Te Whāriki · NZ Ministry of Education
Belonging (Mana Whenua) — printable resources
Connecting to family, community, place, and environment, fostering a strong sense of identity.
- Pre-Nursery (pēpi / infants) · ages 2-3 · 45
- Nursery (nohinohi / toddlers) · ages 3-4 · 133
- KG (kōhungahunga / young children) · ages 4-6 · 178
Mana Whenua, the strand of Belonging, emphasises the deep connection children have to their family, community, and the wider world. Our social-emotional resources offer identity-building templates, 'all about me' sheets, family drawing activities, and holiday celebration pages. These activities invite children to share their heritage, talk about their homes, and explore cultural festivals, reinforcing their unique place in the world.
Invite whānau to contribute to these activities, creating a rich bridge between home and the early childhood setting. Kaiako can use the completed sheets to decorate the classroom space, giving pēpi, nohinohi, and kōhungahunga a strong visual sense of ownership and identity. Sharing stories about local communities and family traditions during circle time fosters a warm learning environment where every child feels valued.
Resources for Belonging
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 1 — Myself — Interests and Hobbies
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 2 — Functions of My Body Parts
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 3 — Growing Up
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 4 — My Family
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 5 — Our Neighbourhood
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 6 — Feelings and Emotions
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 1 Week 7 — Our Responsibilities
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 1 — Stars and Constellations
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 2 — Solar System
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 3 — The Earth
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 4 — Movement: Objects That Move
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 5 — Space Vehicles and Astronauts
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 6 — Inventions and Technology
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 2 Week 7 — Endangered Species and Conservation
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 1 — Continents and Oceans
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 2 — My Country
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 3 — My Country II
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 4 — Wonders of the World
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 5 — Directions
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 6 — Seasons
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 3 Week 7 — Calendar
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 4 Week 1 — Self-Expression & Creativity
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 4 Week 2 — Communication
- KG
- lesson plan
KG Unit 4 Week 3 — Creative Expression
This alignment is an advisory overlay to support your planning. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with the NZ Ministry of Education.