Mātauranga Arts

Lesson Overview

Duration: 90 minutes
Class Size: 32 students
Year Group: 2-6
Main Focus: Performing Arts (Dance, Drama, Music)
Inspired by: Atua by Gavin Bishop
Curriculum Area: Arts (Level 1-2 for Years 2-3 and Level 3-4 for Years 4-6)

Learning Objectives

• Dance: Students will explore movement inspired by the stories of Māori gods.
• Drama: Students will use role-play and improvisation to embody the characteristics of Māori gods.
• Music: Students will create simple rhythmic patterns and sounds to accompany their performances.
• Cultural Knowledge: Students will gain a deeper understanding of Māori mythology and its relevance to New Zealand’s cultural heritage.

Materials Needed

• A copy of Atua by Gavin Bishop
• Music player and speakers
• Open space for movement
• Drums or other simple percussive instruments
• Coloured scarves or fabric
• Handouts with simplified stories of Māori gods

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Welcome and Karakia: Start with a traditional Māori welcome and prayer (karakia) to set the tone.
2. Introduction to Māori Gods: Briefly read an excerpt from Atua by Gavin Bishop, focusing on one or two gods to pique interest.
3. Learning Objective: Explain that students will explore the stories of Māori gods through dance, drama, and music today.

Warm-Up and Game (15 minutes)

1. Physical Warm-Up (5 minutes): Lead the students in a series of physical exercises to get their bodies moving. Include:

   • Stretching (arms, legs, back)
   • Jumping jacks
   • Rolling shoulders and neck

2. Warm-Up Game: Tangaroa’s Ocean (10 minutes)

   • Explain that Tangaroa is the god of the sea.
   • Play ocean sounds and ask students to move like different sea creatures (fish, dolphins, seaweed).
   • Pause the music and call out "Tangaroa!", to which students must freeze in their positions.

Main Activity (50 minutes)

Part 1: Dance Exploration (20 minutes)

1. Introduction to Tāne Mahuta: Briefly introduce Tāne Mahuta, the god of the forest.
2. Movement Exploration: Guide students to experiment with movements inspired by trees and forest animals:
   • Moving like tall trees swaying in the wind
   • Jumping like birds from branch to branch
3. Group Activity: Break the class into small groups and have each group create a short dance sequence inspired by Tāne Mahuta and forest life.

Part 2: Drama and Role-Play (15 minutes)

1. Tapu and Maui: Introduce the trickster god, Maui, and his adventures.
2. Role-Playing Activity:
   • Choose a story about Maui and assign roles to students (Maui, fish, his brothers).
   • Students act out the story while incorporating exaggerated movements and expressions to embody their characters.

Part 3: Music Integration (15 minutes)

1. Rhythmic Patterns: Introduce simple rhythmic patterns using drums or clapping. Relate these to natural sounds like thunder (Ranginui) or waves (Tangaroa).
2. Group Performance: Each group combines their dance sequences and dramatic skits with rhythmic patterns to create a cohesive performance.

Performance and Cool Down (15 minutes)

Performance (10 minutes)

1. Group Showcase: Allow each group to perform their combined dance, drama, and music creation for the class.
2. Encouragement: Offer positive and specific feedback to each group.

Cool Down (5 minutes)

1. Calming Exercise: Lead students in a series of slow movements and deep breathing exercises to cool down.
2. Reflection: Sit in a circle and discuss:
   • What they enjoyed
   • What they found challenging
   • What they learned about Māori gods and their significance

Assessment Criteria

• Participation: Engaging actively in all activities.
• Creativity: Demonstrating imaginative movement, role-play, and rhythm creation.
• Collaboration: Working effectively within groups to create a performance.
• Cultural Understanding: Showing an understanding of Māori mythology through their performances.

Conclusion

Conclude with another brief karakia to close the lesson, reinforcing the respect and significance of the cultural elements explored. Encourage students to think about how they can incorporate what they've learned into other areas of their lives and studies.

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This detailed lesson plan provides an engaging, physical, and creative approach to learning about Māori gods through performing arts, ensuring alignment with New Zealand’s educational standards and cultural values.