The Future Matai

Lesson Overview

Unit: Understanding the Samoan Matai System Lesson Number: 10 of 20 Year Level: Year 12 (Languages) Duration: 60 minutes Class Size: 20 students

Lesson Title: The Future of the Matai System Lesson Description: In this lesson, students will explore and predict the future developments of the Samoan Matai system in the context of a rapidly changing world. They will discuss social, cultural, and global factors influencing the system and propose thoughtful potential changes. Opportunities for creative advocacy will be provided through an extension activity.

---

Learning Intentions (WALT – We Are Learning To)

• WALT: Predict possible futures for the Matai system within contemporary Samoan and global contexts.
• Analyse factors that may influence how the Matai system evolves.
• Propose informed and respectful ideas about potential changes.

---

Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Discuss key social and cultural influences on the Matai system going forward.
• Propose potential changes or adaptations within the Matai system based on their understanding.
• Collaborate to extend ideas through brainstorming diverse perspectives.
• (Extension) Create a persuasive campaign advocating for a change in the Matai system.

---

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: Languages (Learning Languages) – Years 11-13 (Level 8-9)

Refreshed New Zealand Curriculum Focus:

• Communicating and Interpreting: Use language to explore and express ideas within cultural contexts and worldviews, supporting learning about the Matai system as part of Samoan language and culture.
• Language, Culture, and Identity: Explore how languages relate to identity and culture, including Pacific Island languages and traditions such as the Matai system.
• Participating and Contributing: Engage in discussions and share ideas with diverse perspectives, drawing on cultural knowledge and critical thinking to propose change.
• Using Language for Social Interaction: Participate effectively in social actions, such as campaigning for change, utilising language to influence and advocate.

Key Competencies Developed

• Thinking: Analyse cultural concepts and predict future outcomes.
• Relating to Others: Collaborate to explore diverse ideas and respect multiple viewpoints.
• Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Produce oral and/or multimodal texts advocating for change.
• Managing Self: Set learning goals and reflect on ideas critically.
• Participating and Contributing: Take social action and contribute meaningful ideas.

---

Resources Needed

• Whiteboard/flip chart and markers
• Student devices or paper for notes
• Visuals/images representing the Matai system, Samoan culture
• Scenario cards describing possible future influences (e.g., globalisation, modern education, migration)
• Materials for campaign creation (poster paper, markers, or digital tools)

---

Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

1. Introduction and Context Setting (10 minutes)

• Brief review of previous lessons on the Matai system.
• Introduce today’s learning intention using WALT.
• Present a quick recap of what the Matai system is and its current role in Samoan society.
• Pose the essential question: “How might the Matai system adapt or change in the future?”
• Use a short think-pair-share to gather initial thoughts.

2. Group Brainstorm – Influences Shaping the Future (15 minutes)

• Divide students into 4 groups of 5.
• Give each group a set of scenario cards outlining potential influences, e.g., technology, diaspora, education, gender roles.
• Groups discuss how their influences could affect the Matai system in either positive or challenging ways.
• Encourage students to use Samoan and English language skills to express ideas clearly.
• Record key ideas on flip chart paper.

3. Whole-Class Discussion and Synthesis (10 minutes)

• Groups share key points from their discussions.
• Teacher facilitates a dialogue to identify common themes and contrasting ideas.
• Highlight vocabulary used for expressing prediction, possibility, and cultural respect (e.g., “might,” “could,” “respect,” “tradition,” “adaptation”).

4. Propose Potential Changes (15 minutes)

• Individually, students write or verbally propose one or two realistic changes they think could happen to the Matai system.
• Encourage linking proposals to the group discussion insights.
• Optional sentence stems to scaffold proposals:
• “I think the Matai system might change by...”
• “One potential future for the Matai is...”
• “Because of…, the Matai system could...”
• Sharing of some proposals aloud with peer feedback focused on clarity and cultural sensitivity.

5. Extension Activity - Campaign Creation (Optional / Homework)

• Explain the extension: to design a campaign advocating for a change or preservation within the Matai system.
• Students can create posters, digital presentations, speeches, or videos to express their advocacy.
• Provide guiding questions:
• What change do you want to see?
• Why is it important?
• How will it benefit Samoan communities now and in the future?

---

Differentiation

• Support: For students needing additional help, offer sentence stems, visual supports, and one-on-one scaffolding during planning and discussion. Provide bilingual vocabulary glossaries.
• Inclusion: Encourage contributions in English, Samoan, or mixed languages as appropriate to demonstrate understanding.
• Challenge: Prompt advanced learners to consider broader perspectives such as international indigenous governance models, or to research contemporary debates about Matai reforms.

---

Assessment & Feedback

• Ongoing formative assessment through observation of group discussions and individual proposal sharing.
• Use questioning to probe understanding and encourage depth of thought.
• Provide immediate feedback on language use and cultural accuracy.
• Optional peer-assessment on campaign ideas focusing on persuasiveness and cultural respect.
• Record evidence of students meeting success criteria: proposing feasible, respectful changes reflecting discussion insights.

---

Reflection and Next Steps

• At lesson end, students reflect briefly on what they learned about future possibilities for the Matai system.
• Encourage setting a personal goal related to participating in discussions or completing the campaign.
• Preview next lesson’s topic: comparing indigenous governance systems across the Pacific.

---

This lesson plan is carefully aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh's Languages learning area, focusing on critical competencies such as thinking, using language for social interaction, and relating to others. It integrates explicit teaching of vocabulary and sentence structures for prediction and opinion, supports diverse learner needs, and cultivates culturally responsive literacy with emphasis on Pacific languages and perspectives. The extension activity promotes authentic communication skills useful beyond the classroom.

This plan is designed both to engage Year 12 students with their cultural identity and develop skills aligned with national curriculum goals for learning languages and intercultural understanding.