📖 Unit Overview
Kaitiakitanga — Caring for Our Place
This unit introduces primary students to the concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) through hands-on exploration of their local environment. Students learn about the plants, animals, and places around them, and develop practical skills for caring for their environment. The unit integrates science, social studies, Te Reo Māori, and the arts in age-appropriate ways.
He Taonga - Our Connection to Place
Kaitiakitanga means being a guardian or caretaker. In Te Ao Māori, we are all connected to the land, water, and living things around us. When we care for our place, we care for ourselves and future generations. This unit teaches what kaitiakitanga asks of people and gives ākonga real practice in caring for a place. Kaitiakitanga is a responsibility carried by mana whenua for their own rohe; ākonga learn the concept and act on it, which is not the same as holding the role.
"Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au" (Whanganui pepeha. Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 records it as expressing the inseparable connection between the iwi and hapū of Whanganui and the Whanganui River — a specific relationship, not a general saying about nature. Teach it as theirs.)
I am the river, and the river is me - we are all connected.
📋 NZC Curriculum Alignment
This unit addresses achievement objectives across multiple learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Science / Pūtaiao
Recognise that living things are suited to their particular habitat.
Explore and describe natural features and resources.
Social Studies / Tikanga-ā-Iwi
Understand how places influence people and people influence places.
Te Reo Māori
Use and respond to simple classroom language.
Lesson 1: Our Special Place
"He aha tō wāhi pai?" - What is your special place?
Learning Focus
Students explore and connect with their local environment. They learn to observe carefully, identify special features, and begin to understand their connection to place.
Key Concepts
- Wāhi: Place
- Whenua: Land
- Observation: Looking carefully
- Connection: How we relate to place
Learning Activities
- Nature walk and observation
- Drawing and mapping our place
- Sharing stories about special places
- Creating place observation journals
Lesson 2: Living Things Around Us
"He aha ngā mea ora kei tō tātou wāhi?" - What living things are in our place?
Learning Focus
Students identify and learn about the plants and animals in their environment. They discover what living things need to survive and how they depend on each other.
Key Concepts
- Mea ora: Living things
- Rākau: Trees/plants
- Manu: Birds
- Ngāngara: Insects
Learning Activities
- Nature scavenger hunt
- Plant and animal identification
- Creating nature art
- Learning what living things need
Lesson 3: How We Care
"Me pēhea tātou e tiaki i tō tātou wāhi?" - How do we care for our place?
Learning Focus
Students learn about kaitiakitanga and explore practical ways to care for their environment. They identify problems and solutions, and begin planning caring actions.
Key Concepts
- Kaitiakitanga: Guardianship/caring
- Tiaki: To care for
- Manaaki: To look after
- Responsibility: Our duty to care
Learning Activities
- Learning about kaitiakitanga
- Identifying environmental problems
- Brainstorming solutions
- Creating kaitiaki promises
Lesson 4: Taking Action
"Ka mahi tātou" - We will work/act
Learning Focus
Students put their learning into action by implementing caring projects. They plant, clean, create, and care for their environment while documenting their work.
Action Projects
- Planting native plants
- Creating litter-free zones
- Building bug hotels
- Making bird feeders
Documentation
- Taking photos
- Writing about actions
- Creating posters
- Sharing with whānau
Aromatawai - Assessment
Ongoing Assessment
- Observation: Student engagement and participation
- Journals: Place observation journals
- Discussions: Sharing ideas and questions
- Artwork: Drawings and creative expressions
Final Project
Kaitiaki Action Project: Students create a poster, presentation, or display showing:
- What they learned about their place
- What living things they found
- What caring actions they took
- Their kaitiaki promise for the future
Whakamutunga - Unit Reflection
This unit helps children understand that they are kaitiaki (guardians) of their environment. Through hands-on exploration and action, students develop a sense of responsibility and connection to their place. They learn that caring for the environment is not just something we do, but who we are.
"Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au" - We are all connected to our place, and our place is part of us.