Nā te manaakitanga a Matua Mokoro Gillett, a te tumuaki o Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha, tēnei mahi i tutuki.
The purpose of this learning unit was to empower students working in a full-immersion reo Māori learning environment to seek their own language and concepts in describing native tree species and to communicate this information to their peers and families. To support this work, students were provided with examples of some of the characteristics botanists use to classify or identify plants.
In addition to the main thread of this unit – researching their chosen tree species – students of Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha were provided with additional learning resources relating to fundamental aspects of plant biology such as pollination, seed dispersal, germination and photosynthesis. These resources were intended to spark curiosity and interest in plant biology, potentially leading to self-directed investigation of basic questions:
- “Why do plants have leaves and flowers?”
- “Why do plants produce seeds and fruit?”
- “Why does leaf size and shape differ so much between tree species or between different growth stages of the same species?”
- “Why does seed size or type vary so much between tree species?”
This unit attempts to present the relevant technical information in a form accessible to students and teachers with limited prior knowledge relating to plant identification and biology.
Resources include bilingual articles:
He aha hoki tērā rākau?
- He aha hoki tērā rākau? ❘ What kind of tree is that?
- Te haenga me te ruinga o te kākano ❘ Pollination and seed dispersal
- Ngā kākano ❘ Seeds
- Ngā rau o te rākau ❘ Tree leaves
- He pūnaha whakarōpū ❘ Classifying and identifying plants
Word downloads in te reo Māori only:
- He aha hoki tērā rākau?
- Te haenga me te ruinga o te kākano
- Ngā kākano
- Ngā rau rākau
- He pūnaha whakarōpū
All downloads are Word documents files to allow adaptation for individual kura needs.
He kōrero kōpūtahi ❘ Related content
- Plants topic
- Native plant leaves – DIY classification system
- Our native trees
- The uniqueness of New Zealand plants
The articles Indigenous perspectives – giants of the forests and The Majestic Samaúma – art meets science explore indigenous connections with trees in Aotearoa and in the Amazonian rainforest.
Watch our webinar He rauemi reo Māori mō ngā rākau – Te reo Māori plant resources for an overview of the bilingual resources created with Dr Norm Mason.
Exploring kōwhai mātauranga in the classroom is a first-hand account of a week-long inquiry of kōwhai trees, complete with kaiako-generated resources. You can learn about how kaiako Chloe Stantiall planned and taught this unit in our recorded webinar Exploring mātauranga in the classroom.
Ngā hono ❘ Useful links
- Flora Finder – Department of Botany, University of Otago, Te Tari Huaota te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo
- Experiencing native trees in your green space – Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
- Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha – Vimeo video
- Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao Tree – Pinterest board.
He whakamihi
Tēnei te mihi nui ki a Mokoro Gillett (Tumuaki o Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha) rāua ko Norman Mason (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research). Tēnā kōrua.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Mokoro Gillett (Principal of Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha) and Norman Mason (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research).
