Ngā Mahi - Lesson Activities (75 minutes)
1. Ngā Toi - Art as Information Technology (20 mins)
Knowledge Discovery: Students explore how traditional Māori arts function as sophisticated information storage and transmission systems.
Whakairo - Carving as Library
- Genealogical Records: Family trees carved into meeting house posts
- Historical Events: Important battles and alliances preserved in wood
- Cultural Values: Stories teaching behavior and ethics
- Spiritual Knowledge: Connections to atua and natural world
Raranga - Weaving as Database
- Pattern Knowledge: Each design carries specific meaning and purpose
- Seasonal Information: When to harvest, prepare, and use materials
- Status Indicators: Social roles and achievements encoded in design
- Regional Identity: Local variations preserve place-based knowledge
Interactive Analysis:
Investigation Task: Students examine traditional art examples (photos/video) and decode the information stored within them.
- What stories do the carvings tell?
- What practical knowledge is preserved in weaving patterns?
- How do these art forms function like books or databases?
2. Kōrero Tawhito - Storytelling as Cultural Technology (25 mins)
Oral Tradition Exploration: Students discover how storytelling functions as sophisticated educational technology, preserving knowledge with remarkable accuracy across centuries.
Types of Traditional Stories
- Creation Stories: Explaining natural phenomena and environmental relationships
- Ancestral Histories: Preserving genealogies and family connections
- Moral Teachings: Stories that teach appropriate behavior and values
- Practical Knowledge: Environmental wisdom disguised as entertainment
Storytelling Technologies
- Memorization Techniques: Rhythm, repetition, and emotional hooks
- Multiple Versions: Adaptations for different ages and contexts
- Performance Elements: Voice, gesture, and audience interaction
- Verification Systems: Community checking for accuracy
Story Analysis & Practice
Activity A: Students hear a traditional story (appropriate for classroom setting) and identify the different types of knowledge it preserves.
Activity B: Students practice telling a story from their own cultural background, identifying the knowledge and values it transmits.
3. Toi Hou - Contemporary Māori Art & Expression (20 mins)
Evolution Investigation: Students explore how traditional art forms evolve to address contemporary issues while maintaining cultural integrity.
Digital Storytelling
Contemporary Māori filmmakers, digital artists, and social media creators using traditional storytelling principles to address modern issues and preserve culture for new generations.
Urban Murals & Street Art
Traditional patterns and symbols adapted for urban environments, making cultural knowledge visible in cities and connecting young people to their heritage.
Contemporary Carving & Sculpture
Modern materials and techniques combined with traditional knowledge to create art that speaks to contemporary Māori experiences while honoring ancestral wisdom.
Fashion & Design
Traditional weaving techniques and patterns adapted for contemporary fashion, bringing cultural knowledge into everyday life and global markets.
Student Research Task:
Choose one contemporary Māori artist and investigate: How do they connect traditional knowledge with modern expression? What contemporary issues do they address? How does their work preserve and evolve cultural knowledge?
4. Waihanga Auaha - Creative Cultural Response (10 mins)
Personal Expression: Students create their own respectful artistic response that preserves knowledge important to them.
Creative Options (Choose One):
- Pattern Design: Create a pattern that represents your family history or values
- Personal Story: Craft a story that preserves important knowledge from your culture
- Digital Art: Use technology to express traditional themes or contemporary issues
- Mixed Media Collage: Combine traditional and modern elements to represent cultural evolution
- Performance Piece: Short presentation combining movement, voice, and visual elements
- Cultural Artifact: Create something that preserves knowledge for future generations
Cultural Protocols
Students create original work inspired by traditional principles, not copying sacred designs. Focus on the function of art as knowledge preservation rather than specific traditional forms.
Cross-Curricular Applications
Visual Arts
Pattern analysis, color theory, traditional and contemporary art techniques
English
Oral storytelling, narrative structure, cultural literature, creative writing
Technology
Digital storytelling, multimedia creation, traditional techniques in modern context
History
Oral tradition as historical source, cultural preservation methods, art as evidence
Aromatawai - Assessment
Understanding & Analysis
- Knowledge Preservation: Understanding how arts function as information systems
- Cultural Respect: Appropriate engagement with traditional art forms
- Contemporary Connections: Linking traditional and modern expression
- Creative Response: Original work that demonstrates understanding
Extension Projects
- Artist Investigation: Research contemporary Māori artists and their cultural connections
- Cultural Documentation: Interview family/community about traditional art forms
- Collaborative Mural: Class project expressing shared values through art
- Digital Storytelling: Create multimedia story preserving cultural knowledge
Whakamutunga - Lesson Reflection
Today we discovered that traditional Māori arts are sophisticated knowledge preservation systems that function like libraries, universities, and archives combined. Through carving, weaving, and storytelling, crucial cultural wisdom survives across generations without written text. Understanding how art preserves knowledge helps us appreciate both traditional forms and contemporary cultural expression.
"He kōrero nā ngā tīpuna, he taonga mā tātou" - The stories of our ancestors are treasures for us, preserved in art that speaks across time.