Integrating Multiplicative Thinking, Real-Life Contexts, and Te Ao Māori into Pāngarau
Planning a meaningful, real-world pāngarau (maths) lesson can be time-consuming — but it truly doesn’t have to be. With generative AI tools like TeacherGPT, teachers can create engaging lessons in literal minutes. This Whānau Kai Budget lesson hits key learning objectives from the refreshed NZ Math Curriculum and strengthens cultural connections through Te Ao Māori integration.
Here’s how AI can help, and how this lesson unfolds.
How Generative AI Supports Teachers
AI tools like TeacherGPT can:
Generate contextual tasks that align with curriculum phases and strands.
Pull up-to-date price lists to mock supermarket data, saving you planning time.
Offer differentiation suggestions for mixed-ability groups (e.g. simplified budgets, extra constraints, or more complex scenarios).
Create sharing prompts and reflection questions that tie in mathematical reasoning.
Connect assessment to curriculum language, e.g. “Students justify multiplicative strategies in unfamiliar situations” so you don’t have to.
TeacherGPT can even help draft group tracking sheets, design usable worksheets, or summarise the lesson for a whānau newsletter.
Here’s an example of such a lesson (this lesson was made in under 30 seconds, with a simple prompt, with TeacherGPT).
Learning Focus: Multiplicative Thinking
Objective: Use multiplication and division strategies to solve real-world problems.
Level: Year 5–6
Curriculum Link: Number Strategies and Knowledge from the refreshed Pāngarau learning area.
Lesson Overview: “Whānau Kai Budget”
Task: Plan a shared kai for 20 people using a $150 budget.
Students work in small groups to:
Research prices for ingredients or meals (e.g. sausage sizzles, fried bread, fruit salad).
Use multiplication to scale quantities and division to break costs down per item or per person.
Justify their decisions and trade-offs when budgeting.
Present and compare their meal plans to other groups.
Te Ao Māori Integration:
Before diving into numbers, students engage in a short discussion around traditional kai and whānau gatherings. This context connects budgeting to cultural purpose, turning the lesson into more than just maths—it becomes about manaakitanga and community.
Prompt ideas from TeacherGPT:
“What kai do we traditionally share at hui or hākari?”
“Why is it important to share food with whānau and friends?”
Further Assessment Opportunities
Use generative AI to create a simple rubric or success criteria chart based on:
Accuracy of multiplication/division strategies
Justification of reasoning and budget choices
Collaboration and clarity of presentation
These can be shared with students beforehand to guide success and support formative feedback.
Why This Lesson Works
Context-rich: Makes multiplicative thinking real and relevant
Culturally grounded: Ties in Te Ao Māori in a respectful, natural way
Curriculum-aligned: Supports refreshed Pāngarau strategy development
Time-saving: TeacherGPT helps you plan smarter, not harder
Try It in Your Classroom
Prompt TeacherGPT for a “Whānau Kai Budget” lesson plan or ask it to generate a similar task using your own budget and class size.
Generative AI tools don’t replace teacher expertise — they enhance it, helping you design engaging, curriculum-rich lessons that reflect the values and diversity of Aotearoa.
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