Matariki me To Matou Tainuitanga

 

Exploring Waikato Museum was a new and exciting experience for our tamariki. We learnt about Matariki, her sisters, her parents Tangotango and Wainui, and how nga atua Maori put Matariki in the skies. Learning who Tangotango and Wainui were, was something special because we didn't know about them.

Nathan, our education guide, took us through our Tainui display, 'Nga Pou Whenua'. There are four pou (posts) that mark where the boundaries of Tainui waka are.   There are some precious taonga in the Museum.  Some of them are in glass cases so that they can't be ruined or broken.  Our Tainuitanga is very important to us because we need to know where we came from and who we are.  It is part of our identity as Maori.  

Our parents who came with us, had a great day at the Museum too.  Thanks heaps Nathan and Waikato Museum for teaching us about Matariki and Tainui.

Using Glogeter

We've been using glogster to help us with our learning about Matariki.  Here's my Glogster poster.

 

Ta Matou Maangai Tautoko - Lion Foundation

Ko te Lion Foundation he roopu kaiarahi e awhina i nga Kura me nga roopu kaiawhina.  Nui ake i nga tau 25, ka whoatu te Lion Foundation he maha o te moni ki nga roopu kaiawhina kia tautoko i nga tikanga o nga tangata kei Aotearoa. I tenei tau kua tautoko te Perry Foundation i te Lion Foundation ki te awhina  i nga kura me o ratou tikanga. A, i tenei tau kua whiriwhiria matou Te Kura o Tahaaroa i te Lion Foundation mo ta matou maangai tautoko.  Nga mihi nunui ki a koutou, Lion Foundation mo ou koutou kaha ki te hapai te mahi a Duffy Books in Homes.

Matariki The Seven Stars

Matariki marks the Maori new year. Matariki means little eyes of God. Matariki is also called The Seven Sisters.  These stars come out when it is a new moon around the 5th June.  It is also a good time to start planting seeds. The names of the stars are Waiti, Waita, Waipuna-a-rangi, Uru-a-rangi, Matariki, Tupu-a-nuku, and Tupu-a-rangi. Other cultures like Japan, Greece, Hawaii and Cook Islands also celebrate Matariki.   

Our New Duffy Sponsor - Lion Foundation

The Lion Foundation is one of New Zealand's most popular foundations. For over 25 years Lion foundation has given millions of dollars back to communities around New Zealand.  Recently the Lion Foundation became our new Duffy sponsor. 

 This video shows some of the work that Lion Foundation have done for young people like us.
They are a great sponsor and we'll be glad to have them provide books for Duffy Books in Homes.

Sun Spots

Who knows what a sunspot is? One interesting fact about the sun are the sunspots. Sunspots are areas where the magnetic fields are about 2,500 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field. These fields are much higher than anywhere else on the sun. Because of the strength of the magnetic field the magnetic pressure attracts when the surrounding atmospheric pressure decreases. Which to me says that the Sun pulls all the other magnetic fields towards it. Sunspots only last for a few days then burn out.

A sunspot is the size of planet earth so think of how big the sun is.


A photo of a sunspot

A Sad Two Weeks

Sadly our school has had two tangi that have affected the tamariki at our school.  We had Koro Trevor's tangi just over a week ago, and now Koro Dick has also passed away.  We are really sad for Aunty Yvonne, Te Ao and Nga, and also for Aunty Kimi, Aunty Mona, Jayden and Awatea. It has been a really sad time for all of us.  Today was meant to be a good day for us to go to cross-country at Piripiri School and have fun playing in the mud.  But because of the tangi there are lots of kids who can't be there.  Hopefully that will be the end of the tangi for all our kaumaatua.  Fingers crossed.  Tomorrow we join all our whanau at Maketu Marae in Kawhia to farewell Koro Dick. Moe mai Koro Dick, Koro Trevor, and Koro Bill at Marokopa Marae.

Fit For Skipping

Yesterday seven-time world champion skipper Peter Nestler had a workshop showing kids from around Waikato schools some awesome skipping skills. Here we are learning some warm up drills, and having 'time out' - we're tired but still smiling. We learnt how to hold a rope properly, how to turn a single, and a double dutch rope. We skipped alone, in pairs, and in big groups. Here are some more learning points:
- if you are the rope turner:
*in double-dutch make sure your turning hand goes up as high as your nose to make
sure the rope goes up high and around properly
*keep the rope turning to a steady beat
*turn the rope so it goes up higher than the skipper
*stand close to the turner to get in and out better

- if you are the skipper:
*take one step in before you jump in
*make sure the rope is your height
*stand close to the turner's shoulder when you go into and out of the rope
*jump in when the rope goes past your nose