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Māori Vocabulary Building Worksheet

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Māori Vocabulary Building Worksheet

Help Ana, Tevita and Mele make sense of the kupu they encounter on a camping trip. Read each question carefully. Māori words can have different meanings in different contexts; use the meanings and clues given here.

Kupu and meanings

Use the word bank and the camping clues to explore five kupu.

1.Match each kupu to its meaning. Write the correct letter beside each word. 1. mauri ___ 2. tū ___ 3. ora ___ 4. mate ___ 5. moe ___ A. to sleep or rest B. health, life or wellbeing C. to stand D. sickness or death E. life force or vital essence

mauri
tū
ora
mate
moe

C. to stand
A. to sleep or rest
D. sickness or death
E. life force or vital essence
B. health, life or wellbeing

2.At the campsite, Ana says, “Kei te tū te manu i runga i te rākau.” What is the bird doing?

It is sleeping in a tree.
It is standing in a tree.
It is sick in a tree.
It is flying away.

3.Choose the best meaning: “Kei te moe a Mele.”

Mele is sleeping.
Mele is standing.
Mele is healthy.
Mele is unwell.

Read the clues

Use the word bank: mauri, tū, ora, mate, moe. Each word is used once.

4.Complete the sentence with a word from the bank: Ka te manu ki te taha o te awa. (The bird will stand beside the river.)

5.Complete the sentence with a word from the bank: Kei te a Tevita i roto i te teneti. (Tevita is sleeping in the tent.)

6.Complete the sentence with a word from the bank: He kaha te o te ngahere. (The forest has a strong life force.)

7.Complete the sentence with a word from the bank: Kei te ngā tamariki i muri i te hīkoi. (The children are well after the walk.)

8.Complete the sentence with a word from the bank: Kei te te tangata, nō reira me āwhina ia. (The person is unwell, so we should help.)

9.True or false? “He kaha te mauri o te ngahere” means “The forest has a strong life force.”

TrueFalse

10.A sentence can change meaning depending on its context. In “Kei te mate te tangata,” the person is coughing and needs a doctor. Which meaning of mate fits best: sickness or death? Give one clue from the situation that supports your choice.

11.Tevita sees a tired bird settle on a branch. Write a short Māori sentence using moe or tū to describe what the bird does. Then give the English meaning.

12.Which kupu would best describe wellbeing and healthy life on the trip? Write the kupu and explain your choice in one sentence.

13.Choose one of the five kupu. Write an original sentence about the camping trip using it, then translate your sentence into English.

14.Draw a small scene that shows the meaning of one kupu: mauri, tū, ora, mate or moe. Label the drawing with the kupu and write its meaning.