Māori Life Intro

Overview

This is Lesson 1 of 5 in the unit Life Before Colonisation aimed at Year 6 students in New Zealand. The goal is to introduce students to the daily life of Māori before European settlement, highlighting social structures, values, and the deep connection to the land.

This lesson plan is carefully aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for Years 4-6, particularly the Social Sciences learning area, and develops key competencies expected at this stage.

---

Duration

45 minutes

Class size: 25 students

---

Learning Objectives

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

• Describe key aspects of Māori daily life before colonisation, including social structures (whānau, hapū, iwi), and values such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality).
• Explain the importance of connection to the land and natural resources in Māori society before European settlement.
• Develop their ability to think critically about how culture shapes community life and identity.

Curriculum Links

Social Sciences (Understanding the World):

• Understand how people’s lives have shaped and been shaped by social and environmental factors (Level 3, Years 5-6)
• Understand how cultural practices reflect and express people’s customs, traditions, and values

Key Competencies (as per NZ Curriculum):

• Thinking: Use critical and creative thinking to understand Māori social life and values.
• Relating to others: Engage respectfully with ideas about Māori social structures and community values.
• Using language, symbols and texts: Comprehend and communicate ideas orally and visually about Māori life.
• Managing self: Demonstrate curiosity and motivation to learn about Māori culture.
• Participating and contributing: Contribute ideas during group discussions and class activities.

---

Resources Needed

• Visual aids/posters showing whānau, hapū, iwi structures
• Images of Māori traditional daily activities (fishing, weaving, gardening, weaving flax, carving)
• Large printed or digital map of Aotearoa highlighting key areas Māori lived and their relationship with the land
• Short story or pūrākau about tāngata whenua (people of the land)
• Chart paper and markers for group ideas
• Student notebooks or worksheets for reflections

---

Lesson Breakdown

1. Set the Scene & Engage (10 minutes)

• Welcome and Context (3 minutes): Briefly explain this is the first lesson exploring Māori life before European settlement — what life was like, how people lived, and what was important to them.
• Warm-up Discussion (7 minutes): Ask students what they already know about Māori life long ago. Prompt with questions like:
  • Who do you think lived in New Zealand before Europeans?
  • What kinds of things do you think Māori people did every day?
• Introduce key vocabulary: Whānau, hapū, iwi, kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, whenua.

2. Explore Māori Social Structure (10 minutes)

• Use visual aids to explain the social hierarchy of whānau (family), hapū (sub-tribe), and iwi (tribe). Show how people belonged to these groups and how they worked together.
• Students do a quick matching activity: matching terms to descriptions (e.g. 'Whānau' = family group).
• Highlight how these groups supported each other and shared resources.

3. Values and Connection to the Land (10 minutes)

• Storytime: Share a short pūrākau or oral story illustrating Māori values and their relationship with the land (e.g., a story about kaitiakitanga – protecting the environment).
• Discuss key points from the story in pairs or groups: How did Māori respect the land? Why was it important?
• Use the map to show the importance of whenua (land) and how Māori lived in harmony with nature.

4. Interactive Group Activity – Daily Life Role-Play (10 minutes)

• Divide the class into small groups, each group imagines and role-plays a day in the life of a Māori whānau before colonisation, incorporating the social groups and values discussed.
• Each group can choose one activity to act out (e.g., fishing, weaving, cooking, protecting the forest).
• Groups share their scenarios briefly with the class.

5. Wrap-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Class discussion: What have we learned about Māori life before Europeans came?
• Students write a quick reflection or draw a picture showing one thing they found interesting about Māori social or daily life.
• Recap vocabulary and key concepts.

---

Assessment for Learning

• Formative:

  • Participation and contributions during discussions and group role-play.
  • Responses in matching activity assessing understanding of Māori social structure words.
  • Student reflections/drawings reviewed for insight into their understanding.

• Teacher observations: Check for engagement, respectful listening, and accurate use of key concepts.

---

Extensions / Differentiation

• For advanced students: Encourage deeper thinking by asking why certain values like manaakitanga are still important today.
• For students needing support: Provide additional visual cues, one-on-one explanations, or scaffolded sentence starters for reflections.

---

Links to New Zealand Curriculum Resources

• Social Sciences learning area: "Understand how people’s lives have been shaped by social and environmental factors" (Level 3, years 5-6)
• Key Competencies underpin learning and action during this lesson, especially Thinking and Relating to Others
• Embeds Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles by acknowledging bicultural foundations and ensuring Māori perspectives are valued
• Supports development of confident, connected, actively involved, and lifelong learners as promoted by the NZ Curriculum vision

---

This lesson is purposefully designed to engage Year 6 students with the foundational understandings of Māori life before colonial influences, building respect and curiosity for the tangata whenua and the land that remains at the heart of New Zealand identity.