Maia’s Story Creations

Year Level

Years 4–6 (ages approximately 8–11)

Duration

60 minutes

Curriculum Context

This lesson is situated within the Social Sciences learning area of the New Zealand Curriculum. It focuses on History as it relates to developing an understanding of stories from Aotearoa’s past. The emphasis is on exploring different perspectives, meaning-making, and expressing personal connections to history through creative methods.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Demonstrate comprehension of the Maia story by retelling it in their own words or artistic expression.
• Express a personal connection or interpretation of the narrative through creative work.
• Use appropriate historical vocabulary and concepts related to Māori stories and history.
• Show increasing confidence in using storytelling or art as a medium to communicate ideas and understandings about Aotearoa’s past.

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Curriculum Links

Social Sciences

• Understand how people’s perspectives on events that happen today and in the past are influenced by their values and culture.
• Develop an understanding of how historical narratives are constructed and interpreted.

English and The Arts (integration)

• Create stories or artworks that communicate experiences and ideas.
• Use oral language and visual language to present ideas in imaginative and meaningful ways.

Key Competencies

• Participating and Contributing: Students work collaboratively and respectfully to share ideas about the story.
• Thinking: Students use creative and critical thinking to interpret and redesign Maia’s story.
• Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Express understanding through storytelling or art.

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Resources Needed

• Copies of the Maia story (short summary or excerpt previously studied)
• Art supplies: paper, coloured pencils, markers, paint, collage materials
• Storytelling props (optional): puppets, costumes, objects related to the story
• Writing materials for story drafts or storyboards
• Display space for showcasing outcomes

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction / Prior Learning Review (10 minutes)

• Begin with a brief group discussion to recall key points about Maia’s story, focusing on characters, setting, and main events.
• Regroup learning from previous lessons about the significance of Maia’s story in Aotearoa history and Māori culture.
• Revise important vocabulary (e.g., waka, adventure, settlement, iwi).

Teacher prompts:

• “Who can remind us about Maia and her journey?”
• “What was important about the way the story was told?”

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2. Activity Explanation & Planning (10 minutes)

• Explain that students will now create their own retelling of Maia’s story either through storytelling or art.
• Provide choice: students decide if they want to express the story by:
• Writing and orally sharing a short story or play script
• Drawing or crafting a visual artwork depicting part or all of the story
• Emphasise creativity and personal connection. They can be imaginative—set in the past, present, or future or from Maia’s or another character’s perspective.
• Distribute paper and art materials or writing materials accordingly.
• Support students to plan their work: sketch outlines, write story ideas, or rehearse verbally.

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3. Independent or Paired Creative Work (25 minutes)

• Students create their story retelling or artwork.
• Teacher circulates to guide, prompt deeper thinking, encourage use of historical vocabulary, and support storytelling skills.
• Encourage students to think about:
• What part of Maia’s story they want to tell
• How can they show their feelings or perspectives?
• Which medium best expresses their ideas?

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4. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Students present their stories or artworks to peers in small groups or as a whole class circle.
• After each presentation, invite peers to ask questions or give positive feedback.
• Encourage students to reflect on:
• How retelling has helped deepen understanding
• What new ideas or feelings came up during the creative process

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5. Wrap Up and Assessment (5 minutes)

• Recap the importance of storytelling and art in understanding history and culture in Aotearoa.
• Collect artworks or story drafts as evidence of learning.
• Use observations from discussions and presentations to assess student understanding and engagement according to curriculum achievement expectations.

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Assessment

Assessment will be formative and based on students’ ability to:

• Retell Maia’s story using the chosen medium with clear sequence and key details.
• Make personal and creative connections to the story.
• Use vocabulary and concepts relevant to Māori history and storytelling traditions.
• Participate actively and respectfully in sharing their work and responding to peers.

This aligns with Social Sciences achievement objectives for Levels 3 and 4, focusing on understanding historical narratives and expressing ideas, as well as English and The Arts strands for communicating meaning.

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This lesson closes the unit "Discovering Aotearoa's History" by empowering students to deepen their comprehension and personal engagement through creativity, in alignment with the holistic and bicultural approach promoted by the New Zealand Curriculum.