Word Wall Wonders

Overview

In this 30-minute session, Year 2 students will collaborate to create a Te Reo Māori word wall, classifying new vocabulary into thematic groups such as animals, colours, and family members. This activity will reinforce vocabulary knowledge, pronunciation, and spelling in a rich, interactive environment consistent with the New Zealand Curriculum's Languages learning area.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Recall and pronounce a set of new Te Reo Māori words relating to familiar themes (animals, colours, family) with increasing accuracy.
• Categorise new vocabulary into thematic groups, recognising shared meanings and making connections.
• Collaboratively contribute to creating a visual word wall that supports reading and speaking in Te Reo Māori.
• Demonstrate enjoyment and curiosity in learning and using Te Reo Māori vocabulary, supporting the development of positive identity and cultural awareness.

Alignment with New Zealand Curriculum

• Learning Area: Languages (Te Reo Māori)
• Level: Year 2 (Phase 1: Years 0–3 foundation phase as per English curriculum parallels)
• Achievement Objective:
  • Communicating in Te Reo Māori
    Use familiar vocabulary and phrases in structured contexts (oral and visual recognition).
  • Language Features and Conventions
    Recognise simple word forms and meanings related to everyday life, e.g., family, animals, colours.
• Key Competencies:
  • Managing self – participating confidently in group tasks.
  • Relating to others – collaborating and sharing ideas respectfully.
  • Using language, symbols, and texts – understanding simple vocabulary and communicating using Te Reo Māori.

This lesson draws from foundational vocabulary and oral language development guidance in Te Mātaiaho (English) reflecting key strategies for vocabulary teaching: explicit pronunciation modelling, thematic vocabulary grouping, and multimodal supports.

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Materials Needed

• Large blank notice board or wall space for the word wall
• Colourful cards or labels for writing vocabulary
• Markers, glue, tape, or Blu Tack
• Visual aids/icons representing each theme (animal pictures, colour swatches, family member symbols)
• Student vocabulary list from previous lessons (Lessons 1-5 of the unit)
• Digital device/tablet for pronunciation playback (optional)

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Lesson Plan

Time	Activity Description	Teacher Role	Student Engagement	Learning Focus
0-5 mins	Introduction & Recap - Greet students in Te Reo Māori. - Briefly review some previously learned vocabulary (animals, colours, family). - Explain the purpose of creating a "Te Reo Word Wall" as a visual vocabulary resource.	Lead greeting and recap. Use prompting questions: "He aha tēnei? (What is this?)" Model pronunciation clearly and slowly. Foster enthusiasm.	Listen and respond. Repeat words chorally. Engage with recall by answering questions.	Oral language practice. Reinforcement of vocabulary memory.
5-15 mins	Collaborative Word Wall Creation - Divide students into 3 small groups (5 each). - Assign each group a theme: Animals, Colours, Family. - Provide vocabulary cards with words and pictorial clues. - Groups read aloud words, check pronunciation, and arrange words on the word wall under their theme. - Prompt students to discuss what each word means, using sentence stems like "Ko tēnei he…" (This is a...).	Circulate to support pronunciation. Model correct pronunciation and usage. Encourage peer support. Help scaffold categorisation and sentence stems.	Read, say, and place words. Talk about meaning with peers. Practice vocabulary in context.	Speaking and listening Cognitive grouping and categorisation Use of sentence structures in Te Reo Māori
15-25 mins	Interactive Group Sharing - Each group presents their section of the word wall to the class. - Students say a few words aloud and share what theme their words belong to. - Peers ask questions guided by the teacher (e.g., "He aha tēnei kupu?") - Teacher models using the words in simple phrases or sentences.	Facilitate the sharing. Encourage student confidence. Prompt and rephrase as needed. Model full sentences to deepen understanding. Make connections between themes.	Present word wall section. Answer and ask questions. Repeat and use vocabulary in sentences.	Oral language use. Vocabulary contextualisation. Collaboration and oral communication skills.
25-30 mins	Reflection & Consolidation - Gather students back as a whole class. - Reflect briefly on how the word wall helps them remember Te Reo words. - Ask: "Which word did you like best today?" - Remind students the word wall will stay in the classroom as an ongoing resource. - Sing a short Te Reo song related to themes if time (e.g., animals).	Lead reflection. Encourage positive reinforcement and curiosity. Connect to next lessons focusing on using vocabulary in stories or sentences.	Share favourite words or new learning. Join in singing. Express feelings about learning.	Supporting positive identity in learning Te Reo. Confidence building. Engagement and motivation.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative Assessment:
  Monitor participation and pronunciation accuracy during group tasks and presentations. Observe students’ ability to categorise words correctly.
• Teacher Feedback:
  Provide immediate positive feedback during activities, modelling correct pronunciation and sentence structures. Use scaffolded sentence stems as needed.
• Peer Feedback:
  Encourage simple peer support and questions during presentations to consolidate learning and promote collaborative skills.

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Additional Teaching Considerations

• Use visual and physical supports to reduce cognitive load and support understanding, particularly for emergent bilingual learners.
• Keep vocabulary exposure explicit and thematic for better retention, consistent with research highlighted in the Te Mātaiaho guidance.
• Establish routines for word wall interaction across the unit to reinforce learning through spaced repetition.
• Incorporate digital resources or pronunciation apps selectively to aid in accurate Te Reo pronunciation.

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This lesson plan embodies the New Zealand Curriculum's Principles such as Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, ensuring all learners’ identities and cultural backgrounds are respected and reflected through the use of Te Reo Māori vocabulary and collaborative learning approaches .

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Please let me know if you want me to help generate accompanying resources such as template word cards or sentence stems for use in this lesson!