Kia ora e te whānau

We hope the preparation for the return to school in Level 2 is going well. We understand this is a busy and demanding time for both you and your students, therefore the well-being focus of this newsletter is to support yet another transition for you and your students, back into classroom teaching and learning.

In this edition of Pitopito Kōrero we bring you 5 activities for 5 days to support you and your students in your first week back. These activities are in line with the 5 ways to well-being from the Mental Health Foundation and aim to provide you and your students an opportunity to bond together with your place. 

As always, please don't hesitate to contact us if you require any advice or have any feedback about this newsletter or our resources.

When you feel ready - we would love to hear your stories about returning to school and how you have connected with your nearby nature.

Mā te taiao, kia whakapakari tōu oranga. Let nature in, strengthen your wellbeing.

Stay safe! Kia kaha!

DOC Outreach and Education team

5 activities for 5 days

1. Be active | me kori tonu
An activity to facilitate and support movement, physical activity & play.

Nature Sensory Bingo

Colour bingo with students - Sian Moffitt, Kids Greening Taupo ©

2. Connect | me whakawhanaunga
Observational, well-being and mindfulness activities

3 Good Things

Noticing three good things in nature from students Cam Farrow (top image) and Sebastian Knighton (bottom image) from Paremata School.

3. Get creative | kia mahi auaha
Art and craft activities

Create some wild art

Cherry's Nature art, Pearl Freemantle, Teacher at Ngati Toa School ©

4. Take notice | me aro tonu
Science, measurement and inquiry based activities

Create a nature journal

Examples of student nature journals. Sounds of nature description in a nature journal - Nola White © (top image) and students from Discover School with their nature journals (bottom image) - Natalie Packer ©

5. Give | Tukua
Your time. Your words. Your presence.

Museum of nature

Example of students collecting and displaying their museum of nature items in a primary school setting (top image) and early childhood setting (bottom image).

Other resources to support your journey back to school

Department of Conservation- Learning from home 

Activities on this webpage are drawn from our conservation education resources. They include creating a nature journal, experiencing insects, exploring the night sky and many more. They all highlight why it’s important to spend time in nature, plus have fun activities to do with your students both at home and at school to connect with nearby nature, stay active and be creative. 

Key advice is don’t be put off by the weather – just dress for it!

All the activities are linked to the Five Ways to Wellbeing

5 Things to do in your bubble – from the 50 Things to do in nature programme
Each week, we’re offering five new additions to the 50 Things to do in Nature programme. 

The best thing about this is that they’re all ideas for kids – from kids. We asked Kiwi kids to put together a list of things they loved to do in nature, and then from these ideas we created this magnificent (if we do say so ourselves) list.

There are ideas for around your home and backyard or school grounds and window views! Check back weekly for more activities as the list grows.

Toyota Kiwi Guardians backyard actions
This programme is a collaboration between DOC and Toyota, with a whole lot of fun, interesting and meaningful activities that students can do at school and at home with whānau. Some of these TKG Actions are old favourites and others are brand new.

Check out the Toyota Kiwi Guardians Facebook page, where we promote different activities, giveaway prizes, and talk about nature with our Kiwi Guardian families.

Grow a seed. Credit: A Studholme

Latest news on connecting with nature in school

Check out this advice from a recent article: The Washington post - Why kids shouldn't be forced to sit at desks all day when schools reopen.

• When children dive deep into their play experiences outside, time and again, they naturally spread out and form small groups. When we set up the environment correctly, there is no need to intervene constantly and tell children to separate. This technique helps decrease stress on children, especially those already struggling with anxiety and/or sensory issues.
• Outdoor play is incredibly therapeutic. When children step outdoors, it is naturally calming and helps regulate and organize the senses. It also serves to challenge and advance various skills that you just cannot replicate in the classroom or therapy setting. In a time of crisis, it would be wise to take advantage of nature’s unique assets.
• Time outside also helps to boost the immune system, something that is also becoming a priority.
• Outdoor play is one of the most meaningful and fun ways for children to learn. Examples provided in the article (link below)  They can tap into their creativity,  creating everything from a giant chain reaction machine in the woods (think physics on steroids!) to designing their own homes made out of bricks, sticks and hay after listening to the classic fairy tale, “Three Little Pigs.”