Food Storytelling Celebration

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is the culminating session (Lesson 6 of 6) of the unit "Kai: Learning Food in Te Reo Māori" designed for Year 0–2 students. The focus is on celebrating students' learning journey by creating and performing interactive food stories, sharing personal food memories, and culminating with a class kai feast. The lesson supports oral language development, cultural identity, and performing arts practices within Te Reo Māori, consistent with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh.

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Present and celebrate our kai learning journey through creative storytelling and performance in Te Reo Māori.

Success Criteria

• I can confidently share a food story.
• I can use Te Reo Māori food vocabulary correctly.
• I can participate in a creative group presentation using props, costumes, and storytelling techniques.
• I can listen respectfully and engage with others’ stories.

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Areas and Strands

• Te Reo Māori | Communication: Speaking and Presenting
• Level 1 (Years 0-2): Students interact and communicate personal experiences, using simple sentences and familiar vocabulary about kai (food).
• English | Oral Language: Speaking and Listening
• Using narrative structures and expressive language to recount personal and familiar experiences.
• The Arts | Drama
• Students explore role and audience relationships through performance.
• Social Sciences | Identity, Culture and Organisation
• Students understand how kai connects with culture and personal identity.

Key Competencies

• Using Language, Symbols and Texts: Express ideas confidently in Te Reo Māori through storytelling.
• Relating to Others: Collaborate in group storytelling presentations and respect contributions.
• Managing Self: Show confidence presenting in front of peers.
• Participating and Contributing: Share cultural knowledge and personal narratives.

Literacy Learning Progressions

• Use supported story frameworks (such as visual story maps or puppets) to organise thoughts before telling stories.
• Practice oral storytelling with gestures, intonation, and appropriate volume.
• Use sentence stems and vocabulary related to kai to scaffold language.

Resources

• Food-related props (plastic fruits/vegetables, toy cooking utensils)
• Costumes and dress-up items reflecting kai roles (e.g., chef’s hat, apron)
• Visual storyboards or sequencing cards for story planning
• Digital recording device (optional for playback feedback)
• Tables arranged for a kai feast with shared kai items

Lesson Structure

1. Whakatau / Introduction (5 minutes)

• Focus: Connect with the purpose of today's lesson.
• Briefly recap the kai learning journey in Te Reo Māori.
• Introduce the concept of storytelling with props, costumes, and group presentations.
• Establish classroom expectations for respectful listening and participation.

2. Storytelling Circle Sharing (10 minutes)

• Students sit in a kōrero (talking) circle.
• Provide sentence starters in Te Reo Māori to share personal kai memories or cultural kai stories. Examples:
• "Ko taku kai tino pai ko …" (My favourite food is…)
• "I reira ahau i kai ai …" (That is where I ate…)
• Teacher and peer support with cues, visuals, and vocabulary as needed.
• Peers encouraged to ask simple, supportive questions (e.g., "He reka tāu kai?" – Is your food tasty?)

3. Group Story Creation and Rehearsal (15 minutes)

• Divide class into small groups (~4-5 students).
• Each group chooses a kai story from their sharing or creates a new one (using props and costumes).
• Use storyboards or sequencing cards to organise the story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Teacher models a simple food story with expressive voice and gestures.
• Groups rehearse their story, practising voice modulation, facial expressions, and using the props.

4. Group Presentations (10 minutes)

• Each group presents their food story to the class.
• Encourage use of Te Reo Māori vocabulary learnt during the unit.
• Celebrate all efforts, providing positive feedback focused on language use, confidence, and creativity.

5. Kai Feast Celebration and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Share kai as a class feast symbolising the shared learning and cultural connections.
• Students reflect briefly on the unit: What they enjoyed, new words they learned, and their favourite story or kai.
• Optionally record some reflections or perform a simple shared waiata (song) about kai.

Differentiation Strategies

• Varied Presentation Formats: Allow expression through drama, art (story illustration), music, or a combination.
• Story Frameworks: Provide sentence stems, visual story maps, puppets, and props to support students needing extra support.
• Collaborative Presentation: Pair or group students to share cognitive load and encourage peer support.
• Language Scaffolding: Offer vocabulary cards with pictures of kai and key phrases.

Extension Activities

• Create a Digital Class Cookbook compiling stories, recipes, and cultural information in Te Reo Māori using simple digital tools (pictures, audio recordings).
• Invite whānau participation by sharing the digital cookbook with the school community.

Dyslexia-Friendly Options

• Use clear, large-font visuals and storyboards with icons for story elements.
• Allow use of non-verbal storytelling parts (gestures, drawings).
• Establish peer mentor partnerships for support with language and presentation.
• Use multisensory learning: involving movement, props, and oral rehearsal.

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This lesson actively embodies the New Zealand Curriculum principle of valuing identity, language, and culture. It supports early learners to confidently communicate in Te Reo Māori while engaging in meaningful, hands-on group activities that draw on and celebrate their personal and cultural kai experiences. The multi-modal approach and scaffolding ensure all learners, including those needing additional support and those ready for extension, can participate successfully in this celebration of kai storytelling.