🔎 Part 1: Get Ready to Research

WALT: We Are Learning To use surrounding information, questions and reliable sources to understand unfamiliar conservation words.

Success criteria:

☐ I can predict what a word might mean.

☐ I can use Google safely and compare reliable sources.

☐ I can explain a meaning in my own words and record my source.

Kaitiakitanga means guardianship and care for people, places and the natural world. Māori kupu are taonga. Say and use them respectfully, check pronunciation with your kaiako, and do not copy meanings without understanding them.

Google search tips: Try searches such as “kaitiakitanga meaning for children”, “rāhui New Zealand meaning” or “biodiversity NZ Department of Conservation”. Compare two reliable sources, such as a government, school, museum or iwi website. Avoid copying whole sentences. Write the meaning in your own words and record the website.

Reading option: Use a cream or pale-coloured page, read with a ruler or reading strip, listen to text aloud, or work with a partner. Ask your kaiako for help with pronunciation or difficult text.

Support: Talk through one word together before beginning. Use the word bank, say the word aloud, and break longer words into smaller parts.

Extension: Explain how two reliable sources are similar or different, and identify which source is most useful for a Year 6 reader.

✏️ Part 2: Word Research Record

For each word, write your prediction, research a meaning, create an example sentence and record your source. Use Google only with your teacher’s guidance and safe-search expectations.

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

My prediction: ________________________________________________

Google meaning in my own words:

Example sentence:

Source/website: ______________________________________________

Supported word bank: care • protect • land • special treasure • living things • living place • nature’s variety • life force • temporary restriction • able to continue • found naturally in one place

Partner option: One person searches and reads; the other records. Swap roles for the next word.

Challenge: Find a second meaning, explain how the word changes in a different sentence, or check whether two websites give the same meaning.

Dyslexia-friendly choice: Cover the other questions with a sheet of paper, complete one word at a time, use text-to-speech, or ask a partner to read the search results aloud.

🌿 Part 3: Apply, Reflect and Check

WALT: We Are Learning To apply new vocabulary to explain how people can care for local places.

Success criteria:

☐ I can use a conservation word accurately in my own writing.

☐ I can connect an action to kaitiakitanga.

☐ I can reflect on what I learnt and what I still wonder.

Extension 1: Find a related kupu. Write the kupu and explain how it connects to one word from your research.

Extension 2: Write a short action plan for caring for a local place. Include the place, two actions, and why they show kaitiakitanga.

Exit reflection:

One new word I learnt: ________________________________________

One action I can take: ________________________________________

One question I still have: _____________________________________

Support: Say your ideas to a partner or kaiako before writing. You may use the word bank, draw a quick plan, or complete the action plan orally.

Extension: Include two conservation words in your action plan and explain how your actions could affect people, animals and the environment.

Teacher Answer Notes

kaitiakitanga: guardianship and responsible care for the natural world and its people.

whenua: land; it can also refer to connection with land and place.

taonga: something treasured, precious or culturally important.

tiaki: to care for, look after or protect.

conservation: protecting and wisely managing nature and resources.

biodiversity: the variety of living things in a place or on Earth.

ecosystem: living things and the non-living parts of a place working together.

habitat: the natural home of a plant, animal or other organism.

sustainability: using resources carefully so they remain available in the future.

mauri: the life force or living essence in people, places and other beings.

rāhui: a temporary restriction or protection placed over an area or resource.

endemic: naturally found only in a particular place or region.

Teaching note: Accept clear explanations in students’ own words. Encourage respectful pronunciation and local iwi or hapū guidance for Māori kupu. This activity supports NZ Te Mātaiaho English Year 4–6 comprehension and vocabulary: using surrounding information and asking questions to understand unfamiliar words (NZ-TMA-ENGLISH-Y0-6-comprehension-062-DOC147).