Matariki fun!!!

Every afternoon we get together in our houses and try fun activities for Matariki.

There are 8 different activities - flax weaving, rakau sticks, waiata, myths and legends with Mr T, games, kite making, art and biscuit making.

 

Space Centre visit

Space Dave shared his Matariki and space knowledge with us today. Here we are in our astronaut clothes and exploring the Space Centre in Kihikihi. Traditionally Matariki is a time when you can see the stars and prepare for winter by harvesting and storing food.

We are learning about celebrating Matariki.

Next week Kio Kio is celebrating Matariki - we have special activities every afternoon and on Friday we are welcoming our new Principal Mr Jones with a powhiri and shared kai (cooking food in a hangi). 





         


Today we learnt about harakeke flax and how in the olden days Māori people made kete/baskets to keep the food in when it goes into the ground to cook. 

We were role playing making fires for the hangi pit - we used scrunched up newspaper, twigs and blocks. Mrs Case had 2 woven baskets/kete to pretend to put food in. 

We also learned that a hangi is different from a hongi - a hongi is when you gently press noses to say hello and a hangi is when you cook food in the ground.

What are questions?

During inquiry time we have been learning about the difference between statements and questions. We already know some facts about dinosaurs - they are called statements. If we wonder something...we ask a question. Questions start with special W words and end with a squiggly question mark? (an exclamation mark is straight and means you talk LOUDER!!).

Harold the giraffe in the Life Education Truck

We met our friends Nicky and Harold the giraffe in the Life Education truck on Tuesday. We loved the cool lights in the truck and we watched Harold and his friends learn about how to include everyone when we are playing.

We had a big talk about the difference between telling and tattling.... 

Telling Mum or Dad or the teacher when there is an emergency like a fire or flood or a broken arm is a great choice! Do we need the ambulance? Do we need the fire brigade or the police?

Tattling or telling tales on someone when they push in line or snatch something just gets the other person in trouble, we are going to start trying to use our words and sort the problem out for ourselves before tattling to Mum or Dad or the teacher.

      
      
    

Kowhai paleontologist's trip to Hamilton Museum

We explored the museum and found Permian Monsters, they were before dinosaurs.

We found bones put together in skeletons.

We used paintbrushes to carefully brush the rubber 'dirt' away and found egg shells, fossils and centipedes.

We looked at their mouths - some had sharp long teeth for eating meat, they are called carnivores. Some had short square or round teethe for eating plants and leaves, they are called herbivores. We eat both meat and leaves like salad and we are called omnivores.

Learning to read in Kowhai

• We love reading in Kowhai class. 
• We listen to Mrs Case reading Big Books, picture books and notices. 
• We talk about what the story means to us.
• We re-tell the story in order from the beginning.
• We can read the pictures in books and can explain what is happening.
• We remember words and stories by practising every day.