Whakaahua Ngā Tamariki

Overview

This 30-minute lesson is designed for preschool students in New Zealand as lesson 3 of 7 in the unit "Te Reo Māori: Summer Discovery". Students will create artworks of their favourite local plants and animals, reinforcing their te reo Māori vocabulary about nature while engaging in art activities. This plan aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum, specifically encouraging oral language development, cultural identity, vocabulary acquisition, and creativity within te reo Māori learning contexts.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Use simple te reo Māori vocabulary related to local flora and fauna, including naming and describing favourite plants and animals.
Express their ideas and preferences about nature through drawing and oral sharing.
Demonstrate engagement in visual arts activities by creating representations of nature.
Develop oral language skills through structured conversation and descriptive talk in te reo Māori.

These objectives align with the New Zealand Curriculum for early years literacy and arts:

Learning Languages: Communicate simple ideas and information using familiar vocabulary in te reo Māori, demonstrating respect for Māori language and culture (NZC, Learning Languages strand).
The Arts: Explore and use materials to create artworks, expressing ideas and feelings related to their environment (NZC, The Arts strand).
Key Competencies: Using language, symbols and texts; Managing self by expressing preferences and working with others (NZC, Key Competencies).

Curriculum References

Te Whāriki (Early childhood curriculum): Supports communication (Mana Reo), contribution (Mana Tangata), and exploration (Mana Aotūroa) through learning experiences that reinforce language confidence and identity.
Te Mātaiaho English (2024): Emphasises vocabulary development, oral language skills and expressive oral communication in early years, with scaffolds and visual support to build understanding and confidence.

Lesson Outline (30 minutes)

Time	Activity Description	Purpose / Learning Focus	Resources
0-5 min	Welcome and Karakia	Establish cultural context; engage children; set a positive tone	Simple karakia (optional), greeting in te reo Māori
5-10 min	Vocabulary Review & Introduction	Recall and reinforce previous vocabulary for local plants and animals (e.g., rākau (tree), manu (bird), ponga (tree fern), pārekareka (fun), kākā (parrot))	Picture cards or natural objects; flashcards with te reo Māori words
10-20 min	Art Activity: Create Nature Pictures	Students draw or paint their favourite local plant or animal, applying vocabulary	Paper, crayons, watercolours, natural elements (leaves, feathers) for texture
20-25 min	Oral Sharing	Students describe their artworks using simple te reo Māori phrases (e.g., Ko tēnei te kākā. He karaka te kākā.)	Visual prompts and sentence stems (e.g., “Ko taku…”, “He…tōku…”), teacher modelling
25-30 min	Reflection and Closure	Encourage children to express what they enjoyed and learnt; reinforce identity and language	Group circle time, positive affirmations, farewell karakia

Detailed Procedure

1. Karakia and Welcome

Begin the session with a short karakia that students can join in with, to focus attention and connect culturally.
Greet each student in te reo Māori, encouraging a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

2. Vocabulary Review and Introduction (5 min)

Display picture cards or actual natural items found locally.
Ask children to name the plant or animal in te reo Māori, prompting with phrases if necessary.
Introduce or review phrases for describing the object (colour, shape, size) using simple, repetitive language structures.
Use visual and tactile supports to aid understanding and engagement.

3. Art Activity: Creating Nature Pictures (10 min)

Support children to create drawings or paintings of their favourite local plant or animal.
Encourage use of words learned: e.g., colours (karaka - orange, kākāriki - green), sizes (nui - big, iti - small).
If feasible, include sensory exploration by adding natural elements like leaves or feathers to their artwork for texture.
Teachers interact with students in te reo Māori, asking questions and modelling descriptive language.

4. Oral Sharing (5 min)

Invite each child, individually or in small groups, to share their artwork using simple sentences in te reo Māori.
Provide sentence stems to scaffold speaking, such as:
"Ko taku whakaahua he..." (My picture is a...)
"He... tōku..." (My... is...)
Reinforce correct vocabulary and celebrate each child’s expression to build confidence.

5. Reflection and Closure (5 min)

Facilitate a short group discussion reflecting on the activity:
What did you enjoy?
What new words did you learn?
Use positive language to affirm students’ efforts and learning.
Close with a karakia or waiata to conclude the session.

Assessment and Reflection

Formative assessment through observation of students’ oral vocabulary use during sharing.
Listen for use of vocabulary related to plants and animals and ability to form simple descriptive sentences.
Note engagement during the art activity and willingness to participate.
Provide gentle feedback and encouragement to scaffold learning.

Additional Notes for Teachers

Ensure all vocabulary is introduced with accurate pronunciation and supported by visual aids to facilitate comprehension.
Use scaffolding strategies such as sentence stems and gestures, especially for children new to te reo Māori.
This lesson encourages mana-enhancing language experiences, affirming students’ cultural identity through connection with the natural environment.
Provide flexible support recognizing the varied language backgrounds and developmental stages of preschool learners.
Encourage families to share local knowledge of plants and animals at home, linking learning between school and community.

This lesson plan is designed to immerse preschool students in te reo Māori related to their natural environment, fostering language development, identity, and creativity consistent with the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Whāriki principles.