A Virtual Field Trip to Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill

Social Studies Online

Learning Outcome:
Students will:
Explain why Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park may be important for people.

Let's think
What does important mean?
What makes places important for people?

Places may be important to people because of what they do there.
So what do people do on Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill and in Cornwall Park?
Let's take a tour around the Park and volcano and find out.

Let's roll
On your bikes or your scooter or your roller blades and follow Kurt and Bronte on their tour.

First stop
The playground where kids from all over come and play together. Kurt likes the flying fox best.

Second stop
The Observatory which is a place where people can learn about the stars and astronomy and outer space. And it doesn't even matter if it rains.

Third stop
Wait while some sheep cross the road so they can move to some shade under a tree. Because after all, Cornwall Park is a working farm. There are also cattle in the Park if you are lucky enough to find them.

Fourth stop
The summit where Kurt climbs up on to the wall around the monument so he can get a better view. The view from the top of Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill is awesome. People from all over the world climb to the summit of the volcano so they can enjoy the view.

Fifth stop
Down the hill and back into Cornwall Park. Past the archery club (there are lots of sports clubs in the Park) and along to the Cornwall Park Visitor Centre in Huia Lodge. You can learn a lot about the history of the Park from the old photographs in the Information Centre. Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill was a Maori pa or fort hundreds of years ago. Thousands of people lived here.

Sixth stop
Watch out for the dog taking its owner for a walk. There are always people walking, jogging, biking and having fun exercising in the Park.

Seventh stop
There are lots of plaques telling us about the history of the Park, dotted around the place. Kurt is finding out about the American Army Hospital that was built here during the war. Later on it became a maternity hospital. It could be that your parents or grandparents were born there.

Eighth stop
Time for a picnic - or at least an ice cream. People come to the Park to relax and enjoy the green grass, fresh air and trees.

Ninth stop
Talking of trees, the Park is full of trees. Native trees like the pohutukawa and exotic trees like this eucalytus. You can learn all about the different trees by reading the plaques or taking the Tree Trail.

Tenth stop
Back at your place. Can you see Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill from your place? Or do you only see it in pictures? Kurt and Bronte can see Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill from their mountain, Mangere. Many Aucklanders were sad when the tree on One Tree Hill was removed in 2000. Why were they sad, do you think?