Maori Cultural Show at the Museum

Maori Cultural Show on PhotoPeach

Making Maori Fried Bread

As part of our Matariki celebrations here in Phoenix House we made ourselves some yummy fried bread for morning tea. There was some amazing helpers to ensure we did a fantastic job and some super star listeners to make sure we kept nice and safe!

It was such a hit and EVERYONE loved eating them for morning tea with some butter and jam!

 

Mid Winter Xmas Hakari

Preparing and sharing Kai is a way of celebrating Matariki.  At Phoenix House we decided on having a Mid winter Xmas Hakari (feast) which also ties into our cooking focus.  Roast chicken, potato bake and peas with a special yummy dessert was on the menu today and all the children contributed in some way whether it was in the preparation of the food, making decorations, setting the table or of course in eating the food!! There was silence at the lunch table as everyone dug in to the kai, you all really enjoyed sharing a meal together.  What a great team effort for a special occassion, well done Phoenix House xx.

Preparing our Potato Bake

Maddox, the master potato slicer!

Setting the table

Enjoying our Feast

Strawberry Shortcake

Yummy!!!....Last week we made strawberry shortcake play-dough with Bex using pink paint, glittter and lots of strawberry essence, it tasted good enough to eat and made our whole classroom smell like strawberry bubblegum..Delish!

Love Becky

Matariki Storytime at the Howick Library

To enhance the children's learning of Matariki (Maori new year) we organised a trip to the Howick library for Matariki storytime. The children were talking about it all morning and after lunch we all loaded into the KCC vans and off we went.  When we arrived at the library, we were directed to the storytime area where we were sat down and greeted.  Mama Pepe and Tao special visitors from the Museum told us a story about a rat, octopus and shark which was very interesting, we then got to colour in our very own pictures of the rat and octopus and make our own hula skirts to do some hula dancing.  What a great way to spend the afternoon and a great learning opportunity, many thanks to the staff at Howick library for the invitation.

  

  

  

He Waiata Tamariki

Matariki Stars and Koru Patterns

Matariki Stars

Koru Patterns

Painted Toast for Morning Tea!

Learning to Harakeke (flax) weave with Nicole

Checking out the ice in the playground!!

Authentic Indian Food

Cottage Cheese Curry with Rice

Recently we have been focusing on baking and cooking in Phoenix house.  Related to this topic children are enjoying to cook and bake different things. Today we cooked authentic Indian food.  Children were so excited to see different utensils, cooking style and ingredients such as curry powder, cumin seeds, turmeric, red chilly powder, dry fenugreek leaves, and Indian cottage cheese as they do not usually see these at home.  It was all team work; children helped me in cooking by mixing and chopping. Everybody enjoyed curry and rice and asked for another serve. Wow !