Geography Lesson Plan for Year 3 Students in New Zealand

Lesson Details

• Subject: Geography
• Topic: Tikanga and Waka
• Year Level: Year 3 (ages 7-8)
• Duration: 31 minutes
• Class Size: 27 students

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum for social sciences at Level 2. It specifically addresses aspects of the social sciences learning area, focusing on how culture and heritage influence people's connection with places and environments.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand the significance of tikanga (customs and traditions) in Māori culture.
2. Identify different types of waka (canoes) and their uses in historical and contemporary contexts.
3. Explain how waka and tikanga influence the relationships between Māori communities and their environments.

Resources Needed

• Large map of New Zealand
• Images and models of different types of waka
• Interactive whiteboard or projector
• Handouts with pictures of various waka and descriptions of related tikanga

Lesson Plan

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Settling In:
   • Welcome the students and briefly introduce the day’s topic.
   • Ask students what they know about Māori culture and waka.

Main Activity (20 minutes)

1. Exploring Tikanga (10 minutes):

   • Discuss the concept of tikanga, explaining its importance in guiding behavior and practices in Māori culture.
   • Show examples through stories or video clips that illustrate how tikanga is applied in everyday life and special occasions.

2. Learning About Waka (10 minutes):

   • Introduce different types of waka (e.g., waka taua, waka ama) using images and models.
   • Explain the historical and contemporary uses of these waka.
   • Highlight the craftsmanship and skills required to build and navigate these vessels, linking to the geographical features of New Zealand and how they influence the design and use of waka.

Interactive Discussion (5 minutes)

• Applying Knowledge:
  • Using the interactive whiteboard, display a map of New Zealand and discuss how different iwi (tribes) are located near water bodies.
  • Encourage students to think about why specific designs of waka were practical for different regions in Aotearoa.

Conclusion (1 minute)

• Summarize the key points discussed about tikanga and waka.
• Hand out a simple crossword puzzle that includes the new vocabulary from today’s lesson for them to take home.

Assessment

• Informal assessment through Q&A during the discussion.
• Review the answers from the crossword puzzle in the next class to reinforce today’s learning.

Further Resources

For more information on tikanga and waka, teachers can access resources from the following:

• Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand
• TKI - Resources for teaching and learning

This lesson plan aims to provide Year 3 students with a foundational understanding of important aspects of Māori culture and geography, linking cultural practices with environmental interaction and history.