Matariki picture books and science

Celebrate the Matariki public holiday and te mātahi o te tau, the new year, with cross-curricular learning. Picture books are an excellent way to deepen our students' and our own understanding of this significant time.

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This collection teams picturebooks with science concepts and online resources - encouraging strong links with science and literacy in the New Zealand curriculum and upholding mana ōrite mō te mātauranga Māori.

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Associate Professor Nicola Daly (co-director of the Waikato Picturebook Research Unit at the University of Waikato) joined Greta to discuss some of her research into bilingual picturebooks and shared the rich opportunities picturebooks offer our teaching and learning around Matariki.

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Greta partnered individual picturebooks with science resources.

Matariki

by Melanie Drewery and Bruce Potter, (Penguin, 2003)

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'Tonight we have to go to bed really early,' said Mum. 'Tomorrow morning we are going to have a surprise.'

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But what event would be so special to get you up in the middle of a cold New Zealand winter?

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Matariki is rising and the New Year is on its way.

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Use the following resources to learn more about the star cluster known as Te Kāhui o Matariki, Pleiades and many other names.

Some rohe celebrate Matariki, others celebrate Puanga. These resources look at the reasons why:

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Education Gazette – Puanga and Matariki – what is the difference?

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa – The difference between Puanga and Matariki Ko Puanga, ko Matariki me ō rāua hononga

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Finding Matariki

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Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

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For laptop/desktop devices, use https://stellarium-web.org/

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Use the app for mobile devices https://www.stellarium-labs.com/stellarium-mobile-plus/

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Watch the Te Papa video: How to find the Matariki star cluster

The Seven Stars of Matariki

by Toni Rolleston-Cummins and Nikki Slade Robinson (Huia, 2008)

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Author Toni Rolleston-Cummins reads her book in this video made by Wellington City Libraries, in association with Huia Publishers.

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Each whetū in the Matariki cluster is associated with an aspect of wellbeing and the environment.

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The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ use the whetū to report on an aspect of the environment. The following article curates resources related to each whetū. The articles include mātauranga and te ao Māori perspectives.

The Little Kiwi’s Matariki by Nikki Slade Robinson (Duck Creek Press, 2016)

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Watch and listen to the picturebook in this video.

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Little Kiwi uses observation, such as shorter days, to tell her that it is time to celebrate Matariki.

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The following resources offer insights regarding tohu - centuries of observation, which inform mātauranga Māori.

The Stolen Stars of Matariki

by Miriama Kamo and Zak Waipara (Scholastic, 2018)

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Watch and listen as author Miriama Kamo reads her story, joined by musicians from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with original music from New Zealand composer Claire Cowan.

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Scholastic provides teacher notes.

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Matariki (The Māori New Year)

by Sharon Holt and Deborah Hinde (Te Reo Singalong, 2018)

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Watch and listen as Matariki is signed in NZSL and sung in te reo Māori with English subtitles.

Tīrama, Tīrama, Matariki Twinkle Twinkle, Matariki

by Rebecca Larsen (Bateman Books, 2019)

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Pukeko, Kiwi and Hoiho want to fly very high. Join them as they blast off to explore the nine stars of Matariki.

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Watch, listen and do the actions with this video.

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The following resources explore how stars are made. It's got a lot to do with dust and gravity!

How my Koro became a Star

by Brianne Te Paa and Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia, 2022)

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Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro by Brianne Te Paa

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Learn about Te Waka o Rangi and the tradition of calling out the names of loved ones who have passed away so that they can become stars.

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Watch and listen as Brianne Te Paa reads her book in this video.

When the Moon is in its Tanagroa phase, Koro and his mokopuna observe the eastern horizon .

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The following resources explore the night sky.