Lesson Plan: Exploring the Maramataka (Māori Lunar Calendar)

Overview

This lesson is designed for Year 3 students in a New Zealand school under the Te Reo Māori curriculum. The goal is to introduce students to the Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, and its significance in Māori culture. This session aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum’s aims to support students in Te Reo Māori immersion education settings, particularly at levels 1-2.

Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 30 students
Subject: Te Reo Māori
Topic: Maramataka (Māori Lunar Calendar)
Curriculum Level: Levels 1-2 Te Marautanga o Aotearoa

Learning Objectives

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

1. Define what the Maramataka is and understand its purpose in Māori culture.
2. Identify key phases of the lunar cycle and their names in Te Reo Māori.
3. Describe basic activities traditionally associated with certain phases of the Maramataka.

Materials Needed

• Maramataka chart posters for classroom display
• Printed handouts of the lunar phases with names in Te Reo Māori and English
• Interactive whiteboard or projector
• Maramataka worksheets for activity
• Crayons and markers

Lesson Plan Details

Introduction (5 minutes)

Activity:

• Begin by greeting the students in Te Reo Māori.
• Introduce the topic by showing an image of the Maramataka on the interactive whiteboard.
• Brief discussion: Ask students if anyone knows what the calendar is used for.

Explanation:

• Explain that the Maramataka is the Māori lunar calendar, which was used traditionally by Māori to manage time and activities based on the moon’s phases.

Main Activity (15 minutes)

Interactive Discussion and Learning:

1. Teach the Phases:

   • Display the names of different phases of the lunar cycle in Te Reo Māori on the whiteboard.
   • Go through each phase, showing the corresponding part on the lunar chart and explaining the activities historically associated with each. For example, describe how the 'Tangaroa' phase was good for fishing.

2. Worksheet Activity:

   • Distribute the Maramataka worksheets and crayons/markers.
   • Students will match activities with the correct moon phases on their worksheets by drawing lines or colouring.
   • Assist and engage with students, offering help to pronounce Māori names correctly and understanding the significance of each phase.

Application (5 minutes)

Group Discussion:

• Have a brief sharing session where students can volunteer to share what activity they matched with which lunar phase and why.
• Encourage them to think about how these phases could still be relevant today.

Conclusion and Reflection (5 minutes)

Wrap-up:

• Summarise key points covered in today’s lesson.
• Ask students to mention one new thing they learned about the Maramataka.

Closing:

• End with a class recitation of the days of the week in Te Reo Māori.
• Remind students to take their worksheets home to share their learning with their family.

Assessment

• Review the completed worksheets to assess understanding and correct identification of the lunar phases and related activities.
• Listen to group discussions for correct usage of Te Reo Māori vocabulary related to the Maramataka.

Additional Resources

For further reading and materials:

• Te Kete Ipurangi – Resource page for Te Reo Māori materials including Maramataka based resources.
• Te Ara Encyclopedia – More information on the traditional Maori calendar.

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This lesson plan is designed to be engaging and informative, complying with New Zealand's educational standards and bringing an important aspect of Māori culture into the classroom in an interactive way.