Matariki Lanterns
Matariki - The Māori New Year!
These tin can lanterns have been a hit over the years! They are a fun, creative project for children and will be a beautiful addition to your classroom festivities, mimicking the Matariki stars!
The technique used to create these can also be used for other designs for other occasions, such as Halloween and Guy Fawkes.
“Here are our amazing lanterns. We are super proud of them and looking forward to showing our whanau.” - Ko Taku Reo: Deaf Education New Zealand
Materials Needed:
Empty tin cans - washed
Marker pens
Paint (optional)
Hand drill (optional)
Water
Tealight or battery candles
How To Make Simple Tin Can Lanterns:
Remove the labels and glue from the cans and wash thoroughly.
Paint the cans if you wish.
Get the children to draw their design on the tin. (If you prefer to freestyle it you can skip this step.)
Fill the cans with water and freeze overnight. Having solid ice inside will prevent the cans from denting and collapsing when hammering.
Once frozen use the nail and hammer to punch holes in the tin, either following the pre-drawn design or free-styling with a random design.
When your design is complete submerge the tin in warm water to melt the ice.
Dry the can - be careful of any sharp edges inside.
Place a tea light candle or battery candle in the bottom of the tin and enjoy the beautiful light patterns it creates.
How about celebrating Matariki with an evening feast followed by a lantern walk among the stars!?
Lisa's Top Tips:
Remember to wear safety glasses!
Get the children to draw their designs on the tins before freezing as pens won’t work on the cold surface.
Make sure the cans are on a non-slip surface when hammering. A towel can be put underneath to help hold them in place.
You could try using an battery drill or hand drill to make the holes as well a hammer and nail.
Add a carry handle to the top of your tin by drilling a hole either side and looping wire through.
Give older children a Matariki theme - match the holes to the shape of the Pleiades star cluster (below) or create a Māori pattern.
