Class 1 ‘Te Akomanga Tuatahi’ 

The Class 1 Child: “I Am” 

 

“Piki, eke, te mutunga he aiō” 

“There are ups and downs, but in the end all is peaceful” 

 

The Class 1 child is not yet fully aware of themselves as separate individuals, or that others are separate and unique individuals, the child relates to the world as it affects them. Their immediate response will come from their own sense of comfort or discomfort – ease or unease. The seven-year-old wishes to know that the world is beautiful, that the adults know what is right and good and will look after their needs. Children of this age can love easily and will wish to please those they love. 

 

The Task 

Learning to become social, to ‘do’ with others, to experience themselves as part of a group, to take turns and to respect others needs and abilities. To look into their immediate environment and, through imaginative pictures, begin to develop a respect for, and understanding of, the world of nature. Through the imagination to make a feeling connection with the more abstract concepts that accompany our daily lives. 

 

Pūrākau or Māori Fairy Tales are pre-earth history, human psychology, human development and a bridge between heaven and earth. All lessons are linked with these stories and the children are encouraged to live and learn imaginatively. 

 

Approach 

 

Lessons could be circle based and could be shortened to half period time slots. 

In the first year at school, the children absorb everything in the mood of wonder and empathy. The starting point of learning te reo Māori is choral speaking and singing waiata, based on imitation. These activities are mostly accompanied by gestures and mimicry. As soon as possible, the children should be given opportunities to speak both in smaller groups and individually. Poetic language – rhythm and rhyme, through finger games and waiata-a-ringa forms one of the two main pillars in language learning. The other pillar is prose, everyday language, which is also cultivated right from the beginning including karakia. 

 

Language games feature prominently throughout the Lower School. While participating in these, children are totally dedicated to the actions and the accompanying language activities. 

 

Great importance is attached to story-telling. By listening attentively, the children learn to entrust themselves to the flow of the language. Through this inner activity, they develop the ability to understand the gist of a story. 

 

By the end of Class 1, the great majority of children have mastered what they have been engaged in, in the course of the year. This can only be achieved by thorough and frequent revision of what has been introduced and studied so that the children can continually practice anew what they have already learned. 

 

 

Possible Lesson Approach/Content (for specialist teacher) 

 

Class One: 

 

• Begin to build te reo Māori by introducing through waiata, karakia, waiata-a-ringa, and mihimihi 

• Beginning and ending karakia, and himene appropriate for any occasion 

• Basic greetings and responses – Tēnā koe/ Kia ora / Kei te pēhea koe? 

• Following instructions e.g.  E tū/ E noho/ Whakarongo/ Titiro/ Kia pai to noho/ Waiata mai 

• Elements of everyday speech that enable that allow children to participate in short conversations and short dialogues about themselves and families 

• Mihimihi to introduce yourself: Ko ……… tōku whaea/matua/ingoa 

• Introducing yourself and a friend – Ko …..ahau/Ko …… taku hoa 

• Stating how you are feeling – Kei te ……. Ahau 

• Rhythmical and practical counting exercises (Numbers 1 – 20) 

• Naming parts of the body, daily activities (eating, washing, dressing) 

• Learning basic colours 

• Waiata-a-ringa (Action songs) 

• Kori tinana (Movement) 

• Pakiwaitara Listening and participating in stories. (Fairy Tales) 

 

Learning Outcomes 

 

By the end of Class 1, the children will be able to: 

• Participate using te reo Māori in stories that are told. 

• Sing in unison using te reo Māori, a number of waiata 

• Participate using appropriate actions in waiata-a-ringa 

• Participate in unison in karakia 

• Respond to simple commands and basic questions 

 

The children’s active vocabulary should include: 

• The main colours 

• The main objects in the classroom 

• Parts of the body 

• Counting from 1-10 

• Days of the week 

 

Story Themes 

 

Pakiwaitara - Māori tales 

 

Possible Approach/Content - For Class Teachers: 

 

• Waiata-a-ringa (action songs) 

• Simple karakia before meals  

• Simple kōwhaiwhai patterns and spirals 

• Days of the week 

• Counting games 1-20 

• Made up stories to enhance main lessons 

• Rhymes and poems incorporating the colours. 

• Simple conversation games