📚 Unit Plans → 🌍 Kaitiakitanga - Caring for Our Place → 📄 Unit Quick Reference - Kaitiakitanga
Years 4–6Pūtaiao / Science

⚡ Unit Quick Reference
Puka Whakamārama

📚 Unit Overview

Title: Kaitiakitanga - Caring for Our Place

Year Levels: Years 4–6 (Te Mātaiaho Phase 2)

Duration: 4-5 weeks (12-15 hours)

Learning Areas: Science, Social Studies, Te Reo Māori, The Arts

📖 Lessons

Lesson 1: Our Special Place (45-60 mins) Lesson 2: Living Things Around Us (45-60 mins) Lesson 3: How We Care (45-60 mins) Lesson 4: Taking Action (45-60 mins) Lesson 5: Sharing Our Learning (45-60 mins)

📄 Student Resources

  • 🌿 Place Observation Journal
  • 🔍 Fixed-Area Survey — He Rūri Wāhi
  • 🤝 Kaitiaki Promise Poster
  • 📋 Caring Action Plan
  • 🌱 Plant Care Guide
  • 🗣️ Te Reo Nature Words

👨‍🏫 Teacher Resources

  • 📋 Teacher Planning Guide
  • 📊 Assessment Rubric
  • ✉️ Whānau Letter
  • 🌟 Extension Activities

🔑 Key Te Reo Words

Wāhi = Place
Whenua = Land
Rākau = Tree/Plant
Manu = Bird
Kaitiaki = Guardian
Tiaki = To care
Wai = Water
Taiao = Environment

✅ Quick Checklist

☐ Read unit overview
☐ Print student resources
☐ Send whānau letter
☐ Gather materials
☐ Plan outdoor activities
☐ Prepare Te Reo words
☐ Review assessment rubric
☐ Plan celebration event

💡 Pepeha

"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

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.