Ngā Whetū o Matariki

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Curriculum Links

Curriculum Area: Learning Languages
Language: Te Reo Māori
Curriculum Level: Level 4 — Aotearoa New Zealand Curriculum
Year Level: Year 9
Duration: 30 minutes
Number of Students: 25
Context: Matariki — Ngā Whetū (The Stars)

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Big Idea

Students will explore one star in the Matariki cluster and understand how it connects to te ao Māori, incorporating te reo Māori to describe its role and significance.

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Significant Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, students should be able to:

• Identify the name of one star in the Matariki constellation.
• Explain its meaning and role in te ao Māori traditions.
• Use targeted Te Reo Māori vocabulary and sentence structures to communicate this understanding.
• Collaborate and work in groups to complete a focused task within a time limit.

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Te Whāinga Ako (Learning Intentions)

• Ka ako au ki te kōrero mō tētahi whetū o Matariki.
• Ka whakamahi au i te reo Māori hei whakamārama i tōna tikanga.

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Ngā Uara (Values)

• Ako (Learning)
• Whanaungatanga (Relationships)
• Manaakitanga (Respect and Care)

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Rauemi (Resources)

• Paper stars printed with star names: Matariki, Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-rangi, Ururangi, Pōhutukawa, Hiwa-i-te-rangi
• Whiteboards and markers (per group)
• Matariki research handout (includes sentence frames in te reo Māori)
• Access to school library books or printouts with information
• Timer
• Visual display of the Matariki cluster on the board

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Te Hōtaka Ako (Learning Sequence)

🕐 0–5 mins — Karakia & Whakataki (Warm-Up)

• Open with a short karakia timatanga.
• Brief overview of Matariki as a whetū cluster with 9 stars.
• Pose a thinking question:

  “He aha te whetū e pai ana ki a koe? Me pēhea koe e whiriwhiri ai?”
  (Which star do you like? How would you choose?)

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🕐 5–10 mins — Star Selection & Group Assignments

• Break the class into 9 groups of 2–3 students.
• Give each group one paper star with their assigned whetū (from the Matariki cluster).
• Introduce the guiding questions (in bilingual format):

🔍 Ngā Pātai Rangahau (Research Questions):

1. Ko wai te ingoa o tō whetū? (What is the name of your star?)
2. He aha te tikanga o tō whetū i te ao Māori? (What is the significance of your star in te ao Māori?)
3. He pēhea te pānga o tō whetū ki ngā taiao pēnei i te huarere, te kai, te moana rānei? (How is your star connected to the environment e.g. weather, food, the ocean?)
4. He kupu e toru ka taea e koe te whakamahi hei whakamārama? (Can you find 3 words in te reo Māori to help describe your star?)
5. He rerenga kōrero ka taea e koutou te waihanga? (Can you create one descriptive sentence about your star in te reo Māori?)

Distribute the research handouts with vocabulary supports and sentence templates.

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🕐 10–20 mins — Group Activity: Quickfire Kōrero

• Students research their assigned star using printouts or resource sheets.
• Encourage use of Māori-first language patterns with supports:
  • “Ko [Ingoa] tō mātou whetū.”
  • “E pā ana ki te [kai / rangi / ngahere / moana / wairua].”
  • “He whetū [manawaroa / pai ki te āwhina / mō te oranga].”
• Prepare a whiteboard write-up of their key findings using these sentence patterns.

💡 Extension Task (for fast finishers): Illustrate your star and include the surrounding environment it influences.

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🕐 20–27 mins — Whakaaturanga Tere (Lightning Presentations)

• Each group presents their answer to two pātai in 1 minute:

  e.g. "Ko Ururangi tō mātou whetū. He whetū mō te hau. He mea nui tēnei mō te huarere."

• Encourage clear pronunciation, using appropriate reo and gestures.

• Teacher or peer feedback: one thing they loved, one thing to work on.

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🕐 27–30 mins — Whakakapi & Whakaaroaro (Wrap-Up & Reflection)

• Brief reflection using a thumbs-up scale:

  "E pēhea ana tō ako i te reo Māori i tēnei rā?"

  • 👍 = I learned a lot
  • 👌 = I learned a little
  • 👎 = I need more help
• Teacher summarises key vocabulary learned today.
• Karakia whakamutunga

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Hei Mahi Kainga (Optional Extension)

Ask ākonga to complete this sentence as part of homework:

“Ko te whetū e pai ana ki ahau, ko … nā te mea …”
They may also draw or write more about their personal favourite whetū.

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Success Criteria

Students can:
✅ Identify and pronounce their Matariki star correctly in te reo Māori
✅ Identify a primary meaning or association
✅ Use at least two Māori sentence structures from the handout

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Wow Factor 🌟

🎨 Integration of visual aids, movement, and whanaungatanga-based group work appeals to kinaesthetic and social learners.
🗣 Te reo Māori is prioritised through structured support, but language risk-taking is encouraged.
📚 Relevance to Matariki strengthens cultural identity and understanding of seasonal change in Aotearoa.

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Next Steps

In future sessions, develop this activity into a mini oral presentation, karakia composition, or creative writing piece inspired by their chosen whetū.

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He whetū koe! Ka rawe tō whakapau kaha i te ako i te reo Māori. 🌌