Learning Adventures Takanini

Dear Whānau,

Today at Learning Adventures Takanini, we celebrated Matariki with a day full of fun, learning, and cultural experiences. The children enjoyed having their faces painted, adding to the festive atmosphere. Some of the children also visited the Takanini Library, where they listened to a beautiful Māori story, joined in with singing and dancing, and shared a delicious morning tea of fresh fruit and biscuits.

It was wonderful to see the children embracing the spirit of Matariki through food, storytelling, music, movement, and spending time together this week. As we celebrate the Māori New Year, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful Matariki. May this special time be filled with reflection, gratitude, hope, and meaningful moments shared with family and friends.

Ngā mihi nui,
The Learning Adventures Takanini Team

Kia ora whānau,
This week, our tamariki have been enthusiastically exploring Matariki through a range of meaningful and creative art experiences. As they learned about Māori culture and the significance of Matariki, they explored symbols such as the Matariki stars, koru patterns, and traditional Māori kites (manu tukutuku).
Using a variety of natural and recycled materials, the tamariki created beautiful koru necklaces, paper plate Matariki stars, and twig Māori kites. These hands-on experiences encouraged them to experiment with different textures, shapes, and materials, fostering their creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills.
Throughout these activities, the tamariki strengthened their fine motor skills by cutting, threading, gluing, painting, and carefully assembling their creations. They also practised perseverance, concentration, and hand-eye coordination while expressing their own unique ideas through art.