Whakapapa in Stories

Overview

This 60-minute lesson (Lesson 8 of 18) is designed for Year 13 students studying te reo Māori within the "Exploring Māori Stories Unit Plan." It will explore the concept of whakapapa (genealogy) and its key role in Māori storytelling. The lesson aligns with NCEA Level 3 learning objectives and encourages students to trace ancestry through stories, understanding whakapapa's function and significance.

Curriculum Alignment

NCEA Level 3:

Learning Area: Te Reo Māori / Māori Language and Literature
Focus: Understanding whakapapa within narrative contexts
Key Competencies:
Managing Self: Taking ownership of personal whakapapa project
Relating to Others: Respectful sharing of whakapapa stories and cultural connections
Thinking: Critical analysis of whakapapa’s role and meaning in stories

Achievement Standards Reference:

AS90985 – Engage in extended spoken interaction in te reo Māori
AS90987 – Give an extended spoken presentation in te reo Māori, relating to whānau or iwi stories (adapted to whakapapa focus)

Learning Objectives

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

Define whakapapa and explain its importance in Māori storytelling.
Trace whānau or iwi whakapapa through selected Māori stories.
Create a personal whakapapa chart/project that reflects their own ancestry connections through storytelling.
Demonstrate understanding of how whakapapa links individuals to their wider community and history.

Success Criteria

Students can confidently explain whakapapa in their own words.
Students complete a whakapapa chart with at least three generations of family connections.
Students identify and discuss whakapapa elements in the stories studied.
A personal whakapapa project is submitted, showing thoughtful connection to their ancestry.

Lesson Plan Structure (60 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	Resources	Differentiation and Extension
0 – 10 mins	Introduction & Context Setting	Brief discussion defining whakapapa and its role in Māori culture and storytelling. Show simple whakapapa charts.	Whakapapa charts (printed/digital)	Use visuals to support understanding; dyslexia-friendly fonts and clear layout.
10 – 25 mins	Story Exploration & Group Discussion	Read a selected Māori story with strong whakapapa themes. Discuss in small groups how whakapapa is used to connect characters.	Text extracts or oral story recordings	Support with sentence starters, kōrero mats, and vocabulary lists. Extension: Identify iwi/hapū connections in story.
25 – 45 mins	Whakapapa Chart Activity	Students create a simplified whakapapa chart for their own whānau, tracing at least three generations. Teacher circulates for support.	Blank whakapapa templates, markers, laptops/tablets	Provide reduced scope templates for students needing extra support. Extension: Add deeper historical or cultural notes.
45 – 55 mins	Sharing & Reflecting	Voluntary sharing of whakapapa charts in pairs or small groups, reflecting on how whakapapa enhances identity and connection in stories.	Students' charts or projects	Encourage sensitive facilitation for privacy; allow didactic or creative sharing methods.
55 – 60 mins	Wrap-Up & Next Steps	Outline the personal whakapapa project assessment: a short presentation or written whakapapa journey. Check for questions.	Project guidelines handout	Provide choice of oral, visual, or written format for project submission.

Assessment - Personal Whakapapa Project

Task: Students will develop a personal whakapapa project tracing their family or tribal connections, using charts, story narratives, or multimedia presentations to demonstrate understanding of whakapapa's function in storytelling.

Assessment Criteria:

Clear tracing of whakapapa with appropriate use of Māori terms.
Reflection on the significance of whakapapa for identity and story.
Creativity in presentation style (oral, written, digital).
Evidence of understanding whakapapa’s role as a connector in stories.

Differentiation Strategies

For struggling learners:
Limit scope to immediate family and direct grandparents only.
Provide completed partial templates to scaffold chart creation.
Use audio storytelling and recorded instructions.
For advanced learners:
Encourage research into iwi/hapū connections and historical whakapapa.
Suggest exploration of how whakapapa influences wider community roles.
Invite creation of multi-modal whakapapa narratives (video, digital storymaps).
For dyslexic learners:
Use dyslexia-friendly fonts and layouts in all handouts.
Provide oral instructions and allow verbal project presentations.
Use visual supports and colour coding to aid understanding.

Resources Needed

Exemplars of whakapapa charts (both simple and extended).
Copies or digital access to Māori stories with whakapapa themes (e.g., ancestral legends or whānau histories).
Blank whakapapa templates tailored for different learner levels.
Materials for creating charts (paper, coloured pens, digital tools if available).
Project guideline sheets with clear instructions and language support.

Teacher Notes

Emphasise respect for personal stories and cultural knowledge shared in class.
Foster a positive, inclusive classroom environment where students feel safe to share.
Draw connections between whakapapa and students’ sense of identity, belonging, and storytelling.
Use whakapapa as an entry point to discuss broader Māori worldviews including connection to whenua, atua, and community.

This lesson supports the overarching NCEA goals of enhancing students’ understanding of te ao Māori through authentic cultural content, enabling them to engage critically and creatively with Māori narratives and identity. It develops key competencies in communication, thinking, and managing self within culturally responsive pedagogy.

Would you like assistance with sample story texts or templates for the whakapapa charts next?

Teaching Instructions