: Te Tiritiria o te Purapura — Spreading Seeds
Loading Images
Approach:  One to one
1.1Mb
Focus: Plant adaptation 
Resources: 3 pictures, bidibid seeds
He whakatau kupu: tiritiri = spread, hutiwai = bidibid, tohetaka = dandelion

Questions/instructions:

Ka körerorero täua me pëhea e tiria ai ëtahi momo purapura ki te whenua.
In this activity we’ll be talking about how different seeds are spread.

% responses

Whakaaturia te pikitia tuatahi: te tohetaka.

Show student picture 1: dandelion.

1. Ki töu whakaaro ka pëhea te tiritiria o ngä purapura o te tohetaka ki te whenua?

How do you think the dandelion’s seeds are helped to spread?
wind

70
Ki te kore te äkonga e whakautu, mäu e whakamöhio atu, mä te pupuhi o te hau ngä purapura tohetaka e tiritiria ai.

If necessary tell student that dandelion seeds are spread by the wind.

2. He aha te tino ähua o te purapura tohetaka e pai ai te tiritiria e te hau?

What is special about the way dandelion seeds are made that help them get spread by the wind?
lightness

23
fluffy bits to get caught by wind

9
parachute/umbrella effect for landing

6
3. He aha tëtahi ähuatanga pai o te tiri purapura mä te hau?

What might be good about seeds being spread by the wind?
can travel a long way/land in good growth environment

2
other valid, well-explained reason

0
Whakaaturia te pikitia tuarua: te purapura miro.

Show student picture 2: miro berry.

4. Ki töu whakaaro ka pëhea nei te tiritiria o ngä purapura miro ki te whenua?

How might the seeds of the miro berry be spread?
eaten and spread in bird or animal droppings

4
eaten by animals/birds

13
by animals/birds

0
Ki te kore te äkonga e whakautu, mäu e whakamöhio atu, ka kainga e te manu me ëtahi atu kararehe, ä, ka tiritiria mä te tuku tütae.

If necessary tell student that miro berry seeds are sometimes eaten by birds and other animals and the seeds are spread in the droppings.

5. He aha te tino ähuatanga o te purapura miro e pai ai te tiritiria mä te tütae manu, tütae kararehe kë ränei?

What is special about the way berry seeds are made that help them get spread by birds or other animals?
colour to attract bird

2
nice flavour, good food

7
hard seeds that survive being eaten/digested

0
6. He aha tëtahi ähuatanga pai o te tiri purapura mä te tütae manu, tütae kararehe kë ränei?

What might be good about seeds being spread in bird or other animal droppings?
can travel a long way/land in good growth environment

8
droppings fertilise seeds

2
other valid, well-explained reason

0
Whakaaturia te pikitia tuatoru:
te purapura hutiwai.

Show student picture 3:
bidibid and packet of bidibid seeds.

7. Nö te whänau o te tipu hutiwai ënei purapura.Ka pëhea nei te tiritiria o ënei purapura ki te whenua?

These seeds belong to the bidibid family. How do you think bibibid seeds are spread?
caught on moving creatures

 

6
Ki te kore te äkonga e whakautu, mäu e whakamöhio atu, mä te whakapiri atu ki te kiri kararehe, ki te käkahu tangata ränei ngä purapura hutiwai e tiritiria ai ki te whenua.

If necessary tell student that the seed clings to animals or clothing.

8. He aha te tino ähuatanga o te purapura hutiwai e pai ai te tiritiria mä te whakapiri atu ki te kiri kararehe, ki te käkahu tangata ränei?

What is special about the way bibibid seeds are made that help them get spread by clinging to fur or clothing?
hooks/barbs grab stongly onto fabric/fur (hard to get off)

0
prickles/spikes get into fabric/fur (but relatively easily brushed off)

13
9. He aha tëtahi ähuatanga pai o te tiri purapura mä te whakapiri atu ki te kiri kararehe, ki te käkahu tangata ränei?

What might be good about being spread by clinging to animal fur or clothing?
can travel a long way/land in good growth environment

4
other valid, well-explained reason

2
10. He aha tëtahi ähuatanga e kore ai e pai te tiria o te purapura mä te hau, mä te tütae manu, mä te whakapiri atu ränei ki te kiri kararehe?

What might be not so good about seeds being spread by the wind, in animal droppings or on animal fur?
a lot end up in places where they won’t grow well

0
they are a nuisance; end up in places where they are not wanted

4

Total score:



11 –16

0
8–10

0
5–7

10
2–4

34
0–1

56
Commentary:
Most students had very limited understanding about how features of seeds help their spread.
 
Chapter Graphic
 Loading Images