Unit 3 Lesson 5: Community Science Projects | Mangakōtukutuku College - Educational resource from Te Kete Ako
Leadership Reflection
What common elements do you see in effective youth environmental leadership?
How do these leaders combine different types of knowledge and action?
What environmental issue in your community needs young leaders like you?
What unique contributions could you make as a leader with integrated STEM and mātauranga
Māori knowledge?
Environmental Leadership Principles (15
minutes)
Rangatira: Leadership with Purpose
Environmental leadership from a mātauranga Māori perspective is
about rangatira - leading with mana, responsibility, and service to others. It combines the
confidence of scientific knowledge with the humility of cultural wisdom.
Cultural Leadership Values
Aroha: Leading with love and compassion for all beings
Manaakitanga: Caring for and supporting community members
Kōtahitanga: Building unity and working collaboratively
Whakatōhea: Listening deeply before acting
Tika: Doing what is right, even when it's difficult
Scientific Leadership Skills
Evidence-Based Advocacy: Using data to support arguments
Systems Thinking: Understanding complex interconnections
Problem-Solving: Breaking challenges into manageable steps
Communication: Translating science for diverse audiences
Innovation: Creating new solutions to persistent problems
Integrated Leadership
Approach
Respectful Science: Applying STEM knowledge within cultural
protocols
Community-Centred: Ensuring communities lead their own solutions
Sustainable Action: Planning for long-term positive impact
Inclusive Engagement: Bringing diverse voices into environmental
action
Adaptive Learning: Continuously improving based on feedback
Leadership Self-Assessment
Reflect on your strengths and growth areas across these leadership
dimensions.
Where do you already show leadership? Where would you like to develop? How can your unique
combination of cultural knowledge and scientific understanding contribute to environmental
leadership?
Future Tech for Community Science
High-Tech Kaitiakitanga
Modern community science isn't just about CLIPboards; it's about using
cutting-edge tools to enhance our ability to protect the environment.
AI & Data
Cacophony Project: Using AI to identify predators from thermal
video footage.
BirdNET: AI audio analysis to identify bird calls in the forest.
Data Sovereignty: Using blockchain to ensure iwi retain ownership
of environmental data.
Biotech & Genetics
eDNA (Environmental DNA): Testing water samples to find every
species living in a stream.
Genomic Whakapapa: Tracing the genetic ancestry of kiwi populations
to manage breeding.
Community Science Project Planning (25
minutes)
From Learning to Leading: Your
Community Project
Working in teams, design a community science project that
demonstrates your integrated learning from this unit. Your project should address a real
environmental issue using both mātauranga Māori and modern STEM approaches.
Project Requirements
Real Community Need: Addresses an actual environmental issue in
your area
Dual Knowledge Integration: Combines traditional knowledge with
modern science
Community Engagement: Involves community members as partners, not
just recipients
Measurable Impact: Includes ways to measure success and learning
Sustainable Approach: Designed for ongoing community ownership
Project Ideas
Stream Health Monitoring: Community-based water quality assessment
program
Native Species Recovery: Habitat restoration using traditional and
scientific methods
Community Gardens: Sustainable food production with cultural crop
varieties
Waste Reduction Initiative: Innovative recycling/upcycling systems
Renewable Energy Project: Community-scale sustainable energy
solutions
Climate Action Campaign: Data-driven advocacy for local climate
initiatives
Project Planning Framework
Use this framework to develop your project:
Community Connection: What specific environmental issue affects your
community?
Knowledge Integration: What traditional knowledge and scientific methods
will you combine?
Community Partners: Who will you work with? How will you engage them
respectfully?
Action Plan: What specific steps will you take? What resources do you need?
Impact Measurement: How will you know if your project is successful?
Community Engagement Strategy (20
minutes)
Building Relationships for Change
Effective community science projects are built on strong
relationships and respectful engagement. Plan how you'll connect with community members,
stakeholders, and potential collaborators.
Community Stakeholders
Kaumātua & Cultural Leaders: Traditional knowledge holders
Local Families: Community members affected by the issue
Environmental Groups: Organisations working on similar issues
Listening First: Understand community perspectives before proposing
solutions
Cultural Protocols: Follow appropriate cultural practices for
engagement
Collaborative Planning: Include community in project design
Accessible Communication: Share information in ways everyone can
understand
Regular Updates: Keep community informed of progress and learnings
Engagement Tools
Community Hui: Face-to-face meetings and discussions
Surveys & Interviews: Gathering community input and knowledge
Social Media: Sharing updates and engaging broader community
Presentations: Sharing findings at community events
Workshops: Hands-on learning experiences for community
Engagement Planning Activity
For your project, identify:
Who are the key community stakeholders you need to engage?
