
The Plant Kingdom
Levels 1 and 2

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The Organism: Discuss ideas about living things, so as to classify them according to observable differences.
Te Rauropi: Ka whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro mō ngā mea oreore, ka whakarōpū i runga i ngā rerekētanga.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 1
Observe and identify types of common plants.
Students can share their ideas about the characteristics of plants.
Level 2
Students can distinguish broad groups of trees, such as broadleaved trees and coniferous trees, by observing their leaves and reproductive structures.
The Arts (Dance): Move in response to environmental stimuli.
Mathematics and Statistics (Number and Algebra): Develop a number sense through exploring numbers of wings, feet, segments, antennae.
Mathematics and Statistics (Number and Algebra): Use the concepts of “greater than” and “less than” to describe the numbers of particular types of trees in the school playground.
Mathematics and Statistics (Geometry and Measurement): Identify symmetries in the natural world.
Mathematics and Statistics (Geometry and Measurement): Explore a variety of shapes and objects found in nature by touching, observing, and talking about them.

Related Topics
Resources

Matthew is travelling far and wide in this video to explore different habitats all over the world! Come along and discover how animals become suited to live in their habitats!
Level
1-2
Type
Video
Habitats
Everyday Science NZ
Matthew is travelling far and wide in this video to explore different habitats all over the world! Come along and discover how animals become suited to live in their habitats!

Give me a home among the gum trees, with koalas and honey bees…In this unit find out about the life cycle of Australia’s majestic eucalypts and the animals that depend on them.
Level
2
Type
Unit
Among the gum trees
Primary Connections
Give me a home among the gum trees, with koalas and honey bees…In this unit find out about the life cycle of Australia’s majestic eucalypts and the animals that depend on them.

He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā ākau pōhatuhatu o Aotearoa ki te Raki.
Level
1-4
Type
Te Reo Māori
Aotearoa Ki Te Raki Puka Ārahi Mō Te Ākau Pōhatuhatu
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā ākau pōhatuhatu o Aotearoa ki te Raki.

He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā tapātai one o Aotearoa ki te Raki.
Level
1-4
Type
Te Reo Māori
Aotearoa Ki Te Raki: Puka Ārahi mō te Tapātai One
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā tapātai one o Aotearoa ki te Raki.

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.

Can you cross off a line, a diagonal, or even the whole board, by finding each of these NZ tree species?
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Bark Bingo!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Can you cross off a line, a diagonal, or even the whole board, by finding each of these NZ tree species?

Look for the following on the beach. Remember not to collect anything that is alive, just describe it.
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Beach Scavenger Hunt
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
Look for the following on the beach. Remember not to collect anything that is alive, just describe it.

Build a tree is a fun way to demonstrate how a tree functions. This activity is suitable for both small and large groups of students (and adults!).
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Build a tree
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
Build a tree is a fun way to demonstrate how a tree functions. This activity is suitable for both small and large groups of students (and adults!).

Climate is the average weather of a given area over a long period of time. This includes seasonal temperatures, rain, sunshine, and large weather events such as storms.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Climate Change
Kids Greening Taupō
Climate is the average weather of a given area over a long period of time. This includes seasonal temperatures, rain, sunshine, and large weather events such as storms.

Find he rākau toa - a mighty tree - in your backyard, your school grounds, your neighbourhood, or in your wider region
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Compare a rākau with the giant kauri Tāne Mahuta
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Find he rākau toa - a mighty tree - in your backyard, your school grounds, your neighbourhood, or in your wider region

James Ataria works a bit differently from most other scientists. As a scientist, he thinks carefully about how evidence should be collected and critiqued. But, unlike many other scientists, he also uses Māori cultural knowledge to help his work.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2015 Level 2: ‘Learning from the Tangata Whenua’
Ministry of Education NZ
James Ataria works a bit differently from most other scientists. As a scientist, he thinks carefully about how evidence should be collected and critiqued. But, unlike many other scientists, he also uses Māori cultural knowledge to help his work.

Students at Kaniere School are helping scientists combat the spread of weeds. They’re using simple digital technology to identify the weeds and upload the information to a national database. The article shows how students can use digital technology to become citizen scientists and act locally on a national issue.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2018 Level 2: ‘The War on Weeds’
Ministry of Education NZ
Students at Kaniere School are helping scientists combat the spread of weeds. They’re using simple digital technology to identify the weeds and upload the information to a national database. The article shows how students can use digital technology to become citizen scientists and act locally on a national issue.

Plants play a very important role in our local environment, and across Aotearoa, connecting many different organism together. Learn how to use a hula hoop as a quadrat, make some new discoveries where you live, and monitor changes over time.
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Discovering plant life
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Plants play a very important role in our local environment, and across Aotearoa, connecting many different organism together. Learn how to use a hula hoop as a quadrat, make some new discoveries where you live, and monitor changes over time.

For tune – go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3WvxrStQ_0
Level
1-4
Type
Te Reo Māori
E tū Kahikatea waiata!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
For tune – go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3WvxrStQ_0

This resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance the native and endemic biodiversity in your green space.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Enhancing biodiversity in your green space
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
This resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance the native and endemic biodiversity in your green space.

Use this resource to experience native trees in your school grounds or another local green space.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Experiencing native trees in your green space
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
Use this resource to experience native trees in your school grounds or another local green space.

See what variety can you find in flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Can you find something different to go in each box that matches the description?
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Explore your local environment Scavenger Hunt
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
See what variety can you find in flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Can you find something different to go in each box that matches the description?

In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Dave explores the meaning of biodiversity in Aotearoa and how we all fit into that picture.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Exploring biodiversity
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Dave explores the meaning of biodiversity in Aotearoa and how we all fit into that picture.

In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Aroha explores the meaning of conservation in Aotearoa and what that means for us and our taonga species.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Exploring conservation
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Aroha explores the meaning of conservation in Aotearoa and what that means for us and our taonga species.

Is it living or not living? Is it a plant or an animal? Explore how we group things together based on their observable features, to help us figure out what everything is!
Level
2
Type
Unit
Feathers, fur or leaves
Primary Connections
Is it living or not living? Is it a plant or an animal? Explore how we group things together based on their observable features, to help us figure out what everything is!

Stop and smell the “Flowers” episode — it’s sweet.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMBLXIyqmWE
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Flowers
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Stop and smell the “Flowers” episode — it’s sweet.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMBLXIyqmWE

At this level, the focus is on a flowering plant's reproductive structures and the growth of new plants. The process of reproduction (including pollination) is covered in the levels 3 and 4 companion book, Making New Plants, Book 26 in this series.
Level
1-2
Type
Activity Book
Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds: Plants and Their Reproductive Parts
Ministry of Education NZ
At this level, the focus is on a flowering plant's reproductive structures and the growth of new plants. The process of reproduction (including pollination) is covered in the levels 3 and 4 companion book, Making New Plants, Book 26 in this series.

“Wood” you like to learn more about forests? Then watch this episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTl-ahesO7M
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Forests
Bill Nye The Science Guy
“Wood” you like to learn more about forests? Then watch this episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTl-ahesO7M