Whakapapa Star Charts

Overview

This 45-minute lesson for Years 10-11 students in te reo Māori culminates the unit "Matariki: Navigating Our Stars" by guiding students to create personal whakapapa rārangi whetū (star charts). Students will connect their own whakapapa (ancestry) to the Matariki constellation, fostering identity and cultural reflection. The lesson integrates te ao Māori perspectives deeply, aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa principles.

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Learning Objectives

Aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and the learning languages area for Years 10-11, students will:

• Understand the significance of Matariki as a navigational and whakapapa symbol within Māori worldview.
• Know the stars of Matariki and their whakapapa connections to their own whānau and iwi.
• Do compose a personal star chart (rārangi whetū) that visually and narratively represents their whakapapa linked to Matariki stars.
• Express their pepeha (personal and ancestral stories) that weave identity with the celestial map.
• Develop key competencies of te reo Māori use, critical thinking (tikanga and mātauranga Māori), and creativity.

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Curriculum Alignment

• Learning Area: Learning Languages (Māori medium)
• Phase: Intermediate (Years 9-11)
• Key Competencies:
• Managing self – planning and reflecting on their whakapapa story
• Relating to others – sharing personal stories respectfully
• Using language, symbols, and texts – creative expression through drawing and oral narration
• Curriculum Strands:
• Communicating and Literacies – using appropriate iwi dialects, star names, and whakapapa terms
• World Views and Histories – understanding Matariki in cultural and genealogical context
• Assessment: Formative assessment through presentation and class sharing; peer and self-reflection supported by teacher observation.

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Materials Needed

• Blank star chart templates (large paper or digital equivalents)
• Markers, coloured pencils, or digital drawing tools
• Whakapapa outlines or templates (optional guides)
• Matariki constellation star fact sheets
• Pepeha sentence structures in te reo Māori
• Audio recorder or video device for presentations (optional)

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Lesson Plan Details

Time	Activity	Description	Teacher Role	Student Role
0-5 min	Introduction & Recap	Briefly revisit Matariki’s stars and meanings discussed in previous lessons, focusing on whakapapa connections.	Ignite prior knowledge, establish cultural context, and set the lesson purpose.	Listen actively, recall prior learning.
5-12 min	Whakapapa Story Reflection	Students reflect on their whakapapa and how their ancestors connect with Matariki. Support with prompts in te reo Māori (e.g., Ko wai ō mātua tipuna? Kei hea rātou i whakawhānau ai?).	Facilitate reflection, support vocabulary and expression in te reo Māori, encourage thinking deeply about ancestry and stars.	Reflect and note key whakapapa points; ask for help with te reo Māori terms as needed.
12-30 min	Creating Personal Star Chart (Rārangi Whetū)	Students create their star charts. Each star represents an ancestor or tūpuna, linked to one of the Matariki stars. They illustrate and write short pepeha or descriptions in te reo Māori beneath or beside stars.	Guide individual work, circulate to support understanding, encourage connections between stars and whakapapa. Assist with te reo Māori naming and phrasing.	Independently or collaboratively create visual and textual whakapapa star charts connecting personal ancestry to Matariki.
30-40 min	Class Sharing & Whanaungatanga	Each student shares their whakapapa star chart with a partner or small group, explaining the connections and stories behind their chart. Emphasis on respectful listening and affirmation.	Facilitate sharing, model tikanga and protocols for storytelling and listening. Provide feedback and encourage peer appreciation.	Share their star chart and stories confidently in te reo Māori; listen respectfully and give positive feedback.
40-45 min	Reflection & Consolidation	Conclude with whole-class discussion reflecting on the importance of whakapapa, Matariki, and star navigation in cultural identity. Set personal goals for further learning.	Lead reflection, summarise key learnings, set next steps, affirm cultural identity growth.	Participate in reflection, share insights, and set personal learning intentions.

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Teaching Notes & Tips

• Use explicit teaching of relevant te reo Māori terms related to whakapapa and Matariki to deepen language use.
• Encourage students to use metaphors and symbolism from te ao Māori when describing their charts.
• Provide sentence starters and pepeha frameworks to support expressive oral and written language.
• Promote digital literacy if using tablets/apps for star chart creation.
• Embed Tikanga Māori and respect for whakapapa as sacred taonga throughout the session.
• Manage time carefully to ensure ample opportunity for art creation and sharing.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observe students’ ability to integrate whakapapa knowledge with Matariki star symbolism in a coherent chart.
• Listen to oral presentations for use of te reo Māori vocabulary, fluency, and cultural concepts.
• Use self and peer reflections with prompts such as:
• Kei te pēhea te hono atu i ō whakapapa ki Matariki?
• He aha āu i ako ai mō tōu whānau, tōu wairua?
• Provide feedback focused on cultural understanding, language accuracy, and creative expression.

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This lesson effectively draws together personal, cultural, and star knowledge in a creative, reflective manner that honours Te Marautanga o Aotearoa’s revolutionary approach to Māori language and identity education. It empowers students to own their stories woven within the celestial patterns of Matariki, thus fostering a profound sense of belonging and cultural pride.

If desired, the star charts can be displayed in the classroom or on a shared digital platform, celebrating students’ unique journeys among the stars.

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End of Lesson Plan.