Year 7 Literacy Lesson Plan: Ngāti Porou Iwi Stories

Overview

This 20-minute lesson is tailored for Year 7 students in New Zealand and focuses on the Literacy learning area of the New Zealand Curriculum. This class will aim to develop narrative skills and cultural understanding by encouraging students to explore and recount stories associated with their Ngāti Porou iwi.

Curriculum Link

• Subject Area: Literacy
• Strand: Speaking, Writing, and Presenting
• Level: Level 4 of The New Zealand Curriculum
• Key Competency: Using language, symbols, and texts
• Cultural Aspect: Incorporation of Te Ao Māori and understanding of Iwi heritage
• Specific Focus: Recounting narratives tied to the students’ heritage and Iwi, specifically Ngāti Porou

Learning Objectives:

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

1. Identify key elements of oral storytelling as practiced by Ngāti Porou.
2. Construct a brief oral narrative based on traditional Ngāti Porou stories.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the cultural significance of storytelling within Ngāti Porou.

Resources Needed:

• Story examples from Ngāti Porou (either written or video clips)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Pen and paper for each student
• Digital projector and speakers (if showing video clips)

Lesson Plan

Introduction (2 minutes)

• Greet the students and introduce the focus of the lesson: "Today, we are going to learn about telling stories, specifically stories from the Ngāti Porou iwi. Storytelling is an important part of preserving and sharing our heritage and culture. Let's use our time today to enjoy and learn from these special narratives."

Main Activity (13 minutes)

1. Storytelling Introduction (3 minutes):

   • Briefly explain the significance of storytelling in Māori culture, focusing on Ngāti Porou. Mention that storytelling is a way to preserve history, culture, lessons, and values.
   • Show a short clip or read a part of a Ngāti Porou story (ensure the resource is appropriate and accurately represents the Iwi's traditions).

2. Narrative Building (10 minutes):

   • Divide the students into small groups and assign each group a particular aspect of the Ngāti Porou story shown/read.
   • Each group discusses their segment and outlines a short oral presentation of their assigned part, focusing on key characters, settings, cultural values expressed, and lessons or morals.
   • Encourage creativity in presentation but emphasize the importance of staying true to the cultural content.

Presentation (4 minutes)

• Invite each group to present their part of the story in order, effectively reconstructing the entire narrative collaboratively in class.
• Provide immediate positive feedback and brief constructive comments to each group, emphasizing their narrative techniques and cultural expressions.

Conclusion (1 minute)

• Recap the stories told and reinforce the importance of storytelling in maintaining and learning about the culture of Ngāti Porou.
• Announce that in the next class, students will have the opportunity to research and present their family stories or another Iwi story.

Links to NZ Education Resources

• NZ Curriculum Online – Literacy
• Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga – Ministry of Education Guidelines on Teaching Iwi History

Assessment:

Assess students based on engagement in group discussions, ability to identify key story elements, coherence in storytelling, and respectfulness towards cultural materials.

This lesson plan integrates literacy skills with cultural awareness, encouraging young New Zealanders to value and engage with the stories of their own or other Iwi, thereby deepening their understanding of Te Ao Māori within a familiar educational framework.