A map of your garden is a great way to explore and plan your next backyard adventure.

Why do it?

Making a map is a good way for tamariki to:

  • strengthen the fine muscles in their hands and fingers, which will help them when they start writing letters and numbers
  • looking for objects, features and creatures appeals to a curious toddler who enjoys finding and exploring independently
  • adding vocabulary through parents naming and describing objects their toddler has seen
  • enrich their language through describing and comparing items in their picture
  • observe and talk about maths ideas like same, different, more, less, small, big, longer and shorter.
a map
a map

How to do it

Me whai koe i: Tētahi pepa, he pene, he pene rākau karakara, he pene hinu, he karakara rānei.

You will need: A piece of paper, a pen, colouring pencils, crayons or felts.

  1. Mēnā he rangi ua, he makariri rānei, tirohia tō māra mai i tō matapihi, mēnā e pai ana, haere ki waho ki te āta tirotiro haere.
    If it’s a cold or wet day, study your garden from your window, otherwise, head outside to take a closer look.
  2. Tāia ngā āhuatanga o tō māra, pērā i ngā taiapa, ngā rākau, tō rāinakākahu rānei.
    Draw the features of your garden like fences, big trees or your washing line.
  3. Me tohu ka karakara i ngā wāhi mīharo o tō māra – he wāhi ngāngara, te wāhi pārekareka, te wāhi mahana…
    Mark and colour the special places in your garden – the bug area, the fun area, the cosy area…
  4. Ina oti ana tō mahere, whakamahia hei mahere i tō haerenga tuarua ki waho!
    Once your map is complete, use it to plan your next outside adventure!

Using more te reo Māori

Te reo Māori English
He pene A pen
Garden
Colour
Map
Adventure