Handwriting is to be done in your Handwriting book if you are a Year 5, please. If you are a Year 6, then your handwriting is to be done in your Literacy book.

Remember:

1. Write in blue pen

2. Rule off in red pen

part of Your Persuasive Mission

To win people over with your powerful, persuasive opinions, reasons and explanations!

The OREO Reminder

Before you start, don't forget to pack your OREO! It’s the best way to build a strong argument:

• O - Opinion: Tell us what you think!

• R - Reasons: Why do you think that?

• E - Examples: Give us some proof or a cool story.

• O - Opinion: Tell us one more time so we don't forget!

The Total Pro Success Criteria:

You’ll know you’ve nailed using the OREO method if you have convinced a grumpy teacher why or why shouldn't we commemorate Anzac Day.

Your Persuasive Mission...

To win people over with your powerful, persuasive opinions, reasons and explanations!

Ready to share your big ideas and crush that persuasive writing task? Here is a quick tip to help you level up your arguments:

Use Your Secret Weapons!

Don't forget to dive back into those articles, New Zealand at War and Te Hokowhitu-a-Tū. They are like cheat codes for your writing.

Checking these out will help you:

1. Organise your opinions so your arguments actually make sense and sound super convincing.

2. Steal the "Expert" Words: Use that high-level vocab to sound like a total pro!

The Total Pro Success Criteria:

You’ll know you’ve nailed the learning if you can convince a grumpy teacher why or why shouldn't we commemorate Anzac Day.

As the crisp winter air settles over Aotearoa, a profound shift begins. The pre-dawn appearance of Matariki (the Pleiades) and Puanga (Rigel) signals the closing of the old year and the birth of the new. This is a sacred time for reflection, celebrating the present, and planting seeds of hope for the future.

For our tamariki (children), learning about both Matariki and Puanga is about much more than just identifying stars in the night sky—it is about understanding identity, connection, and the diverse traditions of the land they call home.

Why Both Stars Matter

While Matariki is widely recognised across Aotearoa, it is not visible to every iwi. For many iwi in regions like the West Coast, parts of the Far North, Taranaki, and Whanganui, mountain ranges or local geography block the low-lying Matariki cluster.

Instead, these iwi look to Puanga, a bright, unmistakable star sitting higher in the eastern sky. For these communities, Puanga is the primary herald of the New Year, while Matariki plays a supporting role.

The Significance for all of us:

• Honoring Local History (Whakapapa): It teaches us to look at our specific local landscape and understand how the unique environment shaped the traditions of the iwi who live there.

• Unity through Diversity: Recognising both stars shows tamariki that while our traditions may look slightly different depending on where we stand, we are all connected under the same winter sky, celebrating the same core values of community, remembering ancestors, and environmental stewardship.

• A Deeper Connection to Nature: By learning how Māori used these stars to predict the upcoming harvest and navigate the seasons, children develop a profound respect for Te Taiao (the environment) and sustainable living.

A Connected Future

By embracing both Matariki and Puanga, you as tamariki will learn that unity does not mean uniformity. You will grow up with a richer, more inclusive understanding of Aotearoa's heritage—one that honours every corner of our skies and every story of our people.