Changing with Nature

Overview

Unit Title: Seasons: Facts and Crafts
Lesson Title: Introduction to the Four Seasons
Year Level: Years 0–1
Curriculum Area: Science – The Nature of Science and Planet Earth and Beyond strands
Curriculum Level: Level 1 (The New Zealand Curriculum)
Duration: 120 minutes
Number of Students: 20

Achievement Objectives

From The New Zealand Curriculum (Level 1):
Strand: Planet Earth and Beyond

• AO: Describe how natural features are changed and resources affected by natural events and human actions.

Strand: The Nature of Science - Understanding about Science

• AO: Appreciate that scientists ask questions about our world that lead to investigations.

Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Know the names of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
• Be able to describe simple features of each season such as weather and nature changes.
• Understand that seasons follow a repeating cycle that affects our lives and the environment.
• Begin using observation skills to identify features in their local environment that signal changing seasons.

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Key Competencies

• Thinking: Students will explore cause and effect (e.g. how weather changes with each season).
• Using language, symbols, and texts: Through matched visuals and vocabulary cards.
• Relating to others: Sharing ideas and taking turns in group discussion and activities.
• Participating and contributing: Contributing to the ‘Season Circles’ and sharing seasonal stories.

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Māori Perspectives Integration

• Introduce Matariki when discussing winter, acknowledging the Māori lunar calendar and seasonal customs.
• Use Māori words for seasons when introducing vocabulary:
  • Kōanga (Spring), Raumati (Summer), Ngahuru (Autumn), Hōtoke (Winter).
• Reflect on local seasonal knowledge (i.e., harvesting kūmara in autumn/ngahuru).

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Resources Needed

• Picture cards of the four seasons (NZ-specific imagery such as pōhutukawa in summer, lambs in spring).
• Large wall chart divided into quarters (for classroom display: “Our Seasons Wall”).
• Season hats/props (sun hats, scarves, leaf crowns, etc.)
• Crayons, glue, paper, scissors
• Printed season matching cards (weather/nature/activity per season)
• Four large paper ‘season trees’ for group craft activity
• Māori vocabulary flashcards for the seasons

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Lesson Structure

🟢 1. Welcome & Karakia (5 minutes)

• Begin with a simple karakia to start the day and promote mindfulness.

🧠 2. Motivational Hook – “Mystery Box” (10 minutes)

• Teacher reveals a decorated box labelled “What’s Inside the Seasons?”
• Pull out seasonal props one by one (e.g. sun hat, mitten, leaf, flower)
• Ask: What does this remind you of? What time of year might we use this?
• Begin noting student ideas on the board.

🗣️ 3. Group Discussion – What are Seasons? (10 minutes)

• Using the class whiteboard and visuals, ask:
  • Have you seen trees change colours?
  • When do we wear gumboots more?
• Introduce the names of the four seasons in both English and Māori.
• Show a simple diagram showing the cycle of the seasons (use arrows and symbols).

📖 4. Story Time – “The Little Tree Who Wanted to Stay Green” (15 minutes)

• Read a picture book aloud about a tree that goes through all four seasons.
• Encourage students to guess what the tree will look like next season.
• Discuss: How did the tree change in the story? What season would be your favourite, and why?

🎨 5. Hands-On Craft Activity – "Season Trees" (40 minutes)

• Divide students into four even groups. Each group will design a large tree poster to represent one of the seasons.
  • Spring: Blossoms and bees (tissue paper flowers, cotton clouds)
  • Summer: Green leaves and sunshine (yellow paint, drawn beach items)
  • Autumn: Leaves falling (real dried leaves or warm-coloured tissue)
  • Winter: Bare branches, snow (cotton wool for snow)
• Encourage students to describe what they’re making using season vocabulary.

🛑 Movement Break (5 minutes)

• Use a “Seasons Song” with movement — mimic actions like shivering in winter or fanning in summer.

🃏 6. Season Matching Game (15 minutes)

• In pairs: Match a weather card, nature card, and activity card to the correct season hat/poster.
  • E.g. Gumboots + Puddle + Rain Cloud = Winter
• Students take turns acting out one card and their partner guesses the season.

🧩 7. Seasons Wall and Personal Reflection (10 minutes)

• Each student draws a picture of something they’ve noticed in their environment that shows what season it is now.
• Share drawings and place them on the “Our Seasons Wall” under the current season.

🔁 8. Lesson Closure and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Circle time reflection:
  • What season are we in right now, and how do you know?
  • Which season was your favourite and why?
• Review Māori vocabulary again with flashcard quiz-style recall.
• Preview next lesson with curiosity: “Next time, we’ll become weather scientists!”

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Assessment for Learning

• Formative observations: During circle time and activities, listen for correct use of vocabulary and engagement.
• Student work samples: Seasonal drawings and contributions to the group craft are indicators of understanding.
• Peer sharing: Confidence in matching cards to seasons shows comprehension of season characteristics.

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Differentiation

• Support learners with visual prompts and buddy assistance during group activities.
• Extend high-flyers by inviting them to compare seasons in other countries (e.g. How is winter in New Zealand different from places with snow all year?).

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Teacher Reflection Prompt (Post-lesson)

• Did students confidently name and describe the four seasons using words or pictures?
• Were they able to link seasonal changes to what they observe locally?
• How effective was the integration of te reo Māori vocabulary and seasonal knowledge?

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Next Lesson:

Lesson 2: Weather Watchers!
Students will investigate different types of weather, record observations, and become junior meteorologists, using class-made weather charts.

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🌿 “Ko te ako te manawaroa – Learning is resilience.”