Māori Protocols Respect

Overview

This 50-minute lesson (Lesson 8 of 10 in the unit "Exploring Māori Culture and Values") explores the Māori protocols associated with caring for and showing respect to the land. Students will develop an understanding of ideas around sustainability and environmental stewardship from a Māori perspective, aligned with the British Columbia Curriculum's focus on Social Studies and Indigenous knowledge.

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Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (Grade 3) - British Columbia Curriculum

• Big Idea:
  Sustainability of natural resources is important to the wellbeing of communities.

• Curricular Competencies:

  • Use social studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret, and compare ideas; and communicate findings and decisions.
  • Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of different perspectives.

• Content:

  • Cultural practices of Indigenous Peoples, including the relationship between the land, people, and the environment.

• Core Competencies:

  • Communication
  • Personal and Social Awareness
  • Thinking Competency – Critical thinking and reflection

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Learning Objectives

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

• Describe specific Māori protocols related to showing respect to the land (e.g., kaitiakitanga – guardianship).
• Explain why sustainability and caring for the environment was and is important for the Māori people.
• Reflect on how these Māori values relate to their own understanding of environmental stewardship.

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Materials

• Visual aids/photos illustrating Māori relationship with land (e.g., marae, forests, rivers)
• Short dyslexia-friendly text about kaitiakitanga and Māori protocols (large font, simple sentences)
• Chart paper and markers
• A variety of natural objects (leaf, stone, small branch, shell) in a “discovery box”
• Worksheet with sentence stems for reflection (offered in dyslexia-friendly format)
• Extension activity prompt cards

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Lesson Structure

1. Engage (10 min)

• Welcome class to the lesson with a brief discussion:
  “What does it mean to look after the land? Why is the land important to us and to other people?”
• Show images of Māori land, forests, and rivers, invite students to share observations.
• Introduce the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga ("guardianship" or "caretaking of the land"). Present the dyslexia-friendly text about this protocol. Read aloud, inviting students to follow along.

2. Explore (15 min)

• Discovery Box Activity:
  Present various natural objects from the land in a box.
  Ask: “If these belonged to the Māori, how might they show respect for these items and the land they came from?”
• Discuss Māori protocols such as:
  • Taking only what you need
  • Giving thanks (karakia/prayers) for resources
  • Protecting wildlife and plants
• Record key ideas on chart paper for visual reference.

3. Explain (10 min)

• Using a short story or example of a Māori guardian (kaitiaki) protecting a forest or river, explain why these protocols support sustainability.
• Discuss the connection between these protocols and the health of the environment for future generations.
• Link to BC Science curriculum where care for the environment is an ongoing theme.

4. Elaborate (10 min)

• Group reflection: In pairs, students complete sentence stems (dyslexia-friendly):
  • “I think it is important to look after the land because…”
  • “One way the Māori show respect for the land is…”
• Volunteers share their sentences with the class.

5. Evaluate (5 min)

• Students draw or write one thing they learned about Māori respect for the land and how they can care for the environment.
• Teacher circulates to assess understanding, offers positive feedback.

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Differentiation & Dyslexia-Friendly Supports

• Use clear, simple language with short sentences in all handouts.
• Provide reading texts in dyslexia-friendly fonts and layouts (e.g., OpenDyslexic font, increased spacing).
• Pair oral storytelling with visual aids and hands-on activities to support comprehension.
• Allow choice between drawing or writing for reflection to accommodate different strengths.

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Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Research another Indigenous group’s relationship to land and present in a creative way (poster, oral presentation).
• Create a mini “code of conduct” for environmental care inspired by Māori principles to share with the class.
• Write a short story imagining themselves as a kaitiaki protecting a special place.

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Teacher Reflection Notes

• Observe student engagement during the Discovery Box discussion to gauge curiosity and connection to concepts.
• Note which students articulate understanding clearly in the reflection task.
• Consider ways to deepen inquiry for the next lesson based on student responses.

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This lesson plan models how the BC curriculum's focus on Indigenous perspectives can be practically woven into teaching protocols and values with a hands-on, visual, and reflective approach. It supports social studies inquiry and caring for the environment through an age-appropriate lens.