Ngā Kete Kōrero

Overview

Lesson 1 of 1 in Exploring Te Reo Māori. Students read a short, age-appropriate story from the Ngā Kete Kōrero series (KKa–KKi), identify kupu hou and hanga reo, discuss the main ideas and details, then retell the story using their own words.

Learning intentions

• WALT understand the main idea and key details in a short Māori text.
• WALT identify and discuss kupu hou and hanga reo.
• WALT use reading strategies such as predicting, rereading and connecting ideas.
• WALT retell a story clearly using some new words.

Success criteria

• I can say what the story is mainly about.
• I can identify important details and explain what happened.
• I can explain the meaning of some kupu hou.
• I can retell the story in the correct order and use new words in sentences.

Curriculum links

• Listening, speaking, reading and viewing: responding to and discussing meaningful texts in te reo Māori.
• Reading for meaning: identifying the main idea, details, sequence and connections in a text.
• Language knowledge: noticing and using new vocabulary and familiar sentence patterns.
• Cultural knowledge and communication: sharing ideas respectfully and building meaning with others.

Lesson structure (45 minutes)

1. 0–5 minutes – Whakatau and hook

Welcome the class in te reo Māori: “Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko te kaupapa o tēnei rā, ko te pānui me te whakahoki kōrero.” Show the story cover or opening image in the introduction and prediction slides. Ask: “Ki ō koutou whakaaro, he aha tēnei kōrero?” and “He aha pea ka tupu?” Accept predictions in Māori, English or a mixture, and explain that students will check their predictions while reading.

2. 5–10 minutes – Introduce the learning

Share the learning intention and success criteria using the learning intention and success criteria slides. Briefly explain that the class will look for the kaupapa matua (main idea), ngā taipitopito (key details), kupu hou and hanga reo. Teach or revise the reading prompts: “He aha te mea nui?”, “Ko wai?”, “Kei hea?”, “He aha i tupu ai?”

3. 10–18 minutes – Teacher modelling and first read

Read the selected Ngā Kete Kōrero text aloud while students follow their own copy. Pause at one or two useful sentences to model thinking aloud: “Kua kite au i tēnei kupu hou. Ka tirohia e au ngā kupu kei mua, kei muri hoki hei kimi i te tikanga.” Point out two or three examples of sentence structure, such as a sentence beginning with Kei te…, I… or Ka…, as appropriate to the text. Students quietly signal a word or sentence they want to discuss.

4. 18–28 minutes – Collaborative comprehension

Place students in six groups of three. Give each group the Ngā Kete Kōrero reading response worksheet. Students work together to record the main idea, important characters or setting, three key details and the order of events. They circle or highlight kupu hou and copy one useful sentence pattern from the text. Use the group discussion and comprehension prompt slides to display the questions. Circulate, ask questions in te reo Māori and listen for evidence of understanding.

5. 28–35 minutes – Kupu hou and hanga reo practice

Each group chooses two kupu hou from the text. Students discuss possible meanings using the words and pictures around them, then check with the teacher or text. They orally create a simple sentence for each word, using the model “Kei te ___” or another pattern from the story. Invite several groups to share; the class repeats the sentences, focusing on meaning rather than perfect pronunciation.

6. 35–42 minutes – Retelling activity

Students retell the story to a partner, using the worksheet notes as prompts. Encourage them to use sequencing words such as tuatahi, kātahi, ā muri iho and i te mutunga. Partner A retells while Partner B listens for the main idea, three details and at least one kupu hou, then they swap. Use the retelling prompts and sequence visual to support oral language.

7. 42–45 minutes – Whakakapi and reflection

Invite two or three students to share a brief retelling. Ask: “He aha te kaupapa matua o te kōrero?” and “He aha tētahi kupu hou kua ako koe?” Students finish with the Success Criteria Exit Ticket Slips, indicating which criteria they met and writing or drawing one new word. Close with “Ka pai tō koutou mahi pānui. Ka kite anō.”

Resources

• One selected Ngā Kete Kōrero text from the KKa–KKi range, with one copy per student or pair.
• the complete lesson slide deck covering the hook, learning intentions, reading prompts, group task, retelling and plenary.
• the Ngā Kete Kōrero reading response worksheet.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Pencils, highlighters or coloured pencils.
• Exit slips from the Success Criteria Exit Ticket Slips.
• Optional bilingual word bank prepared by the teacher from the selected text.

Assessment

• Observe group discussions and note whether students identify the main idea, relevant details, kupu hou and a sentence pattern.
• Listen to partner retellings. Check that students sequence the main events and use at least one new word meaningfully.
• Review the worksheet and exit slip for evidence of comprehension, vocabulary understanding and progress towards the success criteria.

Differentiation

• Support readers with a teacher-led group, a picture-supported word bank, rereading in short sections and oral rehearsal before writing.
• Allow students to draw the sequence of events or give an oral response instead of writing full sentences. Pair developing speakers with a supportive peer and provide sentence starters such as “Ko te kaupapa matua…” and “Tuatahi…”.
• For EAL and students needing additional support, clarify instructions with gesture, visuals and brief English explanations while maintaining key te reo Māori phrases.
• Extend confident students by asking them to explain why an event happened, identify an additional hanga reo pattern, or retell the story using four or more kupu hou.