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📚 Unit Plans → 🌿 Unit 11: Te Reo Māori Foundations → 📖 Lesson 1: He Timatanga
Lesson 1 of 5 60 minutes

Unit 11: Te Reo Māori Foundations — Kōrerotia, Whakarongo, Whakaatu

Introductory kōrero pathway focusing on pronunciation, greetings, and identity.

1 He Timatanga
2 Ko Wai Au?
3 Tikanga in Kōrerorero
4 Whānau Connections
5 Kōrerorero o Ia Rā
Unit 11: Te Reo Māori Foundations Lesson 1 of 5

He Timatanga — Sounds, Greetings, and Classroom Reo

Duration: 60 minutes Year Level: 7-10 Curriculum Areas: Te Reo Māori, Social Studies

Lesson resources: Pronunciation Guide · Greetings & Introductions · Kupu Flashcards (Front) · Kupu Flashcards (Back) (print double-sided)

🎯 Learning Objectives & Success Criteria

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

  • Recognise Māori vowels and the role of macrons.
  • Use basic greetings and responses with confidence.
  • Apply simple classroom phrases in short kōrero.

Success Criteria

  • ✓ Accurate vowel sounds in short practice words
  • ✓ One greeting exchange completed without prompts
  • ✓ One classroom phrase used during group work

Ngā Mahi - Lesson Flow (60 minutes)

1. Whakataki Reo: Vowel Warm-up (15 mins)

Listen, echo, and record

Use the Pronunciation Guide to model the five vowel sounds and macron length. Students mark long vowels with a colour and practice with a partner.

  • Listen-and-echo rounds: a, e, i, o, u + ā, ē, ī, ō, ū.
  • Quick sort: short vs long vowel words.
  • Mini-check: each pair records two words to replay.

2. Mihi Carousel (20 mins)

Role-play + rotation

Use the Greetings & Introductions handout. Students rotate through stations practising short exchanges.

  • Station A: formal greetings (Mōrena, Ata mārie).
  • Station B: how are you? (Kei te pēhea koe?) responses.
  • Station C: name introductions (Ko wai tō ingoa? Ko ___ ahau).

3. Flashcard Whakataetae (10 mins)

Buddy drill

Use the Kupu Flashcards (front/back). Print double-sided, cut, and set up buddy pairs. One student shows the kupu while their partner gives the meaning or pronunciation, then swap.

  • Round 1: kupu → meaning.
  • Round 2: meaning → kupu.
  • Bonus: pronounce with macrons correctly before scoring a point.

4. Classroom Kōrero Challenge (10 mins)

Pair work

Introduce 6-8 classroom phrases (E hika mā, Whakarongo mai, Me tīmata tātou). Pairs build a short classroom skit using at least three phrases.

Whakamutunga: Exit Reflection (5 mins)

Written or oral

Exit ticket: Which phrase will you use tomorrow, and why is it useful?

📊 Assessment Notes

  • Formative check: listen for vowel accuracy and respectful greeting exchanges.
  • Collect: exit tickets or short audio clips as baseline evidence.

🧺 Resources & Materials