Matariki & Puanga: Celebrating with Digital Technologies
For hundreds of years in over 400 different calendars observed by whānau, hapū and iwi across Aotearoa, te Mātahi o te tau, the first month of the year begins during midwinter as a special group of stars rises on the horizon. The arrival of the Matariki cluster and the radiant star Puanga mark a time for people to gather, celebrate, remember and look ahead.
This winter, expand your celebration of Matariki, Puanga and the Māori New Year with fun projects and learning activities in computational thinking, directional coding, block-based programming and three-dimensional digital design!
Quick links to the activities presented in this article:
3D Map of Matariki Stars (Tinkercad)
Navigating the Matariki Cluster (Bee/Blue-Bots)
Activity 1: 3D Map of Matariki Stars
This activity combines skills in mathematics with computational thinking and digital design, guiding learners through managing diverse data types, applying complex equations and assembling code to create a three-dimensional scale model.
‘Matariki Star Map’ is a programming activity that uses real-world data and Tinkercad, the free online 3D design platform for learners, to get amongst block-based coding and digital design. First crunch the numbers by converting astronomical data into useable information, then stack code blocks to build a program that can plot the stars.
A preview of the three-page resource and companion worksheets. Click through to have a look!
The activity kicks off with a decent dose of data and equations, fitting most easily into late-intermediate school level classrooms and above. However, it has scope to suit younger learners where leaders are able to do the maths heavy-lifting ahead of time so students can run with the data they need to get right into the coding and 3D design elements.
‘Matariki Star Map’ links maths skills and digital technologies with a meaningful context and an elegant visual design outcome. Ultimately, the opportunity to cruise through te kāhui o Matariki, sweeping in and around the cluster from every angle with a toggle of the mouse, makes this activity one not to miss!
The example project in Tinkercad and GIF showing an animated view of the 3D model. Click through to ‘Tinker this’ and explore the code!
Check out this activity’s resource page on the Digital Pīkau for more information and the activity PDFs:
Activity 2: Navigating the Matariki Cluster
This activity uses Bee-Bots and Blue-Bots, the programmable floor robots, to introduce fundamental computational thinking skills while linking with the culture and celebration of Matariki. First set up the night sky with an imaginative floor grid of stars and spaces, then use basic directional coding to navigate bots to all nine stars of Matariki, exploring the significance of each one along the way.
A preview of the one-page resource, as well as additional creative and informational printables. Click through to have a closer look!
‘Navigating the Matariki Cluster’ offers a fun, hands-on introduction to coding by getting learners on the ground and in the mindset of a computer to write algorithms that will send their bot to the stars. The activity is accessible to primary school level learners, with a focus on directional coding and basic sequencing. Plus, although the activity is designed to work with Bee-Bots and Blue-Bots, it can just as easily be run unplugged using any other objects to stand-in for the bots.
This activity is the perfect excuse to helps learners get excited about the Maori New Year, get creative in the classroom and practise computational thinking in an Aotearoa-specific context. For even our youngest learners, it’s an exciting opportunity to practice ordered instructions while celebrating te Iwa o Matariki, the nine stars of Matariki!
‘Navigating the Matariki Cluster’ in action, with ākonga coding their way across the stars!
Check out this activity’s resource page on the Digital Pīkau for more information and the activity PDFs:
Mānawatia a Matariki! Puanga kai rau!
Visit the Digital Pīkau to find more to do about Matariki & Puanga, the stars that rise over Māori New Year celebrations and our newest public holiday — plus get a load of all the rest of our free, Aotearoa-made digital technologies resources for your classroom!