Matariki Stars Exploration

Context and Curriculum Links

This 60-minute lesson for Year 5 students aligns closely with the Māori-medium curriculum framework, Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. It fosters students’ understanding of Matariki as a significant cultural event by exploring the main stars of the Matariki cluster, their names, cultural meanings, and significance.

Curriculum alignment

• Learning Area: Other (Mātauranga Māori / Te Ao Māori Knowledge)
• Phase: Year 5 (approximately Phase 2-3 learning in Te Marautanga)
• Strand:
  • Culture and identity through celestial navigation, oral traditions, and whakapapa of Matariki
• Key competencies:
  • Whakawhiti kōrero (Communication): engaging orally in storytelling and discussion
  • Whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro (Thinking): exploring star significance and symbolism in Māori culture
  • Auahatanga (Creativity): creating star art / poetry expressing understanding and personal connections

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify the main stars of the Matariki cluster by name and position.
2. Explain the cultural significance and meanings of at least three Matariki stars.
3. Engage respectfully in storytelling by retelling or listening to pūrākau (traditional stories) about Matariki stars.
4. Create a personal artistic or poetic representation inspired by Matariki stars, showing understanding of their meanings and importance.

The objectives align with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa focus on whakapapa, mātauranga Māori, oral language skills, and creative expression through te reo Māori and English, supporting Comprehending and Creating Texts and Connecting through Storytelling competencies , along with cultural and identity knowledge.

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Lesson Outline (60 minutes, class size 25)

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Focus
5 min	Welcome and Mōteatea (Chant)	Begin with a simple karakia or mōteatea acknowledging the stars and ancestors to set a wairua (spiritual tone).	Whakapapa, tikanga, and whakawhanaungatanga
10 min	Star Identification Interactive	Show an image or model of the Matariki star cluster. Ask students to identify and say the star names: Matariki, Pōhutukawa, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-rangi, Ururangi, and Tupuānuku. Use directional language incorporating te reo Māori compass points (raki, tonga, etc). Use flashcards or a star chart.	Knowledge of star names, directional language, oral vocabulary development
15 min	Storytelling: Pūrākau of Matariki Stars	Tell or read traditional Māori stories related to some stars (e.g., Waipuna-ā-rangi – the star of rain, Tupuānuku – the star connected with food from the earth). Invite students to listen and then ask questions or share what they understood. Optionally, small groups can retell snippets.	Oral language, narrative structure, cultural knowledge, critical analysis of texts
15 min	Creative Project – Star Art or Poem	Students create star representations using art materials (coloured paper, glitter, paints) or write simple poems/whakataukī (proverbs) inspired by the stars’ meanings. Encourage students to incorporate te reo Māori names and symbolic meanings. Provide sentence starters or star templates.	Use of creative expression, encoding of cultural knowledge into art/writing, using vocabulary and symbolic language
10 min	Sharing and Reflection	Students present or share their artwork or poetry with peers. Facilitate a discussion highlighting diverse interpretations and reinforcing the stars’ significance in Māori culture.	Communication skills, oral presentation, audience awareness, whakawhanaungatanga
5 min	Whakamutunga (Closing)	End with a karakia or song related to the stars or Matariki, reinforcing the spiritual connection and celebrating learning.

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Learning Resources

• Visual star chart or planetarium app showing Matariki cluster
• Flashcards with star names and descriptors
• Pūrākau stories about Matariki stars (ages appropriate narrative)
• Art supplies: coloured paper, glue, glitter, crayons, or stationery for poetry writing
• Simple sentences or poem templates with te reo Māori vocabulary

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Assessment

• Formative:

  • Observation of students' ability to identify star names during the interactive activity
  • Listening for engagement and comprehension during storytelling (questions and retellings)
  • Quality and cultural relevance seen in creative projects (art or poetry)
  • Participation and clear communication during sharing sessions

• Summative:

  • Collect creative projects to assess understanding of the Matariki stars’ cultural significance and ability to express this knowledge artistically
  • Peer/self-assessment discussions reflecting what students learned about the stars and their meanings

Assessment criteria will reflect Te Marautanga expectations for oral language development, comprehension and storytelling ability, and creative expression through culturally rich content .

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Integration with Wider Curriculum

• Integrate directional language and star positioning with Maths and Statistics (measurement, spatial reasoning) themes in Te Marautanga.
• Link whānau and community stories for further learning about Matariki celebrations.
• Support literacy development through vocabulary and narrative structures with Māori and English texts.

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This lesson plan, steeped in Te Ao Māori perspectives, supports students to grow knowledge about the natural world and their cultural heritage through rich language and creative experience, embodying the principles and vision of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

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If you would like, I can also provide sample templates for the star art or poem or a mōteatea to begin the lesson!