Harakeke 4
Activity: Leave my plants alone! – Levels 1 and 2
Aim
To understand that harakeke has characteristics which help it survive in its habitat.
Some plants are very good at producing substances that stop insects eating them. For centuries people have been using plant extracts to keep insects away from their plants. These substances are called insect repellents or insecticides. One that is well known and sold all round the world is pyrethrum (Pyrethrum attacks the insect brain and stops female mosquitoes bighting. After a day in the sun, the pyrethrum breaks down and is harmless to humans) which comes from the petals of the chrysanthemum flower.
Activity: Leave my plants alone – Levels 1 and 2
Achievement Objectives - Whāinga Paetae: Te Pū me to More
1.3 (ii) & 2.3 (ii) Develop understanding that a living thing has characteristics which help it survive in its habitat. Te Marautanga o Aotearoa: (p.99) Te Ao Tūroa, Te Rauropi 1 / Te Taiao 3 (ii)
Learning Outcome
I will be able to:
- name plants used as insect repellents
- explain how to use these plants to keep insects away
- explain why plants produce insect repellents.
Success criteria
| Success criteria | Self-assessment | Peer assessment | Teacher assessment | ||||||
| I can name plants used as insect repellents. | |||||||||
| I can explain how to use these plants to keep insects away. | |||||||||
| I can explain why plants produce insect repellents. | |||||||||
Ngaio, horopito, manuka and kanuka have all been used as insect repellents. Find out from your whānau, kaumātua and the internet about how plants have been used by some iwi Māori as insect repellents. Why do you think plants produce insect repellents? Look for these leaves in the forest and include them in your presentation.