Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories content structure
This resource explains the structure of the Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories content.
About this resource
The Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories content uses the Understand, Know, Do elements and the progressions model. The diagrams at the end of this page show how Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories fits within social sciences.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories content structure
The national curriculum now makes clear the expectation that our histories are part of the local curriculum | marau ā-kura in every school and kura.
Understand, Know, Do
There are three elements to the Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories curriculum content: Understand, Know, and Do. These elements are not separate, and they are not in sequence.
Teachers design learning experiences that weave these elements together so that student learning is deep and meaningful.
Understand, Know, Do NZSL
Hear from Sylvia Park School principal, Barbara Ala‘alatoa, about how the Understand, Know, Do framing fits together.
Progressions model
We have redefined the current curriculum levels as phases of learning in a progressions model, and progress outcomes have replaced Achievement Objectives in the Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories content.
This progressions model gives clarity about the direction of learning and the key outcomes that matter across the phases, enabling teachers and kaiako, ākonga, and whānau to know what is important and how learning develops. It ‘chunks’ the learning so that the progress described in The New Zealand Curriculum is easily seen.
The model covers five phases of learning throughout schooling: years 1–3, years 4–6, years 7–8, years 9–10, and years 11–13. The content for Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories covers the first four phases of learning – until year 10.
The Understand, Know, and Do elements come together as progress outcomes for each phase of learning. The progress outcomes describe the depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding required for ākonga, and the sophistication of their use of practices.
There are resources available to support each phase of learning in the Materials that come with this resource section.
Social sciences and Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories
Together, Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories within the refreshed social sciences learning area encourage ākonga to be critical citizens – learning about the past to understand the present and prepare for the future.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories and social sciences 2007
The diagram below helps you understand, embed, and sustain Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories, alongside the existing social sciences national curriculum statement.
