Activity: How does harakeke survive? – Level 3
Achievement objectives – Ngā whāinga paetae: Te weu
3.1 Learn about the special features of organisms that help them to stay alive. Te Marautanga o Aotearoa: (p.100) te ao tūroa, te rauropi 1
Learning outcome
I will be able to:
- identify structures of harakeke that carry out life processes.
Success criteria
- I can identify structures of harakeke that carry out life processes.
All living things carry out various processes in order to stay alive such as:
- taking in food or making it themselves
- converting the food to give energy
- growing
- reproducing
- getting rid of unwanted waste
- sensing their environment
- movement
Different parts of the harakeke plant carry out different jobs in order to survive. Try the following activity to see how much you already know about plants. Make a note of the things you do not know.
Activity: Match the following list of structures of the harakeke plant with their job.
| Harakeke structure | Job of the structure |
|---|---|
| Root (akaaka) | New growth comes from this point |
| Leaf (whā) | Holds the flower upright for pollination |
| Stem (kakau) | Anchors the plant and takes in water |
| Young leaves (rito) | Makes food for the plant using carbon dioxide, water and sunlight |
| Seed pod (puhui hua) | A fine powder produced by certain plants when they reproduce |
| Flower (puāwai) | A case that opens when seeds are ready to be released |
| Waxy surface of the leaf (para) | Sweet for the birds and bees |
| Pollen inside the flowers | Where sexual reproduction takes place |
| Nectar inside the flowers | Sweet for the birds and bees |
You can find out more about the harakeke leaf by clicking on the magnifying glasses below.
Have another go at matching the structures of the harakeke plant with their job.
For teachers
The correct definitions of the harakeke structures are:
| Harakeke structure | Job of the structure |
|---|---|
| Root (akaaka) | Anchors the plant and takes in water |
| Leaf (whā) | Makes food for the plant using carbon dioxide, water and sunlight |
| Stem (kakau) | Holds the flower upright for pollination |
| Young leaves (rito) | New growth comes from this point |
| Seed pod (puhui hua) | A case that opens when seeds are ready to be released |
| Flower (puāwai) | Where sexual reproduction takes place |
| Waxy surface of the leaf (para) | Stops the leaf drying out |
| Pollen inside the flowers | A fine powder produced by certain plants when they reproduce |
| Nectar inside the flowers | Sweet for the birds and bees |