Course aims / learning outcomes
This course is a project based course where we will explore all things taiao (Environment). We will start by discovering the basics of plants, how they grow, how to propagate them, and the roles of different plants within the environment and ecosystems.
We will then, through a Mātauranga Māori (Māori traditional knowledge) lens, explore native plants, their uses, and how Māori view te taiao (The Environment). We will also explore kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and tikanga of certain plants and practices such as Harakeke Weaving.
From here we will take the knowledge of plants that we have gained and explore landscape design. This will involve looking at the blank spaces that we have at the climate change action campus and create a design for a space there.
Finally, the plan will be to work together with a group and carry out some of the landscape designs. We will aim to build these out at the climate action campus.
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
Tōmene - To Explore Plants 101 Mātauranga Māori | Whakairatanga - Conception Investigation Landscape Design | Whakatūtū - Construction, to build Landscape Design and Construction | Huritau - To reflect Reflection and tidy up any assessments |
Assessment statement
There will be a mix of Level 2 and 3 standards available, not all standards are set in concrete yet as we will look to co-construct as a class what standards we would like to work towards. There is the opportunity to do a mix of Achievement standards and Unit standards, as well as cross-curriculum areas.
Currently a total of 31 Achievement/Unit Standard credits are offered within this course. This includes 8 credits at Level 2 and 23 credits at level 3. Students will target some, but not all of the credits. Decisions will be made, in conversation with the learning advisor, dependent on student goals, their level of independence and attitude to learning.
Table of Assessments
Below are the list of Standards that I am currently thinking we would work towards:
Achievement/Unit Standard | Credits | NCEA Level |
AS91296 Produce a landscape Design (Ag and Hort) | 4 | 2 |
AS91291 Advance Plant Propagation techniques (Ag and Hort) | 4 | 2 |
US6142 Explain kaitiakitanga in relation to the way Māori interact with te taiao | 4 | 3 |
US6143 Carry out a local kaitiakitanga activity with direction | 6 | 3 |
AS91601 Carry out a practical investigation (Biology) | 4 | 3 |
AS91607 Demonstrate understanding of human manipulations of genetic transfer and its biological implications (Biology) | 3 | 3 |
AS91628 Develop a visual presentation that exhibits a design outcome to an audience (Design and Visual Communication) | 6 | 3 |
Authenticity
- Assignments that take place over time will be produced in an online system such as Google Docs. Learning Advisors will monitor student work by accessing document history. A portion of work will need to be completed during class time under Learning Advisor supervision.
- Class tests will take place under supervised test conditions within class.
- Students may be required to sign an authenticity statement, perform certain parts of assessment tasks under close supervision, or show through interview and the existence of notes and supporting material that the work submitted by the student is genuinely his/her own work.
Appeal Procedures
- Students have the right to appeal the mark they have been awarded. If a student wishes to appeal a grade, they should initially talk to the subject learning advisor about the marking process immediately after the marked assessment task is shown to them. If still dissatisfied the student should make an appointment and discuss grades with the Principal’s Nominee who will check that the correct procedures have been followed as outlined in the school and subject policies taking into account any special circumstances