Vocabulary Word Find
Ingoa — Naming Builds Relationship
Ngā Whāinga Akoranga · Learning Intentions
- Build and use subject vocabulary from Unit 3
- Understand key terms in both English and te reo Māori
- Make connections between words and ideas from the unit
Paearu Angitu · Success Criteria
- I can define at least 10 key terms from Unit 3 in my own words
- I can use 5 terms in sentences that connect them to unit themes
- I can match 5 Māori kupu to their English equivalents
Hononga Marautanga · Curriculum Alignment
Curriculum alignment for this handout has not yet been verified against the live curriculum statements. A generated placeholder that stood here was removed on 2026-08-29 because it matched no real statement.
Rapurapu Kupu · Word Find Puzzle
Find all 15 words hidden in the grid. Words may be hidden horizontally (left to right) or vertically (top to bottom).
| S | U | S | T | A | I | N | A | B | L | E | K | P | Q | M |
| T | T | E | C | H | N | O | L | O | G | Y | A | R | X | V |
| A | A | B | I | O | D | I | V | E | R | S | I | T | Y | W |
| I | I | R | E | N | E | W | A | B | L | E | T | Y | P | H |
| O | O | C | A | R | B | O | N | F | G | Z | Y | P | E | A |
| H | H | H | A | B | I | T | A | T | K | Q | P | E | R | K |
| A | A | C | O | M | P | O | S | T | A | I | T | I | A | I |
| N | N | E | C | O | S | Y | S | T | E | M | K | A | N | T |
| G | G | P | R | O | T | O | T | Y | P | E | I | N | G | A |
| A | A | I | N | N | O | V | A | T | I | O | N | G | A | N |
| K | K | A | I | T | I | A | K | I | T | A | N | G | A | U |
| T | T | A | I | A | O | W | Q | M | V | Z | B | X | P | R |
| H | H | A | N | G | A | R | A | U | N | C | D | F | G | J |
| R | R | A | R | A | U | N | G | A | L | M | N | O | Q | S |
| W | W | H | A | K | A | A | R | O | T | U | V | X | Z | Y |
Word bank (15 words to find):
SUSTAINABLE • TECHNOLOGY • BIODIVERSITY • RENEWABLE • CARBON • HABITAT • COMPOST • ECOSYSTEM • PROTOTYPE • INNOVATION • KAITIAKITANGA • TAIAO • HANGARAU • RARAUNGA • WHAKAARO
Tautuhia · Define in Your Own Words
After finding each word, write a definition in your own words AND one sentence connecting it to Unit 3. Complete at least 10.
| Word | My definition | A sentence using it about Unit 3 |
|---|---|---|
| sustainable | ||
| technology | ||
| biodiversity | ||
| renewable | ||
| carbon | ||
| ecosystem | ||
| prototype | ||
| innovation | ||
| kaitiakitanga | ||
| taiao |
Hono Kupu Māori · Te Reo Māori Matching
Draw a line from each Māori kupu to its English equivalent.
Te Reo Māori
- Hangarau
- Raraunga
- Whakaaro
- Taiao
- Kaitiakitanga
English
- A. Data / information
- B. Thought / idea / understanding
- C. Technology / craft / skilful work
- D. Environmental guardianship
- E. The natural world / environment
My answers: 1=___ 2=___ 3=___ 4=___ 5=___
Aronga Mātauranga Māori
Why does naming matter? In te ao Māori, the act of naming — giving a word to something — is an act of relating to it. A place without a name is a place without relationship. A species without a name in te reo Māori is a species whose relationship to the community has been severed.
The word hangarau (technology) is a compound: it contains the concepts of hand-work (hanga — to build, shape, create) and knowledge (rau — skill, abundance). Technology is not just a tool — it is the marriage of making and knowing. When we give Māori names to technologies, we do not simply translate: we locate the technology in a different set of values and relationships. What does it mean that there is a te reo Māori word for data (raraunga) and thought (whakaaro)? What does it suggest about the relationship between knowledge, language, and who gets to name the world?
Ngā Rauemi Tautoko · Support Materials
Resources already provided:
- Unit 3 glossary (print and digital version)
- Te reo Māori kupu resource pack
- Vocabulary sentence frame reference card
Aronga Rerekē · Differentiated Pathways
Tīmata · Entry Level
Complete the word find using the word bank. Define at least 5 words. Use the glossary to help with definitions.
Paerewa · On Level
Complete the word find, define at least 10 words in your own words, and complete the te reo matching activity.
Tūāpae · Extension
Create your own word find using 10 additional vocabulary words from Unit 3. Write your own bilingual glossary entry for each Māori word (te reo definition, not just a translation). Share with a partner to solve.
Curriculum alignment
- NZC (2007) · Science essence statement: Science is a way of investigating, understanding, and explaining our natural, physical world and the wider universe. It involves generating and testing ideas, gathering evidence – including by making observations, carrying out investigations and modelling, and communicating and debating with others – in order to develop scientific knowledge, understanding, and explanations.
- Pairing chosen by this resource: This resource chooses to teach that science alongside mātauranga Māori, which stands as a knowledge system in its own right — the pairing is this resource's own approach, not a quotation from the curriculum.
- Focus of this resource: Understand how different knowledge systems — including mātauranga Māori — shape how communities relate to the natural world.