Kawakawa and Mānuka

Learning Context:

This 40-minute session is designed for preschool students in New Zealand (approx. ages 3–5) to explore the significance of kawakawa and mānuka plants in Rongoā Māori (traditional Māori healing). The lesson is sensory and hands-on, incorporating storytelling and nature exploration, aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Te Mātaiaho) and the Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum. Teaching follows Rudolf Steiner scaffolding techniques, supporting holistic development by nurturing the head, heart, and hands, and empowering tamariki through active engagement and meaningful relationships. The learning environment fosters connections with whānau and community, emphasizing respect and belonging. Differentiated scaffolding strategies support diverse learners, including those with high and complex needs and dyslexia-friendly approaches.

Learning Objectives (WALT)

We Are Learning To:

• Recognise kawakawa and mānuka plants as special in Māori culture through sensory exploration and storytelling.
• Understand how these plants are used in traditional healing (Rongoā Māori) and relate this to wellbeing.
• Use our senses to explore and discover kawakawa and mānuka plants or materials, supported by scaffolded prompts.
• Share stories about healing and nature from Māori culture, fostering language development and relationships.
• Engage with learning holistically—thinking, feeling, and doing—building confidence and empowerment.
• Develop respectful connections with plants, peers, and whānau through shared experiences and reflection.

Each objective is supported by scaffolded strategies to meet diverse learner needs, encouraging independence and participation at individual levels.

Curriculum Links

Curriculum Areas:

• English (Oral Language and Listening)
• Developing oral language skills by sharing and listening to stories.
• Using descriptive vocabulary related to nature and healing plants.
• Science (Living World and Ecology)
• Exploring natural materials and understanding native plants.
• Health and Physical Education
• Understanding traditional Māori healing and wellbeing (hauora).
• Social Sciences
• Learning about Māori perspectives and cultural heritage.
• The Arts
• Using storytelling and sensory play to engage imagination and creativity.

Key Competencies:

• Relating to others: Building respectful relationships through shared storytelling and collaborative sensory activities, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
• Managing self: Developing self-awareness and confidence by engaging with materials and activities at their own pace, supported by scaffolded guidance.
• Participating and contributing: Encouraging active involvement and contribution in group discussions and explorations, with differentiated support to empower all tamariki.
• Thinking: Stimulating curiosity and understanding through sensory observation and reflection, scaffolded to support diverse cognitive levels.

These competencies are nurtured through intentional scaffolding, promoting holistic growth in line with Te Whāriki strands of Wellbeing, Belonging, Contribution, Communication, and Exploration.

Success Criteria (What success looks like)

• Students can identify kawakawa and mānuka by sight or touch.
• Children use words to describe how these plants may smell, feel, or look.
• Students show interest and engagement during the storytelling and exploration.
• Students demonstrate respect and curiosity about Māori healing traditions.
• Children participate in sensory activities with minimal adult prompts.

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Resources Needed

• Fresh or dried kawakawa leaves and mānuka leaves/flowers (authentic samples if possible)
• Photos or simple visual cards of kawakawa and mānuka
• Storybook or oral story related to Rongoā Māori healing using kawakawa and mānuka
• Sensory trays with leaves, bark, flowers, and natural materials
• Small containers or baskets for nature collection (if outside)
• Pictures or puppets representing Māori healers or traditional healing scenes
• Visual aids with simple vocabulary and pictures (dyslexia-friendly fonts and colour contrasts)
• Wet wipes, hand sanitiser

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Lesson Outline

This lesson focuses on fun, play-based learning and sensory experiences to explore kawakawa and mānuka plants:

1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes):

   • Greet tamariki and introduce the special plants kawakawa and mānuka.
   • Show photos and invite children to share if they have seen or touched these plants.

2. Storytelling: Rongoā Māori and Healing Plants (10 minutes):

   • Share a simple, engaging story about how Māori use kawakawa and mānuka to help people feel better.
   • Use puppets or pictures to make the story lively.
   • Encourage children to join in with sounds or actions.

3. Sensory Exploration Activity (15 minutes):

   • Provide sensory trays with kawakawa and mānuka leaves, flowers, and bark.
   • Let children explore by touching, smelling, and looking closely.
   • Take a short nature walk to find similar plants and use senses to explore.

4. Creative Response: Drawing or Leaf Rubbing (5 minutes):

   • Children create leaf rubbings or drawings of the plants.
   • Encourage sharing about what they made and how the plants feel or smell.

5. Physical Activity: Planting a Kawakawa Tree (20 minutes):

   • Prepare the planting area together, explaining the steps simply.
   • Involve children in digging a hole, placing the kawakawa seedling, and covering it with soil.
   • Teach how to water the plant gently and explain the importance of caring for it.
   • Emphasize teamwork and taking turns to encourage group collaboration.

