Aotearoa: The Land of the Long White Cloud. I think I prefer this beautiful Māori name for New Zealand. We studied this country last year (in 2021) during Matariki, the Māori New Year, using a free printable from the Museum of New Zealand. As I brought home books from the library to create this cultural study, my kids voted unanimously to study New Zealand again!
There are so many fun animals native to New Zealand, from the kakapo to the large, carnivorous powelliphanta snail. Our favorite animal was the national symbol of New Zealand, a bird called the “kiwi.” This fun book was a great introduction to the constellation of matariki and the kiwi.
This time around, we also focused on the biography of New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary, who with Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, was the first to summit Mount Everest! We felt so inspired by their stories and love for mountaineering.
“Discover New Zealand: A Book A Day” is a 1-week cultural study for ages 5 to 13, featuring interesting stories, most of which are appropriate for children younger than 5. Three chapter books and longer stories of scientists in the field round out this study for the older student. Bonus activities include hands-on projects to understand plate tectonics and the seasons of the southern hemisphere.
This 27-page unit provides you with a highly recommended book and short video each day, followed by an activity or two. Subjects covered include geography, language arts, science, drawing, cooking, history, and animal science. Passport, Mapwork and Timeline cards are included.
We made delicious Kiwi Burgers and played a strategic Māori board game called Mū Tōrere. A gluten-free, dairy-free recipe is included in the study as well as a game board and instructions!