What cultural protocols and respectful practices will guide your engagement?
How will you ensure community voices are heard and valued in your project?
What engagement methods are most appropriate for your community and issue?
How will you maintain ongoing relationships beyond your initial project?
Action Implementation & Next Steps (15
minutes)
From Plan to Action
Now develop concrete next steps for implementing your community
science project. Create a realistic timeline and identify resources and support you'll need.
Implementation Timeline
Week 1-2: Initial community outreach and relationship building
Week 3-4: Data collection and traditional knowledge gathering
Week 5-6: Analysis and synthesis of findings
Week 7-8: Solution development and community feedback
Week 9-10: Implementation of initial actions
Ongoing: Monitoring, evaluation, and community-led continuation
Resources & Support
Adult Mentors: Teachers, community leaders, scientists
Funding Sources: School resources, community grants, fundraising
Community Partnerships: Local organisations and groups
Communication Platforms: Ways to share progress and findings
Cultural Guidance: Ensuring cultural appropriateness throughout
Action Commitment
Each team member commits to specific actions:
What is your first step after this lesson? When will you take it?
What specific role will you play in the team project?
How will you apply your integrated STEM and mātauranga Māori knowledge?
What support do you need from teachers, whānau, or community?
How will you measure success and share your learning?
Whakaata - Reflection & Assessment (10 minutes)
Leadership & Learning Synthesis
Complete this final reflection to synthesise your learning from the
entire unit and demonstrate your readiness for environmental leadership:
Unit Integration: Explain how your community science project demonstrates
integrated learning from all five lessons of this unit. How do you see connections between
dual knowledge systems, kaitiakitanga, cultural mathematics, innovation, and community
leadership?
Leadership Development: Describe how your understanding of environmental
leadership has developed throughout this unit. What does it mean to be a rangatira for
environmental change in your community?
Cultural Responsibility: How will you ensure your community science project
honours and advances mātauranga Māori while contributing to scientific understanding? What
protocols and practices will guide your work?
Community Impact: What specific positive changes do you hope your project
will create in your community? How will you know if you're making a difference?
Future Commitment: How has this unit changed your understanding of your
role as a young person in addressing environmental challenges? What is your long-term
commitment to environmental leadership?
Assessment Criteria
Knowledge Synthesis: Effectively integrates learning from all unit lessons
Leadership Vision: Demonstrates clear understanding of environmental
leadership principles
Cultural Integration: Shows deep respect for and application of mātauranga
Māori
Project Design: Creates realistic, impactful community science projects
Community Engagement: Plans respectful and inclusive community partnerships
Commitment to Action: Shows genuine commitment to ongoing environmental
leadership
Extension Activities
Long-term Project Implementation
Continue your community science project throughout the year,
documenting progress and impact. Present findings at local science fairs or community
events.
Youth Climate Leadership
Join or establish youth climate action groups in your community.
Use your integrated knowledge to contribute to broader environmental movements.
Mentorship Program
Establish mentorship relationships with younger students, teaching
them about integrated environmental science and leadership.
Policy Advocacy
Use your project findings to advocate for policy changes at local
or regional levels. Engage with local government and decision-makers.
Whakakapi - Closing Reflection
"He kai kei a koe, he kai kei ahau" - You have food, I
have food. Today we have learned that we each carry unique knowledge and gifts that can nourish our
community and heal our environment. Together, our diverse knowledge creates abundance.
As we complete this unit, we step forward as
environmental leaders equipped with both the wisdom of our tīpuna and the tools of modern science.
We carry the responsibility to use this integrated knowledge not for personal gain, but for the
wellbeing of our community and our planet.
The real test of our learning begins now - in how we
apply this knowledge in our daily lives, how we engage with our communities, and how we lead with
aroha and integrity toward a sustainable future.
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui
- be strong, be
brave, be steadfast!
🎬 Media Anchor
Use this clip to evaluate how community projects build momentum through collective action and communication.
Pause and discuss: What collaboration move in the clip is most transferable to your project plan?
Transfer task: Add one partnership or outreach strategy to your implementation timeline.
Curriculum alignment
Te Mātaiaho (2025) · Science · Phase 4 (Years 9–10) · Ecosystems (Knowledge): “Indigenous knowledge systems, such as mātauranga Māori, are often founded on long-term observations of environmental patterns. For example, ngā tohu o te taiao can be used to monitor seasonal changes and ecosystem health.”
NZC (2007) · Science · Level 5: “Understand that scientists’ investigations are informed by current scientific theories and aim to collect evidence that will be interpreted through processes of logical argument.”