Ngā Whāinga Ako

Whakamārama (Overview)

This 50-minute lesson for Year 3 and 4 students focuses on learning key Te Reo Māori phrases and vocabulary to develop confidence in speaking and listening skills aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh. It introduces Māori language in a culturally meaningful way, encouraging engagement through speaking, listening, group interaction, and reflection. The lesson uses WALT (We Are Learning To) to clarify learning intentions, and students will be assessed informally through observation, questioning, and reflective activities.

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Learning Intentions (WALT)

• We are learning to understand and confidently use key Te Reo Māori phrases and vocabulary relevant to our daily lives and the classroom.
• We are learning to develop confidence in speaking and listening in Te Reo Māori through interactive and group activities.
• We are learning to engage with Māori culture by using Te Reo Māori in meaningful contexts and reflecting on these cultural connections.

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Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, students can:

• Pronounce and use the target Te Reo Māori vocabulary confidently in conversations.
• Participate actively in speaking and listening exercises using Te Reo Māori phrases.
• Show understanding by applying learnt phrases in simple, everyday contexts.
• Reflect on their learning and link language use to Māori culture.

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Curriculum Alignment

Learning Areas and Strands:

• Languages Learning Area (New Zealand Curriculum Refresh)
• Oral Language: Increasing confidence in speaking and listening (Year 3-4)
• Cultural knowledge and understanding through language learning contexts.

Key Competencies:

• Relating to others: Use of respectful greetings and conversations in Te Reo Māori.
• Using language, symbols, and texts: Developing oral language skills with vocabulary and phrases.
• Participating and contributing: Collaborative group activities.

Achievement Objectives:

• Students learn to use vocabulary and simple phrases (e.g., greetings, classroom language, basic questions).
• Develop listening skills through waiata (songs) and oral instructions.
• Communicate in Te Reo Māori with correct pronunciation and intonation.
• Experience and respect Māori culture through language.

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Lesson Outline (50 minutes)

Resources Needed:

• Visual aids: Flashcards with key vocabulary and phrases (with Māori and English)
• Audio: Waiata (simple Māori songs for Year 3-4)
• Printed materials: Basic phrase list handouts/picture cards
• Whiteboard or chart paper for writing words and phrases
• Drawing paper and crayons/colours for reflection activity

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1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Begin with a mihi (greeting) in Te Reo Māori.
• Explain WALT and success criteria in simple terms.
• Activate prior knowledge: Ask if anyone knows greetings/words in Māori.
• Introduce the theme of the day's lesson: "Ngā kupu me ngā rerenga kōrero – key words and phrases we can use every day."

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2. Vocabulary and Phrases Introduction (10 minutes)

• Introduce 6-8 key phrases/vocabulary (e.g., kia ora, tēnā koe, kei te pēhea koe? (How are you?), āe, kāore, haere rā)
• Use flashcards with visual cues and say each phrase clearly. Have students repeat chorally and individually.
• Include common classroom commands or polite phrases relevant to their routines.
• Teach pronunciation with emphasis on vowel sounds and syllable stress.
• Use simple definitions and give examples in English.

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3. Listening and Speaking Activities (15 minutes)

• Activity 1: Waiata

• Play a simple waiata that includes some of the key phrases.

• Sing along as a class, encouraging correct pronunciation and enthusiasm.

• Activity 2: Role Play in Pairs

• In pairs, students practise greetings and simple exchanges using introduced phrases.

• Provide sentence stems on cards to support conversation formation, e.g.:

• Kia ora! Tēnā koe!

• Kei te pēhea koe?

• Kei te pai, mōrena!

• Monitor and provide positive feedback on pronunciation and fluency.

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4. Group Activity: Phrases in Context (10 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups of 4-5.
• Provide each group with a scenario card (e.g., meeting new friends, at the playground, in the classroom).
• Students create a short dialogue using the phrases and act it out.
• Other groups listen and provide supportive feedback based on the success criteria (encourage positive reinforcement).
• Teacher facilitates, prompts, and models as needed.

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5. Reflection and Cultural Connection (5 minutes)

• Whole class discussion: Talk about the importance of Te Reo Māori for identity and culture.
• Students draw a picture showing themselves using a new phrase or greeting someone in Te Reo Māori.
• Ask some students to share their drawing and say the Te Reo Māori phrase.
• Recap the WALT and success criteria. Praise students for their efforts and progress.

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6. Informal Assessment (throughout)

• Observe student participation, pronunciation, and correct use of vocabulary during activities.
• Use informal questioning during role plays and group discussions.
• Check understanding through the reflective drawings and shared explanations.

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Additional Teaching Considerations

• Use positive reinforcement and encourage all attempts at speaking Te Reo Māori.
• Scaffold tasks for students with additional needs using visuals, repeated modelling, and one-on-one support.
• Incorporate whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships) by encouraging respectful communication.
• Link to New Zealand Curriculum aspirations of fostering identity, language, and culture.

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This lesson plan draws on the New Zealand Curriculum's Directions for Languages learning—focusing on oral language development and cultural engagement for Year 3-4 students—as well as teaching strategies that develop confidence through repetition, modelling, and group collaboration to deepen language learning in meaningful contexts.