Star of Winds

Overview

Unit: Matariki Writing Adventures
Lesson: 7 of 10
Level: NZ Curriculum — Level 1
Year Group: Year 2
Learning Area: English (Writing), Social Sciences (Māori Perspectives), The Arts
Duration: 45 minutes
Context: Exploring Ururangi — the Matariki star connected to the winds.

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Learning Intentions

Focus Area	Learning Intention
Writing (English)	Students will create a short poem exploring how the wind feels and moves.
Oral Language (English)	Students will share their ideas about the wind and listen to a story from Māori tradition.
Social Sciences (Tikanga Māori)	Students will understand the significance of Ururangi in the context of Matariki.
The Arts	Students will explore movement and sensation using wind-inspired play and kites.

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Success Criteria

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

• Describe how wind feels using sensory language.
• Write a simple, structured poem (2-4 lines) about wind.
• Understand the role of Ururangi in Matariki and retell one Māori pūrākau (story) related to wind.
• Engage in imaginative play using wind-themed activities.

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Resources

• Kites (paper or plastic, class set or small groups)
• Fan or hairdryer for wind simulation (supervised)
• Visuals & pūrākau book: “How Māui Slowed the Winds”
• Large sheets of paper, crayons or pastels (blue, white, grey shades)
• Wind word bank on display: “whirling”, “shivery”, “flutter”, “howl”, “gentle”, etc.
• Matariki Star Poster Set (focus on Ururangi today)

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New Zealand Curriculum Links

English – Level 1:

• Processes and strategies: Students will form and express ideas (writing simple poems using descriptive language).
• Purposes and audiences: Students will write about personal experiences and feelings.

Social Sciences – Level 1:

• Understand that people have different roles and view the world differently. (i.e., exploring Māori perspectives through pūrākau)

The Arts – Level 1 (Visual & Performing Arts):

• Explore ways to represent ideas using movement and object manipulation (kite play as exploration of abstract ideas like movement/wind).

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Lesson Breakdown (45 mins)

1. Karakia & Mihi (2 mins)

Begin with a simple karakia and class greeting to set the kaupapa for today's focus — Ururangi.

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2. Introduction to Ururangi (5 mins)

• Show students a poster of the Matariki cluster. Highlight Ururangi, the star that connects us to the wind.
• Say: “Ururangi is the star of the winds. Winds that blow gently, winds that come with storms, and winds that take our kites up to the sky."

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3. Story Time - Māori Pūrakau (6 mins)

Story: How Māui Slowed the Winds

• Read aloud with expressive voice and visuals.
• Pause for key questions:

  “How did the wind behave?”
  “Have you felt a strong wind before?”
  “Why do you think Māori noticed wind was important during Matariki?”

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4. Brainstorm & Sensory Language Exploration (6 mins)

Facilitate a class brainstorm:

• Ask: “What does the wind feel like on your face? What does it sound like?”
• Record responses on chart paper:
  • cold, ticklish, whistly, pushy, noisy, dancing, etc.
• Introduce a word bank chart to inspire their poetry later.

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5. Wind Poems (10 mins)

Writing Prompt: “Write a poem about the wind and how it feels.”

• Support structure for younger writers:
  • Line 1: The wind is…
  • Line 2: It makes me feel…
  • Line 3 (optional): It sounds like…
  • Line 4 (optional): It moves like…

🔹 Allow students to use creative spelling. Emphasise expression over perfection.
🔹 Rōpū (group) support and teacher-assisted writing for those who need guidance.

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6. Poetry Circle (5 mins)

In a class circle, invite volunteers to share their poems aloud.
Affirm expressive language and celebrate imagery:

“Wow, you said the wind sounds like a lion’s roar — I can hear that in my mind!”

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7. Provocation Play: Kites and Wind Dance (8 mins)

In small groups or stations:

• Station 1: Kites on the ground with a fan blowing. Explore how the wind moves them.
• Station 2: Free movement to wind music (gusty or breezy sound effects). Encourage children to “be the wind.”
• Station 3: Make a mini paper spin kite (guided craft if time permits or as an extended provocation next lesson).

Encourage tamariki to use their bodies and words:

"Are you a whispering breeze? Or a dancing gust?”

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8. Closing Circle & Reflection (3 mins)

Gather under the Matariki wall display.

Ask:

• “What did the wind feel like today in your poem?”
• “What did Ururangi teach us?”

Affirm connections between Māori knowledge and students’ personal observations.

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Differentiation & Support

Learner Type	Strategy
ELLs	Visual supports, gesture-rich storytelling, picture dictionaries
Neurodiverse	Multi-modal options: movement, oral recording of poems, sensory stations
Early writers	Scribe for students or allow drawing with dictated poem lines

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Assessment for Learning

• Anecdotal notes during poetry writing and sharing
• Review of students’ wind poems (focus on descriptive language)
• Observation during wind play activities to assess engagement and understanding of “wind” concept

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Teacher Reflection Prompt (Post-Lesson)

• Which students connected deeply with Ururangi today?
• How did integrating Māori perspectives enrich the writing?
• Were students able to translate sensory experience into poetic language?

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Kaiako whakatauki

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere. Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao.
"The bird that partakes of the miro berry owns the forest, the bird that partakes of knowledge owns the world."

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🪁 Next Lesson (8 of 10): Explore Waipunarangi — the star of rain, and create rain soundscape poems with rhythm and percussion.