Insect Celebration

Overview

Year 1 & 2 students will review vocabulary and concepts learned in the unit "Insects of Aotearoa." They will engage in a fun quiz game to consolidate knowledge and celebrate their learning by sharing insect artwork in te reo Māori with peers and whānau.

Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 25 students
Unit context: Lesson 8 of 8 – Final review and celebration

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Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Learning Languages (English and te reo Māori integration)

• Communicating in an additional language: Students learn to communicate in te reo Māori using familiar insect vocabulary.
• Understanding and using vocabulary and language structures appropriate to Year 1 and 2 learners, focusing on speaking and listening skills in both English and te reo Māori contexts.
• Building cultural knowledge: Connecting language learning to Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment and perspectives.

Curriculum Levels:

• Learning Languages: Level 1 (Years 1-2) – Communicate in simple sentences about familiar topics.
• Key Competencies:
  • Using language, symbols and texts: Engage with and use te reo Māori animal and insect names.
  • Relating to others: Sharing and presenting to peers and whānau.
  • Managing self: Taking turns in the quiz and during the sharing session.
  • Participating and contributing: Collaborating in teams for the quiz, involving community (parents).
  • Thinking: Recall and apply learned vocabulary and concepts.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Recall and use insect vocabulary in te reo Māori and English.
2. Demonstrate understanding of insect characteristics and their cultural context in Aotearoa.
3. Engage respectfully and confidently in a group quiz and presentation setting.
4. Express pride and identity through sharing creative insect art using te reo Māori vocabulary.

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Resources

• Quiz cards with insect names and images (both English and te reo Māori terms)
• Flashcards for insect vocabulary revision
• Student insect artwork prepared during previous lessons
• Audio-visual setup for playing the quiz and presentations
• Name tags with appropriate pronunciation guides (te reo Māori)
• Seating arranged for group interaction and whānau participation

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Lesson Outline

1. Welcome and Kōrero Whakamārama (5 minutes)

• Greet students and whānau in te reo Māori (e.g., "Haere mai, nau mai, haere mai!").
• Briefly recap the unit focus: Insects of Aotearoa, vocabulary learned in both te reo Māori and English.
• Outline the session: quiz game followed by art sharing and celebration.
• Activate prior learning by asking students to name one insect in te reo Māori or English.

Curriculum links: Oral language – recounting familiar objects and events; using language to connect identity and culture.

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2. Vocabulary Review Quiz (20 minutes)

• Divide the class into 5 teams of 5 students to encourage collaboration.
• Use flashcards and quiz cards to ask questions about insect names, features, habitats, and simple facts learned during the unit.
• Incorporate both English and te reo Māori terms, e.g., "What is this insect called in te reo Māori?" or "Which insect has six legs?"
• Encourage team discussion before answering, promoting use of te reo Māori vocabulary and full sentences as able.
• Positive reinforcement for participation and use of language, regardless of accuracy.
• Include simple interactive elements: teams can buzz in or raise hands.
• Use visual supports and gestures to scaffold understanding for all learners.

Example questions:

• "What is the Māori name for a butterfly?" (Pūngāwerewere)
• "Can you show me how many legs an insect has?"
• "Which insect can spin a web?" (Wehi)

Curriculum links: Oral language development, vocabulary recall, managing self and relating to others through collaborative interaction.

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3. Insect Art Sharing and Celebration (15 minutes)

• Invite students to display their insect artwork created in previous lessons.
• Each student or group briefly shares their favourite insect art piece, naming the insect in te reo Māori and English, describing what they like about it.
• Encourage students to use simple sentences: "This is a pūngāwerewere. It can fly."
• Whānau are invited to listen, ask questions, and celebrate the students' efforts.
• Teacher models language structures and supports students in using new vocabulary confidently.
• Use this time to reaffirm students’ positive identities as language users and communicators.

Curriculum links: Presenting ideas clearly to a specific audience, developing positive identities in language use, relating to others and participating in a community context【4:0,4:3†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】.

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4. Closure and Mihi Whakarāpopoto (5 minutes)

• Summarise key vocabulary and concepts from the quiz and sharing.
• Acknowledge all students’ efforts and learning progress using positive language in both te reo Māori and English.
• Farewell in te reo Māori and English, encouraging students to continue using te reo Māori outside the classroom.
• Optionally, distribute "I am an Insect Expert" certificates or stickers as a celebration token.

Curriculum links: Using language for meaningful communication and positive identity development.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Use visual supports, gestures, and modelling to support English language learners and students with special needs.
• Allow use of first languages or home languages during discussion to support meaning-making.
• Scaffold sentence formation using sentence starters and prompts (e.g., "I see a...", "It has... legs").
• Provide peer support and flexible grouping during quiz and sharing activities.
• Include opportunities for hands-on interaction and movement to engage kinaesthetic learners.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation of participation during quiz answering and art sharing.
• Note students’ ability to recall and use vocabulary in te reo Māori and English.
• Listening to sentence structures used during sharing, providing immediate feedback and scaffolding.
• Use of key competencies: students’ management of self, relating to others, and communication effectiveness.
• Evidence gathered informs planning for future language learning sequences.

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Reflection Ideas for Teachers

• Which quiz formats encouraged the most engagement and language use?
• Did students demonstrate increasing confidence using te reo Māori insect names?
• How did whānau participation influence student motivation and learning atmosphere?
• What additional supports or extensions are needed for diverse learners in your class?

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This lesson plan incorporates the principles of te reo Māori integration, structured language learning, and active community participation. It emboldens positive learning identities through celebration, all while aligning with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, particularly the language learning strands and key competencies for year 1 and 2 students【4:0,4:18†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】 .