Ngā mihi o te wā
We hope you had a restful term break.
National Primary Science Week is fast approaching! The theme this year is Eco Champions – Science in Action, which is all about taking environmental action, or showcasing environmental action projects you have already been involved in.
In this issue of Pitopito Kōrero, we highlight resources to support taking environmental action in your local environment, as well as-
- Upcoming teacher professional development opportunities
- New conservation education resources
- New conservation education resource launch: Te Whio mo ake tonu atu
- Noteworthy nature competitions and events
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you require any advice, or have any feedback about this newsletter or our resources. We would love to hear from you!
Ngā manaakitanga,
DOC Outreach and Education team
National Primary Science Week 14-18 May 2018
What is your school doing to become Eco Champions? Why not showcase what you already do or get involved in your area? This is what Primary Science Week in 2018 is all about.
For more information and to register, visit - https://nzapse.nzase.org.nz/primary-science-week/
Action ideas and links to supporting resources:
- Become citizen scientists - identify birds, invertebrates and plants in a local environment, and upload your observations to Naturewatch
- Become citizen scientists for the marine world by surveying marine plants and animals on a local seashore, and upload your observations to Marine Metre Squared
- Identify weeds in a local environment, and clearing them
- Contribute to Predator Free 2050- Track and trap animal pests in a local environment
- Enhance biodiversity in a local environment
- Clean up a local beach
Why is environmental action important?
Without environmental action, the future of our New Zealand threatened species would be doubtful. The more New Zealanders start contributing to conservation and protecting our unique plants and animals, the more resilient the natural environment will be for future generations. Informed, targeted action is a key component of education for a sustainable future.
Why should students be involved in environmental action?
Taking informed action allows students to move from acquiring knowledge and experiencing nature, to actively participating in deep contextual learning, skill development and creating positive change in their environment.
Action develops the NZ Curriculum principles, vision, key competencies and learning objectives of multiple subject areas. It promotes the development of students into knowledgeable, actively involved, empowered future citizens.
Why participate in environmental action?
Student participation in environmental action is empowering and inspiring for students and encourages them to become informed, active participants in society. They should have a good understanding of underlying causes related to issues and be able to justify why carrying out action is important.
The Tools for environmental action resource can support students with-
- Planning and carrying out successful action to address an environmental issue alongside their community
- Monitoring and reviewing their action
- Beginning to understand how their action has an impact on the wider ecosystem
Hilltop School students clearing weeds. Credit: Anna Elwarth
Upcoming teacher professional development opportunities
We have partnered with the Science Learning Hub to deliver four free, interactive teacher PD webinars on the ‘in the environment’ resource series-
1. Eco explorers – Thursday 3 May, 4:00-4:45pm
In this first webinar, we will model activities that support an inquiry approach to conservation education and introduce exciting DOC resources about exploring your local environment and experiencing birds and invertebrates in your green space. We will discuss some of the highlights, opportunities and challenges that come with teaching about and in the outdoors.
Register here
2. Our native trees – Thursday 17 May, 4:00-4:45pm
In this webinar, we will introduce some readily available resources and model activities about New Zealand’s native trees. These will inspire teachers to incorporate native trees into their Living World contexts. We will discuss how engaging in science inquiries can support learning across the curriculum and can be easily adapted to any level.
Register here
3. Pest detectives – Thursday 24 May, 4:00-4:45pm
In this webinar, we will introduce DOC’s investigating animal pests and plant pests resources and activities to gather and interpret data about pests living in a local green space. We will discuss the NZ-wide goal of Predator Free 2050, and how schools can contribute to achieving this.
Register here
4. Eco Champions – Thursday 20 September, 4:00-4:45pm
This webinar is during Conservation Week. We will introduce resources to support enhancing biodiversity and taking environmental action in your local environment. We will also share case studies of schools
involved in amazing environmental action projects.
Register here
Join as a group in the staff room or from the comfort of home. All the webinars will be recorded and made available on the Science Learning Hub and DOC websites to be viewed at any time.
New Conservation Education resources
Investigating marine reserves
An integrated curriculum teaching resource with New Zealand’s marine reserves as a real-life context for learning. The resource links to the New Zealand Curriculum at levels 1-4, but can be adapted for use at various levels. It is based on DOC’s integrated inquiry learning process.
The resource includes site visit notes to support educators plan field trips to-
- Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve
- Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island)
- Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve
- Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve
- Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve
- Te Angiangi Marine Reserve
- Tapuae Marine Reserve
- Kapiti Marine Reserve
- Punakaiki Marine Reserve
- Piopiotahi/Milford Sound Marine Reserve
Conservation Dogs Programme education resource
This resource is designed to support learning about conservation dogs, Predator Free 2050, biosecurity and taking conservation action in your local community. It links to the NZ Curriculum at levels 1-4, but can be adapted for use at various levels. It is also based on DOC’s integrated inquiry learning process, and links to existing resources such as Whio Forever, and the ‘In the environment’ resource series.
Te Reo and Mātauranga Māori online resources
A collection of resources to support incorporating te reo and Mātauranga Māori into your conservation teaching and learning.
New conservation education resource launch: Te Whio mo ake tonu atu
Tuesday 24th April on Mounga Taranaki - the sun shone, the camphouse was full, great kōrero flowed and the connection making was plentiful. Why? A wānanga to introduce the set of new resources, Te Whio mo ake tonu atu. These resources, written and developed by Taranaki iwi teachers complement the Whio Forever education resources, and are written for Māori medium education settings (i.e. kura and rumaki reo).
Although the resources were specifically developed for Taranaki, and uses Taranaki kupu, karakia and mātauranga, they can be used more widely by English medium schools in Taranaki and bykura in other parts of the country. For example, kōrero at the wānanga highlighted the usefulness of he ripanga kupu (a glossary), and how English medium schools could use the glossary to build on their students te reo Māori language skills. One of the Taranaki phrases in the resource, noninga kumu (roughly translated as ‘rubbing your buttocks on the earth’) alludes to the action of knowing a place so well that you have literally sat in the earth and have a connection to it.
The resource includes a teacher guide, posters and presentations. The posters will be available here online this week.
Some questions to help you unpack the resource for your local context:
- Whio are considered taonga species on Mounga Taranaki. What are the taonga species from your place?
- In the Taranaki dialect, we refer to Mounga Taranaki not maunga. What are some of the dialectal differences in your area?
- The resource includes karakia, waiata, and whakatauki pertaining to the natural environment. What are the karakia, waiata, and whakatauki from your place?
Noteworthy nature competitions
Kākāpō t-shirt design competition
Entries close 28 July 2018
The Kākāpō Recovery Programme is joining FLOAT (For Love of All Things) to create a new kākāpō t-shirt to raise money and increase awareness about kākāpō.
We would like New Zealand kids to come up with the design. For every shirt sold, $10 will go towards protecting kākāpō.
There are plenty of prizes up for grabs, including Kākāpō Recovery adoption packages for the winner and school with the most entries!
Check out the Kākāpō Recovery education resource to learn about this amazing bird and for some design inspiration!
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Sinbad. Credit: Jake Osborne