Numeracy pitch: describe the population
Ākonga calculate demographic measures and describe what the numbers show.
- Numeracy move: Measures computed and described
- Evidence it produces: An accurate description of what the statistics say
Before you plan from this: the lesson body below is currently near-identical to the other route's. This panel describes the intended difference, which is not authored yet — so choose either route on topic and year band, not on this pitch. Both routes are kept and will be differentiated; neither is being retired.
Our People, Our Numbers
Demographics and identity in data
Ako | Learning Intentions
- Know: How to interpret census data tables and graphs.
- Do: Analyse trends in Te Reo Māori speakers over the last 3 censuses.
- Understand: That data can tell powerful stories about cultural survival and growth.
He Kōrero Tīmatanga - Introduction
Statistics help us understand who we are as a nation. The Census is like a mirror held up to Aotearoa every 5 years. What does it show us about our culture?
Discussion Starter
"Is Aotearoa getting younger or older? Is it getting more diverse?"
Predict: What percentage of people speak Te Reo Māori today vs 2013?
Part 1: Census Data Dive
We will examine the age-structure of the Māori population vs the European population.
📊 Population Pyramids
Compare two shapes:
- Māori Population: Wide base (Young population). Median age ~27.
- European Population: Narrow base (Aging population). Median age ~41.
Question: What does this mean for the future workforce? For schools? For healthcare?
Part 2: Te Reo Māori Revitalization
Analyse the data on Te Reo speakers.
| Year | Percentage Speakers |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3.7% |
| 2018 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 7.1% (Estimated) |
Task: Calculate the percentage increase between 2013 and 2023.
Caution: Be careful with "percentage points" vs "percentage growth".
Assessment Preparation (AS 91945)
For your assessment, you will choose one dataset (Housing, Sustainability, or Culture) and produce a report.
Your report must include:
- Problem Statement: What are you investigating?
- Method: What calculations or graphs did you use?
- Findings: What did the numbers show?
- Conclusion: What does this mean for Aotearoa?
🎬 Media Anchor
Use this clip to strengthen evidence handling and communication before writing your statistical report.
- Pause and discuss: What makes a data claim trustworthy and well-supported?
- Transfer task: Add one source-quality check to your assessment plan.
Kaiako Notes
Use this lesson to tackle misconceptions about statistics. Show how data can be manipulated, and the importance of looking at the source.
📋 Teacher Planning Snapshot
Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions
Students apply mathematical skills (statistics, geometry, data analysis) to real Aotearoa housing and sustainability contexts — connecting mātauranga Māori principles of kāinga, papakainga, and whanaungatanga to contemporary housing challenges and design.
Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria
- ✅ Can collect, display, and interpret data about Aotearoa housing using appropriate statistical representations
- ✅ Applies geometric reasoning to evaluate sustainable design principles in whare design
- ✅ Connects mathematical findings to social justice questions about housing equity and Māori land rights
Differentiation & Inclusion
Scaffold support: Provide pre-structured data tables as an entry point for statistical analysis; use visual floor-plan templates for geometry tasks. Extension tasks include calculating comparative housing density statistics or modelling papakainga land-use scenarios.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach mathematical vocabulary alongside contextual terms (papakainga, whanaungatanga, toitū); use diagrams and real photographs of Aotearoa housing to ground abstract data.
Inclusion: Offer manipulatives and digital tools alongside written tasks; neurodiverse learners benefit from step-by-step data investigation guides and reduced open-ended prompts.
Mātauranga Māori lens: Kāinga and papakainga as living mathematical contexts — whare design embodies geometric knowledge. Whanaungatanga shapes community housing decisions. Kaitiakitanga frames sustainability calculations. Māori land statistics connect tūhuratanga (inquiry) to tino rangatiratanga.
Prior knowledge: Basic statistics (mean, median, graphs); introductory geometry (area, perimeter, scale).
Curriculum alignment
- Te Mātaiaho (2025) · Mathematics and Statistics · Phase 4 (Years 9–10) · Statistics (Practices): “- Creating multiple data visualisations for an investigation - Selecting appropriate scales for data”
- NZC (2007) · Mathematics and Statistics · Level 5: “Plan and conduct surveys and experiments using the statistical enquiry cycle: – determining appropriate variables and measures; – considering sources of variation; – gathering and cleaning data; – using multiple displays, and re-categorising data to find patterns, variations, relationships, and trends in multivariate data sets; – comparing sample distributions visually, using measures of centre, spread, and proportion; – presenting a report of findings.”