Lesson Plan: Matariki through Visual Arts and Oral Language

Grade Level

• Year 1

Duration

• 35 minutes

Class Size

• 14 students

Subject

• Social Sciences: Visual Arts and Oral Language Integration

Curriculum Area

• Social Sciences (Learning about Matariki, the Māori New Year)
• Visual Arts (Exploration of star patterns through art)
• Oral Language (Communicating ideas and experiences related to Matariki)

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the significance of Matariki - Students will learn about Matariki, its importance in the Māori culture as the marking of the New Year.
2. Explore pattern and colour through ‘The Starry Night’ - Students will observe and discuss the colours and patterns in Vincent Van Gogh’s painting ‘The Starry Night’.
3. Develop oral language skills - Students will discuss and describe visual images, oral narratives, and personal experiences related to Matariki.
4. Create a starry art piece - Utilising inspiration from ‘The Starry Night’, students will create their own starry sky artwork representing the Matariki constellation.

NZ Curriculum Links

• Social Sciences: Understanding how cultural practices vary but reflect similar purposes.
• Visual Arts: Developing practical knowledge in the arts by exploring and using techniques and processes in visual arts.
• Oral Language: Listening, speaking, and presenting in a range of situations using visual prompts.

Materials Needed

• Images of Matariki and ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent Van Gogh
• Black construction paper
• White chalk or pastel crayons
• Blue and yellow paint
• Paintbrushes
• sponges
• Glitter (optional for stars)
• Examples of Matariki stories and legends

Lesson Breakdown

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greeting and Setting the Context: Briefly introduce Matariki and its significance in the New Zealand (Aotearoa) cultural calendar.
• Show and Tell: Display and briefly discuss the painting ‘The Starry Night’ and connect it to the starry skies during Matariki.

Exploration (10 minutes)

• Interactive Storytelling: Read a short story or legend about Matariki. Allow students to pass around images of the Matariki constellation and ‘The Starry Night’.
• Discussion: Ask the students to describe the colours, patterns, and feelings these images evoke, fostering oral language development.

Activity (15 minutes)

• Art Creation: Students will create their own starry night artwork.
  • Distribute black paper and pastels.
  • Demonstrate how to draw with white chalk to create star patterns.
  • Introduce how to use sponges with blue and yellow paint to fill the background, creating a night sky effect.
  • Encourage the use of glitter to represent stars brightly.

Conclusion and Sharing (5 minutes)

• Showcase and Reflect: Allow students to share their artwork with the class and describe one thing they enjoyed or learned about Matariki.
• Clean Up: Guided clean-up process, ensuring all materials are accounted for and stored properly.

Additional Resources

• Te Papa’s Matariki Information
• TKI Resources on Visual Arts