Exploring Matariki

Overview

Unit Title: Matariki: Stars of Knowledge
Lesson Title: Introduction to Matariki: The Māori New Year
Lesson #: 1 of 10
Duration: 55 minutes
Year Level: Year 9
Curriculum Area: Learning Languages – Te Reo Māori, Level 1 of the NCEA Te Reo Māori curriculum (aligned with NZC Level 4/5 transition)
School Context: A class of 20 ākonga (students), mixed proficiency in Te Reo Māori; supportive of Kaupapa Māori and localised curriculum design.

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Big Ideas

• Matariki is more than a date — it is a time of renewal, reflection, and celebration of whakapapa and mātauranga Māori.
• Te ao Māori is deeply connected to the natural world and celestial cycles.
• Learning through kaupapa Māori fosters identity, belonging, and critical thinking.

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Key Competencies

• Thinking: Reflecting on Matariki’s meaning in both traditional and modern contexts.
• Using language, symbols, and texts: Understanding and using key vocabulary and concepts in Te Reo Māori.
• Participating and contributing: Engaging in collaborative learning and discussion.

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Learning Intentions

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

1. Identify Matariki as a significant Māori celebration and explain its cultural importance.
2. Recognise traditional meanings and practices associated with Matariki.
3. Use Te Reo Māori to share basic ideas around time, stars, and whānau.
4. Reflect on personal or family traditions and relate them to the wider class context.

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Success Criteria

Ākonga will succeed when they can:

• Correctly pronounce and define key Matariki vocabulary.
• Participate in a class kōrero about Matariki's significance using some Te Reo Māori phrases.
• Contribute a personal or family tradition to the class ‘Time of Renewal’ wall.

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Vocabulary Focus (Kupu Hou)

Māori	English
Matariki	a cluster of stars; Māori New Year
whetū	star
tau hou	new year
maramataka	lunar calendar
whānau	family
maumahara	remembrance
whakatipuranga	new generations
kai	food
hākari	feast or celebration

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Resources & Materials

• Printed star map of Matariki cluster (one per student)
• ‘Te Ao Māori Lunar Calendar’ visuals
• Small star-shaped sticky notes (20+)
• Large sheet titled “Te Tau Hou o Matariki” for class display
• Whiteboard + markers
• Audio clip: Karakia mō te tau hou (introductory karakia)
• Cue cards with sentence starters (e.g. “Ki tōku whānau…”, “Ka maumahara au ki…”)

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Lesson Structure (55 Minutes Total)

1. Whakatau + Karakia (5 minutes)

• Welcome students with a brief whakatau.
• Settle students with a short karakia acknowledging the new learning journey.
  E.g. “Whakataka te hau…”
• Introduce the unit focus: Matariki: Stars of Knowledge.

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2. Whakarongo – Listening & Discussion (10 minutes)

• Play a short audio clip introducing Matariki and its meaning.
• Use a pair-share strategy: “He aha te Matariki ki a koe?”
• Brief whole-class kōrero:
  • What is Matariki?
  • Why is it celebrated?
  • What do we already know?

Teacher prompt:

“I ngā tau o mua, i pēhea ngā tūpuna e whakanui ai i a Matariki? Āianei, he aha ngā rerekētanga?”

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3. Ako Kupu – Vocabulary Exploration (10 minutes)

• Hand out Matariki star maps and vocabulary list.
• In pairs: Match Māori terms to English.
• Interactive movement game: Students choose a kupu and act it out (class guesses).
  Encourages kinesthetic memory building.

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4. He Kōrero - Story Sharing (10 minutes)

• Each student writes one sentence in Te Reo Māori on a sticky star to contribute to our “Te Tau Hou o Matariki” wall.

Examples:

• “Ka kai tā mātou whānau i te rēwena i te wā o Matariki.”
• “Ka whakamahara mātou ki tōku kuia.”

Differentiation Tip: Provide sentence scaffolds or allow students to do partial writing in Māori and English.

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5. Ako Rōpū – Small Group Activity (15 minutes)

Title: He Aha te Kaupapa?

• In groups of 4, students will receive a short paragraph (in bilingual text) describing a traditional Matariki celebration.
• Task: Identify what value or idea it connects to: whanaungatanga, maumaharatanga, taiao, etc.
• Groups report back using:
  “I roto i tā mātou kōrero, i ako mātou mō te…”

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6. Honour the Learning (Reflection) (5 minutes)

• Quickfire round: Each student says one kupu hou and one thing they found interesting.
• Teacher summarises key ideas and sets up anticipation for next lesson:
  “Ā tērā wiki, ka ako tātou mō ngā whetū – ngā ingoa, me ā rātou mahi mō ā tātou tūpuna…”

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Assessment for Learning (AfL)

• Informal teacher observations during kōrero and group work.
• Collection of star note reflections.
• Formative prompt at end of lesson for ākonga to write 1-2 sentences in their journal:
  “He aha te mea nui i ako au i tēnei rā?”

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Home Learning / Whānau Link

Extension Activity:
Ask students to korero with someone at home about:

• A tradition or special moment they celebrate as a whānau.
• Can they draw or write a sentence about it in BOTH English and Te Reo Māori to share next time?

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Teacher Reflection (Post-Lesson)

• What kupu were confidently used by most students?
• Did the sentence scaffolds support varied learner needs?
• What insights did I gain into my ākonga through their kōrero or sticky star responses?
• How might I further incorporate local iwi narratives into next week’s whetū-based lesson?

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Final Notes

This lesson intentionally combines cultural competency, language learning, and identity-building in accessible and age-appropriate ways for Year 9. It launches the Matariki unit with curiosity and connection, two values central to engaging our learners and their whānau in meaningful, transformative learning.

Mānawatia a Matariki!