Te Pūtake o Te Reo
Level 1 Grammar Progression
"Ko te reo te tūāpapa o te whakaaro"
"Language is the foundation of thought."
Te Ao o te Rangatahi: Ngā Pūtake o te Reo supports ākonga to develop a strong foundation in te reo Māori grammar within meaningful and relevant contexts.
Designed for NCEA Level 1 learners, this unit focuses on the explicit teaching and acquisition of core language structures, enabling students to construct simple, accurate sentences that can be built on throughout the year.
Through themes such as identity, friendships, school life, hobbies, and daily routines, ākonga explore how grammar functions to shape meaning, describe actions, and communicate ideas. Learning is grounded in te ao o te rangatahi, ensuring that language remains practical, relatable, and directly connected to students’ lived experiences.
Ākonga develop the ability to recognise, understand, and apply key sentence structures, including basic sentence types, tense markers, and simple patterns for description and interaction. The emphasis is on developing accuracy and control, supporting learners to move beyond memorisation toward confident and intentional language use.
This unit serves as both a foundational and revision platform, allowing learners to consolidate essential grammatical knowledge aligned to the Arawhata Reo progression. It prepares ākonga for more complex language use by establishing the core structures required for ongoing development in te reo Māori.
whāinga paetae
ACHIEVEMENT OBJECTIVES
At NZC Level 5 & 6, ākonga develop a foundational awareness of the linguistic building blocks, patterns, and features of te reo Māori, enabling them to communicate simple ideas and information within familiar contexts.
In this unit, learners focus on acquiring and applying core grammatical structures aligned to the Arawhata Reo progression. They develop the ability to construct and manipulate simple sentence patterns to describe actions, states, and experiences within contexts relevant to te ao o te rangatahi.
Learning emphasises accuracy, control, and understanding of how language works, supporting ākonga to use appropriate vocabulary, sentence construction, and grammatical forms to communicate meaning effectively.
Reremahi (Verbal Sentences – Actions)
Ākonga will learn to describe actions happening in the present, past, and future using verb-first sentence structures.Reretū (Stative Sentences – Descriptions/States)
Ākonga will learn to express states, feelings, and qualities to describe how people or things are.Reremahi Poro (Simple Verbal Sentences)
Ākonga will learn to construct simple action sentences using familiar verbs and basic sentence patterns.Reremahi Whakakāhore (Negative Verbal Sentences)
Ākonga will learn to express actions that are not happening using negative sentence structures.Rereingoa (Nominal Sentences – “He” Sentences)
Ākonga will learn to identify and describe people, places, and things using noun-based sentence structures.Rereāhua (Descriptive Sentences)
Ākonga will learn to add detail and description using adjectives to describe people, objects, and experiences.Reremahi with Tense Markers (i, kei te, ka)
Ākonga will learn to indicate when actions occur by applying past, present, and future markers.Pātai (Questions)
Ākonga will learn to ask and respond to simple questions to gather and share information.Kīanga Wāhi (Location Sentences)
Ākonga will learn to describe where people and things are using basic location structures.
Putanga ako
learning outcomes
The learning outcomes describe what ākonga will be able to demonstrate by the end of the unit. They focus on communicative competence, cultural participation, confidence, and relational growth, ensuring learning extends beyond language recall to meaningful application.
By the end of this unit, ākonga will be able to demonstrate the following skills:
Understand and recognise foundational sentence structures in te reo Māori
Apply simple grammatical patterns to construct clear and meaningful sentences
Develop confidence using basic sentence types across familiar contexts
Use present, past, and future markers to communicate simple ideas
Engage in listening and reading to build understanding of language patterns (reo torohū)
Use spoken and written language to express simple ideas and experiences (reo whakaputa)
Strengthen accuracy through repeated practice and structured language use
Build independence in forming and adapting sentences using known structures
Connect grammar learning to real-life teenage contexts and experiences
Develop a foundation for more complex language use and progression in te reo Māori
aromatawai
assessment tasks
This unit does not include a formal NCEA assessment. Instead, it is designed to provide the essential grammatical foundations required for success across other units and assessment contexts throughout the year.
Assessment within this unit is primarily formative. Ākonga engage in a range of informal assessment opportunities that allow kaiako to monitor progress, identify areas of strength, and provide targeted support where needed.
These opportunities span a range of language modes, including whakarongo, pānui, kōrero, and tuhituhi, ensuring that learners develop both receptive (reo torohū) and productive (reo whakaputa) capabilities.
The focus is on building confidence, strengthening accuracy, and supporting ākonga to apply foundational sentence structures with increasing independence, preparing them for more formal assessment in subsequent units.
ngā hua nui
what's included
Designed as a pick-up-and-teach package, this resource supports kaiako to deliver high-quality, kaupapa-rich te reo Māori learning with confidence, clarity, and minimal preparation.
📋 MĀHERE AKO – FULL UNIT PLAN
A structured unit plan aligned to Arawhata Reo progression, including clear learning outcomes, grammar sequencing, and guidance for building foundational language accuracy.
📚 LESSON SLIDES & TEACHING NOTES
Ready-to-use lesson slides supported by detailed teaching notes, providing clear explanations of sentence structures, modelling, and step-by-step guidance for delivery.
🧩 INTERACTIVE & DIGITAL ACTIVITIES
Engaging, rangatahi-relevant activities designed to reinforce grammar through practice, collaboration, and real-life application across a range of contexts.
📝 STUDENT WORKBOOKS & LEARNING RESOURCES
Printable and digital student materials that support structured practice, note-taking, and consolidation of key grammatical concepts.
🎧 AUDIO & VISUAL RESOURCES
A range of listening and viewing materials to support pronunciation, comprehension, and recognition of language patterns in context.
🎯 SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Activities designed to encourage independent learning, allowing ākonga to revisit, practise, and strengthen their understanding at their own pace.
Heading 2
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Heading 2
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Heading 2
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.