Matariki Art Creations

Overview

This 60-minute art session for Year 6 students explores Matariki through two tactile, relaxing hands-on activities. It integrates key concepts from the New Zealand Curriculum for The Arts, emphasising creativity, cultural identity, and communication through visual arts. Students engage physically and mentally in creating artwork inspired by Matariki, supporting their understanding of this important celebration while developing their skills and key competencies.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT (We Are Learning To):
• Explore Matariki as a cultural symbol through art.
• Use tactile materials to create art that reflects Matariki themes.
• Develop care, concentration, and relaxation through hands-on creative processes.
• Communicate ideas visually and orally connected to Māori culture and Matariki.
• Collaborate with peers respectfully and reflect on our own and others’ creations.

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Curriculum Links

• The Arts – Visual Arts (Level 3)

• Achievement Objective: “Develop ideas in a range of visual arts forms.” “Select and use materials, processes, and technologies.”

• Strand: "Communicating and Interpreting" — exploring symbols and narratives including those relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand and Māori culture.

• Key Competencies:

• Managing Self — concentrating, persevering, and managing time during creative activities.

• Relating to Others — sharing materials and ideas, collaborating.

• Thinking — expressing creative ideas, reflecting on artworks and cultural meanings.

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Resources Needed

• Black cardstock or paper
• Natural materials: flax strips, feathers, small pebbles, sand, dried leaves
• Coloured tissue paper (blue, white, yellow, red)
• Glue sticks and PVA glue
• Scissors
• Paintbrushes (for glue application)
• Simple star templates (e.g., cut-out shapes of Matariki stars)
• Quiet background music (optional)

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Lesson Plan Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Briefly discuss Matariki, the Māori New Year, and its significance as a celebration of new beginnings and remembering ancestors.
• Show images/examples of Matariki stars and traditional motifs.
• Explain today’s activities involve expressing Matariki themes through tactile art.
• Emphasise respect for materials, calmness, and moving gently.

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2. Activity One: Matariki Tactile Star Collages (25 minutes)

WALT: Create tactile star art using natural and coloured materials that represent Matariki.

• Provide each student with a black cardstock base and a star template.
• Students glue down layers of tissue paper to build texture and colour reminiscent of the night sky and stars.
• Encourage adding natural materials (flax, feathers, pebbles) around or on top to create depth and a sensory experience.
• Students explore layering, texture contrasts, and gentle placement of materials.
• Teacher circulates, supports, and discusses student choices about colour and texture, linking to Matariki's meaning (stars, nature, ancestors).

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3. Activity Two: Matariki Woven Wall Hangings (20 minutes)

WALT: Use weaving techniques with flax and paper strips to symbolise connection and community at Matariki.

• Give each student pre-cut flax strips and coloured paper strips.
• Demonstrate simple weaving technique to create a tactile wall hanging panel.
• Students create patterns, combining colours symbolising the stars and natural cycle.
• Encourage mindful, slow movements to enhance relaxation.
• Connect weaving to tikanga (customs) around weaving and the idea of interconnectedness in whānau and community.

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4. Closure and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Invite students to share one thing they enjoyed or found calming.
• Discuss how their artworks represent Matariki and what the tactile experience felt like.
• Reinforce cultural respect and personal creativity.
• Explain how artworks will be displayed or taken home.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observe students’ engagement, use of materials, and ability to follow instructions.
• Summative: Students describe how their art connects to Matariki meaning using visual language and Māori terms if possible.
• Self and peer reflection on creativity, relaxation, and collaborative behaviour.

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Extension for Advanced Learners

• Challenge students to include Māori symbols or motifs learned previously into their collages or weavings.
• Students can research one star from the Matariki cluster and incorporate symbolic attributes into their art.
• Encourage writing a short description/story in te reo Māori or English about the star or the weaving’s meaning.

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Teacher's Notes

• Keep the environment calm with soft music, low lighting if possible, to enhance relaxation.
• Use this session to build cultural pride and remind students of the importance of Matariki as a living tradition.
• Encourage conversation about the five key competencies through explicit discussion during sharing.
• Use te reo Māori where possible for key vocabulary: Matariki, whetū (star), tukutuku (woven pattern), whānau (family).

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This lesson plan balances cultural learning, creativity, and sensory engagement aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum visual arts objectives and cultural competency expectations. It offers a calm, inclusive, and meaningful way to celebrate Matariki for Year 6 learners.