Simple and Engaging Way to Practice te reo Māori with Tamariki

With just an empty cordial bottle and some random items from around the whare (that were small enough to fit in it), we created a surprisingly fun and entertaining game to practice some te reo Māori with the tamariki!

This DIY iSpy Bottle turned out to be one of those activities that kept us coming back to play over and over again. From naming the objects inside, to counting them, describing their colours, and even practicing commands while making the bottle together—there were so many ways to kōrero Māori!

And the best part? You can probably make one right now with things you already have at home.

Ppsstt, quick heads up! Some of the links we’ve mentioned here might be affiliate links. This just means that if you decide to buy something, we might make a commission. Tēnā koe!

How To Make Your Own Te Reo Māori Learning iSpy Bottle

What You’ll Need:

You don’t need anything fancy to create your own iSpy Bottle—just a few everyday items from around the whare. Here’s what we used:

• An empty cordial bottle (or any clear plastic bottle with a secure lid).
• Rice or another filler (like lentils or small beads) to mix with the items.
• Small objects from around the house that will fit through the bottle opening (e.g., pegs, buttons, beads, toy animals).
• Paper and a pen to create a list of the items and their te Reo Māori names.

Once you’ve gathered everything, you’re ready to start creating your iSpy Bottle and diving into some fun language-learning play!

How to Put it Together:

Follow these simple steps to create your own iSpy Bottle and start practicing te Reo Māori with your tamariki:

Find & Prep Your Items

Gather small objects that fit in the bottle (the more variety, the better!).
Use the Te Aka Online Māori Dictionary to look up their te reo Māori names and write them down—this will be your game cheat sheet!

Lay Everything Out

Present all the objects on a tray and let your tamariki pick which ones go inside.
This is already a learning moment—get them saying the names as they choose!

Fill the Bottle Together

Use a funnel (or cut another bottle in half) to make pouring easier.
Alternate between adding objects & rice, so they’re spread evenly inside.
Talk about what’s going in—name them, count them, describe their colours.

Minimise the Mess (or Try To! )

Work over a tray to catch spills… but let’s be real, rice will still end up everywhere.

Shake, Spy, and Play!

Secure the lid tightly (we didn’t glue it shut as we plan to tip it all out again as a future sensory tray activity).
Shake it up and start spotting items!

How to Play & Practice Te Reo Māori

Once your iSpy Bottle is ready, the real fun begins! Here are some simple ways to turn everyday play into rich language-learning moments:

🗣️ Name what you see
Start with basic vocab—“He aha tēnei?” (What’s this?) or “Kei hea te ____?” (Where’s the ____?).
Use the cheat sheet you made using Te Aka to say the names in te reo Māori as you find them.

🎨 Play with colours and shapes
Ask questions like “He aha te tae?” (What colour is it?) or “He porohita, he tapawhā rānei?” (Is it a circle or a square?). Use descriptive kupu to keep building vocabulary naturally.

🔢 Count and compare
Use number words while you play—“E hia ngā āporo?” (How many apples?)
Our number posters can help reinforce the reo too!

🧠 Use memory & recall
After a few rounds, cover the bottle and ask: “He aha kei roto?” (What’s inside?)
It’s a fun way to test their memory and their reo.

🌟 Mix it up
Each time you pull the bottle out, focus on a different reo goal—colours today, counting tomorrow, then maybe describing or storytelling next time. Repetition with variety is key!

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s playfulness. Use as much (or as little) reo as feels doable, and watch how naturally your tamariki begin to pick it up just by being part of the process. 💛

Want to keep those number, colour, and shape kupu front-of-mind while you play?

Build your own poster bundle with our Te Reo Tots Collection!
Choose the numbers, colours, and shapes posters you need – and get a sweet discount automatically when you bundle them together.
It’s the perfect way to support your iSpy game with everyday visuals tamariki will actually use.

✨ Explore the bundle builder here

Why This Activity Worked So Well

The best part about making an iSpy Bottle? It doesn’t feel like learning—it’s just play! And for Mr 4, that made all the difference.

From the moment we started making it, he was all in—choosing the objects, pouring the rice (everywhere ), and giving each item a shake before dropping it into the bottle. And once it was sealed? Game on.

He kept coming back to it—shaking, spinning, and peering through the rice to find something new.
It sparked curiosity—every time he spotted an object, he’d say its name (or ask me for it) without even realising he was practicing.
It became a conversation starter—we’d chat about colours, count how many of each item were inside, and even make up little stories about them.

It was such a simple little activity, but it ended up being one of the most played-with things in our house for over a week. And the best part? The kōrero kept flowing—without me having to prompt it.

What Did You Put in Yours?

If you make an iSpy Bottle with your tamariki, I’d love to see it!
Tag us on social media @moathanwords or drop a comment below with what objects you used!