Year 8 Te Reo Māori Lesson Plan: Introduction to Basic Te Reo Māori

Lesson Overview

Subject: Te Reo Māori
Year Level: Year 8 (Ages 12-13)
Duration: 60 Minutes
Class Size: 27 Students
Curriculum Area: Learning Languages, Te Reo Māori
Level: Levels 1–2 of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
Links to New Zealand Curriculum: Te Marautanga o Aotearoa

Learning Objectives

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

1. Understand basic greetings and farewells in Te Reo Māori.
2. Introduce themselves and ask someone's name in Te Reo Māori.
3. Recognise and respond to classroom commands.

Materials Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Te Reo Māori posters of greetings and phrases
• Name tags for each student
• Handouts with key phrases and vocabulary
• Audio recordings of phrases (if available)
• Te Reo Māori language games (cards, match-up games)

Lesson Plan

Introduction (10 minutes)

Activity:

• Begin with a brief introduction to the significance of Te Reo Māori as an official language of New Zealand.
• Discuss the relevance of Te Reo Māori, not only in educational settings but also in everyday life in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Motivational Hook:

• Play an audio recording of different greetings in Te Reo Māori to spark interest.

Main Activity Part 1: Greetings and Farewells (20 minutes)

Instruction:

• Teach basic greetings such as:
  • Kia ora – Hello
  • Ata mārie – Good morning
  • E noho rā – Goodbye (to someone staying)
  • Haere rā – Goodbye (to someone leaving)

Activity:

• Students practice in pairs, greeting each other.
• Use a ball: Students throw the ball to each other, and the receiver uses a greeting.
• Introduce cultural aspects, such as the hongi, explaining its significance and appropriate contexts for its use.

Main Activity Part 2: Introductions and Asking Names (20 minutes)

Instruction:

• Teach students how to introduce themselves and ask names:
  • Ko [ingoa] tōku ingoa – My name is [name]
  • Pehea koe? – How are you?
  • Ko wai tōu ingoa? – What is your name?

Activity:

• Role-playing activity in groups, where students take turns introducing themselves and asking each other's names.
• Provide feedback on pronunciation and usage.

Closing Activity: Classroom Commands (10 minutes)

Instruction:

• Teach basic classroom commands and responses:
  • E noho – Sit down
  • E tū – Stand up
  • Whakarongo mai – Listen

Activity:

• Play a game of "Simon Says" using Te Reo Māori for commands.

Conclusion and Homework (5 minutes)

• Recap the lesson and reinforce learning by asking students to share a new phrase they learned today.
• Provide handouts with the phrases learned today for home review.
• Assign students to learn two additional greetings or phrases from the handout for the next class.

Additional Resources

• Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) - Te Reo Māori Resources
• Kauwhata Reo for interactive learning modules.

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This lesson plan aligns with the New Zealand curriculum and aims to build foundational skills in Te Reo Māori in an engaging and culturally respectful manner.