Exploring Rongoā and Karakia

Overview

This 45-minute session is designed for preschool children (around 3-5 years) to introduce basic rongoā Māori practices and karakia, focusing on plants kawakawa and mānuka. The lesson incorporates hands-on sensory experiences with plant materials such as touch and smell and includes making kawakawa tea and exploring mānuka honey to foster connection with Māori traditional knowledge in a culturally safe and age-appropriate way.

The plan aligns closely with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, respecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and embracing Mātauranga Māori while supporting early childhood development stages.

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Understand that kawakawa and mānuka are important native plants used in traditional Māori healing.
Learn a simple karakia to show respect for these plants and the natural world.
Experience and describe the texture and taste of mānuka honey.
Participate in making kawakawa tea and understand its use for upset tummies.
Recognise that traditional knowledge is a special taonga (treasure).

Success Criteria

Children can name kawakawa and mānuka.
Children participate in saying a short karakia with guidance.
Children describe the texture, smell, or taste of mānuka honey and kawakawa leaves.
Children help make kawakawa tea and explain its gentle healing use using simple language.
Children show respect for plants and karakia through focused attention and participation.

Curriculum Links

Learning Areas

Tikanga Māori / Social Sciences: Introduces the concept of taonga tuku iho (treasures passed down), tikanga Māori (practices), and karakia to develop awareness of identity from the Māori world view.
Health and Physical Education: Introduces natural remedies and caring for physical well-being (taha tinana) as well as spiritual well-being (taha wairua) through karakia.
Science: Observing natural materials (plants), describing sensory experiences, making simple natural infusions.
English: Oral language focus with new vocabulary (plant names, karakia), listening and responding, descriptive language about senses.

Key Competencies

Managing Self: Following simple instructions in karakia and preparation.
Relating to Others: Sharing and collaborating during the tea-making and discussion.
Participating and Contributing: Engaging in karakia and cultural practices.
Thinking: Making connections about plants and their uses.
Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Learning te reo Māori plant names and karakia phrases.

Principles

High Expectations: Building confidence through success in activities.
Cultural Diversity: Embedding Māori cultural practices and language.
Inclusion: Activities adapted for diverse learners with sensory and verbal supports.

Timing and Learning Activities

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation
0-5 min	Welcome & Introduction	Gather children in a circle. Introduce kawakawa and mānuka plants using real leaves and simple images. Use repetition of plant names in te reo Māori and English to build vocabulary.	Show real plants for sensory cues, use visual supports with pictures and labels. Simplify vocabulary as needed.
5-10 min	Karakia Introduction	Teach a simple karakia focused on respect for plants and nature, e.g., "Kia tau te mauri, kia ora te tinana". Use call-and-response with children repeating lines.	Involve physical gestures to support comprehension. Use clear, slow pronunciation. Provide a printed/dyslexia-friendly word card with karakia and pictures of plants.
10-20 min	Touch and Feel Sensory Experience	Pass around fresh kawakawa leaves to touch and smell; then give small taste samples of mānuka honey (just a fingertip). Encourage use of descriptive words (sticky, sweet, soft, rough).	For children with allergies or sensitivities, provide gloves or alternatives (look only). Use simple sentence starters for children to complete with support (e.g., "The leaf is...").
20-30 min	Making Kawakawa Tea Demonstration	Show how to gently crumble kawakawa leaves and steep in hot water (demonstrated by educator). Explain it's for upset tummies or poultices for sores in simple language. Invite children to smell the tea steam.	Use visuals (step-by-step pictures). Allow some children to help stir or pour warm water with supervision. Offer quiet space for children who may feel overwhelmed.
30-35 min	Story Time with Rongoā Focus	Share a simple illustrated story or oral narrative about how rongoā plants help us (could be a traditional Māori story or a modern version). Invite comments and relate back to the karakia and tea.	Use puppets or props, colourful picture books with large text. Pause frequently for questions. Reinforce new vocabulary visually and orally.
35-40 min	Role-play Poultice Pretend Play	Provide soft cloths and pretend leaves for children to make a “poultice” for their "sores" on dolls or themselves. Encourage saying the karakia softly before "healing."	Pair children as helpers; use simple scripts to guide language. Encourage quiet sensory play for students needing calm engagement.
40-45 min	Reflection and Closing Karakia	Gather children to share one thing they liked or learned. Finish with the karakia again as a group.	Use sentence starters, praising all contributions. Provide choice for participation mode (say aloud, whisper, wave hand).

Differentiation Strategies

Use multi-sensory approaches (touch, smell, sight, taste) to engage different learning styles and support neurodiverse learners.
Provide clear, repeated verbal instructions and visual supports to aid comprehension for children with delay or language needs.
Allow children to opt out of activities with certain sensory inputs (e.g., no tasting) and offer alternative engagement.
Modify group sizes for smaller clusters during hands-on activities if needed.
Use call-and-response and physical movement with karakia to support engagement and memory.
Provide dyslexia-friendly printed cards with pictures and large, clear font for key vocabulary and karakia.

Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

Encourage older or more fluent children to lead teaching of karakia to peers.
Invite children to collect kawakawa leaves from the school garden and make their own herbal tea kits to take home.
Explore simple scientific observations comparing different plant leaves under magnifiers.
Create artwork using kawakawa and mānuka leaf prints or paintings paired with words in te reo Māori.

This lesson encourages deep respect for Mātauranga Māori and aims to nurture cultural identity, language development, and early science knowledge through meaningful, sensory-rich engagement appropriate for preschool learners.

Thank you for embracing this special kaupapa, weaving together traditional knowledge and modern pedagogy, honouring Māori culture and language in a caring, inclusive environment.

If you would like, I can also provide a detailed sheet of the karakia text and sensory descriptive words suitable for preschool children along with pictures for classroom display.