Lesson Plan: Exploring Pohutukawa - The Matariki Star

General Information

- Subject: Te Reo Māori
- Year Level: Year 1 (Ages 5-6)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Class Size: 20 students
- Curriculum Area: Te Reo Māori - Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
- Curriculum Level: Level 1

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the significance of the Pohutukawa star in the context of Matariki (Māori New Year).
2. Recognise and articulate basic Māori vocabulary related to stars and Matariki.
3. Demonstrate respectful engagement with Māori culture and language.

Materials Needed

- Visual aids depicting the Matariki star cluster and the Pohutukawa star.
- Matariki storybook or a printed story about Pohutukawa.
- Coloured markers and large sheets of paper.
- Star-shaped stickers or cut-outs.

Lesson Breakdown

Introduction (5 minutes)

- Greeting in Te Reo Māori: Begin the class by greeting the students in Te Reo Māori.
- Example: "Kia ora tātou. Kei te pēhea koutou?"
- Introduce the Topic: Briefly introduce Matariki and its importance in Māori culture.
- "Today, we will learn about Matariki, particularly about one special star called Pohutukawa."

Main Activity (20 minutes)

- Story Time: Read a short story or show a picture book that explains the significance of Pohutukawa. Pohutukawa is known as the star that connects Māori to their ancestors.
- Discuss the story with the class, asking questions like "What is special about Pohutukawa?" and "Why is Matariki important?"
- Art Activity: Have students create their own star cluster on large paper.
- Each student receives a star-shaped sticker or cut-out to place on the group's cluster.
- They label their star with “Pohutukawa” and decorate around it using markers.
- Discuss with the class how every star (each student’s contribution) makes the cluster (class) complete.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

- Recap and Reflect: Review what was learned about Pohutukawa and Matariki.
- Ask students to share one thing they learned today or found interesting.
- Closing in Te Reo Māori: Close the session by thanking the students in Te Reo Māori.
- Example: "Kia ora for your wonderful work and listening today. Ka kite anō au i a koutou."

Further Learning Links

- TKI Matariki Resources
- This link provides more resources for teachers to expand their lessons on Matariki tailored for various year levels.

Teacher’s Reflection Notes

Post-lesson, reflect on:
- What aspects of the lesson did the students engage with the most?
- Were there any concepts the students found difficult?
- How can the lesson be improved for future classes?

Accessibility and Inclusion

Make sure all materials are accessible to students of different abilities. Adjust the art activity to include tactile options (like felt stars) for students who might benefit from sensory experiences. Provide additional visual aids and simplified language as needed for students needing more support.

With this lesson plan, students will get a foundational understanding of Pohutukawa within Matariki, fostering an appreciation for Te Reo Māori and Māori cultural astronomy.