Story Circles Sharing

Context

• Unit: Māori Connections on Kapiti (Lesson 14 of 15)
• Year Levels: 0-8 (ages approx. 5-13)
• Class Size: 55 students
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Curriculum: Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Māori-medium curriculum framework)

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Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Engage confidently and respectfully in story circles to share personal reflections and learning from the unit.
• Demonstrate their understanding of significant Māori histories and narratives relating to Kapiti by recounting favourite stories or learnings.
• Build communication skills aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, including oral language proficiency, listening skills, and the ability to connect personal experiences with collective knowledge.
• Show respect for others’ perspectives and develop empathy through listening.
• Use narrative structures reflective of Māori traditions, supporting cultural identity and language development.
• Strengthen key competencies such as kete mātauranga (knowledge basket), whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships), and kōrero (communication) in a culturally responsive environment.

Aligned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa references:

• English Learning Area UKD (Understand-Know-Do): Emphasis on oral language and storytelling, presenting narratives with structure and expression, and responding to diverse viewpoints.
• Social Sciences: Connecting with tangata whenua, local histories, and community narratives.
• Curriculum Principles: Emphasise local tikanga Māori, te reo Māori, equitable outcomes, and relationships with tangata whenua and local environment.
• Practices focus on active sharing (kōrero), listening (whakarongo), and critical reflection (whakaaro) .

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Key Competencies Developed

• Kōrero (communication)
• Whanaungatanga (relationships)
• Kete Mātauranga (knowledge acquisition and sharing)
• Manaakitanga (respect and care for others)
• Pūkenga Wānanga (thinking skills)

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Lesson Outline (45 mins)

1. Introduction & Setting the Stage (5 mins)

• Whakatau (welcome) and mihi whakatau to affirm identity and establish a respectful, safe environment for sharing.
• Briefly review the key learning from the unit “Māori Connections on Kapiti” by showing a visual or a large shared story map summarising key stories learned.
• Explain the purpose of story circles: to share favourite stories or learnings and listen respectfully to others.
• Set up clear tikanga (protocols) for story circles (e.g., one speaker at a time, use kōwhaiwhai or other signals for turn-taking, maintain listening ears and eyes).

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2. Story Circles Sharing – Group Activity (30 mins)

• Group Formation:

  • Divide the class into storytelling circles of 5-6 students for manageability (approx. 9-11 groups).
  • Use mixed-age grouping to encourage peer learning and scaffolding.

• Sharing Phase:

  • Each student takes a turn to share their favourite story or a key learning from the Māori Connections on Kapiti unit.
  • Encourage students to:
    • Use narrative elements: who, what, where, when, and why.
    • Speak clearly, with expression and respect (supported by models from previous lessons).
    • Connect personal experiences or feelings to the stories shared.

• Listening Phase:

  • Other students listen attentively and may respond with a question or a whakataukī (proverb) related to the story, supporting deeper thought and kaupapa Māori values.
  • Teachers facilitate by supporting quieter students and ensuring inclusion and respect.

• Teacher Role:

  • Circulate among groups, observe, provide guidance, and scaffold oral skills.
  • Use waiata or simple Māori chants when transitioning groups or calming the room.

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3. Class Reflection & Sharing Highlights (8 mins)

• Regather as a whole class.
• Invite 3–4 volunteers (representing different groups and ages) to share their stories or something they learnt from listening to peers.
• Teacher re-emphasises the key messages from these shared reflections linking back to the Māori worldview and connection to Kapiti whenua.
• Use a visual artefact or mural created during the unit as a focal point.

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4. Closing & Next Steps (2 mins)

• Whakamutunga (farewell) karakia or whakataukī that strengthens the values of sharing knowledge and listening.
• Preview that the next lesson will bring together learnings for a final project or celebration.
• Encourage students to share with their whānau their favourite story from the unit.

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Resources

• Visual story maps or mural from prior lessons.
• Small group seating arrangements for circles.
• Storytelling prompt cards (with questions, Māori words/phrases related to Kapiti stories).
• Signal objects or symbols to indicate speaking turns (e.g., talking stick).
• Audio recorder or video option for groups to record stories (optional for follow-up reflection).

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative observation of participation, oral language use, and respectful listening skills during story circles.
• Anecdotal notes on students' ability to express narrative elements and cultural understanding.
• Peer feedback within story circles on story clarity and engagement.
• Teacher reflection on effective tikanga and cultural responsiveness.

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Differentiation & Support

• Provide extra scaffolding for younger students or learners with lower oral language confidence by modelling sentence stems such as:
  • "Ko taku kōrero e pā ana ki..." (My story is about...)
• Use visual supports for sequencing stories (e.g., icons for start, middle, end).
• Encourage use of te reo Māori keywords related to Kapiti stories to support language development.
• Allow use of props or drawing for students who prefer non-verbal expression alongside oral storytelling.

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Whakawhitiwhiti (Teacher Reflection Prompts)

• How did my learners demonstrate respect for diverse viewpoints?
• Was the story circle process effective in promoting oral language confidence?
• What cultural values were most evident in students’ storytelling and listening behaviours?
• How can I further support storytelling development in next lessons?

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This lesson plan adheres closely to the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa framework by centring Māori language, tikanga, and holistic development through rich oral language experiences and social interaction, within the context of local history and identity .