Unit Overview

This is the first lesson in a four-lesson unit entitled "Matariki: Navigating Our Stars" designed for Years 10-11 students learning in a Māori-medium context. This lesson focuses on introducing students to Matariki—the constellation and its cultural significance, including traditional stories (pūrākau). The lesson is designed to align closely with the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (The Māori-medium curriculum framework for New Zealand schools), especially its critical focus for Phase 4 (Years 9-10), “Having a purpose and being empathetic and resilient,” encouraging students to connect culturally and personally with Matariki and develop skills in kōrero pūrākau and whakawhānaungatanga (storytelling and relationship-building) through group work and listening activities.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, students will be able to:

Understand the meaning of Matariki and its significance in te ao Māori (the Māori world) as a marker of the Māori New Year and a time of reflection, celebration, and renewal.
Know key traditional narratives and the stories associated with the Matariki star cluster and its individual stars.
Do actively participate in group discussions about the cultural importance of Matariki and retell or reflect on one traditional story related to Matariki.
Develop their oral language skills in te reo Māori through kōrero pūrākau (storytelling) and whakawhānaungatanga in group settings.
Connect learning about Matariki to their own tikanga and whānau experiences, fostering manaakitanga and kotahitanga (respect and unity).

These learning intentions align with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Phase 4 critical focuses and linguistic frameworks, especially under the learning area of reo Māori and Tikanga ā Iwi (Māori Language and Customs) for Years 10-11.

Curriculum Links to Te Marautanga o Aotearoa

Whakarongo (Listening & Oral Communication): Engage in discussions and listen to Māori pūrākau with understanding and empathy, responding appropriately.
Kōrero (Speaking): Express ideas and retell pūrākau clearly using appropriate Māori vocabulary and sentence structures.
Tikanga ā Iwi (Customs and Traditions): Understand and participate in Māori customs surrounding Matariki; develop an appreciation for the cultural importance of the event.
Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga (Values): Foster respect, care, and connection through group discussion and collective narrative sharing.
Phase 4 Critical Focus — Having a purpose and being empathetic and resilient: Students learn to connect culturally relevant knowledge to their lives and value whakapapa and tūpuna knowledge to develop personal and communal resilience and identity.

Prior Learning Assumptions

Students have some foundational knowledge of Māori tikanga and basic te reo Māori communication skills.
They understand the importance of whanaungatanga in learning.
They have previously engaged with simple Māori pūrākau or legends.

Lesson Outline (45 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Expected Outcomes
0–5 min	Whakawhanaungatanga / Introduction	Karakia and pepeha to open the room. Brief introduction to Matariki, asking students what they already know.	Build supportive classroom environment, activate prior knowledge.
5–15 min	Whakauru Pūrākau / Storytelling	Teacher tells a traditional narrative about Matariki, emphasising the significance of the star cluster and the role of each star in Māori culture. Use visual aids like pictures or star charts (if possible).	Students listen actively and engage with te reo Māori stories, extending vocabulary and cultural understanding.
15–25 min	Rōpū Kōrero / Group Discussion	In small groups (3–4 students), discuss the importance of Matariki, its significance, and how the stories relate to their own whānau, hapū, and iwi experiences. Provide guiding questions such as: "He aha te hiranga o Matariki i roto i tō whānau?"	Encourage oral language skills, deepen cultural connections and empathy.
25–35 min	Kōrero Whakamuri / Group Sharing	Each group shares key points from their discussion with the class. The teacher facilitates respectful listening and prompts with questions.	Build confidence in speaking, reinforce listening strategies, and share diverse perspectives.
35–40 min	Whakarāpopototanga / Reflection	Individual written or verbal reflection: “He aha au i ako ai mō Matariki i tēnei rā?” (What did I learn about Matariki today?) Support with sentence starters if needed.	Consolidate learning and self-reflection practices.
40–45 min	Karakia Whakakapi / Closing	Final karakia and pronunciation practice of key vocabulary from the lesson with the class. Give a brief overview of next lesson in the unit.	End on a culturally respectful note, reinforce vocabulary and connection to unit.

Materials Needed

Visual star charts or diagrams of Matariki constellation
Printed copies of the traditional Matariki story in te reo Māori (optional)
Whiteboard or large paper for group notes
Writing materials for reflection task
Audio/visual equipment for storytelling if digital resources available

Assessment

Formative assessment during group discussions and class sharing to gauge understanding of Matariki concepts and use of te reo Māori language.
Observation of student participation, listening skills, and respectful engagement.
Written or verbal reflections demonstrating comprehension of Matariki's importance and traditional stories.
Use of te reo Māori vocabulary related to Matariki in oral and written tasks.

Differentiation and Support

Offer sentence starters and vocabulary sheets for students who need language support.
Encourage peer support in groups to aid those with lower confidence in te reo Māori.
Provide extension tasks for confident speakers, such as retelling part of a pūrākau or researching another star in the Matariki cluster for later lessons.

Extension and Next Steps

In subsequent lessons, explore deeper aspects of Matariki, including the role of each star, traditional customs during Matariki celebrations, and how navigating by stars connects to Māori knowledge systems.
Integrate creative arts, mathematics (calculating timings of Matariki rising), and science (astronomy connection) in cross-curricular ways in later lessons.

This lesson design strongly follows the guiding principles and critical focuses of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Phase 4, encourages meaningful cultural engagement, and promotes language development appropriate for Year 10-11 Māori-medium students learning about Matariki as part of a cultural and curriculum journey.

If you require, I can create detailed scripts or vocabulary lists for the lesson's narrative and kōrero tasks.

Kaupapa Matariki

Teaching Instructions