Traditional Food Stories

Context

This 45-minute lesson is designed for Year 0 to Year 2 students in New Zealand and aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, specifically supporting the Learning Languages learning area with a focus on te reo Māori. This is Lesson 4 of 6 in the unit Kai: Learning Food in Te Reo Māori. The lesson embraces the principles of Te Mātaiaho and the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP), promoting cultural identity, language engagement, and equity for Māori learners.

The lesson supports students to engage with traditional Māori food stories through interactive storytelling and active participation, fostering connection to te ao Māori and encouraging oral language development using culturally rich content. It incorporates inclusive strategies and differentiation for diverse learners, including dyslexia-friendly options.

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Learning Objectives

WALT (We Are Learning To):

• Understand and share stories about the cultural significance of traditional Māori foods.
• Use te reo Māori to retell and explain traditional kai stories.

Curriculum Links:

• Learning Languages - Te Reo Māori (Years 0–2; Phase 1 learning phase)
• Developing oral language and listening skills in te reo Māori.
• Expressing ideas and cultural knowledge orally about familiar topics.
• Recognising and responding to cultural narratives as part of identity and language acquisition.

Key Competencies:

• Using language, symbols, and texts — engaging with stories and vocabulary in te reo Māori.
• Relating to others — sharing ideas and listening respectfully in groups.
• Participating and contributing — collaborating in role-play and group storytelling.

Success Criteria:

• I can retell one traditional food story in te reo Māori with support.
• I can explain why a Māori food is culturally important using simple language.

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Resources and Preparation

• Traditional Māori kai stories (select simple, age-appropriate tales; e.g., about kūmara, hīnau, or kawakawa).
• Story maps with pictures and sequence prompts.
• Props and visual aids (e.g., model kai items, natural materials like leaves or flax).
• Sentence starter cards with te reo phrases for discussion.
• Graphic organisers (story structure templates).
• Audio recordings of the stories (for dyslexia-friendly listening).
• Cameras/tablets for recording students’ story presentations (optional).

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation/Supports
0–5 mins	Pānui (Introduction)	Welcome the class in te reo Māori; briefly flash introductory images of traditional kai and ask “He aha tēnei?” (What is this?) to activate prior knowledge.	Use visual aids and props to support new vocabulary.
5–15 mins	Interactive Storytelling	Tell a traditional food story using props, story maps, and visual images. Use expressive gestures and simple te reo Māori sentences, repeating key vocabulary and phrases. Play audio story for reinforcement.	Story maps help visual learners; audio supports dyslexic learners. Pause frequently to check understanding and allow students to repeat simple phrases.
15–25 mins	Group Discussion	In small groups, use sentence starters (e.g., “Ko taku kai tino pai ko...” My favourite food is...) to talk about parts of the story and why the food is special in Māori culture. Teachers scaffold language and encourage turn-taking.	Provide sentence starters; offer choice to speak or use drawings to express ideas.
25–35 mins	Create Your Own Kai Story	Each group creates a simple food story using pictures, props, or role-play. They can sequence the story on a story map, and decide which parts to act out or tell orally.	Allow choice of presentation (oral, role-play, picture telling). Support with graphic organisers to structure ideas.
35–42 mins	Role-Play	Groups perform or share their stories with the class, focusing on traditional gathering/preparation methods and cultural connections. Emphasise reo Māori phrases and respectful storytelling.	Use peer support; visual prompts to cue language; praise efforts in reo Māori.
42–45 mins	Reflection and Whakarāpopototanga	Recap key vocabulary and meaning through a shared circle time. Ask students to say one new word or fact they learned. Give a simple challenge to share traditional kai stories with whānau at home.	Use visual vocabulary cards; model responses for reluctant speakers.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observe participation in group discussions and storytelling.
• Listen for use of key vocabulary and ability to sequence stories.
• Confer one-on-one with students who may need extra support or challenge.
• Use story maps and graphic organisers as evidence of understanding.
• Collect video or audio of student presentations as formative assessment.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use story maps and visual props to scaffold comprehension.
• Provide sentence starters and language frames to assist verbal expression.
• Allow students to choose how to present their story (drawing, oral, role-play).
• Integrate audio storytelling and illustrated summaries for dyslexia-friendly access.
• Offer extra teacher or peer support during group work.

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Extension Activities

• Encourage students to interview whānau about traditional kai or food memories, recording or drawing findings to share in class.
• Older/more able learners can attempt to write or draw more detailed food stories in te reo Māori with sentence frames.
• Create a class book of kai stories in te reo and English to take home.

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Links to Curriculum Documents

• This lesson supports Phase 1 of Te Mātaiaho (English and Te Reo Māori literacy development years 0–3), especially building oral language and cultural knowledge through rich, contextual interaction and story comprehension.
• Aligns with the Learning Languages framework which promotes using language as a vehicle for identity and cultural connection.
• Provides opportunities for development of key competencies such as using language, symbols, and texts and relating to others as students collaborate and communicate in te reo Māori.
• Incorporates principles of equity and inclusion, supporting dyslexia and other diverse learning needs through multimodal access and flexible expression.

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This lesson plan combines culturally vibrant content, language development, and interactive approaches to support young learners in their te reo Māori journey in line with New Zealand Curriculum Refresh best practice.

If desired, I can also prepare resources like story maps, sentence starters, and audio script samples to complement this plan. Would you like me to do that?