Ka Mau Te Wehi!

Curriculum Area

Learning Area: Learning Languages
Language: Te Reo Māori
Curriculum: Te Aho Arataki Marau mō te Ako i Te Reo Māori – Kura Auraki
Level: Curriculum Level 2
Year Group: Year 6
Time: 30 minutes
Class Size: 25 students (diverse learning needs)

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Big Idea

Language expresses identity and enables students to understand and connect with others.

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Lesson Focus

Topic: Māori Kupu mō ngā Tae – Māori Colour Words
Purpose: To teach students key colour vocabulary in Te Reo Māori and their English meanings using engaging, multi-sensory activities.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, ākonga (students) will be able to:

• Identify and say at least six Māori colour words correctly
• Match Te Reo Māori colour words with their English equivalents
• Use colour vocabulary in short, structured oral responses

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Key Vocabulary

Māori	English
Whero	Red
Kākāriki	Green
Kōwhai	Yellow
Mā	White
Pango	Black
Kikorangi	Blue

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Materials Needed

• Colour swatches or printed colour cards with Te Reo Māori
• Digital slides or flashcards (dyslexia-friendly font e.g. OpenDyslexic)
• Colour matching handout (bold text, clear spacing, minimal clutter)
• Laminated word bank cards
• Wireless speaker or device for playing Māori waiata (song)
• Mini whiteboards and markers

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Lesson Breakdown

⏰ 0 - 5 mins: Mihi & Warming Up the Wairua

• Begin with karakia timatanga (opening prayer or affirmation)
• Quick greeting round in Te Reo Māori: "Ko wai tō ingoa?" "Ko ________ tōku ingoa."
• Introduce the theme: "Colours are all around us! Today we will learn the rainbow in Te Reo Māori!"

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⏰ 5 - 15 mins: Interactive Vocabulary Learning

Activity 1: Kupu-Flash Colour Game (7 mins)

• Show flashcards one by one with image + Te Reo word
• Say the word aloud → students repeat (choral repetition for confidence)
• Say the English word → ask students if they remember the Māori and hold up matching colour card
• Students group in 3s to quiz each other using laminated mini cards

Differentiation:

• Students with dyslexia receive flashcards with icons and high-contrast visuals
• Peer pairings for extra support
• Use of simple sign language support to match colours with signs

Activity 2: Waiata + Movement Break (3 mins)

• Play a short waiata about colours (e.g. “Ma is white”), singing along while pointing to coloured posters
• Encourage movement: stand when they hear a familiar colour in the song

Activity 3: Accelerated Colour Hunt (5 mins)

• In groups, students receive 1 colour word in Māori
• They FIND something in the room of that colour and report back: “He kākāriki tēnei!”

Extension Options (for fast finishers/advanced)

• Write simple sentences using the structure: "He [colour] te [object]."
• Read a short colour poem in Māori and illustrate it
• Use digital tools (if available) to record themselves saying the colours and send it to whānau

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⏰ 15 – 25 mins: Small Group Challenge – Mahi Ngātahi Task

Colour Memory Match Game - He Tākaro Whakamātautau

• Set up tables with card packs (one set Māori, one set English)
• In 4s, students flip and match colour pairs
• Say the Te Reo Māori word aloud when making a match
• Keep score for engagement

Differentiation Strategies:

• Provide a “cheat sheet” with image and word match
• Use tactile options (braille/magnetic blocks) if required
• For ELL learners: include translator card with phonetic spelling

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⏰ 25 – 30 mins: Reflection + Whanaungatanga

Ka Mihi Tātou (We Celebrate!)

• Quick wrap-up circle: each student shares their favourite colour in Te Reo Māori
• Encourage use of sentence: "Ko [colour] taku tae pai."
• Hand out a take-home bilingual colour chart for practice

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Teaching Notes

Assessment for Learning (AfL):

• Observe correct pronunciation during repetition and group tasks
• Listen for correct sentence use during reflection
• Use Memory Match Game as an informal assessment checkpoint

Kaiako (Teacher) Tips for Success:

• Use encouraging tone to create safe space for speaking
• Encourage tamariki to speak, not just recognise
• Reinforce that it’s okay to make mistakes – we learn through speaking and doing

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Follow-Up Ideas

• Integrate colours into other subjects (e.g. science: “He kōwhai te pōhutukawa?”)
• Create a class mural labelled fully in Te Reo Māori colours
• Set weekly language goals related to classroom environment (“Find 3 objects that are pango!”)

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Final Thought 🌈

This engaging, sensory-rich lesson connects ākonga with Te Reo Māori in playful, accessible ways – supporting language development, cultural identity, and joyful learning. Kia kaha te kōrero Māori!