Māori Festivals Fun

Overview

In this 30-minute lesson, Year 0-1 students will explore key Māori festivals, deepening their understanding of Māori culture and vocabulary within te reo Māori. This final lesson in the "Exploring Te Reo Māori" unit invites students to create a simple presentation about a chosen festival using familiar words and cultural elements, fostering confidence in oral language and presentation skills.

Curriculum Links

This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Te Mātaiaho) Phase 1 (Years 0–3) with a focus on oral language, cultural identity, and communication:

• Learning Area: Te reo Māori (within English language learning contexts at this level)
• Phase: Foundation (Years 0–1)
• Key Competencies:
  • Communication – expressing ideas clearly and listening actively
  • Manaakitanga – caring for others, showing respect for Māori values
• English Progress Outcome Focus:
  • Presenting to others: preparing and independently reciting short oral presentations using visual or written scaffolds
  • Interpersonal communication: beginning to use body language, facial expressions, and gestures to support meaning
• Cultural Understanding:
  • Recognise and use Māori vocabulary relating to familiar cultural festivals and events
  • Explore language as a pathway to understanding identity and culture .

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Identify two key Māori festivals (e.g., Matariki and Waitangi Day).
• Use simple te reo Māori vocabulary related to these festivals.
• Share a short oral presentation about their chosen festival using visuals and familiar vocabulary.
• Demonstrate understanding of the cultural significance of Māori festivals.

Resources

• Picture cards or posters depicting Matariki, Waitangi Day, and other key festivals
• Visual vocabulary cards (e.g., waka, stars, whānau, hakari - feast)
• Simple sentence stems on display (e.g., Ko tēnei te... [This is the...], Ka whakanui mātou i te... [We celebrate the...])
• An iPad or tablet with simple presentation app (e.g., Book Creator or a slideshow app) for group presentation
• Puppets or props for role-play

Lesson Structure

1. Welcome & Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet: Begin with a warm pōwhiri style greeting using simple te reo phrases.
• Activate prior knowledge: Use picture cards of Māori festivals and ask, “Kei te mōhio koe ki ēnei rā whakahirahira?” (Do you know these special days?). Point to Matariki and Waitangi Day.
• Introduce the lesson goal: Explain that today, we will learn about festivals and share what we find out with our friends.

2. Exploring Māori Festivals (8 minutes)

• Show and tell: Briefly explain the significance of Matariki (the Māori New Year, stars, new beginnings) and Waitangi Day (treaty signing, being together). Use lots of gestures, images, and simple vocabulary in te reo Māori.
• Vocabulary focus: Introduce key words like whānau (family), hakari (feast), waka (canoe), whetu (star). Use visuals and encourage choral repetition, reinforcing pronunciation and meaning.

3. Creating Presentations (12 minutes)

• Group work: Divide students into small groups of 3. Each group chooses one festival to focus on.
• Use prompts: Provide templates or sentence stems and visuals for students to arrange and practise presenting with guidance:
  • "Ko tēnei te Matariki." (This is Matariki.)
  • "Ka whakanui mātou i te whānau." (We celebrate family.)
• Practice presentation: Students rehearse saying their simple lines together or in pairs, supported by visuals and teacher prompts.
• Digital option (if available): Help students create a very simple group digital story/slideshow with images and recorded voice, supported by you.

4. Sharing & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Present: Each group shares their presentation with the class. Scaffold and encourage applause and whakawhanaungatanga (positive social interaction).
• Reflection: Ask “He aha te mea nui i ō mātou rā whakahirahira?” (What is important in our special days?) Briefly reinforce ideas of family, coming together, and new beginnings.

5. Closing Waiata & Karakia (optional; 1-2 minutes)

• Sing a simple waiata related to Matariki or Māori culture to close the lesson on a positive, memorable note.

---

Assessment Opportunities

• Teacher observation of oral participation and willingness to use te reo Māori vocabulary during presentation.
• Teacher note of students’ ability to follow sentence stems and sequencing for their group presentation.
• Use of visuals and non-verbal cues to reinforce understanding for diverse learners.

---

Teacher Notes & Tips

• Scaffolding: Use intentional repetitions, gestures, and modelling throughout the lesson, to support emergent bilinguals and diverse learners.
• Cultural integrity: Frame Māori festivals respectfully, emphasizing their significance as taonga tuku iho (treasures passed down).
• Engagement: Incorporate props and role-play to keep young learners actively involved. Encourage curiosity and wonder about cultural traditions.
• Integration: Link vocabulary and ideas back to prior lessons in the "Exploring Te Reo Māori" unit to build continuity.

This lesson actively supports Phase 1 of NZC literacy and the growing oral language proficiency in te reo Māori through meaningful cultural engagement, communication, and creativity .