How do we celebrate Matariki at Kindergarten?

We have been celebrating Matariki by learning what is Matariki and how do we celebrate it?

Matariki is the Maori new year and it is indicated by the grouping of seven bright stars in the north east of the southern hemisphere.  Maori's would use the Matariki stars to know when to cultivate, prepare and plant their crops and the most important crop kumara.

It is a time a celebration with huge feasts, singing and dancing, followed by games and making things like kites, weaving, carving and story telling. It is also a time of remembering loved ones.

We have chosen cooking traditional receipes like the kumara chowder to give the children an experience of what tangata whenua may have eaten during those times.

The children have learned to co-operate with the tasks required to cook the chowder and everyone was keen to participate in different ways.


The children cooked Kumara Chowder with Suzi

First the children helped to peel the kumara.  It was quite challenging because "they are so bumpy".
Thanks for the support Samantha (Katie's Mum) and Becky  (Kane's Mum).

 

 Finley volunteered to peel the onions because this is something he does to help out his mum at home.
He felt quite proud of himself and he had a wonderful technique.

 ....and Finley was pretty good at chopping the onions too!

 Then after the kumera was cooked, everyone had a go at Mashing!!!!

we added butter and sour cream and milk and creamed corn... and of course we mustn't forget the onions!

 Then the taste test.... yummy!!

The Next Day:

The children made Crabbie Patties:

 Daniel helps to chop, rip and cut the silver beet.

 Then we grate in some cheese

Everyone had a turn at grating

Ava adds a little salt for taste

A little bit of this and a little bit of that....

Making the batter

and now we cook!

 and once again, our favourite part.... tasting!

 

But that's not all...  there is so much you can do to celebrate Matariki

 

We also made kites and flew them outside:

In ancient times, the kites were made to take messages to Ranginui the Sky Father.  They were usually made in the shape of a bird (manu).

The art of kite making has been revived in recent times to celebrate Matariki.