Exploring Wild Animal Homes

Curriculum Area

Social Sciences | Te Mātauranga ā-Iwi
Te Whāriki: New Zealand's Early Childhood Curriculum

• Belonging | Mana Whenua – Children develop a sense of belonging, learning about the place where they live and the living things within it.
• Exploration | Mana Aotūroa – Children learn about the natural world by observing and making connections.

Learning Outcome

By the end of the lesson, preschool students will:

• Recognise that wild animals live in different habitats.
• Identify some native New Zealand animals and their homes.
• Express their learning through movement and sensory play.

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Lesson Structure (20 Mins)

1. Welcome & Karakia (2 Mins)

• Teacher welcomes the children and begins with a short karakia (blessing) to set a positive and respectful tone.
• "Today, we are going on a special adventure to explore where wild animals live!"

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2. Storytime: Where Do I Live? (5 Mins)

• Read a short interactive picture book featuring New Zealand animals and their habitats (e.g., kiwi in burrows, tuatara in rocky crevices, seals on beaches).
• Use hand puppets or felt board images to make it engaging.
• Pause for questions:
  • "Where do you think the kiwi lives?"
  • "Do you know any places near us where wild animals live?"

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3. Sensory Play: Build a Habitat (7 Mins)

• Set up three sensory stations around the room:
  • "Forest Home" – A box with leaves, sticks, and toy birds.
  • "River & Ocean Home" – A blue fabric sheet with toy fish and shiny shells.
  • "Burrow & Cave Home" – A dark cosy tunnel made from cushions and blankets.
• Children explore each habitat by touching, moving, and talking about what they see.
• Teacher asks:
  • "Which animal might live here?"
  • "How does this habitat keep an animal safe?"

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4. Movement Game: Animal Explorers (5 Mins)

• Teacher calls out an animal, and children act like that animal moving through its habitat:
  • "Kiwi – Tiptoe and peck like a kiwi in the forest!"
  • "Seal – Waddle and slide like a seal on the rocks!"
  • "Tuatara – Crawl slowly over stones!"
• Encourage expressive movement and fun!

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5. Reflection & Farewell (1 Min)

• Gather together:
  • "What was your favourite home today?"
  • "Next time we go outside, let's look for real animal homes!"
• Close with a short waiata (song) about the natural world.

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Resources Needed

• Picture book featuring NZ animal habitats
• Hand puppets or felt animals
• Leaves, sticks, toy animals, shells, fabric pieces for sensory setup
• Cushions and blankets to create "burrows"

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Assessment Approach

• Observe children’s engagement in the discussions and activities.
• Listen to their responses to habitat-related questions.
• Encourage them to describe or act out what they learned.

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This lesson plan immerses young learners in the concept of wild animal habitats through interactive storytime, sensory exploration, and movement-based learning—perfect for preschoolers in New Zealand’s unique education setting. 🌿🐾