Flax Mills Exploration

Unit Context

This is Lesson 2 of a 6-lesson unit titled "Discovering Takapau History," designed for Year 1 students. The focus of this session is to explore the history and traditional processing of flax in Takapau, enriching students’ connection to local history and mātauranga Māori.

---

Learning Objectives

Aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Social Sciences and Literacy Learning Areas, Foundation Phase, Years 0-3):

• Social Sciences: Understanding the Past and Present

  • Students will understand how people live and work in the past and present in Takapau, focusing on flax mills.
  • Learn to Describe significant places, people, and events in Takapau history.
  • Investigate and Share stories related to flax processing and its importance to the local community.

• English (Literacy): Comprehending and Creating Texts

  • Respond to and share stories and information about Takapau’s flax mills.
  • Develop vocabulary related to flax and flax processing.
  • Use oral language skills to describe and explain what they have seen and felt.

• Key Competencies:

  • Participating and Contributing – sharing ideas about flax and how it was used.
  • Relating to Others – listening and responding respectfully during discussions.
  • Using Language, Symbols, and Texts – expressing knowledge through words, pictures, and tactile experience.

---

Curriculum Links

• Social Sciences (Aotearoa New Zealand Histories strand)
  Focus on stories that help young learners understand their place and local history, encouraging exploration of tangata whenua knowledge alongside settler histories.
• English (focus on oral language and vocabulary development)
• Values and Principles: Incorporate the principle of Community Engagement by exploring local histories, Inclusivity, and Cultural Diversity by highlighting both Māori and settler perspectives on flax.
• Teaching as Inquiry: Understanding each student's engagement with history through multiple senses and modalities.

---

Time Allocation: 45 Minutes

Time	Activity	Description	Resources
0-5 mins	Introduction & Context	Briefly review the previous lesson’s topic on Takapau history. Introduce flax mills and their importance.	Photos of Takapau flax mills; simple map showing location
5-15 mins	Visual and Video Engagement	Show pictures and a short age-appropriate video of flax processing (harvesting, stripping, milling). Pose questions to encourage observation.	Projector/tablet, curated flax processing video clips (2-3 minutes)
15-25 mins	Hands-on Experience	Provide flax fibers for students to touch and explore. Discuss texture, colour, and its uses.	Bundles of flax fiber, samples of flax-based products (woven mats, rope)
25-35 mins	Story and Discussion Time	Share a simple story or whakataukī related to flax and its significance to Māori and settlers in Takapau. Encourage students to share their thoughts.	Storybook or oral storytelling, props if available
35-40 mins	Creative Expression Activity	Students draw or collage their interpretation of flax or flax mills, using natural materials where possible.	Paper, crayons, glue, flax pieces or craft flax replicas
40-45 mins	Reflection and Sharing	Group circle-time: students share one thing they learned or enjoyed. Teacher summarises key learning points and connects to next lesson topic.	Circle seating arrangement

---

Detailed Lesson Flow

1. Introduction & Context (5 minutes)

• Welcome students and recall Lesson 1's key ideas about Takapau’s local history.
• Introduce the concept of flax mills: "Long ago, people in Takapau used flax to make all sorts of important things."
• Point to Takapau on a map to ground the story locally.

2. Visual and Video Engagement (10 minutes)

• Show archival photos of Takapau’s flax mills.
• Play a brief video demonstrating flax harvesting and processing.
• Ask concrete questions suitable for Year 1 children: “What do you see happening?”, “What do you think the flax will turn into?”
• Encourage simple descriptive responses to support language skills.

3. Hands-on Flax Exploration (10 minutes)

• Pass around real flax fibers so children can touch and feel.
• Use sensory language: “Is it soft or rough?”, “What colour is it?”
• Briefly explain that flax was used for weaving mats, ropes, and clothes.
• Reinforce vocabulary: flax, fibrous, rough, soft, weave, strip.

4. Story and Discussion (10 minutes)

• Share a short, age-appropriate story or whakataukī related to flax, emphasizing respect for the plant and its place in history.
• Prompt students to express what they found interesting or new.
• Highlight Māori cultural perspectives alongside settler history, as per the curriculum’s emphasis on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and inclusivity.

5. Creative Expression Activity (5 minutes)

• Invite students to represent flax and flax mills using drawing or simple collage with flax bits.
• Encourage imagination: “Can you make a picture of the flax mill or the flax plant?”
• Provide guidance and support to maintain engagement and scaffold creativity.

6. Reflection and Sharing (5 minutes)

• Gather for a short sharing circle.
• Ask, “What did you like best about the flax mills today?” or “Tell us one new word you learned.”
• Teacher summarises the key facts about flax and links to the next lesson’s exploration of how flax products were used by people in Takapau.

---

Assessment and Feedback

• Formative Assessment:
  Observe students’ participation in discussions and their ability to use new vocabulary related to flax.
• Oral Language:
  Listen for students’ ability to describe their tactile experience and to recall facts about flax mills.
• Creative Work:
  Collect student drawings/collages as artefacts of their understanding.
• Self and Peer Feedback:
  Encourage positive sharing during reflection moments to build confidence and communication.

---

Resources Needed

• Photographs and historical images of Takapau flax mills.
• Short video clips of flax harvesting and processing.
• Real flax fibers and flax-based artefacts.
• Storybook or prepared story/whakataukī about flax.
• Art materials (paper, crayons, glue).
• Map featuring Takapau location.

---

Teacher Notes and Tips

• Use simple, concrete language; reinforce new vocabulary with visuals and gestures.
• Allow plenty of time for tactile exploration—young learners connect learning deeply through physical experience.
• Link to local iwi and history where possible; consult local knowledge holders if available to enhance authenticity.
• Scaffold discussion by modelling responses and encouraging turn-taking.
• Encourage manaakitanga by respecting students' contributions and cultural backgrounds.

---

This lesson plan ensures a rich, culturally responsive, multisensory experience that aligns with New Zealand Curriculum Refresh Social Sciences and English learning areas for Year 1, fostering curiosity about Takapau's local history and developing foundational competencies in oral language and historical awareness .