Matariki

Matariki, Subaru,Pleiades's, Krittikas, all are different names given to the constellation 450 light years from our planet Earth and all are part of the rich task Room 5 has been learning about this term. In our wonderful class we have been celebrating the rising of the seven stars in many different ways, like making Poi and creating Kowhaiwhai patterns with Indian ink. Traditionally Matariki for Maori was about the start of the hunting and planting season, they would trap birds in trees and fill fields with hundreds of seeds to grow into luscious vegetables and the rising of seven stars. Room 5 comments:"Matariki is pretty cool and I liked learning about the Greek version of it", Andrew. "I've learnt heaps and discovered new things", Madie. "I liked learning about how other cultures celebrate the seven sisters and it is fascinating", Albert. Pleiades, or as Albert put it, "the seven sisters" is about celebrating the new year, which is different from our normal one.

Descriptive Writing - Bringing Nature Alive

The wind cackled and whipped through the leaf-bare trees. Rain fell down mercilessly, weeping and flooding the streets and earth with water. Depressing grey clouds hovered in the endless black sky. The only light in the never-ending night was the angry, flashing lightening that filled the skies with fear and threatened to danger the environment. Rain pattered on rooftops, sounding like mourning music. The power was off, and the frightened screams of young children could hardly be heard as the raging storm triumphantly blasted a tree from its roots, blocking the traffic and pathway. Hope faded slowly, along with sunshine.

By Yong Shi Lin