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NEW ZEALAND EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
Supporting Learning Through Te Whāriki
NEW ZEALAND CURRICULUM – PHASE 1
YEARS 0–3
Supporting Learning Across the Curriculum
In Years 0–3, learning is organised into curriculum areas, but these areas do not need to be taught in isolation. Young learners benefit from exploring knowledge and developing skills through connected, engaging and meaningful experiences.
BuzzTales resources can be used flexibly to support learning across English, mathematics and statistics, science, social sciences, health and physical education, technology and the arts. Stories, songs, discussions, games, creative activities and movement experiences give teachers practical ways to reinforce curriculum learning while encouraging curiosity, participation and enjoyment.
Te Whāriki Curriculum Connections
THROUGH BUZZTALE RESOURCES
Carly the Chameleon
Te Whāriki strand | Key learning supported | Resource & Activity Pack | Music & Movement Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
Mana Whenua — Belonging | Identity, inclusion, friendship and feeling valued | Mirror, Mirror; How I Am Special; My True Colours; Classroom Chameleon | Carly’s self-acceptance song, group karaoke, Echo and Alter; Confidence Ladder |
Mana Tangata — Contribution | Cooperation, participation, turn-taking and teamwork | Spin It, Twin It and Win It; My True Colours; Classroom Chameleon; Colour Bingo; Chameleon Copycat | Three Strikes You’re Out; Lyric Puzzle; Act It Out; handbells, Boomwhackers and percussion |
Mana Reo — Communication | Vocabulary, listening, storytelling, sequencing and expression | Carly Letters; Colour Matching; Write and Discuss; Word Searches; Word Scramble Maze; How Colours Make Me Feel | Vocabulary Match; Fill in the Lyrics; Lyric Puzzle; Picture Sequencing; Echo and Alter; Act It Out |
Mana Aotūroa — Exploration | Colour, camouflage, animal science, observation, pattern and problem-solving | Colour Mixing with Carly; Chameleon Copycat; Animals that Camouflage; Spot the Chameleon; Chameleon Hide and Seek | Camouflage Like Carly; Rainbow Moves; Music Movement Patterns; Rhythm Challenges; instrument activities |
Mana Atua — Wellbeing | Confidence, emotional awareness, self-acceptance and resilience | Mirror, Mirror; One-of-a-Kind Certificate; How I Am Special; Things I Do Well; How Colours Make Me Feel; Colour Me Unique | Carly’s Confidence Ladder; Music Appreciation; Movement Video; Rainbow Moves |
The Dino Dance
Te Whāriki strand | Key learning supported | Resource & Activity Pack | Music & Movement Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
Mana Aotūroa — Exploration | Dinosaurs, fossils, classification, observation, pattern, sound and creative inquiry | Dino Discovery Fact Cards; Dino Match; Dino Dig; Fossil Sort and Classify; Dinosaur Diet Type; Dino Myth Busters | Music Movement Patterns; Rhythm Challenges; Draw the Beat; Dino Notes; instrument activities |
Mana Reo — Communication | Dinosaur vocabulary, listening, reading, sequencing and expressive communication | Dino Letters; Dino Spelling Sheets; Reading and Comprehension; Language Lab; Which Dino Am I? | Dino Vocabulary Match; Fill in the Lyrics; Lyric Puzzle; Picture Sequencing; Act It Out; Echo and Alter |
Mana Tangata — Contribution | Cooperation, turn-taking, teamwork and fair play | Palaeo Pals; Concentration; Dino Deal; Spin-o-saurus Snacks; Fossil Sort and Classify | Lyric Puzzle; Act It Out; Dino Drop; Bells and Boomwhackers; group percussion activities |
Mana Whenua — Belonging | Shared interests, group connection and participation in familiar routines | Palaeo Pals; Dino Deal; Which Dino Am I?; group craft activities | Group karaoke, Three Strikes (Rocks), You’re Out; Echo and Alter; Dino Drum/Shaker Parade |
Mana Atua — Wellbeing | Physical confidence, coordination, active participation and enjoyment | Dinosaur Hide and Seek; Dinosaur Discovery Sensory Game; Dinosaur Masks; indoor movement activities | Indoor Movement Games; Dino Dance Choreography; Dino Drop; Dino Footprint Freeze Game |
Galaxy's Paradise
Te Whāriki strand | Key learning supported | Resource & Activity Pack | Music & Movement Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
Mana Whenua — Belonging | Connection to Earth, nature, home, community and the wider world | Our Special Planet; Letter to an Alien Friend; Thank You, Planet Earth; Planet Earth Project | Galaxy’s Paradise song, group karaoke, Earth Soundscape Circle; Recycled Instruments; Picture Sequencing |
Mana Tangata — Contribution | Cooperation, responsible choices, turn-taking and caring for shared environments | Ready, Set, Recycle!; Recycling Day; Sustainability Match; Zoomiverse; Alien Concentration | Act It Out; Earth Soundscape Circle; Bells and Boomwhackers; Galaxy Drop; group instrument activities |
