
Asking Questions
Levels 1 and 2

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Science Investigations: Carry out classifying and identifying; exploring; looking for patterns and modelling; fair testing; problem solving; making/building an object or a system.
Ngā Momo Tūhuratanga: Ka oti te whakarōpū me te tautohu, te torotoro, te rapu tauira me te whakatauira, te whakamātau tika, te whakaoti rapanga, te hanga i tētahi mea, i tētahi pūnaha rānei.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Understand why scientists ask questions
English (Oral Language): Develop some focus questions and conduct an interview with an older person in the community on how the local environment has changed since they were young.

Related Topics
Resources

In this week’s lesson about Aotearoa and Conservation you will be learning some Te Reo Māori: Aotearoa’s indigenous language, learning more about our country and diving into conservation topics such as pest identification and tracking.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Aotearoa and Conservation
Kids Greening Taupō
In this week’s lesson about Aotearoa and Conservation you will be learning some Te Reo Māori: Aotearoa’s indigenous language, learning more about our country and diving into conservation topics such as pest identification and tracking.

Let’s delve into the realm of the Atua Tāne Mahuta and find out who’s living in
your yard. Let’s find out what they eat and what their tracks look like.
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Backyard Tracker
Whenua Iti Outdoors
Let’s delve into the realm of the Atua Tāne Mahuta and find out who’s living in
your yard. Let’s find out what they eat and what their tracks look like.

This article describes a citizen science project carried out by three schools on Aotea Great Barrier Island. Concerned by the amount of marine debris washing up on their beaches, the students partnered with scientists from the University of Auckland to investigate what was happening and to take action to bring about change.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2019 Level 2: ‘Sea Science’
Ministry of Education NZ
This article describes a citizen science project carried out by three schools on Aotea Great Barrier Island. Concerned by the amount of marine debris washing up on their beaches, the students partnered with scientists from the University of Auckland to investigate what was happening and to take action to bring about change.

Who, what, where, why and how are powerful question words.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7dh3EdCEHE
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Do-It-Yourself Science
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Who, what, where, why and how are powerful question words.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7dh3EdCEHE

Hold it right there, buddy – it’s the “Forensics” show
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP3xuHnbXM4
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Forensics
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Hold it right there, buddy – it’s the “Forensics” show
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP3xuHnbXM4

As this topic is Fungi, our activities are based around identification of fungi and lichens, zombie fungi, spores, cultural uses, and the importance of fungi for on this planet.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Funky Fungi of Aotearoa
Kids Greening Taupō
As this topic is Fungi, our activities are based around identification of fungi and lichens, zombie fungi, spores, cultural uses, and the importance of fungi for on this planet.

Curriculum resources for young people to contribute, connect and extend their ideas about keeping safe around trucks on New Zealand roads.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Keeping safe around trucks
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Curriculum resources for young people to contribute, connect and extend their ideas about keeping safe around trucks on New Zealand roads.

Kia Pai Tō Haere is a flexible curriculum resource for Māori Medium Schools that provides guidance for teachers planning contextualised learning based on a kaupapa that keeping whānau safe on a journey is everyone’s work.
Level
1-4
Type
Te Reo Māori
Kia Pai Tō Haere
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Kia Pai Tō Haere is a flexible curriculum resource for Māori Medium Schools that provides guidance for teachers planning contextualised learning based on a kaupapa that keeping whānau safe on a journey is everyone’s work.

As this topic is Manu/Birds of Aotearoa, our activities are based around identification through sight and sound, along with bird feeding habits and creation stories.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Manu/Birds of Aotearoa
Kids Greening Taupō
As this topic is Manu/Birds of Aotearoa, our activities are based around identification through sight and sound, along with bird feeding habits and creation stories.

Put the ice-blocks in the cupboard and the chocolate in the oven… Wait, what? That doesn’t sound right! Let’s investigate how adding and removing heat can change something from a solid to a liquid and back again, and never accidentally put your chocolate in the oven again!
Level
2
Type
Unit
Melting moments
Primary Connections
Put the ice-blocks in the cupboard and the chocolate in the oven… Wait, what? That doesn’t sound right! Let’s investigate how adding and removing heat can change something from a solid to a liquid and back again, and never accidentally put your chocolate in the oven again!

What causes night and day? The rising of the Sun and the Moon are daily reminders of the awe and wonder, beauty and power of the universe. Studying the relationships between the Sun, Earth and Moon helps us understand how we experience day and night on Earth.
Level
2
Type
Unit
Night and day
Primary Connections
What causes night and day? The rising of the Sun and the Moon are daily reminders of the awe and wonder, beauty and power of the universe. Studying the relationships between the Sun, Earth and Moon helps us understand how we experience day and night on Earth.

Providing students with question starters helps to promote evidence-based discussions in the science classroom. Encourage students to frame their questions for discussion with their team members when preparing their claim/s and evidence.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Question Starters
Primary Connections
Providing students with question starters helps to promote evidence-based discussions in the science classroom. Encourage students to frame their questions for discussion with their team members when preparing their claim/s and evidence.

This resource can help you plan, implement and take action on restoration projects throughout the school year.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Restoration through the seasons
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
This resource can help you plan, implement and take action on restoration projects throughout the school year.

Freshwater, or Wai Māori, is water that is not salty, unlike the sea. This water comes in many different forms such as rain, rivers and lakes.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
River Ecosystems
Kids Greening Taupō
Freshwater, or Wai Māori, is water that is not salty, unlike the sea. This water comes in many different forms such as rain, rivers and lakes.

Explore and describe the features of soil and rock samples. Discuss different components of soils and draw an annotated diagram of a
soil solution.
Level
2
Type
Activity
Science for families: Exploring soil samples
Primary Connections
Explore and describe the features of soil and rock samples. Discuss different components of soils and draw an annotated diagram of a
soil solution.

Read these KCC interviews with NZ arborists to learn more about this important tree job, and get tips on climbing trees. Put them into action next time you are outside scaling a tree or trees!
Level
1-4
Type
Book
Tree Climbing Extraordinaires
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Read these KCC interviews with NZ arborists to learn more about this important tree job, and get tips on climbing trees. Put them into action next time you are outside scaling a tree or trees!

Animals grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves… In this unit, watch a mealworm grow and explore how animals grow and change.
Level
1
Type
Unit
Watch it grow!
Primary Connections
Animals grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves… In this unit, watch a mealworm grow and explore how animals grow and change.

Wet Feet is about involving schools and communities in the care and restoration of freshwater systems.
Level
3-4
Type
Unit
Wet Feet – investigating freshwater
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
Wet Feet is about involving schools and communities in the care and restoration of freshwater systems.