Lesson Plan: Mastering Tone & Voice
Unit: The Writer's Toolkit | Time: 75 minutes
Lesson Sequence (75 Minutes)
1. Starter: Code-Switching (10 mins)
Teacher Action: Ask students: "How would you ask for a drink of water from... a) your best friend? b) your Nan? c) the Prime Minister?" Write their different responses on the board.
Student Action: Students provide different sentences for each person. Discuss why the language changes for each audience. Introduce the term "code-switching."
2. Introduction: Formal vs. Informal (15 mins)
Teacher Action: Introduce the terms Formal and Informal Tone using the handout. Go through the bullet points for each, explaining the key features.
Student Action: Students read the definitions and features on their handout.
3. "I Do": The Marae as a Model (15 mins)
Teacher Action: Introduce the concept of different language registers in Te Ao Māori. Explain that the language used on the marae during a pōwhiri (whaikōrero) is highly formal, full of metaphor, and follows strict protocols. This is a powerful example of formal tone. In contrast, the language used in the wharekai (dining hall) afterwards is informal, relaxed, and conversational (kōrero noa iho).
Teacher Action: Work through the "Deconstruction" task on the handout as a class, explaining why sentence B is more formal than sentence A.
Student Action: Students discuss the marae example and contribute to the deconstruction task.
4. "You Do": Independent Application (25 mins)
Teacher Action: Direct students to the "Application" and "Critical Thinking" tasks on their handout. They will rewrite an informal sentence and then justify their choice of tone for writing to an MP.
Student Action: Students work independently to complete the tasks.
5. Plenary: Formal Face-Off (10 mins)
Teacher Action: Ask for volunteers to share their formal versions of the sentence from the application task. Write them on the board and have the class vote on which one is the most formal and effective, and why.
Student Action: Students share their work and analyse the effectiveness of their peers' formal sentences.
Differentiation & Teacher Notes
- Support: Provide a "formal word swap" list (e.g., "get on with" -> "commence," "gonna" -> "going to," "reckon" -> "believe").
- Extension: Challenge students to find a formal piece of text (e.g., a school policy document, a news report) and "translate" one paragraph into an informal tone, as if they were explaining it to a friend in a text message.
- Cultural Note: The concept of different tones for different contexts is fundamental to showing respect in many cultures. The marae example is a powerful way to illustrate that formal language is often about honouring the place, the people, and the occasion.
📋 Teacher Planning Snapshot
Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions
Students will engage with this resource to develop literacy, critical thinking, and writing skills, with connections to Te Ao Māori and real-world New Zealand contexts.
Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria
- ✅ Students can apply the key skill or concept from this resource in their own writing or analysis.
- ✅ Students can explain the learning using their own words and connect it to a real-world context.
Differentiation & Inclusion
Scaffold: Provide sentence starters, graphic organisers, and entry-level tasks. Offer extension challenges for capable learners to address a range of readiness levels.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key vocabulary before the lesson. Provide bilingual glossaries and allow first-language drafting.
Inclusion: Neurodiverse learners benefit from chunked instructions and visual supports. Ensure accessible formats throughout.
Curriculum alignment
- English — Writing: Students will construct and communicate meaning using language features appropriate to purpose and audience.
- Social Sciences: Understand how people participate individually and collectively in response to community challenges.