Matariki

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/matariki

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the astronomical identification?The Pleiades star cluster
2. What is the calendarial function?Marks the commencement of the Māori lunar new year
3. When does Matariki appear?It first rises just before sunrise in late June or early July.
4. Why do people look at Matariki?People watch the stars to learn about the coming year’s weather, food, and to remember family and friends.

Heliacal Rising: The first visible appearance of a celestial body in the eastern sky just before sunrise after a period of invisibility.
Māori Lunar Calendar: A traditional lunisolar calendar system used by the Māori people, integrating lunar phases with solar cycles.
Cultural Resurgence: A period of renewed interest and activity in a culture's traditions, arts, and practices after a period of decline.