📚 Unit Plans → 🌟 Kaitiakitanga Unit → 📖 Lesson 1: Our Special Place
Lesson 1 of 5 45-60 minutes
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Lesson 1: Our Special Place - Tō Tātou Wāhi

Exploring and Connecting to Our Local Environment

Students begin their kaitiakitanga journey by exploring their local environment, learning to observe carefully, and understanding their connection to place.

Whakatūwhera - Cultural Opening

Every place is special. The place where we learn, play, and live is important to us. In Te Ao Māori, we are connected to the land (whenua) and the places around us. Today we will explore our special place and learn to see it with new eyes.

"Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au"

I am the river, and the river is me - we are all connected to our place.

Ngā Whāinga Ako - Learning Intentions

Students Will Learn

  • What makes their place special
  • How to observe carefully
  • Te Reo words for place (wāhi, whenua)
  • That we are connected to our place

Students Will Demonstrate

  • Careful observation skills
  • Drawing or describing their place
  • Using Te Reo words for place
  • Sharing what makes their place special

📺 YouTube Video - Our Special Place

Watch this video to learn about special places and how we connect to them:

Video Title: [To be added - video about special places, kaitiakitanga, or connection to place]

Duration: [5-10 minutes recommended]

When to watch: Before Activity 2 (Nature Walk) or as introduction

Teacher Note: Search YouTube for videos about "special places", "kaitiakitanga", "connection to place", or "Māori connection to whenua". Look for age-appropriate content (Years 3-6). Consider videos from RNZ, Māori TV, or educational channels.

Ngā Mahi - Lesson Activities (45-60 minutes)

1. Kia Ora Circle - Sharing Our Place (10 mins)

Cultural Protocol: Sit in a circle (whakatōhea - all together). Begin with a simple greeting: "Kia ora koutou" (hello everyone). Model respect for the place we are in.

Setup: Students sit in circle. Teacher asks: "He aha tō wāhi pai?" (What is your special place?)

Teacher Modeling:

"Kia ora koutou. My special place is [school playground/garden/classroom]. I like it because [reason]. He aha tō wāhi pai? What is your special place?"

Student Sharing: Each student shares one special place (can be school, home, park, beach, etc.). Use sentence starter: "My special place is..." or "Tōku wāhi pai ko..."

Differentiation:
  • Support: Provide picture cards of different places. Students can point and say "This is my special place."
  • Extension: Students describe why their place is special using more detail.
  • Inclusive: All places valued - school, home, parks, cultural places, anywhere meaningful to the child.

2. Nature Walk - Observing Our Place (15-20 mins)

Exploration: Take students on a walk around the school grounds or nearby area. Focus on careful observation.

Observation Prompts:

  • "What do you see?" (He aha tō kite?)
  • "What do you hear?" (He aha tō rongo?)
  • "What do you feel?" (He aha tō rongo?)
  • "What do you smell?" (He aha tō hongi?)
Safety: Set clear boundaries for the walk. Use buddy system. Remind students to look but not touch unless safe to do so.
Differentiation:
  • Support: Use visual observation cards (see, hear, feel, smell). Students can point to what they notice.
  • Extension: Students record observations in simple sentences or drawings with labels.
  • Physical Needs: Adapt walk for accessibility. Can observe from classroom window or photos if needed.

3. Creating Our Place Map (15-20 mins)

Creative Project: Students create a drawing or map of their special place or the place they observed.

Options:

  • Drawing: Free drawing of their place
  • Map: Simple map showing features
  • Collage: Using natural materials collected (if safe)
  • Photo Story: If using tablets/cameras

Te Reo Labels:

Encourage students to label their drawings with Te Reo words:

  • Wāhi: Place
  • Whenua: Land
  • Rākau: Tree
  • Papa tākaro: Playground
Differentiation:
  • Support: Provide templates or tracing options. Use stickers or stamps.
  • Extension: Add written descriptions, create detailed maps with legend.
  • Creative: Allow various art materials - crayons, paint, natural materials.

4. Sharing Our Place Maps (5-10 mins)

Respectful Sharing: Students share their place maps in pairs or small groups.

Sharing Prompts:

  • "This is my special place..."
  • "I drew..."
  • "I like this place because..."
Teacher Role: Celebrate all places shared. Highlight connections between students' places. Model appreciation: "Kia ora" (thank you) after each share.

Aromatawai - Assessment & Next Steps

Formative Assessment

  • Observation: Can students identify features of their place?
  • Participation: Are they engaged in sharing and listening?
  • Te Reo: Are they using new words (wāhi, whenua)?
  • Connection: Do they show understanding of place connection?

Homework & Extension

  • Whānau Share: Show family your place map and tell them about it
  • Home Observation: Observe your home place - what do you notice?
  • Te Reo Practice: Practice saying "wāhi" and "whenua" at home
  • Photo Collection: Bring photos of special places to share next lesson

Whakaaro - Reflection

Today we learned that every place is special. We are all connected to the places around us - our school, our home, our community. When we care about our place, we care about ourselves and each other. Next time, we will learn about the living things in our place.

"Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au" - We are all connected to our place.