Learning Areas

Ākonga will learn what science is and how scientists work.

They will develop the skills, attitudes and values to build a foundation for understanding the world. They will appreciate that while scientific knowledge is durable, it is also constantly re-evaluated in the light of new evidence.

Carrying out investigations and communicating scientific ideas are part of the learning, alongside making links between scientific knowledge and everyday decisions and actions.

Overall, ākonga will grow to see science as a socially valuable knowledge system.

Agricultural and horticultural industries are key drivers of New Zealand’s economic, social, and environmental development.

Primary production products are a source of well-being for the present generation and will be so for future generations. Through purposeful learning in agricultural and horticultural science, ākonga engage in future and creative thinking and develop problem-solving strategies and lifelong skills.

They build knowledge of practical techniques and are encouraged to find innovative solutions to challenging production issues.

They also learn to appreciate the economic, historical, social, and cultural influences on primary production and the interrelationships of science, technology, society, and the environment.

This subject is a hands-on course where you'll get to work in our new gardens and a tunnel house, growing both food and native plants.

You'll learn how to grow plants from start to finish, from collecting and sowing seeds to taking cuttings. We'll also take trips to local spots like Mt Alford Station and Mt Hutt Adventure Park to do some restorative planting and help bring back native forests.

You'll get to 'adopt a plant' in our biodiversity garden, learning all about its life cycle and how it fits into the local ecosystem.