Matariki Drama Experience

Overview

A 15-minute drama lesson designed for preschool students in New Zealand to explore the Matariki celebration through movement, role play, and storytelling. This engaging experience nurtures cultural awareness and key competencies outlined in the New Zealand Curriculum, embedding tikanga Māori and language in an inclusive, developmentally appropriate way.

Curriculum Connections

Learning Area: The Arts – Drama
Level: Early Childhood / Years 0-1
New Zealand Curriculum References:

The Arts Learning Area: Developing an understanding of how to use role, voice, movement, and imagination to create and respond to drama.
Key Competencies:
- Managing Self: Students show confidence to participate and express themselves.
- Relating to Others: Engaging in collaborative role play and listening respectfully.
- Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Communicating ideas using verbal and non-verbal language.
Principles: Inclusion, Treaty of Waitangi, Cultural Diversity – incorporating Māori perspectives (Matariki).
Strand: Drama
- Taking on roles and using imagination: “Try to behave and speak as if they are someone or something else” .

Learning Objectives

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

Engage in simple role play representing Matariki stars and their stories.
Express feelings and ideas about the Matariki celebration through movement and voice.
Begin to demonstrate awareness of cultural celebration by recalling basic ideas about Matariki.
Collaborate and listen attentively to peers during drama activities.

Lesson Plan

Duration: 15 minutes

Class Size: 10 preschool students

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Links & Notes
0–2 mins	Welcome and Introduction	Greet students, introduce today's focus: Matariki stars and celebration. Show simple images or props representing Matariki.	Inclusion of Māori worldview; building vocabulary through visual aids.
2–6 mins	Warm-up Movement Activity	Lead “star stretching”: students pretend to be stars twinkling, rising, and shining in the sky with expressive movements and sounds. Encourage experimentation with voice pitch and movement.	Supports physical engagement and imaginative expression. Encourages verbal and non-verbal communication development.
6–11 mins	Role Play – Becoming Matariki Stars	Assign each student a star role (e.g., Pōhutukawa, Waitī, Waitā, etc.). Use simple prompts to guide them to express their star’s special qualities through movement and sounds. Include interactions, such as twinkling together or sliding across the sky.	Taking on roles; exploring feelings and collaboration. Emphasises cultural knowledge embedded in drama.
11–14 mins	Storytelling Circle	Sit in a circle and tell a short, age-appropriate story about Matariki. Encourage students to add sounds or actions representing stars or nature elements from the story.	Supports listening, oral language skills, and connection to cultural narratives. This ties to oral language and storytelling in English curriculum.
14–15 mins	Reflection and Closure	Ask simple questions: “What was your favourite star to be?” “How did it feel to be a star?” Praise participation and curiosity. Invite them to share one movement or sound again if they want.	Builds awareness of self and others, encouraging language use and expressing feelings calmly.

Key Resources

Simple star-shaped props or cloth pieces
Picture cards illustrating Matariki stars
A calm space for acting and movement

Assessment

Informal and formative: Teacher observes students’ willingness to participate, ability to take on roles, use of voice and movement, and interactions with peers.
Use positive and reinforcing feedback to encourage expression and cultural curiosity.
Reflect on the inclusion of tikanga Māori and responsiveness to diversity and developmental readiness.

Teaching Considerations

Be mindful of neurodiverse learners; provide clear, concise instructions and gentle support.
Use repetition and scaffolding to reinforce new vocabulary and concepts.
Celebrate individual contributions to build confidence in group drama settings.
Connect the activity with whānau/family stories or Matariki celebrations where possible.

This lesson plan connects drama with cultural celebration in a playful, supportive way that strongly aligns with New Zealand’s early learning frameworks and the national curriculum’s emphasis on inclusion, identity, and communication .