Mana Reo — Communication | Space and environmental vocabulary, reading, writing, sequencing, singing and expression | Galaxy’s Alphabet; Interesting Words; Letter to an Alien Friend; Earth and Its Space Friends; Our Own Book | Vocabulary Match; Fill in the Lyrics; Lyric Crossword; Act It Out; Picture Sequencing; Space Echo Singing |
Mana Aotūroa — Exploration | Earth and space science, sustainability, observation, sorting, problem-solving, sound and movement | Space and Earth Flashcards; Name the Planets; How to Compost; Nature Scavenger Hunt; Alien Secret Codes; Galaxy Graphing | Space Echo Singing; Earth Sounds Detective Log; Music Movement Patterns; Rhythm Challenge; Recycled Instruments |
Mana Atua — Wellbeing | Confidence, physical participation, enjoyment of nature and caring for the environment | Nature Scavenger Hunt; I Can Save the Planet Too!; Thank You, Planet Earth; Alien Hide and Seek | Exercise Video; Galaxy Freeze; Galaxy Drop; Karaoke Video; Music Appreciation |
A Whale's Lullabye
Te Whāriki strand | Key learning supported | Resource & Activity Pack | Music & Movement Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
Mana Atua — Wellbeing | Sleep, healthy routines, emotional calm, body awareness and physical confidence | When Your Body Sleeps; The Benefits of Sleep; Why Sleep Is Super; Getting Ready for Bed; Things That Help Me Sleep | Music Appreciation; Exercise Video; Parachute Ocean Waves; Ocean Drop; Karaoke Video |
Mana Whenua — Belonging | Connection to whānau, Aotearoa, the moana, culture and shared routines | Writing Names; Sleep Around the World; Te Reo Phrases; Māori Flashcards; New Zealand Favourite Foods; I Love the Ocean | Shared karaoke, Drift to Sleep Sound Map; Ocean Soundscape Circle; Harmonisation; Parachute Ocean Waves |
Mana Tangata — Contribution | Cooperation, turn-taking, kindness, group participation and shared problem-solving | Message in a Bottle; Sleep Around the World; Pop-Up Box Theatre; homework and project activities | Act It Out; Ocean Echo Singing; Ocean Soundscape Circle; Ocean Instruments; Ocean Drop; Bells and Boomwhackers |
Mana Reo — Communication | Vocabulary, storytelling, early writing, listening, singing, sequencing and expression | Practice the Letters A–Z; Writing Practice; Message in a Bottle; Story Writing; Interesting Words; Reading and Comprehension | Lullaby Vocabulary Match; Fill in the Lyrics; Lyric Crossword; Act It Out; Drift to Sleep Sound Map; Ocean Echo Singing |
Mana Aotūroa — Exploration | Whales, oceans, floating and sinking, sleep science, creativity, rhythm and movement | Whale Flashcards; Comparing Whale Sizes; Sink or Float; Colour Recognition; Symmetry Drawing; Whale Bubble Painting | Ocean Soundscape Circle; Ocean Instruments; Music Movement Patterns; Rhythm Challenge; Music Maths; Colour-Coded Notes |
Brush, Spit and Start Again
Te Whāriki strand | Key learning supported | Resource & Activity Pack | Music & Movement Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
Mana Tangata — Contribution | Responsibility, cooperation, turn-taking and shared healthy habits | Who’s Smile Is the Cleanest?; Germ Buster Game; Matching Quiz; Tooth Town Trek; 7 Day Brushing Challenge | Pass the Toothbrush; Act It Out; Soundscape Circle; Recycled Instruments; Bells and Boomwhackers |
Mana Reo — Communication | Dental vocabulary, discussion, reading, sequencing, singing and expression | A–Z Dental Alphabet; Interesting Words; Dental Word Search; Reading and Comprehension; Story Prompt; Short Questions and Answers | Vocabulary Match; Echo and Brush; Fill in the Lyrics; Lyric Crossword; Act It Out; Picture Sequencing |
Mana Aotūroa — Exploration | Teeth, dental tools, food choices, sorting, observation, music and problem-solving | Dental Flashcards; Dental Clinic; Dental Match; Colour and Size; Dental Maze; Germ Buster Game | Echo and Brush; Recycled Instruments; Music Movement Patterns; Rhythm Challenge; Music Maths; Brushing Teeth Drop |
Mana Whenua — Belonging | Familiar routines, safety, family participation and confidence in care settings | Dental Clinic; Story Prompt; Teeth Around the World; 7 Day Brushing Challenge; Brushing Teeth Colour Pages | Group karaoke, Pass the Toothbrush; Picture Sequencing; Brushing Teeth Freeze; group instrument activities |
Mana Atua — Wellbeing | Oral health, self-care, healthy choices, routines and confidence with dental visits | Dental Flashcards; Love Your Teeth; Good and Bad; Foods Friendly and Non-Friendly; 7 Day Brushing Challenge; Tooth Town Trek | Song and karaoke, Vocabulary Match; Picture Sequencing; Exercise Video; Music Appreciation |
Carly the Chameleon
Carly the Chameleon
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