Treaty of Waitangi

Overview

Curriculum Area: Social Sciences
Curriculum Level: Level 2 (Years 3–4)
Achievement Objective: Students will gain an understanding of how people remember and record the past, including significant events and actions connected to Aotearoa New Zealand's history.
Key Competencies: Thinking, Participating and Contributing, Relating to Others.
Te Ao Māori Connectivity: Whanaungatanga (relationships), tikanga Māori (Māori customs/protocols), and manaakitanga (caring for others).
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 21 students

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Learning Outcome

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand the historical context and importance of the Treaty of Waitangi.
• Recall key figures and events related to the signing of the Treaty.
• Begin to identify the Treaty’s values (e.g., partnership, protection, and participation).

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Lesson Structure

1. Settling In and Karakia/Whakawhanaungatanga

Time: 5 minutes

• Begin the lesson with a karakia (prayer) to ground the class in tikanga (protocol).
• Welcome students with a brief whakawhanaungatanga activity (e.g., a round of students sharing something they know about their community or a connection to Māori culture).
• Explain the focus of the day's lesson in child-friendly terms: “Today, we will explore a special part of New Zealand’s history – the Treaty of Waitangi!”

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2. Hook: Storytelling Circle

Time: 10 minutes

• Gather the students on the mat in a circle to hear a short story called “The Day of the Meeting”, which recounts the background of the Treaty of Waitangi. This simple narrative can describe:
  • Māori leaders, iwi (tribes), and why the Treaty was proposed.
  • Captain William Hobson’s role and the events leading to the Treaty signing.
• Use props like a feather to represent the moko (signing) of rangatira (chiefs) or a map of New Zealand to visually introduce key locations.
• Encourage interaction by prompting questions as you tell the story, e.g.: “Why do you think the Māori people wanted to work with the British settlers?”

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3. Group Discussion: What is the Treaty of Waitangi?

Time: 10 minutes

• Write “Treaty” and “Waitangi” on the whiteboard. Explain these terms simply:
  • Treaty: A special agreement between two or more groups.
  • Waitangi: A place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was signed.
• Facilitate a group brainstorm about why an agreement like the Treaty was important between Māori and British settlers.
• Create a three-column chart on the board: Who?, What?, and Why?. Fill it in together with contributions from students:
  • Who? Māori leaders (rangatira), British settlers, and Governor Hobson.
  • What? An agreement written in Te Reo Māori and English.
  • Why? To help Māori and settlers live and work together peacefully.

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4. Activity: Role Play

Time: 20 minutes

• Set the Scene:
  • Divide the class into three groups of seven students each. Assign each group a role: 1) Māori chiefs, 2) British settlers, and 3) representatives from the British Crown.
  • Each group will receive a small script or guide describing their role, reasons for signing (or not signing), and what they hope to achieve.
• Role Play:
  • Act out a simplified version of the Treaty signing. Assign one student as Captain Hobson and two as key Māori chiefs (e.g., Hone Heke or Tamati Waka Nene).
  • Each group shares why they think the Treaty was or wasn’t important to them as a group.
• After role play, discuss: “How would you feel as Māori or as a settler during this big agreement?”.

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5. Mini Reflection: What Does the Treaty Teach Us?

Time: 10 minutes

• Bring the students back to seated learning positions. Ask the question: “What values do you think the Treaty of Waitangi encourages us to think about today?”
  • Summarise student responses into three basic values: partnership, protection, and participation. Write these on the board in both English and Te Reo Māori (Rangatiratanga, Kaitiakitanga, Whānaungatanga).
• Hand out a small worksheet with three boxes for students to draw or write what they learned about these values from the lesson.

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6. Close and Karakia Whakamutunga

Time: 5 minutes

• Summarise the lesson, highlighting the Treaty’s importance in New Zealand’s history and the values it represents in our communities today.
• Close with a karakia whakamutunga (closing prayer).

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Resources Required

• Visuals and Props:
  • A map of New Zealand.
  • Feather (to represent chiefs signing).
• Printed Materials:
  • Simple storytelling script (“The Day of the Meeting”).
  • Role play guides with simplified roles and dialogue.
  • Treaty values worksheets.
• Whiteboard Setup:
  • Three-column chart (Who? What? Why?).
  • Te Reo Māori terms (e.g., Rangatiratanga, Kaitiakitanga).

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Assessment

• Formative:
  • Observe student participation during the role play and group discussion.
  • Use the completed worksheet to evaluate understanding of the key concepts (partnership, protection, participation).
• Student Voice: Reflect on answers during the discussion to gauge how well they grasped the historical significance.

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Extension for Early Finishers

• Encourage early finishers to create a “Treaty Values” poster showing their understanding of how the Treaty influences New Zealand today. Provide coloured pencils for them to illustrate their ideas.

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Teacher Reflection

• What went well? Note how engaged students were during the storytelling or role-play activity.
• What can be improved? Consider whether students required more explanation of complex terms or whether different props could enhance the response next time.