Kawa and Tikanga Story

Overview

This two-lesson sequence explores the origin and meaning of Kawa and Tikanga, anchored in a whānau-based story told by Tohunga Hohepa Kereopa. Students will engage with the cultural significance of Kawa on Marae as well as everyday tikanga passed down through generations. This connects deeply with the kaupapa of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, strengthening identity and understanding of kawa through storytelling, discussion, and self-directed activities using Google Classroom.

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Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Ngā Reo Māori (Learning Languages) Level: Year 10 (NCEA Level 1 foundation) Key Competencies:

• Relating to others – participating and contributing in tikanga contexts
• Thinking – understanding origins and reasoning behind kawa
• Using language, symbols and texts – listening, reading, speaking, presenting in te reo Māori contexts

Curriculum Objectives:

• Understand the origin, purpose, and setting of kawa and tikanga within whānau and marae context
• Develop oral narrative and questioning skills using te reo Māori
• Reflect on the meaning of kawa in everyday tikanga seen in whānau practice
• Use digital tools for research and sharing reflections (Google Classroom Suite)
• Demonstrate respect and empathy for cultural values and traditions

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Lesson 1: Understanding Kawa in Whānau Context

Duration: 80 minutes Students: 30

Learning Intentions

• Students will comprehend the story of Kawa and Tikanga as narrated by Tohunga Hohepa Kereopa.
• Students will explain why kawa is set and how it shapes tikanga on marae.
• Students will develop questioning and summarising skills in te reo Māori.

Success Criteria

• Accurately retell the main points of the story in te reo Māori.
• Identify and articulate the purpose of kawa in whānau practice.
• Pose relevant questions about kawa and tikanga confidently with peers.

Resources

• Story text (digital and printed copies)
• Google Slides or Docs for shared note-taking and reflections
• Audio recording of oral story (optional)
• Vocabulary card sets with te reo Māori terms from the story
• Dyslexia-friendly text format: clear font, larger sizes, spaced lines

Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Detail
10 min	Intro & Context Setting	Brief kōrero about kawa and tikanga on marae; connect with prior learning about tipuna.
15 min	Story Listening & Reading	Teacher/oral reading of the story; students read highlighted or scanned digital text.
20 min	Vocabulary Exploration	Students explore key te reo Māori vocabulary cards in small groups; discuss meanings.
15 min	Guided Discussion & Questioning	In pairs/small groups using sentence stems in Māori, students ask and answer questions.
10 min	Summarisation Task	Students summarise the story in te reo Māori, focusing on the kawa explanation.
10 min	Reflection & Google Classroom Post	Students self-direct to post a short written or video reflection online for peers to see.

Differentiation

• Use bilingual vocabulary cards (te reo/English).
• Provide oral story recordings for replay.
• Sentence stems and question prompts for scaffolding oral participation.
• Option to create oral instead of written summaries.

Extension

• Research and present on different kawa from other marae in Aotearoa.
• Write a creative retelling of the story in their own words incorporating tikanga learned.

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Lesson 2: Kawa in Practice – Whānau and Daily Rituals

Duration: 80 minutes Students: 30

Learning Intentions

• Understand how kawa shapes practical tikanga and whānau rituals.
• Analyse the story’s explanation of kawa as common sense rather than mystery.
• Express personal or family experiences of kawa or tikanga in te reo Māori.

Success Criteria

• Explain how kawa is applied in whānau settings through rituals (e.g., preparing brawn).
• Use te reo Māori language to share and compare experiences.
• Demonstrate cultural empathy and understanding of kawa’s role in tikanga.

Resources

• Story excerpt focusing on “he kawa tēnei” ritual
• Google Jamboard for collaborative mind-mapping of kawa rituals
• Sentence starters in Māori for sharing experiences
• Visual aids: photos or clips showing whānau marae rituals
• Dyslexia-friendly materials and audio options

Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Detail
10 min	Recap & Review	Recall previous story and vocabulary; focus on kawa concept.
15 min	Small Group Discussion: Kawa in Our Whānau	Share personal or family kawa/tikanga stories using sentence starters; record on Jamboard.
20 min	Role-Play Rituals	In groups, role-play the brawn-making ritual or other kawa-based rituals; use te reo Māori.
15 min	Group Presentation & Feedback	Groups present their ritual and explain the kawa involved; peers provide feedback in Māori.
10 min	Individual Reflection (Google Doc/Video)	Students write or record a reflection on how kawa affects their own whānau tikanga.
10 min	Wrap-up & Home Learning	Outline self-directed tasks on Google Classroom: digital story retell, reflection, or research.

Differentiation

• Role-plays offer kinesthetic and verbal learning access.
• Use visuals and modelling for sentence structure and vocabulary support.
• Advanced learners create written explanation texts for marae kawa variations.
• Dyslexia-friendly reading with audio text synchronised for support.

Extension

• Interview a family member or kuia/kaumātua about kawa they observe and report back.
• Create a digital multimedia collage about kawa and tikanga on marae.

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Assessment Criteria

• Can retell and summarise the kawa story using accurate te reo Māori terms.
• Participates with confidence in discussions about kawa and tikanga.
• Reflects thoughtfully on kawa’s role in own cultural context.
• Uses digital tools to communicate learning effectively and respectfully.

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Technology and Self-directed Learning

• Both lessons utilise Google Classroom for sharing, reflection, collaboration, and submission.
• Audio and visual resources cater to absent or sick students to stay up to date.
• Encourage self-paced exploration of vocabulary and story comprehension.

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By grounding the kaupapa of kawa and tikanga in a whānau narrative and daily practice, these lessons foster students’ cultural identity, language skills, and critical understanding aligned directly to the New Zealand Curriculum for te reo Māori learning at year 10 level. They integrate oral language development, comprehension, collaborative learning, and digital literacy, reflecting effective teaching principles for diverse learners across Aotearoa schools.