To download Matariki coloring pages and free printable activities, simply browse our curated collection below. These high-quality PDF resources include the nine stars of Matariki, constellation charts, and Te Reo Māori vocabulary puzzles designed to engage children in the celebration of the Māori New Year and educational cultural traditions.
Celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year, is a profound way to connect with the heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. Whether you are a teacher looking for classroom resources or a parent seeking engaging activities for your tamariki (children), printable activities offer a hands-on approach to learning. This guide provides access to high-quality downloadable content, including coloring sheets representing the nine stars, star charts, and vocabulary games.
How to Download Matariki Coloring Pages?
Accessing these resources is straightforward. When you look to download Matariki coloring pages, you are looking for high-resolution files that print cleanly on standard A4 paper. The activities listed in this guide are designed to be printer-friendly while retaining the intricate details necessary for an engaging art experience.
To get started, identify the specific activity that suits the age group you are working with. Younger children often prefer bold, simple outlines of the stars, while older students may appreciate detailed geometric patterns or connect-the-dots challenges that teach the astronomical positioning of the cluster. Click the download links associated with each section below to save the PDF files directly to your device.
What are the Best Matariki Coloring Sheets for Kids?
The most popular request from educators is for sheets that depict the nine stars of Matariki. Each star holds a specific domain and significance in the environment. Coloring these stars helps children memorize their names and understand their roles in the Māori worldview (Te Ao Māori).
Understanding the 9 Stars Through Art
When children download Matariki coloring pages featuring the specific stars, they engage with the following concepts:
- Matariki: The mother of the cluster, signifying reflection, hope, and the health of the people. Coloring sheets often feature her in the center, surrounded by her children.
- Pōhutukawa: Connected to those who have passed on. Artworks for this star often include spiritual motifs or memories.
- Tupuānuku: Associated with food grown in the ground. Coloring pages may feature kūmara (sweet potato) or soil patterns.
- Tupuārangi: Connected to food from the sky, such as birds and berries. These sheets are great for exploring native New Zealand flora and fauna.
- Waipuna-ā-rangi: Linked to rain. These pages often incorporate water droplets and cloud designs.
- Waitī: Associated with fresh water and the creatures within it, like eels (tuna).
- Waitā: Represents the ocean and marine life.
- Ururangi: Connected to the winds. Swirling patterns are common here.
- Hiwa-i-te-rangi: The wishing star. This is often the favorite for children, as they can color the star while setting their intentions for the year ahead.
By using these specific sheets, the activity transitions from simple coloring to a lesson in environmental science and cultural history.
Where Can I Find Downloadable Star Charts for Kids?
A star chart is an essential tool for locating the Matariki cluster (Pleiades) in the pre-dawn sky. Unlike standard coloring pages, star charts are functional diagrams. We offer simplified versions that children can color in, helping them learn the relative positions of the stars before they head outside to look for them.
Mapping the Night Sky in Aotearoa
The Matariki cluster appears in the northeast horizon just before sunrise in mid-winter. A printable star chart helps visualize this. The chart typically includes the horizon line and the “pot” (Orion’s Belt) which serves as a pointer toward Matariki.
Using a downloadable star chart involves three steps:
- Download and Print: Ensure the chart is printed clearly so the smaller stars are visible.
- Color Coding: Have students use different colors for the pointer stars (like Tautoru/Orion’s Belt) and the Matariki cluster to distinguish them.
- Observation: Take the chart outside on a clear morning. Holding the paper up against the horizon helps children translate the 2D drawing to the 3D sky.
How to Use a Te Reo Māori Vocabulary Word Search?
Word searches are excellent for literacy development. A Matariki-themed word search reinforces Te Reo Māori vocabulary associated with the holiday. This activity is “passive learning,” where students become familiar with the spelling and structure of Māori words while searching for them in the grid.
Key Vocabulary to Include
Our downloadable word search puzzles include the following essential terms:
- Whetū: Star
- Whānau: Family
- Kai: Food
- Hākari: Feast
- Maumahara: Remembrance
- Aotearoa: New Zealand
Teachers often pair the word search with a glossary. After finding the word, the student writes down its English translation. This reinforces the connection between the word and its meaning, making the activity more than just a puzzle.
What are Connect-the-Dots Constellation Sheets?
Connect-the-dots activities are particularly effective for younger learners developing fine motor skills and numeracy. In the context of Matariki, these sheets reveal the geometric shape of the constellation. Because the stars of Matariki are tightly clustered, the resulting shape is distinct and recognizable.
From Numbers to Stars
These printables guide children from number 1 to number 9 (representing the nine stars). As they connect the dots, the shape of the cluster emerges. This visual reinforcement helps them recognize the cluster in the actual night sky.
Advanced versions of these sheets may include the surrounding constellations, helping older students understand the scale of the sky. Once the dots are connected, the sheet becomes a coloring page where the “space” between the stars can be filled with dark blues, purples, and glitter to simulate the night sky.
Why Should You Use These Matariki Activities?
Integrating these resources into your curriculum or home life provides significant educational benefits. Beyond the fun of coloring, these activities support the New Zealand Curriculum and general cultural competency.
Cultural Appreciation and History
Matariki is about more than just astronomy; it is about the cycle of life, environmental stewardship, and family. By engaging with these materials, children learn to respect Māori traditions and understand the seasonal cycles that govern the environment in Aotearoa.
Fine Motor Skills and Literacy
Coloring within lines, connecting dots, and searching for words all contribute to fine motor development and literacy. For bilingual education, seeing Te Reo Māori terms in print is crucial for normalization and acquisition of the language.
How to Print These Resources Effectively?
To ensure the best experience when you download Matariki coloring pages, follow these printing tips:
- Paper Quality: Use standard 80gsm copy paper for general coloring. However, if you plan to use markers or paints, opt for heavier cardstock (120gsm+) to prevent bleed-through.
- Printer Settings: Select “Fit to Page” to ensure no part of the star chart or border is cut off. Set the quality to “High” or “Best” to ensure the lines of the intricate Māori designs are crisp.
- Eco-Friendly Options: If printing for a large class, consider printing on both sides of the paper or laminating a set of star charts that can be reused with whiteboard markers.
People Also Ask
What is the best age for Matariki coloring pages?
Matariki coloring pages are suitable for all ages. Simple star outlines are perfect for preschoolers (ages 3-5), while intricate patterns featuring Māori kōwhaiwhai designs are excellent for primary and intermediate students (ages 6-12) and even adults for mindfulness.
Are these Matariki printables free to use in schools?
Yes, most resources found online for Matariki, including the ones described here, are free for educational and non-commercial use. They are designed to support teachers in integrating Māori culture into the classroom.
How many stars are in the Matariki cluster for coloring?
Modern educational resources typically focus on the nine stars of Matariki: Matariki, Pōhutukawa, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waipuna-ā-rangi, Waitī, Waitā, Ururangi, and Hiwa-i-te-rangi. Ensure your coloring pages reflect these nine distinct stars.
Can I download Matariki activities for high school students?
Yes. While coloring pages are popular for younger kids, high school students can benefit from complex geometric art challenges, detailed astronomical star charts, and advanced Te Reo Māori crosswords or research-based worksheets included in download packs.
What materials do I need for these activities?
You will need a printer, paper (standard or cardstock), and coloring medium such as crayons, colored pencils, felt-tip markers, or pastels. For star charts, you might also want a compass to help locate the direction of the sunrise.
When should I start doing Matariki activities?
It is best to start these activities in late May or early June. Matariki rises in mid-winter, and preparing with these activities beforehand builds anticipation and understanding leading up to the public holiday and the sighting of the stars.
