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Matariki at Montessori Otumoetai
In celebration of Matariki, this year at Montessori Otumoetai the children learned the story of Matariki through stories, pictures and waiata. The children then expressed their learning and ideas of Matariki through different expressions of art. Our older children drew and painted pictures of the Matariki stars, expressing what each star means to them.
Our younger children explored finger painting and different tools to paint with such as stamping, rolling, spreading and dabbing. With the guidance of whanau, the tamariki and kaiako learned how to prepare and create harakeke ika/fish and clay whetu/stars. Colloboratively we created an art piece representing the togetherness and connection between the sky father and earth mother, Raganui and Papatuanuku. We then held a "Montessori night art exhibition" for the children to show case their art and learning with their whanau. What a turn out we had!
Whanau got to share a delicious kumara soup the children had prepared, putting into action their practical life skills of chopping, slicing and peeling. Together we sang waita we have been practising in light of Matariki. Our waiata was accompanied by the tunes of the guitar and keyboard played by some of the childrens older siblings. This event was a wonderful and meaningful way to celebrate Matariki with our whanau here at Montessori Otumoetai.