Tatau Ngahau

Overview

Ka ako ngā tamariki ki te tatau ā-waha mai i te tahi ki te tekau, me te hono i ngā kupu tau ki ngā tau ā-tuhi. Ka whakamahi i ngā nekehanga, ngā taonga tūturu, te tauira a te kaiako me te rauemi “Copy of Tatau Numbers Fun Worksheet” mō te parakatihi ārahi.

Learning intentions

• WALT tatau ā-waha mai i te tahi ki te tekau.
• WALT whakahua tika i ngā kupu tau.
• WALT hono i te kupu tau ki te tau ā-tuhi.
• WALT tatau kotahi ki te kotahi, arā, kotahi kupu tau mō ia mea.

Success criteria

• Ka taea e au te kī tika i ngā tau mai i te tahi ki te tekau.
• Ka taea e au te tatau i ngā mea, kotahi kupu tau mō ia mea.
• Ka taea e au te tohu i te tau tika ina rongo au i te kupu tau.
• Ka taea e au te whai wāhi ki te kēmu tatau.

Curriculum links

• Te Reo Māori Taumata 1: Ka whakaputa pātai māmā hei rapu mōhiohio.
• Te Reo Māori Taumata 1: Te whakarongo, te whai i ngā tohutohu māmā, me te whakamahi i te reo ā-waha i roto i ngā horopaki ako.
• Te Reo Māori Taumata 1: Te whakahua tika i ngā oro me ngā kupu o te reo Māori.
• Te whakamahi i te reo ā-waha me te reo ā-tinana kia hāngai ki te kaupapa, i roto i ngā taumata ako e tika ana mō te reanga.

Key vocabulary

• tahi — one — “ta-hee”
• rua — two — “roo-a”
• toru — three — “toh-roo”
• whā — four — “faa”; he oro roa te ā
• rima — five — “ree-ma”
• ono — six — “aw-naw”
• whitu — seven — “fee-too”; whakahua te wh hei oro kotahi, kaua ko “w-h”
• waru — eight — “wa-roo”
• iwa — nine — “ee-wa”
• tekau — ten — “teh-kow”

Whakamahia te whakahua Māori māori, kaua e tono kia whai ngā tamariki i ngā oro Pākehā. Whakamāramatia ngā kupu mā te tauira, te tohu ā-ringa, te pikitia me te tukurua.

Lesson structure (30 minutes)

1. 0–5 min · Kupu tau me ngā nekehanga. Teacher opens with the opening counting slides, models each number with a matching action, and says, “Whakarongo mai: tahi, rua, toru.” Students copy the action and repeat each word as a rōpū, first slowly and then with a steady beat.

2. 5–10 min · Tatau taonga tūturu. Teacher places up to ten familiar objects, such as blocks or shells, in a line and counts slowly, touching each object once: “Tahi, rua, toru…” Students count along, then take turns counting small groups of objects with a partner. Teacher reinforces, “Kotahi te kupu mō ia mea,” and asks simple questions such as, “E hia ngā mea?” or “He aha tēnei tau?”

3. 10–15 min · Tauira a te kaiako. Teacher uses the modelling slides to show numerals 1–10 beside the matching Māori number words. Teacher demonstrates one-to-one counting, pauses after each object, and matches the spoken word to the numeral. Students watch, echo the word, and show the corresponding number using fingers or a numeral card. Deliberately model and correct common errors, such as counting an object twice or skipping an object.

4. 15–23 min · Parakatihi ārahi. Teacher distributes the teacher-provided Copy of Tatau Numbers Fun Worksheet and completes the first example with the class, thinking aloud in Māori. Students work individually or with a partner while the teacher circulates and prompts: “Me tīmata ki te tahi,” “Tohua ia mea,” “He aha te kupu tau?” and “Ka tatau tahi tātou.” Emerging learners work with 1–5, real objects and teacher modelling; confident learners attempt 1–10, say the sequence independently and explain how they checked their counting.

5. 23–27 min · Tatau and Freeze. Teacher uses the game instruction slide, says a number from one to ten and leads the class to move or clap that many times. When the teacher says, “Freeze!”, students stop, show the number with their fingers and say the word together. Repeat several times, varying the pace and inviting confident students to lead one round.

6. 27–30 min · Kōrero whakakapi and assessment. Teacher points to three or four numerals and asks individual students, “He aha tēnei?” and “Tatau mai ki te…”. Students answer orally, then tell a partner one number they can say. Teacher praises effort and accuracy, records who can count to 5 and 10, and identifies the next teaching group.

Resources

• the counting and game slide deck
• Copy of Tatau Numbers Fun Worksheet
• Ten blocks, shells, counters or other familiar classroom objects
• Numeral cards 1–10
• Open floor space for movement
• Whiteboard and marker
• Fingers or simple actions for visual and kinaesthetic support

Assessment

• Listen for accurate pronunciation, especially the long vowel in whā, and the initial sound in whitu.
• During object counting, observe whether each child touches or points to each object once and matches the final count to the correct numeral.
• Record responses during “Tatau and Freeze” and the closing questions. Next steps: continue 1–5 with concrete materials for emerging learners; practise 1–10 and reverse or mixed-order recognition with confident learners.

Differentiation

• Support emerging learners with a smaller set of objects, numerals 1–5, repeated teacher modelling, finger actions and the sentence frames “He ___” and “E ___ ngā mea.”
• Pair learners thoughtfully so that a confident speaker models without taking over. Accept pointing, signing, fingers and choral responses before expecting independent speech.
• For EAL learners and children needing additional support, use consistent gestures, visual numerals, slow speech, predictable routines and extra processing time. Avoid correcting publicly; recast the word naturally and invite another try.
• Extend confident learners by asking them to count a new group of objects, identify a numeral when the words are given in mixed order, or lead the class in one round of the game.