Māori Culture Intro

Grade & Subject

• Grade 3
• Social Studies
• Unit: Exploring Māori Culture and Values (Lesson 1 of 10)
• Duration: 50 minutes
• Class Size: 20 students

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Curriculum Alignment (British Columbia Curriculum, 2023)

Curriculum Competencies

• Social Studies:

  • Building Understanding: Demonstrate awareness of the perspectives, values, and traditions of diverse cultures (People and Environments, Grade 3).
  • Communicating and Collaborating: Share ideas and information clearly and respectfully in various forms to develop understanding.

• Big Ideas:

  • Individuals, societies, and environments are interconnected and interdependent.
  • Cultural identities are expressed through values, customs, and traditions.

• Content (People and Environments – Local and Global Communities):

  • Key aspects of cultural identity, including connection to land and ancestors.

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Core Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe basic Māori cultural values such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship), whanaungatanga (relationships), and manaakitanga (hospitality).
2. Explain why land (whenua) and ancestors (tūpuna) hold significant importance in Māori culture.
3. Express understanding of how Māori values influence daily life and community relationships.
4. Demonstrate respect for diverse cultural perspectives through group discussion and reflective activities.

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Materials Needed

• Visual aids: Illustrated posters/photos of Māori symbols, whenua (land), wharenui (meeting house), and tūpuna (ancestors)
• Short, dyslexia-friendly text sheet: Simple descriptions of Māori values with key vocabulary highlighted
• Whiteboard and markers
• Large world map or globe
• Mini handouts with Māori greeting phrases (e.g., Kia ora)
• Art supplies: Paper, markers, crayons
• Audio recording of traditional Māori waiata (songs)
• Reflection journals or notebooks

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Engage (10 minutes)

• Begin with a warm greeting: Teach the class to say “Kia ora” and explain this is a Māori greeting meaning “hello” or “be well.”
• Show a large world map and zoom into New Zealand. Briefly explain who the Māori are — the indigenous people of New Zealand.
• Play a short traditional Māori waiata (song), ask students to close their eyes and listen carefully. After, ask students how the song made them feel or what they imagined.
• Display images of the land, ancestors, marae (community meeting place).
• Ask:
  • What do you notice about these pictures?
  • Why do you think land and family are important to people?

2. Explore (15 minutes)

• Introduce three key Māori values with simple definitions and examples:

Māori Value	Meaning	Example
Kaitiakitanga	Guardianship/care for the environment and land	Looking after forests, rivers, and animals
Whanaungatanga	Relationships and family	Supporting family and close friends
Manaakitanga	Hospitality and care for others	Welcoming guests and sharing food

• Read the dyslexia-friendly text aloud with the class. Use choral reading where the class repeats key words or phrases to support learners.
• In pairs, students discuss which value they think is most important and why.
• Write their ideas briefly on the board to refer to later.

3. Explain (10 minutes)

• Discuss why land ("whenua") is special in Māori culture: It connects people to their ancestors and identity.
• Show artwork or photos illustrating people with land and ancestors.
• Use a storytelling approach: Tell a short story about a Māori family's connection to their land and tūpuna (ancestors).
• Ask students reflective questions such as:
  • How do you think this family's life would be different without their land?
  • Can you think of a place where you feel connected or safe?

4. Elaborate (10 minutes)

• Students create “My Special Place” drawings:
  • On one side, they draw a place that is special to them (a park, home, forest).
  • On the other side, write one sentence explaining why it’s important to them (teacher and peers can support writing).
• For advanced learners: Write a short paragraph linking their special place to the idea of kaitiakitanga or whanaungatanga, explaining how they take care of it or why it matters to relationships.
• Circulate and support students, encouraging use of Māori values vocabulary.

5. Evaluate (5 minutes)

• Quick round-table sharing: Each student says one Māori word or value they learned and what it means.
• Exit ticket: On a card, write one thing you learned about Māori culture today and one question you still have.

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Differentiation & Supports

• Dyslexia-Friendly: Use clear font (Comic Sans, Arial), larger text, highlight keywords and provide oral reading support.
• Visual & Audio Supports: Include images and waiata listening for multimodal learning.
• Peer Support: Use pairs for discussion and shared reading.
• Extension for advanced learners: Writing more complex explanations and encouraging cultural connections beyond the classroom.

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Reflection and Next Steps

• Collect exit tickets to identify areas needing clarification.
• Prepare to build on these foundations by exploring more Māori stories, ceremonies, and language in upcoming lessons.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Ensure respectful use of Māori language and images by acknowledging them as living culture.
• This lesson aims to build empathy and cultural awareness, laying groundwork for more detailed cultural exploration in future lessons.
• Engage the school community or local cultural groups if possible, for authentic voice and connection to real-life cultural experiences.

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This lesson plan is designed to inspire curiosity about Māori culture while aligning rigorously with the British Columbia curriculum expectations for grade 3 social studies. It combines listening, speaking, reading and creative expression to accommodate diverse learners and teaching styles.