Getting to Know

Overview

This two-week unit is designed for Year 2 students in New Zealand focusing on oral language skills through a culturally responsive "mihihi" (introductions) activity, encouraging children to share "Ko Wai Au?" (Who am I?). The lessons will be 15 minutes each, delivered on the mat to nurture a safe, inclusive environment where students build identity and oral communication skills. This approach aligns closely with the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Mātaiaho English, focusing on oral language in the Languages Learning Area.

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Curriculum Alignment

• Learning Area: Languages (Oral language strand, developing speaking and listening skills)

• Curriculum Level: Level 1 (Year 2 corresponds generally to Level 1)

• Key Competencies:

  • Using language, symbols, and texts – students will express ideas and information about themselves
  • Relating to others – through sharing and listening activities

• Relevant NZ Curriculum Statements (Languages Learning Area):

  • Communicate about people and places in their world using the new language
  • Use greetings and simple phrases appropriately in social situations
  • Understand and use basic introductions and personal information

• Te Mātaiaho English Oral Language Strand:

  • "Describe themselves and their home context"
  • "Use language to communicate ideas and information"
  • Support “Developing positive identities as communicators”
  • Emphasize inclusion, oral-language development, and respectful interaction

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Learning Intentions (Over Two Weeks)

• Understand and use basic greetings and introductions in Te Reo Māori and English.
• Share personal information about themselves in a supportive language environment.
• Develop listening skills by attentively hearing classmates' introductions.
• Recognise and respect different identities and languages within the classroom.

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WALTS (We Are Learning To)

• Use a simple greeting (mihihi) to introduce ourselves (Ko Wai Au? / Who am I?)
• Listen respectfully and respond appropriately during introductions.
• Share basic personal information such as name, family, and favourite things.
• Use gestures and facial expressions to support communication.

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Success Criteria

• Can confidently greet peers and say "Ko Wai Au?" with a clear voice.
• Can share three pieces of information about themselves.
• Can listen to others without interrupting and show interest.
• Use simple complete sentences or phrases.
• Show respect by making eye contact and using non-verbal responses.

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Lesson Plan Framework for Two Weeks (10 Lessons, 15 mins each)

Lesson	Focus & Activities	Time Allocation
1	Introduction to Mihihi and Ko Wai Au? - Gather on mat. - Teacher models mihihi (brief self-introduction) using simple sentences and visuals. - Discuss why we introduce ourselves — to know each other.	5 min introduction, 7 min modelling, 3 min quick Q&A
2	Students Practice Greeting and Introducing Themselves - Use sentence frames: "Ko [name] ahau", "I live in [place]". - Teacher guides students to practice turns on the mat.	3 min recap, 10 min practice, 2 min feedback
3	Listening Skills and Respect in Mihihi - Discuss "How to listen" with eye contact, nodding, and quietness. - Play "Listening Game" – students introduce selves and others try to remember one fact.	5 min discussion, 8 min activity, 2 min reflection
4	Use Visual Prompts (photo/card) to Support Introductions - Visual cards depicting family, favourite thing, hobby. - Students pick one card and include in their introduction.	3 min recap, 10 min practice, 2 min sharing
5	Mihihi with Movement and Voice Practice - Students say their introduction with different volumes and expressions. - Movement: stand up and present on the mat, then sit down.	5 min warm-up, 9 min presentations, 1 min feedback
6	Partner Practice – Sharing Introductions - Pair students to exchange their introductions. - Encourage asking simple questions "What is your name?", "Do you have brothers or sisters?"	4 min modelling, 8 min partner practice, 3 min share with group
7	Incorporate Te Reo Māori Greetings - Teach basic greetings like "Tēnā koe", and integrating "Ko wai au?" - Practice using their mihihi in Māori and English.	6 min teach phrases, 7 min practice, 2 min recap
8	Build Confidence – Small Group Introductions - Groups of 3 or 4 to take turns. - Encourage use of gestures and eye contact. - Teacher supports students needing scaffolding.	12 min group work, 3 min feedback
9	Class Kahoot/Quiz – “Who am I?” - Teacher reads short facts from student introductions. - Students guess who is being described to reinforce listening and memory skills.	6 min quiz, 8 min discuss answers, 1 min closure
10	Reflection and Celebration - Students share one new thing they learned about a classmate. - Celebrate participation with a class mihi song or chant.	10 min sharing, 5 min closing mihi

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Teaching Tips

• Use simple language and short sentences modeled by the teacher.
• Encourage the use of both English and Te Reo Māori to build awareness and respect for bilingual/multilingual identities.
• Scaffold speaking and listening through sentence frames and visual aids.
• Celebrate attempts and provide immediate positive feedback to build confidence.
• At each session, begin with a brief warm-up exercise to help students focus (e.g., breathing or a short waiata).

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Assessment

• Formative Observation: Teacher uses anecdotal notes during mat activities to assess oral language skills and social interaction.
• Checklists: Track each student’s ability to perform introductions (confidence, clarity, completeness).
• Peer Feedback: Encourage positive peer comments and recall of shared information.
• Self-Reflection: At lesson 10, students say one thing they learned about a friend (oral language + social awareness).

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Resources

• Visual cards with pictures of family, pets, hobbies, or preferred items.
• Simple bilingual sentence frames on posters.
• Audio recordings of mihihi in both English and Māori to support language acquisition.
• A calm mat area conducive to gathering and eye contact.

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This plan is crafted to be manageable, culturally grounded, and directly aligned with New Zealand Curriculum Languages learning strands and competencies. It fosters oral language confidence in a social and emotional developmental context, appreciating the importance of identity (Ko Wai Au?) in early years learning.

I hope this detailed plan 'wows' your teachers with the integration of te reo, oral language, and culturally responsive pedagogy all within the precise time frame of 15-minute sessions for 12 learners!

If you would like, I can also provide sample scripted dialogue or sentence frames for the mihihi activity.