Activity

Looking at plants and leaves

This activity is a ready-to-use cross-curricular teaching resource. It is intended for NZC levels 1–2. The student worksheet can be printed and does not require internet access, making it suitable for students working away from a school setting.

Photos of five common leaf shapes from New Zealand.

Simple leaf shapes

New Zealand plants are often identified using the shapes of their leaves. This photo shows five common leaf shapes.

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

The purpose is to encourage students to:

  • identify the parts of a plant

  • observe and classify leaves by shape, size and other simple characteristics

  • use leaves to practise numeracy skills (number knowledge and measurement)

  • conduct a simple investigation over 2–3 days.

The worksheet also contains a word search and suggestions for art activities.

Feel free to edit the Word document to meet the needs of your programme and your learners.

Students working at level 1 will require reading support.

Download the Word file (see link below).

Activity idea

For more learning about plants, have a go with the Plant parts – graphic organiser activity. This uses an interactive or paper-based graphic organiser to help students categorise plant parts.

Explore the rākau/tree unit of learning created by Mokoro Gillett (Tumuaki o Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha) and Norman Mason (Botanist at Manaaki Whenua)

 

Published:17 August 2020