Hanga Me Whakamātau

Overview

This active, hands-on lesson invites learners to design, build, and test a simple mechanical device using LEGO and other materials. It is designed for Years 4–6 students at a small rural kura with high behavioural and learning needs, supporting emergent te reo Māori language acquisition alongside practical technology skills. The lesson aligns with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa whānui ā-kura and reflects the emphasised curriculum elements of design (hoahoa), development (whakaputa), and evaluation (arotakenga) within Hangarau Matihiko me te Ao Hanga, fostering mahi ngatahi (collaboration), tūhono (problem-solving) and matauranga Māori values such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (care).

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Learning Objectives (Ngā Whāinga Ako)

By the end of this 60-minute lesson, students will:

• Hanga (build) a simple mechanical device (lever, gear train, or bridge) using LEGO and additional resources.
• Whakamātau (test) the device to solve a given wero (challenge) related to moving or supporting a toy/loading object.
• Whakamahia ngā kupu hōu o te reo Māori (use te reo Māori vocabulary) relevant to building and testing.
• Mahi ngatahi (work collaboratively) in structured roles with clear routines to support positive behaviour.
• Arotake (evaluate) the kaha (strength) and efficiency of their device, suggesting one improvement.

Curriculum Links

• Te Marautanga o Aotearoa — Hangarau Matihiko me te Ao Hanga
• Tohu Arotahi: Hoahoa ā-rorohiko me ngā taputapu; Whakahaere kaupapa hangarau.
• Kūmeka Matua: Whakarerekē me te whakamātau i ngā hua o tētahi hoahoa.
• Ngā Pūmanawa: Mahi ngātahi, Whakatau raru, Whakarite o ngā whakaritenga.

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Success Criteria (Ngā Paearu angitu)

Students will be able to:

• Follow visual steps to build a mechanical device with LEGO in assigned roles.
• Use te reo Māori sentences to describe their mahi (work), e.g., "Kei te hanga au i te...".
• Demonstrate teamwork through role-specific tasks within a time limit.
• Explain how their device meets the challenge and suggest one way to improve it.

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Materials (Ngā Taonga)

• LEGO sets/blocks (various types with gears, levers, beams)
• Paper straws
• Tape
• String
• Small toys or weighted objects (for testing load/support)
• Visual step cards with simple te reo instructions
• Timers (phone or classroom)
• Role badges or name tags (Builder, Tester, Recorder, Presenter)
• Observation checklist for formative assessment

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Lesson Outline (Whakarāpopototanga Wā)

Time	Activity	Focus & Teaching Notes
0–5	Hook	Quick demo: Build a LEGO lever to lift a small toy. Use te reo Māori phrases: "Kei te hanga au i te whakaheke." Engage curiosity!
5–10	Direct Instruction	Introduce the challenge: "Whakamahia tō taputapu hei āwhina i te tō." Show visuals and teach kupu: hanga, whakamātau, hua, kaha, wero, taputapu. Short, clear sentences and model repetition.
10–15	Assign Roles & Explain Routine	Explain roles (Builder, Tester, Recorder, Presenter) with badges. Set timer for tasks, explain behaviour expectations, use positive references to routines.
15–35	Guided Practice (tahi whānau / small groups)	Build mechanical device following step cards. Teacher circulates, scaffolds te reo, supports turn-taking. Use simple sentence starters: "Kei te..." "Ka whakamātau mātou i tēnei."
35–50	Independent/Partner Task	Teams test their device; record the hua (result) and evaluate kaha (strength). Offer choice of device type (lever, gear train, or bridge) to extend learning. Extension: try to improve design and re-test.
50–55	Formative Assessment & Reflection	Teacher checklist to note participation, use of reo, collaboration. Students share briefly in simple reo: "Ko tā mātou taputapu he..." and "He kaha te hua."
55–60	Closure and Clean-up	Group clean-up routine using timers and clear expectations. Quick oral mihi/thank you in te reo for mahi ngātahi and wero faced.

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Detailed Lesson Script & Procedures

Hook (0–5 mins)

Teacher: "Kei te hari au ki te whakaatu i tēnei taputapu — he whakaheke (lever) tēnei hei āwhina ki te hiki i tēnei tamaiti kēmu. Tēnā, āta titiro." Demonstrate lifting toy with LEGO lever, repeating key words, encourage students to repeat: hanga, whakamātau.

• Visual prompt: Pictures of lever in action with te reo labels.

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Direct Instruction (5–10 mins)

Introduce the challenge:

"Ko tā tātou wero i tēnei rā, kia hanga he taputapu ki te hiki, neke rānei i tētahi mea pēnei i tēnei tamaiti kēmu. Mā te taputapu e āwhina ki te mahi."

• Show simple illustrated step cards for building.
• Introduce kupu hou with visual cues:

English	Māori	Sentence Starter (Te Reo)
build	hanga	'Kei te hanga au i te...'
test	whakamātau	'Ka whakamātau mātou i te taputapu.'
result	hua	'Ko te hua o tā mātou taputapu, he...'
strength	kaha	'He kaha te taputapu ki te...'
challenge	wero	'He wero nui tēnei, ā, ka taea e mātou te...'
tool/device	taputapu	'Whakamahia te taputapu hei whakahaere i te...'

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Assign Roles & Explain Routine (10–15 mins)

Distribute role badges:

• Builder: Pānga ki te hanga (handling LEGO pieces)
• Tester: Whakamātau i te taputapu
• Recorder: Tuhi i ngā hua me ngā whakaaro
• Presenter: Kōrero poto mō te taputapu ki te rōpū

Set timers for each phase so students stay on task.

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Guided Practice (15–35 mins)

In small groups of 4–5:

• Follow step cards using LEGO and other materials.
• Teacher uses scaffolding: "Kei te pai tō hanga? Tēnā, whakamātauhia te kaha o tō taputapu."
• Model te reo usage during routine: "Kei te mahi au i te hanga."
• Use visual and verbal prompts for behaviour: "Ngā ringaringa i raro. Kia āta titiro."

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Independent/Partner Task (35–50 mins)

Test the device’s effectiveness by moving or supporting the toy.

• Students record the result (hua).
• Extension for confident learners: modify design to improve kaha.
• Encourage sentence starters: "Me whakamātau anō mātou i te whakatikanga."

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Formative Assessment & Reflection (50–55 mins)

Teacher walks around:

• Tick checklist on participation.
• Listen for te reo use.
• Observe teamwork and behaviour.

Students share examples aloud in simple Te Reo:

• "Ko tā mātou taputapu he hiki i te kēmu."
• "He kaha te taputapu, engari me whakapai ake."

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Closure & Clean-Up (55–60 mins)

Students clean up using a timer for structure.

Teacher finishes with quick mihi:

"Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou mō te mahi ngātahi me te kaha ki te wero i te rā nei."

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Behaviour & Language Support Strategies

• Clear visual step cards with images and kupu Māori/English.
• Structured roles reduce behavioural overwhelm.
• Timers set clear expectations with transitions.
• Sentence starters and repetition scaffold te reo learning.
• Positive reinforcement using Māori phrases: "Kia kaha!", "Tino pai!"
• Choices within limits (device type) foster engagement.
• Calm voice, brief instructions with visual takeaway.

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This lesson honours Te Marautanga o Aotearoa’s holistic approach integrating language, culture, and technological practice. It builds not only mechanical skills but also confidence in te reo Māori and cooperative skills essential for these learners’ success. The teacher can adapt pacing and language scaffolds further as skills develop. Ka pai te mahi!