Matariki - planting a new crop - Broadbeans

Matariki is the name for the group of stars known as the Pleiades star cluster or seven sisters and is what is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year.  This is celebrated through education, remembrance and the planting of new crops signalling new beginnings.  It is also seen as a perfect time to learn about the land we live on and an important time for family to gather and reflect about the past and future.

Jack was eager to help prepare the garden by pulling out old plants and using the spade and hoe to get our garden ready for it's new crop.  Teacher Liz put on some important compost on the garden after our akonga went home (adding compost is an experience that adults do as it is a potential risk!)  We still make the children wash their hands when involved in gardening activities.  Jack was keen to communicate with Teacher Liz that he helps his family in the garden at home - Awesome!

The next day Georgia, Harriet, Chloe, Isabel, Paige, Oscar and Lachie all helped to measure the distance between each planting, the dug the holes, planted the beans, covered them with soil and then watered.  We discussed how high they might grow and how long it would take.  Chloe was convinced that after kai they would be this big (picture)

We went to have a look but nothing had happened yet!  We will keep nuturing, watching and waiting to see what happens next.

A sense of belonging was enriched by this experience as we develop skills for caring for our centre.
Contribution goals were developed by collaborating with each other in this active experience of preparing and planting the next seasons crops.  Children were actively involved in exploration, by doing, asking questions, interacting with others, devising theories about how beans would grow. Thankyou all for helping, I wonder what will happen next?