Tane Mahuta Stories

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Recognise the story of Tāne Mahuta and his birds (Tāne Mahuta me āna manu).
• Sing a waiata (song) about Tāne Mahuta.
• Explore nature-themed hands-on activities inspired by the story.
• Share our thoughts through a learning story.

Learning Objectives (Aligned with Te Whāriki)

• Wellbeing | Mana atua: Strengthen children's sense of identity through connections with Māori legends and the natural world.
• Contribution | Mana tangata: Encourage participation and cooperation through group waiata and storytelling.
• Communication | Mana reo: Develop oral language and understanding of Te Reo Māori through story and song.
• Exploration | Mana aotūroa: Foster curiosity about the environment, particularly native birds and trees.
• Belonging | Mana whenua: Connect children to their environment and culture through the story of Tāne Mahuta, a guardian of the forest.

Success Criteria

• Children can recall key parts of the Tāne Mahuta story.
• Children participate in singing the waiata.
• Children engage in hands-on activities and express their ideas.
• Children contribute to a shared learning story reflecting their learning and feelings.

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Lesson Plan Outline (15 minutes, 12 students)

1. Welcome and Introduction (2 minutes)

• Greet children in Te Reo Māori.
• Introduce the topic: Tāne Mahuta me āna manu.
• Briefly explain Tāne Mahuta as the guardian of the forest and his birds.

2. Waiata Purakau (Song and Story) (5 minutes)

• Teach the children a simple waiata about Tāne Mahuta and birds (e.g., a waiata praising Tāne and the birds of the forest).
• Sing the waiata together with actions to reinforce meaning.
• While singing, show pictures or puppets illustrating Tāne Mahuta and native birds.

3. Hands-on Activity: "Nature Exploration Corner" (5 minutes)

• Provide natural materials such as leaves, feathers, bark pieces, and pictures of native birds.
• Children work in small groups to explore these materials.
• Encourage talking about textures, colours, and relating them to Tāne Mahuta’s forest and birds.
• Prompt with questions: "What bird do you see? What do you feel? Can you imagine being in Tāne Mahuta’s forest?"

4. Learning Story and Reflection (3 minutes)

• Gather children to share what they liked about the waiata and the exploration.
• Teacher records their comments and observations into a learning story format.
• Reinforce new Te Reo Māori words learned during the activities (e.g., manu, rākau, purapura, etc.).
• Praise efforts and encourage curiosity for future learning.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For diverse learners and those needing extra support: Use clear, simple language with visual supports (puppets, pictures).
• Provide dyslexia-friendly reading aids for any printed materials, using clear fonts and layouts.
• Scaffold participation by inviting quieter children to join small groups or pair them with peers.

Extension Activities (For Advanced Learners)

• Draw or paint their favourite Tāne Mahuta bird.
• Create simple bird calls using musical instruments or voice mimicry.
• Learn additional Te Reo Māori words related to the forest and birds.
• Encourage storytelling or role-play based on Tāne Mahuta and the birds.

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Evaluation of the Programme

• Ongoing observations of children's participation and engagement.
• Collect learning stories documenting children's responses and language use.
• Reflect on how well each child connected with the story, waiata, and hands-on activities.
• Use feedback to adjust future sessions, including more storytelling, deeper exploration of nature, or culturally responsive practices.

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Example Learning Story Entry

"Today, we sang about Tāne Mahuta and his manu. Māia said her favourite manu was the kererū because it is big and white. Tama touched the smooth leaf and said 'paku paku' (soft). We made a forest with leaves and feathers and pretended to be Tāne Mahuta protecting the birds. Everyone shared their ideas and sang loudly together!"

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This lesson plan is designed to engage preschoolers in a culturally rich, nature-connected learning experience with a structured but playful approach to Te Reo Māori learning. It reflects the holistic and child-centred principles of Te Whāriki by focusing on identity, contribution, communication, exploration, and belonging through story, song, and sensory play.

By blending oral tradition and hands-on exploration, children not only learn Te Reo but also develop a deeper appreciation for their environment and culture, fostering lifelong positive attitudes towards learning and wellbeing.