Hinetahi’s Harbour Heroes

Lesson 1: Introduction to Hinetahi and Te Moana a Tairongo

Duration: 30 minutes
Year Level: Years 1–3
Number of Students: 14
Curriculum:
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa –
Wāhanga Ako: Te Reo Māori
Tauanga Ako: Paerewa Paetae | Levels 1–2
Whāinga Paetae:

• Kōrero: Ka taea e te ākonga te tuku kōrero mō āna mahi, mō ngā mea i kite ai i te ao e karapoti ana i a ia.
• Pānui: Ka pānui i ngā kupu māmā kua mōhiotia e ia.
• Tuhituhi: Ka tuhi i ētahi kupu māmā hei whakaputa whakaaro.

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Whāinga Ako (Learning Intention):

• Kia mōhio ngā ākonga ko wai a Hinetahi, me te wāhi o Te Moana a Tairongo.
• Kia mārama ngā ākonga ki te kupu "kaitiakitanga" me tōna tikanga i te ao Māori.
• Ka taea te whakaatu mā te toi, te kōrero, te whakarongo me te pāhekoheko.

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Ngā Putanga Ako (Success Criteria):

Ka taea e ngā ākonga te:
✅ Kōrero poto mō Hinetahi me tōna mahi hei kaitiaki
✅ Tautuhi i te moana me te ingoa "Te Moana a Tairongo"
✅ Whakaatu mā te pikitia, tohu rānei, me pēhea te tiaki i te taiao
✅ Whakarongo me te whai wāhi i te rerenga kōrero o te kaiako

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Rauemi (Resources Needed):

• He pukapuka pikitia i tuhia motuhake mō te ako: “Ko Hinetahi te Kaitiaki”
• Rākau kōrero me ngā tohu āwhina
• Mahere kōrero ā-pikitia (visual story map), me te kape motuhake mō ngā ākonga i te tauwehe (students on the spectrum)
• Rauemi toi: pepa, pene tae, kirihou moana, taputapu hanga ā-ringa
• Papatū anō hei whakaatu (whiteboards or mat space for whole-class discussions)

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Tikanga Ako (Teaching Approach):

• Ako ngātahi: Ka ako te kaiako me ngā ākonga i te taha o tētahi
• Ako whakaata: Mahi toi hei whakaāhua i ngā kōrero
• Whakawhanaungatanga: Te hanga i tētahi hononga ki ngā whakaaro matua o te ao Māori — ko kaitiakitanga tētahi o ēnei

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Mahere Ako (Lesson Outline):

1. Whakatuwhera – Karakia & Mihimihi (5 mins)

• Purpose: To begin safely and with focus
• Activity:
  • Karakia timatanga (short welcoming karakia)
  • Mihimihi poto: Ko wai koe? Kei hea tō wāhi pai i te moana?
  • Introduce principle of kaitiakitanga briefly (guardianship of the natural world) with real-life examples (e.g., "Have we ever picked up rubbish at the beach? That’s kaitiakitanga!")

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2. Whakapuaki Pakiwaitara – Ko Hinetahi te Kaitiaki (10 mins)

• Purpose: To explore the main characters and themes
• Activity:
  • Kaiako reads the class-created picture book Ko Hinetahi te Kaitiaki using big book format or TV display
  • Focus on key kupu whenua: moana, kaitiaki, ika, ngaru
  • Use gestures, sound effects, and taonga puoro (if available) to support the multisensory experience
  • Use visual aides like props (blue silks for sea, a cloak for Hinetahi)

Differentiation:

• Use visual story map as the story is told — simplified version available for the ākonga i te tauwehe
• Stop at intervals with "Kātahi ka patai ahau…" comprehension questions:
  • "Ko wai te tangata nui o te pakiwaitara?"
  • "He aha te mahi a Hinetahi?"
  • "I pehea ia i te tiaki i Te Moana a Tairongo?"

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3. Pāhekoheko – Kaitiaki Toi Activity (10 mins)

• Purpose: Creative response that connects to literacy and identity
• Activity Options: (students choose based on own preferences)
  • 🎨 Draw their version of Hinetahi or the moana using crayons and blue craft paper
  • 👐 Use kinetic sand or plasticine to shape the moana or a sea creature Hinetahi might protect
  • 🗣 Small group kōrero: Describe their drawing in basic sentences (e.g. "He ika i te moana. Mā Hinetahi e tiaki.")

Support For Learning Needs:

• Teacher floats between stations to support vocabulary
• Sentence prompts, kupu cards, and teacher modelling for students who need language scaffolds
• Buddy options for peer support during artistic or oral activity

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4. Whakakapi – Poroporoaki Kōrero (5 mins)

• Purpose: Reflect on learning, settle
• Activity:
  • Come back to the whāriki (mat) as a group
  • Quickfire “He aha te mea hou i ako koe i tēnei rā?” ("What’s something new you learned today?")
  • Te pao (chant) for kaitiakitanga:

    “Tiaki te whenua, tiaki te moana
    Kaitiaki mātou katoa”

  • Say goodbye to Hinetahi and thank her for teaching us about the sea

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Aromatawai (Assessment for Learning):

• Observation: Can ākonga retell details of the story with sentence starters or pictures?
• Work Samples: Collect artwork showing understanding of Hinetahi or moana
• Kōrero: Are students using key words like moana, kaitiaki, ika in context?
• Participation: Engagement during oral story and activity rounds

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Whaiwhakaaro mo te Rangi Apōpō (Looking Forward to Tomorrow):

In Lesson 2, tamariki will explore the idea of kai moana and the balance of taking and giving in the moana. They will help create a class woven net (kupenga) that symbolises interconnectedness with ocean life.

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Kaiako Notes (Teacher Tips):

• Use child's name in storytelling where possible – e.g., “Ānaru helped Hinetahi by picking up pōkaikaha (plastic) from the beach”
• Revisit the story later in the week during reading time – repetition is crucial for reo retention
• Consider sending home a note or picture summary in Te Reo Māori to help whānau reinforce the vocabulary at home

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Key Vocabulary (Kupu Hou):

Te Reo Māori	English
kaitiaki	guardian
moana	ocean/sea
Hinetahi	name of sea guardian
ika	fish
ngaru	wave

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He māramatanga nui:

"Kia tiaki tātou i ngā taonga tuku iho. Nā Hinetahi, ka ako tātou i te aroha me te tiaki i te moana."
"Let us protect our inherited treasures. Through Hinetahi, we learn to love and protect the ocean."

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✅ Lesson 1 of 6 in the Unit: Hinetahi’s Harbour Heroes
📚 Curriculum Area: Te Reo Māori / Level 1–2
🌊 Big Ideas: Pūrakau, Kaitiakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Reo Māori
🧠 Integrated Focus: Literacy | Oral Language | Visual Arts | Cultural Identity