Māori Dance & Music

Grade

3rd Grade

Duration

50 minutes

Class Size

20 students

Curriculum Alignment: British Columbia Curriculum (BC Curriculum)

Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies (ADST):

Big Idea: Cultural knowledge and practices influence the development of creative ideas.
Curricular Competency: Use personal experiences and interests to explore new perspectives and diverse cultures.

Social Studies: People and Cultures

Content: Indigenous peoples’ ways of living, including cultural expressions such as stories, music, and dance.
Big Idea: Diverse cultural groups, including Indigenous peoples, have unique ways of life, beliefs, values, and practices shaped by their histories and environments.
Curricular Competency: Communicate and reflect on learning about diverse cultural expressions and their significance.

Arts Education - Music and Drama

Big Idea: Engaging in the arts helps people understand their own and others’ histories, cultures, and perspectives.
Curricular Competency: Participate in drama and music through song, rhythm, and movement to explore ideas and cultural values.

Learning Objectives

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

Describe the significance of traditional Māori dance (haka) and music as forms of storytelling and cultural expression.
Identify basic features of the haka performance, including its movements, chants, and emotional expression.
Reflect on the connection between dance/music and storytelling in Māori culture.
Perform a simplified group haka or rhythmic chant that demonstrates understanding of key elements.

Materials Needed

Audio recording of a traditional haka and Māori music (pre-screened for child-appropriate content)
Visual aids: images and short videos showing haka performances and traditional instruments (e.g., pūtātara trumpet, pahu drum)
Large open space for movement
Dyslexia-friendly storybook or printed material summarising haka and Māori music (large print, clear fonts, bullet points)
Paper and coloured pencils for drawing activity
Whiteboard or chart paper and markers

Lesson Outline

1. Introduction & Engagement (8 minutes)

Hook: Begin with a brief storytelling moment—read aloud from a dyslexia-friendly text a short, powerful Māori legend connected to the origins or purpose of the haka (e.g., how haka was used to prepare warriors or to welcome guests). Use expressive voice to capture attention.
Show & Tell: Present images and short videos of Māori haka performances and traditional instruments to contextualise the dance and music visually and auditorily.

2. Exploring Māori Dance and Music (15 minutes)

Listening Activity: Play an audio recording of a traditional haka followed by Māori music. Ask students how the performance makes them feel and what story or message they think the performers might be communicating.
Discussion: Discuss the elements of haka: powerful movements, facial expressions (pūkana - wide eyes), rhythm, and chanting. Emphasise the role of storytelling and the expression of collective identity in the performance.
Model Demonstration: Teacher or guest demonstrates a simplified haka sequence with explanation of key movements and emotional expressions.

3. Group Participation: Haka & Rhythm Chant (15 minutes)

Guided Practice: Teach students a short, simplified haka or rhythmic chant adapted for their age and cultural sensitivity.
Movement Integration: Encourage students to work in small groups to practice the haka with clear, strong movements and chanting, focusing on teamwork and expression.
Reflection: After practice, invite students to describe how performing the haka made them feel and what they think the dance communicates about Māori culture.

4. Creative Extension: Drawing & Storytelling (7 minutes)

Students draw a picture that represents a story or feeling conveyed through the haka or Māori music. They can choose to depict a character, an emotion, or instruments they learned about.
Optional challenge for advanced learners: Write a short sentence or phrase inspired by the haka, incorporating new Māori words introduced during the lesson (e.g., moko, haka, waiata).

5. Conclusion & Assessment (5 minutes)

Recap: Review key elements of Māori dance and music; ask several students to share one thing they learned.
Formative Assessment: Teacher observes students’ participation, understanding of movements and storytelling, and reflections shared during activities. Use anecdotal notes.
Exit Ticket: Each student shares one word or feeling that the haka or Māori music inspired in them as they leave.

Differentiation Strategies

Student Need	Adaptation
Dyslexia-friendly reading	Use large, clear fonts and bullet points for texts and instructions. Provide oral reading and explanations.
Kinesthetic learners	Emphasise movement and hands-on activities like group haka participation and drawing.
Advanced learners	Offer extension task to create short written reflections using new vocabulary; encourage leadership in group activities.
ELL learners	Display key vocabulary with images; use call-and-response chanting to reinforce pronunciation and meaning.

Resources for Teachers

Teacher’s notes with background on Māori cultural significance of haka and waiata
Pronunciation guide for key Māori terms and phrases used in chants
Potential guest speaker or virtual visitor from a local Indigenous cultural centre (optional)

Reflection Notes for Teacher (post-lesson)

Were students able to connect the haka to storytelling and cultural values?
Which aspects engaged students most—listening, movement, or discussion?
Did all students feel confident participating? How to support quieter learners next time?
Extensions ideas: further exploration into Māori instruments or creating original group chants.

This lesson plan offers a culturally respectful, interactive, and multisensory approach to exploring Māori dance and music, aligned with BC Curriculum goals, emphasizing storytelling, cultural identity, and student creativity.

Teaching Instructions