Nga Motu: A fantastic Minecraft EDU world

 Nga Motu: A Minecraft EDU world to support student learning about Te Ao Māori

Nga Motu is a Minecraft EDU world created by Piki Studios and dedicated to learning about the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a beautiful and immersive world that allows students to explore Māori culture, language, and history in a hands-on and engaging way.

Credit to: Whetu Paitai

Lesson plan for MinecraftEDU found here

Nga Motu is a valuable resource for educators who are looking to support student learning about Te Ao Māori. The world is designed to be culturally accurate and respectful, and it features a variety of activities that can be used to teach students about Māori culture and values.

One of the most important aspects of Te Ao Māori is the relationship between people and the land. Nga Motu reflects this relationship by featuring a variety of New Zealand native plants and animals, such as kiwi, tuna, and piwakawaka. Students can learn about these animals and their importance to Māori culture by exploring the world and interacting with the various whānau (families) that live there.

Another important aspect of Te Ao Māori is language. Nga Motu includes a variety of activities that can help students learn te reo Māori, the Māori language. For example, students can translate English to Māori by interacting with the various whānau on the pā (fortified village). Students can also learn about Māori proverbs and sayings by exploring the world.

The Nga Motu world includes a variety of activities that can be used to teach students about Māori culture, language, and history. Some of the specific activities include:

• Translating English to Māori by interacting with the various whānau on the pā.
• Finding New Zealand native animals in the Minecraft landscape, such as kiwi, tuna, and piwakawaka.
• Learning about Māori proverbs and sayings by exploring the world.
• Visiting different parts of the pā and learning about their purpose.
• Interacting with the various whānau and learning about their stories and experiences.
• Creating their own Māori-inspired builds and projects.

In addition to the activities mentioned above, there are a number of other interesting things to see and do in the Nga Motu world. For example, students can visit a whare whakairo (carved meeting house), a marae (Māori community centre), and a kāinga (village). Students can also learn about Māori games and sports, such as ki-o-rahi and tira tūnga.

The Nga Motu world can be used to support a variety of learning outcomes in the New Zealand Curriculum. For example, students can learn about:

• The history of Māori settlement in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Māori culture and values.
• The relationship between Māori and the land.
• The Māori language.
• Māori games and sports.

I have created a slide deck that can be used to introduce students to the Nga Motu world and to support their learning about Māori culture, language, and history. You can make a forced copy of the slide deck here.

Nga Motu is a valuable resource for educators who are looking to support student learning about Te Ao Māori. It is a beautiful and immersive world that allows students to explore Māori culture, language, and history in a hands-on and engaging way. I encourage you to check out the Nga Motu world and to use it in your classroom to support your students' learning.