Sounds and Syllables

Curriculum Area

Te Reo Māori – Level 1 (Years 1–2)
Aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, this lesson focuses on Oro (sounds) and Kūoro (syllables), helping students develop phonemic awareness and pronunciation skills in Te Reo Māori.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will:

✅ Recognise and pronounce different oro (sounds) in Te Reo Māori.
✅ Identify and break down kūoro (syllables) in simple words.
✅ Engage in interactive activities that strengthen oral language skills.

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Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

👧🏽👦🏽 Suitable for: Year 2 students in a small group of 12.

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Lesson Structure

1. Karakia Tīmatanga (5 mins)

• Begin with a simple morning karakia (prayer) to settle the children.
• Ask them to sit on the mat in a circle.
• Warm-up: Say "Tēnā koutou tamariki mā!" and encourage students to respond.

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2. Sound Discovery (5 mins) – Sensory Activity

🔊 "Ka rongo koe?" ("Can you hear?")

• Introduce three new sounds (oro), e.g., m, r, p.
• Say each sound aloud and use body movements for each (e.g., "M" – rub hands together like a warm-up, "R" – make a rolling motion).
• Have students repeat the sounds.

🧏‍♂️ Tactile engagement: Give students simple picture cards with words beginning with "M", "R", and "P" (e.g., moana, rākau, pā).

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3. Kūoro Challenge (10 minutes) – Hands-on Activity

🏆 "Pakipaki Kūoro" ("Clap the Syllables")

• Say a simple Te Reo Māori word and get students to clap out the syllables.
• Examples:
  • Mo-a-na 🌊 (3 claps)
  • Rā-kau 🌳 (2 claps)
  • Pā 🏠 (1 clap)

🔄 Swap roles! Let confident students say a new word while others clap.

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4. Interactive Worksheet (8 mins) – Pen-to-Paper Practice

📄 Oro, Kūoro Activity Sheet (Pre-prepared worksheet handed out to students)

• Task 1: Match the sound (oro) to the picture (e.g., "M" → Moana 🌊).
• Task 2: Circle the correct kūoro (syllable break) for each word. (Options given to guide choice)

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5. Wrap-Up & Karakia Whakamutunga (2 mins)

• Quick group reflection: "What new sounds & kūoro did we learn today?"
• Close with a short karakia to end strong.

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Teacher Notes & Extension Ideas

💡 Cross-curricular links:

• Could integrate with music (clapping games for rhythm awareness).
• Could extend into storytelling (students retell a story with syllable breakdown).

🎯 Assessment:

• Listen for correct pronunciation and engagement.
• Observe whether students correctly identify syllables in the worksheet.

🚀 Thinking outside the box?

• Use whānau involvement – send a simple "Kūoro at home" challenge home (to identify and clap syllables in their everyday life).

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This lesson plan engages, excites and supports early learners in Te Reo Māori literacy while making oro and kūoro learning accessible! 🎶✨