Creative Journeys in Aotearoa

Curriculum Area:

The Arts – Visual Arts
Level 2 – Year 4
Aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum

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Lesson Title:

Exploring Māori-Inspired Contemporary Art

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Learning Intentions:

By the end of this 120-minute session, students will:

• Understand key visual elements in Māori-inspired contemporary art
• Explore how stories and identity can be expressed through visual symbols
• Create a mixed-media visual artwork combining Māori motifs and contemporary design approaches
• Reflect on their own design process and demonstrate respect for Māori culture and values

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Success Criteria:

Students will be successful when they:

• Identify at least two Māori design elements such as koru, kowhaiwhai, or manaia
• Explain (verbally or in writing) the choices they have made in their own art
• Create a completed artwork that integrates Māori motifs with contemporary influences
• Demonstrate tikanga in handling materials and materials related to Māori culture

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Key Competencies:

• Relating to others – Working respectfully with cultural knowledge
• Thinking – Making decisions about visual symbolism and design
• Participating and contributing – Sharing creative ideas and engaging in feedback
• Managing self – Following artistic processes from planning to creation

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Values Integrated:

• Respect for Māori heritage and perspectives
• Innovation and inquiry through artistic experimentation
• Inclusion and understanding of diverse visual language

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Time Required:

120 minutes

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Resources Needed:

Materials	Quantity
Large cartridge paper (A3)	30 sheets
Pencils, erasers, rulers	Class set
Oil pastels, paint sticks	5 sets shared
Black markers	15
Access to images of Māori and contemporary NZ art	Printed set for group work
Laminated instruction cards	6 (for 6 groups)
Visual glossary of Māori motifs with meanings	1 per student
A ‘Taonga Table’ – display of printed or crafted taonga	1 table
Audio (taonga pūoro or Māori instrumental music)	Optional, for atmosphere

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Lesson Breakdown:

0–10 Minutes – Welcome and Wānanga Circle

• Begin with a karakia and short kōrero about the power of visual storytelling
• Introduce the whakataukī: “Ka mua, ka muri” (Walking backwards into the future)
• Teacher explains how art can help us carry stories from the past into today
• Encourage tamariki to think about their own stories and what makes them unique

10–25 Minutes – Visual Exploration Game: ‘Motif Match-Up’

• In groups of 4–5, students are given envelope sets of Māori patterns (such as koru, niho taniwha, mangōpare) and their meanings
• Students move around the room to different motif stations with visuals and information
• At each station, groups match the motif with its meaning on their worksheet (teacher checks off answers)
• Purpose: build familiarity with cultural visual language in a fun, active way

25–45 Minutes – Art Analysis: ‘Old Meets New’

• Show printed images of contemporary New Zealand artists incorporating Māori design (e.g., Lisa Reihana, Shane Cotton, Reuben Paterson)
• Small group discussion:
  • What colours do they see?
  • What patterns repeat?
  • How does it make them feel?
• Whole class shares their ideas around the visual stories they notice

45–50 Minutes – Transition and Brainstorm

• Students return to desks; teacher hands out their visual glossary and planning sheets
• Prompt: “What symbols connect to you? What do you want to show about yourself in your art?”
• Encourage symbols of identity (whānau, animals, landscape, hobbies) and pairing them with Māori motifs to tell their story

50–90 Minutes – Creative: Mixed-Media Identity Panels

• Students begin with pencil sketches on A3 paper
• They ink their designs using black markers and add colour using oil pastels or paint sticks
• While students work, gentle Māori instrumental music can play in the background
• Teacher roams to support and ask probing questions like:
  • “Why did you choose that pattern?”
  • “What story are you telling with your colours?”
  • “How might someone feel when they look at your work?”

90–110 Minutes – Reflection and Gallery Walk

• Walkthrough: Students place artworks on desks and do a quiet gallery walk in pairs
• Each student writes two "Kōrero Cards":
  • 1 compliment for someone else’s artwork
  • 1 reflection sentence about what they enjoyed or learned (“I liked drawing ___ because…” or “I learned that ___ symbol means…”)
• Teacher guides a few students to share reflections aloud

110–120 Minutes – Class Debrief and Karakia Whakamutunga

• Recap key learning: What are some new ideas or patterns students discovered?
• Emphasise cultural respect and the importance of visual storytelling
• Close with a karakia whakamutunga and a celebratory round of class applause

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Extension Opportunities:

• Digitally scan artworks and create a virtual art gallery for whānau
• Invite a local Māori artist to visit or Zoom in and talk about their process
• Connect learning to upcoming writing sessions: "My Patterned Story"

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Assessment Opportunities:

• Informal observational checklists during group work and art creation
• Student self-reflection sheets
• Peer comments on Gallery Walk
• Teacher can take anecdotal notes on student understanding of motif use and storytelling

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Teacher Notes:

• Consider grouping students with different strengths – pairing visual thinkers with keen writers or speakers
• Emphasise the use of Māori motifs with care and respect – not just decoration, but as storytelling
• This session supports links to Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum threads through personal engagement with culture and identity

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Links to NCEA Vision (Future Planning):

This lesson encourages early engagement with ideas that align with the NCEA pilot’s focus: creative and localised curriculum design, connection to Big Ideas, and weaving of mātauranga Māori through authentic learning.

“The highlights for us is the smiles on the faces of our kids... It's a journey, and for teaching, it's all about discovering that journey alongside our students.”
— NCEA Pilot Teacher, 2023

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This lesson is designed to excite, empower, and embed identity through creative cultural learning. Let's make this a memorable art journey in your classroom!