we would like to do better in the (Maori) New Year and wrote our ideas onto stars.

We read some stories about Matariki and then independently used these books in our learning.