Adapting Stories

Context

This is lesson 16 of 18 in the Year 13 unit “Exploring Māori Stories.” The focus is on adapting traditional Māori stories for modern audiences, developing creative thinking and storytelling skills within the context of NCEA Level 3 Te Reo Māori standards. This lesson aligns with NCEA Level 3 Achievement Standard AS91470 (Produce coherent spoken, written, and / or visual texts) and supports key competencies of thinking, using language, symbols and texts, and participating and contributing.

Lesson Details

Year level: Year 13
Subject: Te Reo Māori
Duration: 60 minutes
Class size: 25 students
Unit: Exploring Māori Stories
Lesson Number: 16 of 18
Lesson Title: Adapting Stories for Modern Audiences

Learning Objectives

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

Analyse traditional Māori stories to identify core themes, messages, and cultural elements.
Apply creative thinking to adapt a traditional story’s setting, characters, or message for a modern-day audience in a respectful and meaningful way.
Justify their adaptation choices in relation to audience and cultural context.
Present their adapted stories clearly to peers, demonstrating understanding of storytelling conventions and audience engagement.

NCEA Alignment

Achievement Standard: AS91470 (Level 3, Te Reo Māori) — Produce coherent spoken, written, and/or visual texts
Key Competencies: Thinking; Using language, symbols and texts; Participating and contributing
Curriculum Links: Understanding how texts and stories represent Māori worldview and culture, while making connections to contemporary contexts and audiences.

Success Criteria

Students will:

Identify at least three important cultural or thematic elements from the original story.
Effectively rewrite or transform the story’s elements (characters, setting, or message) for today’s context.
Provide thoughtful reasoning behind their adaptation decisions.
Share the adaptation confidently with the class using clear oral or visual expression.

Resources

Printed examples of traditional Māori stories.
Examples of modern adaptations of Māori stories (written or visual).
Template/framework for adaptation to support creative restructuring.
Writing materials (paper, pens).
Digital devices (optional) for creating visual or multimodal presentations.
Dyslexia-friendly reading options: stories in simplified language, with clear fonts and spacing.

Lesson Outline

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Briefly review the traditional Māori story chosen in earlier lessons.
Discuss with students what makes a story traditional versus modern.
Show examples of adaptations of Māori stories for modern audiences (for example, modern settings, diverse characters, or contemporary themes).
Activate prior learning from the unit and highlight how adaptations respect cultural values while making stories accessible.

2. Guided Discussion and Framework (10 minutes)

As a class, unpack the elements that can be adapted: setting, characters, plot, language, and message.
Introduce the adaptation framework:
Identify the original story’s key elements.
Decide which elements to keep, change, or expand.
Consider audience needs/preferences.
Plan the adaptation outline.
Provide sentence starters and scaffolds for students needing structure, supporting diverse learners.

3. Individual/Paired Adaptation Work (25 minutes)

Students choose a traditional Māori story from the unit.
Using the framework, students rewrite the story with a modern twist (e.g., urban setting, modern challenges, inclusion of current social themes).
Advanced learners can create multimodal adaptations including visuals, digital storytelling, or scripts.
Teacher circulates to provide targeted support, encouragement, and feedback.

4. Presentation and Peer Feedback (10 minutes)

Students volunteer to share their adaptations with the class.
Peers provide positive, constructive feedback focusing on clarity, creativity, and cultural respect.
Class briefly discusses how adaptations help keep Māori stories alive and relevant.

5. Wrap-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)

Summarise how adapting stories helps in maintaining te reo Māori and tikanga in contemporary spaces.
Ask students to reflect in writing or orally on what they learned about storytelling and creative thinking.
Highlight connection to NCEA assessment: creativity, cultural values, understanding audience and purpose.

Differentiation Strategies

Provide adaptation frameworks with sentence starters and graphic organisers for students who need it.
Offer story texts in dyslexia-friendly fonts and layouts.
Allow students multiple modes for presenting (oral, written, visual, digital).
Pair ELL or emergent bilingual students with peers or provide bilingual glossaries.
For advanced learners, encourage more complex adaptations involving layered themes or multimedia elements.

Extension Activities

Students develop a short digital animation or video presentation of their adapted story.
Research and compare adaptations of another indigenous storytelling tradition.
Write a reflective essay on the importance of adapting stories in preserving culture and language.

This lesson carefully integrates NCEA Level 3 Te Reo standards focusing on storytelling, audience awareness, and creative expression. It supports diverse learners with scaffolds and dyslexia-friendly options while encouraging higher-order thinking through adaptation and critique. By finishing with presentations and reflections, it aligns with both formative and summative assessment practices essential for NCEA success.

If you want, I can draft a detailed student worksheet or rubric aligned to this lesson next. Would you like that?

Teaching Instructions