Titiro – observing my environment
Observation forms the basis of both mātauranga Māori and science.
Possibly the most powerful model of inspiration that we can draw from our ancestors is that of careful, purposeful care and observation. Through approaches informed by time-honoured holistic observations, and enhanced by technological advancements, our fluency in the reo of the awa can be renewed
Tina Ngata, Ngāti Porou, on the whakapapa of life-giving freshwater
Observation is a skill that improves with practice and knowledge. Our senses allow us to gather information about our local environment. They help deepen our understanding about things while piquing our curiosity to discover more.
Kopuatai Peat Dome
The Kopuatai Peat Dome on the Hauraki Plains covers nearly 10,000 hectares.
This activity offers observation experiences in an outdoor school setting. Use it to expand student experiences regarding observations or as a practice session before visiting a wetland, forested area or other natural habitat.
Rather than set out prescribed instructions, this resource will identify ways in which students can carry out observations and build their science capabilities.
In this activity, students have the opportunity to actively use all five senses to make observations in an outdoor school setting.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
make an observation using one or more senses
make an inference from an observation
share a question that arises from the observation
transfer skills learned in a school-based observation to other outdoor settings.
Download the Word file (see link below).
