Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua
Ngā Whāinga Ako | Learning Intentions
Tamariki will know
- That each person is unique, special, and loved (Mana).
- Feelings words in te reo Māori: Koa (happy), Riri (angry). Kaiako: the wider feelings-kupu set for this lesson is awaiting confirmation by a kaiako Māori — add to it from your own kura's list rather than from here.
- How to introduce themselves using the name stem "Ko [name] tōku ingoa".
Tamariki will demonstrate
- By drawing a detailed self-portrait showing their eyes, hair, smile, and whānau.
- By completing Page 2 of their Starting School Adventure Booklet.
Feelings Weather Check (10 min)
Heart Weather Check-in:
"Inside our hearts, feelings change just like the weather outside! Sometimes it's sunny, sometimes it's rainy. All feelings are okay!"
Action: Children point to the Feelings Weather Chart (Sun = Happy, Rainbow = Excited, Cloud = Nervous, Rain = Sad). Teacher validates all feelings warmly!
Pepeha Starter Circle (15 min)
Sitting in a circle, each child says one line and passes the taonga (a smooth stone, a shell, a soft toy) to the next child:
"Ko ________ tōku ingoa." — My name is ________.
Model it twice yourself before starting. A child may whisper it, say it with you, or have a buddy say it beside them. Every one of those counts as having taken a turn.
Children may add one sentence about a person who looks after them, or show a photo or drawing they brought. This part is optional and stays optional — do not go round the circle for it.
In any new-entrant class some tamariki are in foster or kin care, live across two homes, or have recently arrived. "Ko ___ tōku ingoa" is true for every child on day one. Whakapapa beyond that belongs to whānau, not to a circle time — never ask a child to name an iwi or a maunga to complete the task.
Mirror Self-Portraits (15 min)
Children hold unbreakable mirrors and look properly before they draw — most five-year-olds draw the face they think they have, not the one in the mirror.
Prompt in this order: eye colour, hair (curly, straight, long, short), skin tone, smile. Give them a full minute with the mirror before the crayons come out.
Put out a full range of skin-tone crayons or pencils, not one "skin" colour. A child who cannot find their own shade learns something you did not intend to teach.
🎨 Tamariki Adventure Booklet — Page 2: Ko Wai Au?
Tamariki open Page 2 of their Starting School Adventure Booklet:
Page 2 Activities:
1. Self-Portrait: Draw yourself in the frame, using the mirror and the skin-tone crayons.
2. The people who look after me: Draw the people (and pets) who look after you. One person or many — both are finished answers.
Exit Verification | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)
Exit Circle Check:
"I can say 'Ko ___ tōku ingoa', and my Page 2 drawing shows me and the people who look after me."
Teacher Planning & NZ Curriculum Alignment
NZ Curriculum Phase 1 Alignment (Years 0–3 Health & Physical Education / Social Sciences):
- Personal Identity: Recognise personal strengths, feelings, and the people who care for us.
- Emotional Literacy: Name how we feel using the weather chart.
Vocabulary: Ko wai au, ingoa, whānau, koa, mana, self-portrait.
The alignment above is the authors' summary of Phase 1 intent, not a quoted curriculum statement. This unit carries no verbatim curriculum citation yet.