Matariki Returns.

CONNECTED 3, 2003, PAGES 8 - 11

MATARIKI RETURNS BY MOIRA WAIRAMA AND RUPERT ALCHIN

WALT: Learning to make predictions on what is going to happen next in the text by using the keywords in the preceding sentences and paragraphs.

SUCCESS CRITERIA: I am able to predict as to what is going to happen next in the text.

Activity 1 - Read the article and then answer these questions

1. What is Matariki made up of?

Matariki is made out of several hundred stars.

2. Traditionally, what was the dawn rising of Matariki a sign of?

The dawn rising of Matariki was a sign to Maori that the hunting season was coming to an end and the planting season was beginning.

3. Which star is the brightest star in the sky?

The brightest star in the sky is the Sirius star.

4. Why is Matariki star cluster special to people all over the world?

The matariki star cluster is special to people all over the world because the ancient Greeks named it Pleiades, after the seven mythical daughters of Atlas and Pleione.

5. How was Matariki important to the ancient Greeks?

Matariki was important to the ancient Greeks because they named it Pleiades, after the seven mythical daughters of Atlas and Pleione.  

Activity 2 - Dictionary and Vocabulary

1.  Locate these words in the text and then use an online dictionary to find the meanings

    of these words.

2.  Make sentences with these words.

Word	Meaning	Sentences
1. recent	Having, happened, begun or been done not long ago, belonging to a past period comparatively close to the present.	Ben had his recent visit to Britain.
2. several	Separate or respective.	The two government sort out their several responsibilities.
3. disappear	Cease to be visible.	He disappeared into the trees.
4. enough	As much or as many as required.	There was just enough room for two cars.
5. spotted	Marked or decorated with spots.	A red spotted handkerchief.
6. exactly	Used to emphasize the accuracy of a figure or description.	It was to painful and distressing for me to describe in detail exactly what happened.
7. invisible	Unable to be seen.	This invisible gas is present to some extent in every home.
8. hunting	The activity of hunting wild animals or games.	Whale hunting is unnecessary.
9. season	A fixed time in the year when a particular activity is pursued.	The cricket season is starting.
10. involved	Difficult to understand.	This was a long conversation that I was involved in.

Activity 3 -  Click on the link below and read about Matariki. After you have read the article, write down at least eight facts you have read about Matariki.

Matariki for Schools

Facts about Matariki.

• Matariki is also the sighting of the new moon.
• Depending on your religion or ethnicity, New Year can come at different times of the year and be celebrated in many ways.
• Maori also have their own New Year which is marked by the rise of Matariki (the group of stars also known as Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters.)
• Traditionally Matariki was used to determine the coming season’s crop.
• A warmer season, and therefore a more productive crop yield, was indicated by how bright the stars were.
• Matariki provides an ideal opportunity to explore the ways that people pass on and sustain aspects of their culture and heritage.
• The beginning of the 21st century has seen a rival in Matariki celebrations.
• In 2014, Matariki began on 28th June.