Kotukutuku, Otatara School - A switched on group of learners! 28 March 2019
A switched on group of learners from Year 3 Otatara School arrived ready and keen to learn all about their class tree Kotukutuku and much much more. A leaf identification game got the students observing and noticing similarities and differences between leaves, and what characteristics the kotukutuku leaf has – in terms of shape, colour (or colours as the the case is) and feel. We then talked about other identifying features that can be used to identify kotukutuku, like its bell like flower (that can be green, stripey, red or purple), its big black berries and its papery bark. It was then a discovery filled walk around the pond track, identifying numerous kotukutuku, noticing in what kind of places this tree likes to grow, what other native tree species are growing nearby, and what animals (in particular bugs) we could spot living in the habitats created by these plants. Spiders, slugs, shield bugs and more were spotted! We were too late in the season to find any flowers or berries, but we used our knowledge about and observation skills to spot the leaves and bark of the kotukutuku. We collected seeds from different plant species and noted how some are on the outside of a fruit, some are on the inside of a fruit, and some are in pods. We also noticed the ferns growing and how these have spores. A brilliant description of what spores are: “a pocket on the back of the leaf” was given summing up perfectly how there are many spores in each sporangium. A fantastic observation and descriptive explanation – tumeke! So many great terms to fill these eager minds with. Back in the education centre for some kai to feed these great inquiring minds we talked more about spores and looked closely at some fern fronds and just how small spores are. We also talked about those plants that attract birds – with kotukutuku being one of the best. Some great questioning led us onto talking about the animal pests that could be in the reserve behind school (we’d noticed all the different traps and bait stations as we explored through the nursery) and how we could track these to work out what is there, and then finding out about trapping. This class’s inquiring could go in a number of different, or many, directions and we look forward with much interest to have them visit again. Great to have you at the nursery Kotukutuku class.
Bronwyn and Chris
Posted: 9 April 2019