Year 2 Art Unit Plan: Matariki Celebration

Curriculum Area and Level

• Curriculum Area: Visual Arts, Literacy, Science
• Level: Year 2 (ages 6-7)

Lesson Duration

• Total Lesson Duration: 26 minutes
• Class Size: 18 students

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will understand the significance of Matariki, the Maori New Year.
2. Students will explore visual arts through creating Matariki-inspired artworks.
3. Students will enhance literacy skills through storytelling and writing about Matariki.
4. Students will make connections to science by learning about the stars and their significance during Matariki.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Matariki (6 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Show a short video (example: Matariki Explained) about Matariki.
• Discussion:
  • Discuss the significance of Matariki as the Maori New Year.
  • Ask students what they already know about Matariki.

Lesson 2: Visual Arts - Matariki Artwork (8 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Provide students with art supplies like colored paper, crayons, and glitter.
  • Instruct students to create their Matariki-inspired artwork, incorporating stars and Maori symbols.
• Guidance:
  • Encourage students to be creative and use different colors to represent the night sky during Matariki.

Lesson 3: Literacy - Matariki Storytelling (6 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Read a Maori legend related to Matariki to the students (example: The Seven Kites of Matariki).
  • Ask students to narrate their understanding of the story and share their favorite part.
• Writing Activity:
  • Students will write a short paragraph about what they learned from the legend and how it connects to Matariki.

Lesson 4: Science - Stars and Matariki (6 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Introduce the concept of stars and constellations.
  • Discuss why stars are important during Matariki.
  • Show images of the Matariki star cluster (example: Matariki Star Cluster).

Assessment

• Observation: Observe students' engagement during artwork creation and storytelling sessions.
• Written Work: Assess students' writing for comprehension and connections made to Matariki themes.
• Artwork: Evaluate students' creativity and understanding of visual arts concepts.

Resources

• Matariki Explained Video
• The Seven Kites of Matariki Maori legend (available at the school library)
• Matariki Star Cluster Images

This unit plan integrates visual arts, literacy, and science around the theme of Matariki, providing an engaging and educational experience for Year 2 students following New Zealand education standards.