Matariki Star Study

This 60-minute lesson for Year 10 students in New Zealand is designed to teach students basic te reo Māori phrases focusing on one star of Matariki. Students will learn to describe the star’s name and appearance using simple (Ko) and (He) sentence structures. This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Levels 3-5 for te reo Māori learning, focusing on oral language skills, sentence structure, and cultural understanding.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Use simple sentence structures (Ko and He) to describe a selected Matariki star.
• Understand the cultural significance and meaning of the chosen star in te reo Māori.
• Build vocabulary related to Matariki and stars.
• Demonstrate comprehension through speaking and written activities.

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Curriculum Links

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa / New Zealand Curriculum

• Level: 3–5
• Learning Area: Languages (Te Reo Māori)
• Achievement Objectives:
• Understand and use simple sentence structures and vocabulary in everyday contexts.
• Understand and engage with cultural contexts and narratives.
• Key Competencies:
• Using language, symbols and texts — to express themselves clearly and appropriately.
• Participating and contributing — engaging with cultural knowledge and sharing ideas.
• Grammar Progressions (Te Whakaipurangi Rauemi):
• Use of equative sentences with Ko (e.g. Ko te tikanga o tēnei ingoa …)
• Use of classifying sentences with He (e.g. He āhua tēnei whetu …)

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Resources Required

• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed star fact sheet for chosen star (example below)
• Flashcards with sentence starters and vocabulary
• Worksheets for writing simple sentences
• Audio clip or video about Matariki star meanings (to immerse students culturally)
• Matariki star chart or image
• Word bank (simple vocabulary related to stars and Matariki)

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Karakia (5 minutes)

• Begin with a short karakia (traditional prayer) related to Matariki and stars to acknowledge Māori protocols.
• Show an image of the Matariki cluster.
• Briefly explain Matariki as Te whetū hou (the new stars), a Māori celebration marking the Māori New Year.

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2. Focus Star Introduction (10 minutes)

• Choose one star from Matariki, for example Tupuārangi.

• Show a large image of the star with a descriptive fact sheet in te reo Māori.

• Present the key phrases with simple explanations:

• Ko te tikanga o tēnei ingoa, he tohu mō te tipu o te rākau (The meaning of this name is a sign for the growth of trees.)

• Ko te āhua o tēnei whetu, he iti, he kikorangi (The appearance of this star is small and blue.)

• Model pronunciation and intonation.

• Use the Ko and He structures, explaining their grammatical use briefly.

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3. Guided Practice — Speaking Activity (15 minutes)

• In pairs, students take turns using sentence starters:

• Ko te tikanga o tēnei ingoa...

• He āhua tēnei whetu...

• Encourage them to describe using simple words learned.

• Use flashcards with vocabulary and pictures to support sentence building.

• Teacher circulates, offering feedback and support.

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4. Independent Writing Task (15 minutes)

• Students write 3–4 simple sentences about the star using Ko and He structures.

• Provide sentence starters and word banks.

• Example:

• Ko te tikanga o tēnei ingoa he tohu mō te tipu.

• He āhua tēnei whetu he kikorangi.

• Teacher supports students with vocabulary and sentence formation.

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5. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Students share their sentences in pairs or small groups.
• Class discussion on what they learned about Matariki and the star.
• Recap the use of Ko and He structures.
• Highlight the importance of Matariki culturally.

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6. Closing Karakia and Whakarāpopototanga (summary) (5 minutes)

• End with a karakia to acknowledge learning.
• Summarise key points:
• The meaning of the star’s name.
• Its appearance.
• Sentence structures used.

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Example Matariki Star Fact Sheet (Tupuārangi)

Te Whetū / Star	Tupuārangi
Ko te tikanga o tēnei ingoa:	He tohu mō te tipu o te rākau (sign of tree growth)
Ko te āhua o tēnei whetu:	He iti, he kikorangi (small, blue)
He aha āna mahi?	E tohu ana mō te tipu me te oranga o te ngahere (indicates growth and health of forests)

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Example Sentence Starters for Students

Structure	Example Phrase	English Translation
Ko (Equative)	Ko te tikanga o tēnei ingoa, he...	The meaning of this name is...
He (Classifying)	He āhua tēnei whetu, he...	The appearance of this star is...
Simple Nouns/Vocab	whetu (star), kikorangi (blue), iti (small), tohu (sign), tipu (growth), rākau (tree)

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Teacher Tips

• Use a spiral approach — revisit the Ko and He sentence structures regularly.
• Encourage students to listen and repeat to build confidence in pronunciation.
• Incorporate cultural narratives referenced in the lesson like from the YouTube seminar on Matariki to enrich cultural context.
• Use positive reinforcement to celebrate every attempt at speaking or writing in te reo Māori.
• Adjust the complexity based on student capability while maintaining engagement.

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This lesson plan places strong emphasis on cultural knowledge, sentence structure, and vocabulary development in line with the New Zealand Curriculum language standards, preparing students to deepen their understanding of Matariki and te reo Māori.