Tania's Professional Learning Blog

 Waitī & Waitā Waitī is a whetū in the Matariki cluster. It is the star connected to freshwater: springs, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and the plants and animals that live in freshwater. Waitā is a whetū in the Matariki cluster. It is the star connected with the oceans and marine conditions and represents the many types of food gathered from the sea.

The three stars we are learning about is: Matariki, Pōhutukawa, and Hiwa-i-te-rangi. We learned that the Matariki star cluster is visible in other countries too. They just have a different name. Matariki is known by many other names around the world, such as: Pleiades (Greek and English speaking countries)  Seven Sisters (Greek mythology)  Messier 45 (Croatia)  M45 Krittika (India)  Subaru (Japan) Mao; The Hairy Head of the White Tiger (China) Mul Mul (Babylonian) Freyja’s Hends (Norse mythology the Vikings We learned about the mum star and decide to link it to a whakataukī :  Tukua kia tu takitahi nga whetu o te Rangi Let each star in the sky shine it’s own light Look at our beautiful art!! We have learnt that the star in the cluster of Matariki named Pohutukawa represents those who have passed away. At Matariki we remember them. This is what we have made to remember our loved ones. Weaving stars. Hiwa-i-te-Rangi is the youngest star in the Matariki cluster. Hi...

Learning all about letter Rr Learning the alphabet can be a lot of fun, especially when you're exploring a cool letter like 'R.' We recently had a great time learning about 'R' at GTS, and here's how we did it!   To begin our 'R' learning journey, we incorporated a hands-on approach using play dough. Play dough is not only a fantastic sensory experience but also a fantastic tool for reinforcing the shape and formation of letters. We rolled, moulded, and manipulated the play dough to create the letter 'R.'   This helped us understand what 'R' looks like and how to write it.   But we didn't stop there! We wanted to be super creative, so we decided to make robots using recycled stuff like old cardboard boxes, bottle caps, and a variety of other recycled materials. It was like a big arts and crafts project. Each robot we made had something special about it. After we finished making our unique robots, we wanted to show them off to everyone...

 Stars have always fascinated humans with their twinkling beauty in the night sky. For generations, people from various cultures have looked up to the stars for guidance, inspiration, and storytelling. In New Zealand, the Māori culture celebrates a special cluster of stars known as Matariki, which signals the start of a new year and the winter season.  During Term 3 will explore the Matariki star cluster, its cultural significance, and how we can use it as a foundation for teaching and learning. We'll also share a fun activity of creating star patterns and extending them further, allowing young minds to engage with math and cultural awareness. For the Māori people, Matariki holds immense cultural significance. It's a time for reflection, celebration, and connecting with the land and community. During this time, families come together, share stories, sing songs, and learn about their ancestors and traditions. Matariki offers a rich platform enabling young learners to explore mu...