Crafting Koauau Flute

Overview

In this 60-minute hands-on lesson, Year 8 students will craft a traditional Māori-inspired clay koauau flute, developing practical skills, cultural knowledge, and artistic expression aligned with New Zealand's Curriculum Refresh for The Arts. This is Lesson 2 in the unit "Crafting Sound Stories."

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: The Arts – Music

• Purpose: Engage students in exploring and making music connected to Māori cultural heritage, integrating practical creativity and cultural understanding.
• Phase: Years 7-8 (Phase 3)
• Critical Focus (Phase 3): "Seeing ourselves in the wider world and advocating with and for others" – promoting awareness and respect for culture through arts.
• Key Competencies Developed:
  • Managing self (planning and practising crafting skills)
  • Relating to others (working collaboratively and respecting tikanga)
  • Participating and contributing (engaging with Māori culture and community values)
  • Thinking (problem-solving in crafting process)
  • Using language, symbols, and texts (interpreting cultural stories associated with the koauau)
• Achievement Objective:
  “Develop practical skills in creating and performing music using Māori instruments, understanding their cultural significance and craft processes” — customized for Year 8.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Describe the cultural significance of the koauau flute in Māori traditions.
• Use clay and basic shaping techniques to craft a small-scale koauau flute.
• Apply patience and attention to detail through arts craftsmanship.
• Reflect on the connection between sound, story, and cultural identity.

Materials

• Air-dry or oven-bake clay (enough for one flute per student)
• Clay shaping tools (plastic knives, sticks, smoothing tools)
• Water and sponges for smoothing
• Examples/images of traditional koauau flutes
• Audio sample of koauau sound (to inspire students)
• Chart/poster explaining tikanga (protocols) and history of the koauau flute
• Paper and pencils for sketching designs
• Wet wipes and aprons

Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Set the context:
  Brief discussion about the koauau as a traditional Māori flute. Cover its cultural stories, use in singing laments, and role in whakapapa (genealogy).
• Show examples: Display images and play a short koauau sound clip to deepen connection.
• Safety and respect rules: Students are reminded to handle materials respectfully and work carefully.

2. Design Phase (10 minutes)

• Students draw a simple design on paper with guidance about flute size and finger holes.
• Teacher highlights cultural motifs that can inspire decoration, encouraging individuality within the tradition.

3. Crafting Phase (30 minutes)

• Demonstrate: How to roll, pinch, and hollow the clay to create a flute shape and finger holes.
• Supervise: Students begin crafting. Teacher and aides provide hands-on support, encouraging careful shaping and smoothing.
• Walking students through shaping mouthpieces for optimal sound.
• Encourage peer sharing of tips or stories about their crafting process.

4. Reflection and Sharing (10 minutes)

• Students place their flutes aside to dry (if air-dry clay) or prepare for finishing later in the unit.
• Class discussion: What did they learn about the instrument’s cultural meaning? How does crafting influence their listening and understanding of Māori music?
• Optional: Students gently blow into their unfinished flutes to explore sound possibilities.

Assessment

• Formative assessment: Observe students’ ability to follow crafting steps and engage respectfully with cultural content.
• Self-assessment: Students reflect on their learning and crafting progress, using prompts: “What was easy or challenging? What do I know now about koauau and Māori culture?”
• Documented through teacher notes or a quick exit card.

Integration with Curriculum Principles

• Treaty of Waitangi: Emphasises biculturalism by incorporating Māori stories and instruments authentically.
• Cultural diversity & inclusion: Recognises and values Māori culture alongside student backgrounds.
• Coherence & Future focus: Links arts learning with cultural identity and sustainability (use of natural materials).
• Key Competencies: Developed in social and personal contexts, supporting lifelong learning skills.

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Additional teacher tips:

• Link this lesson to other Arts and Social Sciences units on Māori culture and history to deepen understanding.
• Follow up with lessons about playing techniques, stories told through sound, and opportunities to perform their crafted instruments.
• Consider inviting a local Māori musician or artisan to share their knowledge in later lessons.

This lesson plan provides a culturally responsive, practical, and creative approach to teaching music aligned with New Zealand’s Curriculum Refresh for Year 8 students in The Arts learning area, focusing on the crafting of a meaningful traditional instrument—the koauau flute.