Ko Wai Tātou?

Overview

In this introductory lesson of the unit Whakaaro Māori: Engaging Perspectives, Year 10 students will explore the concept of personal identity (Ko Wai Tātou?) through the lens of whakapapa, culture, and individual choices. This lesson supports their ability to express how identity shapes worldview, drawing explicitly on Māori cultural values and language aligned with the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa curriculum framework, specifically tailored to Te Reo Māori levels 1, 2, and 3, and Te Reo Rangatira Kaupae 1 and 2.

Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Alignment

WALT (We Are Learning To): Whakamārama me pēhea tō tātou tuakiri e ārahi ai i tō tātou tirohanga ki te ao. (Express how identity shapes our worldview.)

Success Criteria:

Visual identity map completed demonstrating tūrangawaewae, whakapapa, and key aspects of personal identity.
Meaningful participation in small group and whole-class discussions about identity and perspective.

Curriculum Alignment

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – Te Reo Māori Learning Areas
Te Reo Māori Levels 1-3: Engage in communication that explores self and others with use of visual supports and sentence frames to scaffold oral language.
Te Reo Rangatira Kaupae 1 & 2: Develop understanding of whakapapa and its role in identity. Students will use appropriate Māori vocabulary to discuss self, whānau, and cultural ties.
Key Competencies Developed:
Manaakitanga — Respect and care for others during discussions.
Whanaungatanga — Building connections by sharing personal whakapapa stories.
Ngā Toi — Use of visual art to map identity creatively.
Principles of the Curriculum:
Treaty of Waitangi principles emphasized through respect for te reo Māori me ōna tikanga.
Cultural diversity acknowledged by exploring individual identity in a bicultural context.

Lesson Details

Time: 60 minutes Class: 12 students Level: Year 10 (Te Reo Māori Levels 1-3 and Rangatira Kaupae 1-2)

Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity & Description	Supports & Differentiation
0-10 mins	Mihi and Whakapapa Introduction

Start with a short mihi and karakia to set the wairua.
Teacher introduces the key question: "Ko wai au? Ko wai tātou?"
Brief kōrero/presentation on whakapapa and identity using simple Māori terms. | Visual slides/props with whakapapa and cultural symbols. Sentence starters on screen/handouts for learners. | | 10-25 mins | Visual Identity Mapping
Students create individual visual identity maps on A3 paper.
Include elements of whakapapa, places of belonging (tūrangawaewae), personal interests, and cultural connections.
Encourage use of Māori vocabulary and drawings/symbols. | Graphic organiser templates provided. Dyslexia-friendly with clear visual cues and colour-coding. | | 25-40 mins | Small Group Sharing and Discussion
In groups of 3-4, students share their maps, explaining key parts of their identity using sentence starters:
"Ko... tōku tūrangawaewae"
"Nō... au"
"He mea nui ki ahau..."
Reflect on how whakapapa and culture influence their perspectives and choices. | Groups mix abilities. Provide discussion prompts and scaffold language. Encourage supportive peer interactions. | | 40-55 mins | Whole Class Reflection and Discussion
Class discussion guided by teacher:
How does identity shape how we see the world?
How might our different identities affect our decisions and attitudes?
Record key ideas on a visual chart/whiteboard. | Visual chart for word bank. Open-ended questions with sentence stems for shy or reluctant students. | | 55-60 mins | Conclusion and Extension Tasks
Summarise learning against WALT and success criteria.
For extension (optional homework): Write a brief reflective piece in Māori about their personal identity and how it shapes their worldview. | Written scaffold provided for extension learners. Visual supports for dyslexic and diverse learners. |

Differentiation Strategies

Support for Struggling Learners:
Sentence starters and visual vocabulary cards.
Use bilingual resources (Māori-English).
Support for Advanced Learners:
Challenge to include whakataukī or pepeha in their identity maps.
Reflective written piece encouraging deeper exploration of identity and worldview.
Dyslexia-Friendly Adjustments:
Use of clear fonts, coloured paper to reduce visual stress.
Provide graphic organisers and pictorial prompts.
Break tasks into smaller steps with visual timing cues.

Resources Needed

A3 paper, markers, coloured pencils
Visual vocabulary cards with Māori terms for identity, whakapapa, tūrangawaewae
Graphic organiser templates for identity mapping
Sentence starter handouts
Whiteboard/chart paper for class discussion notes
Optional: digital tablet/computer for creating a digital identity map (if available and suitable)

Assessment

Formative: Observation of participation and spoken contributions in group and class discussions.
Product: Completed visual identity map showing understanding of self, culture, and whakapapa.
Extension: Reflective writing piece demonstrating personal engagement with identity concepts.

Reflective Teaching Notes

Emphasise mana and respect in sharing personal stories and whakapapa.
Monitor group dynamics to ensure safe and inclusive participation.
Use culturally responsive pedagogy by validating all identities shared.
Encourage pride in te reo Māori as the language of identity.

This lesson plan is intentionally designed to place students’ identity and culture at the heart of learning, reflecting the principles and aspirations of the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and specifically building foundational skills in Te Reo Māori and Rangatira Kaupae. It balances oral, visual, and written modes to cater to diverse learners and aligns with the broader New Zealand Curriculum aspirations for bicultural and inclusive education.

If you require further assistance in creating accompanying teaching materials or extending the unit, please let me know.

If you want me to provide full teaching scripts, sentence starter examples, or printable resources tailored to this lesson, I can generate those as well.

Teaching Instructions