Remembering Pōhutukawa

Overview

In this 60-minute English lesson, students explore Pōhutukawa, the Matariki star associated with remembering people who have passed away. Through discussion, shared reading and visual response, students practise interpreting ideas and visual language while responding respectfully. Students are never required to share a personal experience.

Learning intentions

• WALT understand that Pōhutukawa is one of the stars in the Matariki cluster.
• WALT understand that Pōhutukawa is connected with remembering those who have passed on.
• WALT interpret ideas from a story, image or symbol.
• WALT create a respectful memory symbol or sentence.

Success criteria

• I can identify Pōhutukawa in the Matariki star circle.
• I can explain, in my own words, what Pōhutukawa represents.
• I can make a respectful symbol, drawing or sentence about remembering.
• I can listen carefully and respect different feelings and choices.

Curriculum links

• English — reading and comprehending simple and extended simple sentences.
• English — recognising that a sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop or other end punctuation.
• English — interpreting ideas in written, oral and visual texts.
• Local curriculum — belonging, respect, relationships and culturally responsive learning.

The lesson develops the key competencies of thinking and relating to others. It supports the refreshed curriculum emphasis on meaningful contexts, oral language, comprehension, visual language and respectful participation.

Lesson structure (60 minutes)

1. 0–10 min · Welcome and introduce Pōhutukawa. Teacher gathers students in a circle, acknowledges that Matariki is a time for reflection and new beginnings, and opens the opening Matariki image and Pōhutukawa introduction. Show the uploaded nine-star circle and locate Pōhutukawa, explaining simply: “Pōhutukawa is the star we think about when we remember people who have passed on.” Students look, listen and repeat the name if they wish. Clarify that remembering can bring different feelings, and no one has to talk about someone they know.

2. 10–25 min · Shared discussion. Teacher displays the discussion prompts and respectful listening reminders and invites students to think, pair-share or respond non-verbally. Ask: “What does remember mean?” “What might help someone remember?” and “What could a symbol show?” Offer examples such as a flower, a colour, a place, a favourite activity or a kind word. Students may speak, point, draw in the air, use a gesture or pass. Model respectful responses: “Thank you for sharing,” “I hear you,” and “You may choose not to share.”

3. 25–40 min · Read and view. Teacher reads or revisits the relevant sections of the Matariki story, using the shared-reading text and visual details and the uploaded story. Pause to identify the sentence meaning and visual clues. Ask students to find or explain one idea showing that Pōhutukawa is about remembering. Briefly revisit how a sentence starts with a capital letter and finishes with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. Students track the text, join in with familiar phrases, identify a visual clue and orally complete: “Pōhutukawa helps us remember…”.

4. 40–55 min · Private memory or gratitude response. Teacher explains that students can choose one of three safe responses: draw a respectful memory symbol, draw something they are grateful for, or write a simple sentence such as “I remember kindness.” Distribute the private Pōhutukawa response sheet and provide paper and art materials. Students work quietly and privately; they do not need to show or explain their response. Encourage a capital letter and full stop for students who write. The teacher confers quietly, asking only, “Would you like help?” and accepts drawing, copying, dictated language or no written response.

5. 55–60 min · Quiet reflection and close. Teacher dims the lights or shows the quiet reflection and closing slide with a star image. Invite students to place a hand on their heart, look at the star image or sit quietly for a few breaths. Students may silently think of a person, place, value or community they wish to remember, or simply notice their breathing. Close by reaffirming that remembering can be private and that respectful listening helps everyone belong.

Resources

• the Matariki and Pōhutukawa teaching slides
• the private Pōhutukawa response sheet
• Uploaded nine-star Matariki circle
• Matariki story or short related text
• Images of stars, flowers or Pōhutukawa
• Paper, pencils, crayons and coloured pencils
• Optional battery candles or calm lighting
• Quiet space or sensory tools
• Teacher-selected adult support for students who need it

Assessment

• During discussion, listen for students identifying Pōhutukawa and explaining its connection with remembering, using words, gestures, pointing or drawing.
• During shared reading, check whether students can identify a relevant idea or visual clue and notice sentence boundaries.
• Privately review the response only with permission. Assess whether the student has created a respectful symbol, gratitude response or sentence; accept non-verbal responses and dictated language.

Differentiation

• Never require personal disclosure. Offer a fictional character, a community remembrance, a place, a value or gratitude as alternatives to remembering a family member.
• Provide the sentence frames “Pōhutukawa helps us remember ___” and “I am grateful for ___”, picture choices, oral rehearsal, scribing and the option to draw only.
• Support EAL learners with gestures, images, repeated language and home-language discussion where appropriate. Read the text aloud and reduce visual or written load for students with dyslexia, hearing, vision or processing needs.
• Offer a sensory break, a quiet workspace and access to a trusted adult. Check in discreetly with students who may be affected by the topic.

Extension

• Students who are ready write a gentle explanation: “Remembering can matter because ___.”
• Students may add a second sentence describing how their symbol shows remembering, using a capital letter and full stop.