Te Kete Ako

Ngā Mahi - Lesson Activities (75 minutes)

1. Haka Exploration - Beyond Stereotypes (20 mins)

Cultural Context Setting: Address misconceptions and establish respectful understanding of haka's true purposes.

Critical Discussion: What do people usually think haka is for? How might these views be incomplete or even harmful? Let's discover the real purposes and power of haka.

Misconceptions to Challenge

  • Just for intimidating enemies
  • Entertainment for tourists
  • "Primitive" or "savage" expression
  • Only for rugby or sports

True Purposes of Haka

  • Building collective identity and unity
  • Expressing cultural values and stories
  • Honoring ancestors and important events
  • Welcoming visitors with respect
  • Processing emotions and strengthening community
Video Analysis: Watch contemporary haka (wedding, graduation, community event) and discuss: What purposes do you see beyond the stereotypes? How does this create collective strength?

2. Te Reo Rangatira - The Power of Voice (20 mins)

Exploration: Students experience how voice, rhythm, and collective sound create power and unity.

Voice Elements in Haka

  • Projection: Voice carries energy and intention
  • Rhythm: Collective timing creates unity
  • Breath Control: Physical discipline and focus
  • Tonal Variation: Expressing different emotions and meanings

Physical Expression Elements

  • Posture: Standing with dignity and strength
  • Eye Contact: Direct engagement and connection
  • Synchronized Movement: Moving as one collective body
  • Facial Expression: Communicating emotion and intensity

Practice Activity: Voice & Presence Exercises

  1. Breathing Together: Class practices unified breathing - feeling collective rhythm
  2. Voice Projection: Simple call-and-response using Te Reo Māori phrases
  3. Eye Contact Circle: Practice holding strong, respectful gaze with classmates
  4. Unified Movement: Simple synchronized movements building collective coordination
Cultural Protocols: Emphasize that this is practice in expressing collective strength, not performing traditional haka. Respect for the cultural form while learning about voice and unity.

3. Waihanga Rōpū - Creating Collective Expression (25 mins)

Creative Challenge: Students create their own form of collective expression that represents their class values and identity.

Class Values Expression Project

Working together, create a collective expression (not traditional haka, but inspired by its principles) that represents your class whānau values.

Elements to Include

  • Class Values: What principles unite your learning community?
  • Collective Voice: Words, phrases, or sounds you say together
  • Unified Movement: Simple actions you do as one group
  • Cultural Respect: Elements from students' diverse backgrounds

Creative Options

  • Multilingual: Include languages from class community
  • Academic Focus: Express commitment to learning
  • Social Justice: Values about fairness and inclusion
  • Environmental: Connection to place and kaitiakitanga
Process:
  1. Small groups brainstorm class values and how to express them
  2. Combine ideas into unified class expression
  3. Practice voice projection, timing, and movement
  4. Reflect on how it feels to express values collectively

4. Haka in the Modern World - Power & Purpose Today (10 mins)

Contemporary Analysis: Students examine how haka principles apply to modern collective action and social change.

Social Movements

How do protest chants, marches, and collective actions use similar principles to haka for social change?

Educational Settings

How do schools use collective expression to build community, express values, and create belonging?

Digital Spaces

How do online communities create collective identity and express shared values through digital means?

Community Events

How do celebrations, commemorations, and gatherings use collective expression to strengthen community bonds?

Discussion Questions:

  • When have you felt most powerful as part of a group? What made that experience effective?
  • How might young people today use collective expression to address issues they care about?
  • What's the difference between positive collective action and harmful mob behavior?

Cross-Curricular Applications

Performing Arts

Voice projection, stage presence, ensemble performance techniques

Physical Education

Coordination, teamwork, body awareness, breathing techniques

Social Studies

Cultural expression, social movements, community building, identity formation

English

Oral language, rhythm, storytelling, audience awareness

Aromatawai - Assessment

Participation & Understanding

  • Cultural Respect: Appropriate engagement with Māori cultural concepts
  • Collective Participation: Contributing to class unified expression
  • Critical Thinking: Understanding haka beyond stereotypes
  • Voice Development: Growth in confident expression

Extension Projects

  • Research Project: Contemporary haka in graduation ceremonies, protests, celebrations
  • Creative Writing: Personal reflection on voice, power, and collective identity
  • Community Connection: Interview community members about collective expression
  • Digital Storytelling: Create respectful content about cultural expression

Whakamutunga - Lesson Reflection

Today we discovered that haka represents sophisticated cultural technology for building collective identity and expressing shared values. Through voice, movement, and unified purpose, communities create strength that is greater than the sum of individual parts. Every culture has forms of collective expression - the key is understanding how they build unity while honoring dignity.

"Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua" - We honor traditional wisdom while creating our own powerful expressions for today's challenges.