Māori Cards Play

Learning Focus

Students will learn to play the card game "Go Fish" using key Te Reo Māori vocabulary and sentence prompts, enabling meaningful communication and confidence in basic sentence structures in Māori.

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Languages Key Competencies:

• Using language for meaning: Express simple ideas and information clearly in an additional language.
• Participating and contributing: Engage in oral interactions using basic questions and answers.
• Language knowledge: Understand and use vocabulary and sentence patterns related to everyday communication.

Strand: Communicating

• Recognise and use oral language patterns to engage in simple conversations.
• Listen and respond to oral language in context.
• Use culturally appropriate language and respect in interactions.

Referenced from the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for Languages, focusing on year 6 objectives of communicating in te reo Māori using basic interactions to express needs and wants, and practising correct sentence structure and vocabulary acquisition in manageable steps【6:New Zealand Curriculum.html†New Zealand Curriculum】【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Recognise and correctly name these playing cards in Te Reo Māori:
  • Hai (Ace)
  • Kīngi (King)
  • Kuīni (Queen)
  • Haki (Jack)
• Use key question and answer patterns:
  • He Kuini tāu? (Do you have a Queen?)
  • Āe, he Kuini tāku. (Yes, I have a Queen.)
  • Kāo, kāore āku Kuini. (No, I don’t have a Queen.)
• Participate in the card game "Go Fish" using te reo Māori prompts confidently, showing politeness and turn-taking in conversation.
• Demonstrate understanding by responding appropriately and asking for cards using the target language.

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Resources

• Decks of cards modified or labelled with the Māori terms for face cards and aces.
• Whiteboard and markers or chart paper with printed vocab and phrase prompts.
• Visual aids: flashcards showing the Māori card names.
• A simplified Go Fish rules explanation sheet in English and Māori.

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Lesson Plan (30 Minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Focus & Pedagogical Notes
0 – 5 min	Introduction & Warm-Up	- Greet class and introduce lesson purpose. - Engage students by displaying the cards with Māori names. - Pronounce each Māori card name clearly with choral repetition: Hai, Kīngi, Kuīni, Haki.	Focused vocabulary teaching using modelling and repetition to build familiarity. Activate prior knowledge and support through supportive visual cues【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】.
5 – 10 min	Teaching Dialogue Structure	- Write on board the key question He Kuini tāu? and answers Āe, he Kuini tāku. / Kāo, kāore āku Kuini. - Role-play with a volunteer or puppet asking and answering the question. - Practice as a whole class and in pairs, emphasising correct pronunciation and intonation.	Promote oral language skills with scaffolding. Explicit teaching of language for specific, real-life communicative function encourages learning in manageable steps【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】【6:New Zealand Curriculum.html†New Zealand Curriculum】.
10 – 18 min	Game Explanation & Demonstration	- Explain and demonstrate rules of Go Fish, modelling how to ask for cards using Māori prompts. - Highlight using the Māori names of cards during play. - Emphasise turn-taking and polite language such as Āe and Kāo.	Integrating language learning into a fun context engages motivation and enhances vocabulary retention and oral communication. Contextualising language supports meaning-making【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】.
18 – 28 min	Paired Play: Go Fish in Māori	- Students play Go Fish in pairs or small groups, using Māori prompts for asking and answering. - Teacher circulates, supports pronunciation and conversational flow. - Encourage use of sentence frames and Māori card names.	Active learning and peer interaction develop communication confidence. Ongoing formative assessment via observation informs understanding of language use and supports inclusive teaching【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】.
28 – 30 min	Reflection and Wrap-up	- Gather students and ask some pairs to share sentences they used. - Reinforce vocabulary and phrases learnt. - Praise efforts and explain how this conversation style can be used in other language learning.	Consolidate learning and build positive learner identities by recognising student success. Promote metacognition by reflecting on language use and personal progress【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment during paired activity: note students’ ability to use Māori card names and sentence structures correctly.
• Listening observation: Teacher checks if students respond appropriately to questions.
• Peer feedback: Students encourage each other and correct gently, nurturing classroom language culture.
• Informal self-assessment: Students reflect on new words learnt and confidence using phrases.

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Differentiation & Inclusivity

• Provide sentence frames on cards for students needing additional scaffolding.
• Use visual prompts and gestures for English language learners or those needing support.
• Encourage bilingual students to use their first language knowledge to support Māori learning.
• Allow for flexible groupings to support confidence levels.

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Teacher Tips

• Model language with enthusiasm and support accurate pronunciation.
• Promote a safe learning environment where mistakes are welcome.
• Use real-life connection: relate card terms to other Māori vocabulary (e.g., royal titles).
• Extend learning by encouraging students to create their own Māori phrase cards for other card names.
• Consider integrating digital tools or apps for Māori language practice at home for interested students.

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By focusing on language use in an interactive, culturally relevant game setting using appropriate vocabulary and sentence frames, this lesson taps into key curriculum goals for Year 6 learners in Languages. It embraces the refreshed NZ Curriculum’s emphasis on encouraging meaningful oral communication, cultural identity, and language learning as a pathway to wider knowledge and engagement in Aotearoa NZ contexts【6:New Zealand Curriculum.html†New Zealand Curriculum】【17:Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf†Te Mataiaho】.