Celebrating Our Place

Overview

This 30-minute session is the final lesson (lesson 6 of 6) in the "Discovering Our Place" unit. It provides a supportive and celebratory environment for preschool children (21 students) to share their personal identity maps, reflecting on their sense of place and belonging. They will use te reo Māori vocabulary they have learned, promoting cultural identity and language skills. The session will finish with a group song celebrating home and belonging, reinforcing vocabulary and concepts from the unit.

This lesson is designed in alignment with the New Zealand Curriculum's goals for early oral language development, and the integration of te reo Māori as part of learning languages, fostering identity and communication【4:0-8†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】 .

---

Learning Objectives

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

• Communication / Oral Language:

  • Share information about themselves and their family/place using simple sentences.
  • Use te reo Māori words related to home, family, and belonging with growing confidence.
  • Listen respectfully to peers presenting their identity maps, demonstrating active listening skills (eye contact, turn-taking).

• Language for Identity and Belonging:

  • Express elements of their identity and sense of place through drawings and simple language participation.
  • Recognise and celebrate the diversity of identities within the class.

• Cultural Competence:

  • Use te reo Māori greetings and key vocabulary in context.
  • Appreciate the value of their and others’ cultural backgrounds.

These objectives correspond with the New Zealand Curriculum strands for oral language learning in the first phase of language development (Years 0–3/Foundation Phase), which emphasise communicating ideas and identity through oral language, with deliberate inclusion of te reo Māori vocabulary to promote bilingualism and bicultural competence【4:0-8†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】 .

---

Curriculum Links

• The New Zealand Curriculum - Learning area: Languages (Years 0-3 / Preschool/Foundation)

  • Communicating ideas and information.
  • Developing vocabulary including te reo Māori.
  • Recognising and expressing identity through language.
  • Participating in oral language activities with peers.

• Key Competencies:

  • Relating to others: practicing listening and turn-taking.
  • Using language, symbols, and texts: using te reo Māori words and simple sentences.
  • Managing self: presenting self confidently.

• Strands from English Learning Progressions (Te Mātaiaho):

  • Developing oral language: descriptive vocabulary, basic sentence structures for self-expression.
  • Communication strategies: using sentence stems, expressing opinions, and listening actively.

---

Resources

• Students’ completed identity maps from previous weeks (pictures/drawings).
• Visual aids with te reo Māori vocabulary related to home, family, place (e.g. whānau, kāinga, whare).
• A simple celebratory song about home and belonging in both English and te reo Māori (e.g., “Home is where the heart is” with Māori vocabulary).
• Large, comfortable gathering area.
• Optional: props or puppets to support shy students during presentations.

---

Lesson Structure (30 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Teaching & Learning Notes
0-5 mins	Welcome and Warm-up	Gather children in a circle. Begin with a karakia or te reo greeting to set cultural tone.	Reinforces cultural identity and signals start of session.
5-15 mins	Sharing Identity Maps (Presentation Time)	Each child takes 1 minute to present their identity map. Encourage use of te reo Māori words learned (with sentence stems if needed). Teacher prompts gently if children are stuck.	Supports oral expression, confidence, and vocabulary use. Use sentence prompts: "This is my whānau..."; "I live in a whare..." Kindergarten teachers are encouraged to scaffold phrasing for children at different ability levels.
15-25 mins	Group Discussion and Reflection	Discuss similarities and differences between maps. Ask questions like “What do you like about your place?” or “Can you use one te reo Māori word from your map?”	Promotes relational skills, vocabulary reinforcement, and listening skills. Scaffolding for turn-taking and politeness phrases (e.g. “Thank you for sharing”).
25-30 mins	Song and Closing	Sing a simple song celebrating home and belonging with te reo Māori lyrics included. Example: "E Kuini e" or a class-created song incorporating key vocabulary.	Reinforces pronunciation, rhythm of language, sense of community. End with a waiata or karakia to close.

---

Differentiation / Support Strategies

• Visual sentence stems on a chart to support children’s speaking.
• Small group support or peer buddy system for less confident speakers.
• Use props or puppets for children who prefer role play to sharing verbally.
• Positive reinforcement with praise and encouragement to foster confidence.

---

Assessment

Formative assessment during the lesson focused on:

• Observation of each child’s ability to use te reo Māori words in context.
• Listening and interaction skills while others present.
• Engagement during song and participation in group discussion.

Teachers make notes on language development stages per child, and provide positive feedback to encourage ongoing use of te reo Māori vocabulary and oral language.

---

Reflection / Next Steps

• Celebrate all children’s unique identities to build a positive self-image.
• Extend learning by incorporating family or community visits where children can link spoken language to real contexts.
• Encourage families to contribute te reo Māori words related to their heritage.
• Use the final sharing session as a springboard for extended language and identity learning in the next unit.

---

This lesson plan ensures alignment with New Zealand Curriculum priorities for language learning in the preschool years, particularly the foundation stage of oral language development and te reo Māori integration, nurturing positive identities and cultural competence in early learners【4:0-8†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】 .