6. Reflection and Sharing (5 minutes):

   • Gather in a circle to share favourite parts of the story, activities, or planting.
   • Celebrate learning about kawakawa and mānuka together.

This approach encourages play, sensory discovery, hands-on participation, and group collaboration aligned with Te Whāriki principles.

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1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Warmly greet tamariki and introduce kawakawa and mānuka as special plants.
• Show colourful photos and invite children to share if they have seen or touched these plants.
• Use simple, clear language and encourage children to use their senses to think about the plants.

2. Storytelling: Rongoā Māori and Healing Plants (10 minutes)

• Tell a fun, simple story about how Māori use kawakawa and mānuka to help people feel better.
• Use puppets or pictures to make the story lively and interactive.
• Invite children to join in with sounds, actions, or repeating key words.
• Encourage excitement and imagination during the story.

2a. Karakia: A Simple Prayer for Healing Plants

• Teach a short karakia that thanks the plants for their healing power and shows respect for nature.

• Example karakia (in simple English):

  "Thank you, kawakawa and mānuka, For your leaves and flowers so bright. You help us heal and feel strong, We care for you with love and light."

• Explain to tamariki that we say this karakia to show gratitude and to connect with the plants and the world around us.

• Encourage children to say the karakia together with respect and kindness.

3. Sensory Exploration Activity (15 minutes)

• Set out sensory trays with kawakawa and mānuka leaves, flowers, and bark.
• Let children freely explore by touching, smelling, and looking closely.
• Take a short nature walk to find similar plants, encouraging children to use their senses.
• Encourage group sharing about what they notice and feel.
• Focus on fun sensory discovery and play.

4. Creative Response: Drawing or Leaf Rubbing (5 minutes)

• Invite children to make leaf rubbings or draw the plants they explored.
• Encourage them to talk about their artwork and what they liked about the plants.
• Make this a fun, relaxed activity to express creativity.

5. Reflection and Sharing (5 minutes)

• Gather in a circle to share favourite parts of the story or activities.
• Celebrate learning about kawakawa and mānuka together.
• Encourage children to ask questions or show their drawings if they want.
• Keep sharing light and enjoyable.

Differentiation Strategies

• Employ multi-sensory approaches (touch, smell, sight, sound) to engage diverse learning styles and developmental stages.
• Use scaffolded questioning and prompts tailored to individual learner needs, gradually reducing support to foster independence.
• Pair verbal instructions with visual supports (pictures, labels in dyslexia-friendly fonts, colour contrasts) to aid comprehension.
• Simplify vocabulary and repeat key concepts, using storytelling and gestures to reinforce understanding.
• Provide physical support or alternative participation methods (e.g., pointing, using puppets) for children with motor or sensory challenges.
• Allow additional processing time and use peer support or small group settings to encourage social learning and confidence.
• For advanced learners, scaffold opportunities to extend learning by describing plant uses creatively or composing simple stories, promoting higher-order thinking.
• Engage whānau by sharing learning goals and inviting participation to strengthen community connections.

These strategies align with Rudolf Steiner's emphasis on developmental readiness and Te Whāriki's holistic and inclusive learning framework.

Extension Activities

• Arrange a nature walk where children can search for kawakawa or mānuka plants.
• Introduce simple Māori words related to the plants for bilingual language development.
• Explore other native plants and discuss their uses in traditional healing or Māori stories.
• Create a role-play area as a healer’s whare with “healing plants” for imaginative play.

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Dyslexia-Friendly Reading and Communication Tips

• Use clear, sans-serif fonts like OpenDyslexic or Arial with ample spacing.
• Present vocabulary cards with pictures and simple words.
• Use colour contrast (dark text on light background).
• Keep sentences short and direct.
• Repeat important words orally and visually.
• Use storytelling aids: puppets, gestures, props to support comprehension.
• Encourage student retelling using visuals or sentence starters (e.g., “Kawakawa is...”, “Mānuka smells…”).

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Assessment and Reflection

• Observe participation, attention, and verbal responses during the story and sensory activities.
• Note ability to identify and describe kawakawa and mānuka plants.
• Informally assess vocabulary use and engagement.
• Use reflections from circle time to gauge understanding.
• Use photos or samples of children’s artwork to document learning outcomes.

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This lesson plan supports the New Zealand Curriculum’s emphasis on bicultural curriculum, authentic experiences, and sensory-rich learning for young children, linked specifically to Te Mātaiaho strands in English and Science, and respecting Māori perspectives and cultural heritage through Rongoā Māori focus. It fosters holistic development—cognitive, verbal, social, and physical—tailored for preschool children with diverse learning needs and strengths.