Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces Year 2 students in New Zealand to basic greetings and phrases in Te Reo Māori. It is the first session in the "Storytelling Adventures in Te Reo" unit. Through interactive and engaging activities, students will practise pronunciation and simple conversations, fostering confidence and respect for Te Reo Māori as per the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum.

---

Curriculum Links

Learning Areas

• Te Reo Māori
• English (oral language focus)
• Health and Physical Education (well-being through language and identity)

Achievement Objectives (New Zealand Curriculum Refresh)

• Communicating in Te Reo Māori: Use basic greetings and phrases to interact in familiar contexts.
• Key Competencies: Participate actively in conversations (relating to "Using Language, Symbols, and Texts" and "Managing Self").
• Cultural Understanding: Recognise and respect the role of Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand's culture and identity.

Specific Learning Outcomes for Year 2

• Use and understand simple Māori greetings and phrases.
• Participate in brief oral interactions using Te Reo Māori.
• Demonstrate respect for others by using appropriate Māori language and protocols.
• Show awareness of pronunciation and intonation in Māori greetings.

---

Lesson Objectives

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

1. Correctly use common greetings such as "Tēnā koe," "Kia ora," and "Haere rā."
2. Understand and respond to basic phrases including "Kei te pēhea koe?" and "Kei te pai."
3. Recognise the importance of pronunciation and cultural context in using Te Reo Māori.
4. Participate in short greetings and farewells with their classmates using Te Reo Māori.

---

Resources

• Visual chart/posters with Māori greetings and phrases.
• Audio recordings of greetings (native speaker pronunciation).
• Flashcards with phrases and corresponding images.
• Simple puppet or character toy for role-play.
• Space for circle time and pair activities.
• Name tags with Māori names or English equivalents (optional).

---

Lesson Structure (45 minutes)

1. Whakatau / Welcome and Karakia (5 minutes)

• Begin with a simple karakia (prayer/blessing) to set a respectful tone.
• Greet students in Māori using "Kia ora" and encourage them to respond.
• Briefly explain the importance of Te Reo Māori as a living language of Aotearoa.

2. Introduce Key Greetings and Phrases (10 minutes)

• Present 5 common greetings and phrases on a large poster:
• Kia ora (Hello/Thank you)
• Tēnā koe (Formal hello to one person)
• Haere rā (Goodbye to someone leaving)
• Kei te pēhea koe? (How are you?)
• Kei te pai (I am good/fine)
• Play audio recordings for accurate pronunciation.
• Engage students by having them repeat the phrases several times.

3. Interactive Role-Play (10 minutes)

• Using puppets or a character toy, model a simple greeting conversation:
• "Kia ora, [Name]. Kei te pēhea koe?"
• Response: "Kei te pai, ngā mihi."
• Invite pairs of students to practise the greeting exchanges.
• Teachers circulate to support pronunciation and encourage respectful tone.

4. Group Game: Greeting Circle (10 minutes)

• Arrange students in a circle.
• Each student greets their neighbour using a Māori greeting phrase.
• Responses and tone should be encouraged.
• Variation: Use different phrases or include farewells ("Haere rā").

5. Reflection and Whakarāpopototanga (Closing) (10 minutes)

• Gather students for a group discussion on what they learned.
• Ask questions such as:
• Why is it important to use greetings in Te Reo Māori?
• How did saying the words make you feel?
• Reinforce the mana (prestige) and mauri (life force) of Te Reo Māori.
• Recap the phrases learned.
• Optionally, close with a short karakia or waiata (song) relevant to greetings.

---

Differentiation and Support

• Use visual cues and gestures for learners who need additional support.
• Allow repetition and use scaffolded sentence stems for shy or emerging speakers.
• For learners with diverse needs, incorporate sign language alongside spoken greetings.
• Pair stronger speakers with those needing more support for peer learning.

---

Assessment

• Formative: Teacher observes students’ participation in role-play and circle greeting games noting correct usage and pronunciation.
• Oral Feedback: Provide gentle correction and positive reinforcement during activities.
• Self and Peer Assessment: Encourage students to recognise when they hear correct greetings and respond appropriately.

---

Teacher Notes and Tips

• Celebrate the attempt and progress, not perfection.
• Use positive language to build a classroom culture valuing Māori language and tikanga.
• Connect greetings to deeper cultural practices and identity to build meaning beyond words.
• Encourage families to reinforce greetings at home to support learning continuity.
• This lesson sets the foundation for exploring narratives and storytelling in following lessons.

---

End of Lesson 1

This plan closely follows the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh’s emphasis on respectful language use, cultural identity, oral language confidence, and the development of key competencies for Year 2 students engaging with Te Reo Māori in meaningful contexts.