Matariki and Maori Mythology
Enrol Here1st of July 2010
Due to the children enjoying learning about Greek Mythology we decided to follow on from this with Māori Mythology. We realised that Matariki, the Māori New Year, would be celebrated during this time so we decided to incorporate this very special event also. During this study we learnt about the Māori Gods, Ranginui, the Sky Father, Papatūānuku, the Mother Earth, Tāne Māhuta, God of the Forests and Tangaroa, the God of the Sea, as well as the Demi-God Maui. We also read legends about these Gods, including the creation of the world and lots of Maui’s adventures.
Alongside this we will be learning about the group of stars called Matariki, that the Māori New Year is named after, as well as one of the ways in which people use to celebrate this time of year by making kites.
Roark brought in some Māori design pictures that he had printed off the computer and some Māori shapes that he had made at home with clay. We noticed that one of the pictures that Roark had of a sun was very similar to sun in our Maui story.
In the art room we have been practicing drawing and painting Koru’s. Koru’s are a very special and significant symbol to the Māori culture.
The koru is the Māori name given to the newborn, unfurling fern frond and symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Māori carving.
We have enjoyed reading and looking at the books children have brought from home.
Once again we have had great support and interest from our families, and because of this the children are able to make meaningful links from Lumsden to home and the wider world.
Sofia brought a book of The Maori Legend, ‘In the Beginning’. This story explained how Tane Mahuta — God of the Forest, separated Papa Tuanuku—Earth Mother and Ranginui—Sky father. It was a wonderful legend and we all enjoyed listening to it.
Meg also brought in a book about Maori Legends. It was all about Maori Animal Myths. One legend talked about how the New Zealand Kiwi is seen to represent the soul of Tane- Mahuta—God of the forest.
Our teacher Kerry brought in a real Maori Calabash. We learnt that the calabash was made from gourd, then once dried people used the calabash to collect and store water inside it. We also recognised a calabash as we read the Maori legend – ‘In the Beginning’.
Thank you Kerry for sharing such a Taonga—treasure of Maori culture with us.
Jack showed us some books from home about Maori mythology, and Matariki.
Thank you Jack we really enjoyed looking at the Maori animal myths, and a story relating to the Maori new year.
We were very lucky to have a special visitor to Lumsden. Shane, Ariana’s Dad, came into Lumsden to make some Paua fritters with us. Ariana has been waiting patiently for us to study New Zealand again so that she could bring her Dad in for this very special event.
Shane brought in a whole Paua in it’s shell to show us what they look like before he minces them up. He also told us how he goes diving and has to pry the Paua off the rock with his knife. We really liked his diving mask and snorkel. Shane also talked to us about Tangaroa and how when they go diving for Paua they have to say thank to Tangaroa for keeping them safe and giving them Paua to eat. We have been learning about the Maori God of the Sea, Tangaroa, during this study of Gods and Māori Mythology.
Shane added some eggs, pepper and flour to the minced up Paua and then gave it a good stir, before putting some into the fry pan. We had decided that instead of having Paua fritters, we would like Paua meatballs.
We thought that the Paua meatballs smelled delicious. Amelie thought that they smelt like Spaghetti Bolognese.
The teachers all thought they smelled really yummy too.
We couldn’t wait to taste them!
Once they were ready we finally got to taste them! Most of us liked them and those that did all went back for seconds and thirds!
Some of the comments that the teachers heard the children make were:
“Mmmm that was really yummy.”
“Can I have some more please?”
“I really like Paua. I’ve never had Paua before.”
“We have Paua at home sometimes.”
“It’s delicious. Thank you Shane.”
Shane also cooked us some Karengo. Karengo is seaweed that is sometimes called Tangaroa’s lettuce. Not all of us tried it, but some of us practiced our Courage—Hautoa and had some. Not many of us liked the Karengo however, but Jack Atchison and Maddy Swa LOVED it and they ate heaps!
Come and watch the movie of Shane cooking the Paua Meatballs and of us trying them.
Shane, thank you very much for coming to Lumsden and cooking us Paua meatballs and Karengo. We really enjoyed tasting these two very special foods from Tangaroa.
Yum!! So lucky, I love paua meatballs!!
As a 40 year old woman, I’d love to enrol as a pre schooler (LOL). It looks wonderful all the learning activities you have available, and nom nom the paua too!! P.s. Amazing calabash too!
Hi there Lumsden children
I really loved reading about your activities and shared pictures, how exciting to have a helper like Shane (Ariana’s dad) to come along and share his knowledge (matauranga) and respect of the Maori world. Amazing learning contexts – I can’t wait to share this site with my own son’s daycare.