Starry Whānau Sky

Lesson 2 of 6 in the Unit: Matariki: Stars and Stories

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📘 Curriculum Details

Curriculum Document: Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
Learning Area: Te Reo Māori
Level: Tau 1–2 (Year 2)
Strand: Reo Ā-Waha me te Pānui – Oral Language and Reading
Achievement Objective: Ka taea e te ākonga te tautohu i ngā tūmahi, ngā ingoa, me ngā āhuatanga o te ao Māori e pā ana ki ngā whetū o Matariki. (Students will be able to identify names, actions and qualities related to the Māori worldview of the Matariki stars.)

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🥝 Learning Intentions

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

• Recognise and name the seven principal stars of Matariki in Te Reo Māori.
• Understand the basic meaning or role of each star.
• Create their own artistic star chart showing the Matariki stars and their names.

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✔️ Success Criteria

Students can:

• Say the names of the Matariki stars and pair them with their role (e.g., Tupuānuku – food grown in the ground).
• Construct a labelled star chart with at least 5 out of 7 stars correctly placed and identified.
• Share one star and its meaning with a classmate during the sharing circle.

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🕰️ Time & Structure

Total Time: 30 minutes
Class Size: 20 students

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🔧 Resources Needed

• Black A3 card for each student (starry night background)
• Gold/silver star stickers or cut-outs (x7 per student)
• Glue sticks, scissors
• Coloured pencils
• Name label sheet with the seven Matariki star names and meanings in simple Te Reo Māori
• Magnetic star visuals/puppets for modelling on whiteboard
• Soft pūoro Māori (instrumental music) for background
• A battery-operated lantern or light to set the scene (optional, for immersion)

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🪐 Key Vocabulary (Te Reo Māori)

Whetū (Star)	Meaning (Interpretation)
Matariki	Whaea – the mother, well-being and gathering
Tupuānuku	Kai i te whenua – food from the earth
Tupuārangi	Kai i te rangi – food from the sky
Waitī	Wai māori – fresh water
Waitā	Moana – salt water
Waipunarangi	Ua – rain
Ururangi	Hau – wind

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✨ Lesson Sequence

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🎵 1. Karakia + Scene-Setting (5 mins)

• Begin with a short karakia to open the space for learning.
• Dim the lights or gather on the mat under the glow of a lantern. Play soft pūoro Māori to create the feel of Matariki rising in the early morning sky.
• Prompt ākonga with a brief mihi:
  “I tēnei wā, ka ako tātou mō ngā whetū o Matariki – ko ngā whetū ātaahua kei te rangi!”
• Recap briefly from Lesson 1 — what is Matariki? (star cluster signifying Māori New Year)

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🌌 2. Introduction to the Stars (8 mins)

• Using magnetic star visuals or hand puppets, introduce each of the seven main Matariki stars using a sing-song rhythm (link to oral language development).
• As each star appears, say the name with the class, e.g.:
  “Ko Tupuānuku, mō te kai o te whenua.”
• Gesture or use body movements to represent meaning (pat tummy for food, flutter hands for rain).
• Repeat twice with the group like a karakia or waiata.

🧠 Teacher’s Tip: Add a "whānau" movement for each star as students recite the name – e.g., arms wide for Ururangi (wind).

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🎨 3. Create a Matariki Star Chart (12 mins)

• Hand out A3 black card (night sky) to students.
• Students place 7 stars (stickers or cut-outs) in a cluster, loosely styled like traditional Matariki formations.
• Support students to label each star using the pre-printed name/meaning sheets (can paste or copy words).
• As they work, circulate and ask:
  • “E mohio ana koe, ko wai tēnei whetū?”
  • “He aha te mahi a Tupuārangi?”

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🗣️ 4. Sharing Circle (3 mins)

• Gather students in a circle with their star charts.
• Prompt a sharing pair-up:
  “Whakaatu atu tō whetū pai ki tō hoa, ā, kōrero mōna.”
  (Show your favourite star to your partner and talk about it!)
• Invite 1–2 brave ākonga to share with the whole class.

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🔄 5. Whakarāpopoto/Wrap-Up (2 mins)

• Hold up the star visuals again. As a group, call out the names, going faster each time.
• Close with a simple whakatauki:

  “Matariki tāpuapua – Matariki of many blessings.”

• Reflect: "He aha tō whetū pai? Why might that one be special to you?"

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📌 Differentiation & Extensions

Support:

• Pair with tuakana (older student) for oral practice
• Use visual cue cards with image+word

Extension:

• Link one star to whānau activities (e.g., Waitā = I go fishing with my koro)
• Begin writing one sentence/short kupu underneath their favourite star

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💡 Teacher Reflection Questions (Post-lesson)

• Did students engage more with visual or oral cues for learning the star names?
• Which students used complete sentences confidently in Te Reo?
• How did the atmosphere (music, lighting) support cultural engagement?

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📚 Looking Ahead

Next Lesson (3/6): Matariki and Whānau — Students will explore how each Matariki star connects to everyday whānau activities, linking celestial navigation to family and tradition.

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Mauri tū, mauri ora ✨