Animals
Blue penguin and other seabirds education resource
Inquiry based learning resource for schools and community groups. The majority of the activities that are included are readily adaptable for the seabird of your choice.
Produced by: West Coast Penguin Trust in 2014
Inquiry unit | Level 2: View the blue penguin education resource
Coastal birds trading card game
A fun way to learn about our native birds! Look out for uncommon, rare and even 'super rare' birds in your pack.
Produced by: Zealandia
Game | All levels: Contact the Zealandia education team to get your free set.
The Great Kererū Count
The Great Kererū Count was set up to help us get a better understanding of kererū numbers and distribution across New Zealand. It is an annual citizen science project and the more people who participate, the better the understanding we will get of how kererū are doing.
Produced by The Great Kererū Count.
Activity | All levels: Great Kererū Count education pack.
Kiwi Forever
A comprehensive teaching resource packed full of fun and educational activities aligned with Levels 1-4 of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Produced by Kiwis for Kiwi
Inquiry unit | Levels 1-4: Kiwi Forever
Māui's dolphin: An inquiry to action
Produced by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Inquiry unit | Levels: 2-4: View the Māui dolphin inquiry to action
Whio game
The 'Stoats and Rivers' game is a fun way to teach kids about the lvies of whio and the efforts to protect them.
Produced by Whio Forever
Game | All levels: Download the game from the Whio Forever website.
Tuna kūwharuwharu - the longfin eel
Information and stories about threats to longfin eels and how to protect them.
Produced by Joseph Potangaroa
Factsheet and activities | Levels 2-4: Tuna kūwharuwharu - The longfin eel
Fish factsheets
The factsheets focus on New Zealand's unique freshwater fish and highlights the factors that impact on their survival.There are English and Te Reo versions available.
Produced by NZ Landcare Trust
Factsheet | All levels: Fish factsheets
Forests and green spaces
Biodiversity battleship
In this activity, students play a version of battleships that explores what happens to flora and fauna when habitat is lost.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Biodiversity battleship
Both sides of the fence
Resources to assist teachers and students to explore the theme of respect for and responsible use of the outdoors. Interactive map of various scenarios including conservation impacts of having dogs on beaches. Also an activity on developing students' awareness and understanding of taking responsibility when walking their dog, considering others and caring for the environment.
Produced by New Zealand Walking Access Commission
Website | Primary: Both sides of the fence
Conserving native birds
Includes research articles, activity ideas and online videos and images.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Website | Levels: 1-4: Conserving native birds
Garden bird guide
Produced by Landcare Research
Poster | All levels:: Garden bird guide (PDF, 386K)
The Great Kererū Count
The Great Kererū Count was set up to help us get a better understanding of kererū numbers and distribution across New Zealand. It is an annual citizen science project and the more people who participate, the better the understanding we will get of how kererū are doing.
Produced by The Great Kererū Count.
Activity | All levels: Kererū education pack.
Joey the rowi
Produced by Ed Jones, conservation volunteer
Video | Early childhood and primary: Watch Joey the rowi on YouTube
Insect fact poster
Provides information on insect structure, role in the environment, worldwide and New Zealand diversity.
Produced by Landcare Research
Poster | All levels: Fascinating insects fact poster (PDF, 895K)
Hidden taonga: Conserving New Zealand's unique ecosystems
Includes research articles, activity ideas and online videos and images about insects.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary: Hidden taonga
Saving reptiles and amphibians
Website includes research articles, activity ideas and online videos and images.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Website | Levels: 1-4: Saving reptiles and amphibians
Threats to biodiversity
In this activity, students research three aspects of biodiversity loss – direct species loss, habitat loss and pests and weeds. By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- discuss aspects of biodiversity and threats to it
- carry out online research and share ideas
- understand some ways biodiversity loss is being tackled in New Zealand.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Threats to biodiversity
Wildtime for schools – outdoor activities
Easy to navigate website listing various activities that encourage outdoor exploration and getting to know your local natural environments in fun and creative ways.
Produced by the Wild Network Project
Website | Early childhood and Levels 1-4: Wildtime for schools
The Possum Problem
This story from School Journal Level 3 August 2017 explores the problems that possums pose to the New Zealand environment.
Written by Johanna Knox
School Journal | Level 3: The Possum Problem
Designed for Good
The New Zealand environment has been badly affected by introduced pests such as rats, stoats, and possums. This story from School Journal Level 3 May 2017 follows the process of developing an effective and humane trap to reduce these pest populations.
Written by Philip Cleaver
School Journal | Level 3: Designed for Good
Marine and coastal
Black petrels of Aotea - Great Barrier Island bird monitoring
Produced by Ed Jones, conservation volunteer
Video | All levels: Watch Black petrels of Aotea on YouTube
Māui's dolphin: An inquiry to action
Produced by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Inquiry unit | Levels: 2-4: View the Māui dolphin inquiry to action
Life's a beach education resource
Provides learning activities about the beach environment - the sea, beach, sand dunes, dune vegetation and reserve areas.
Produced by Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Inquiry unit | Levels: 2-8: Life's a beach
Life in the sea
Website includes research articles, activity ideas and online videos and images.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Website | Levels: 1-4: Life in the sea
The Blue Project - Explore, Learn, Act
A free digital resource that will extend the reach of marine education to classrooms around the country, so that students from Kaitaia to Bluff can experience the wonder of what lies beneath the ocean. The website uses 360-degree video to bring the marine environment to life, transporting students from their classrooms to the wonder of Kelly Tarlton's underwater experience.
Produced by SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's
Website | All levels: The Blue Project
Young Ocean Explorers - Love Our Ocean
Young Ocean Explorers aim is to inspire children to love our ocean through entertaining education. The interactive website uses a blend of fun storytelling, fascinating facts and incredible images… all told through a teenager’s eyes. The interactive website has been designed for maximum engagement for this digital generation, with lots of short videos, poll and quizzes. Young Ocean Explorers want to connect the hearts and minds of children with the ocean, so they care and want to look after NZ’s unique and beautiful marine world.
Produced by Young Ocean Explorers
Website | All levels: Young Ocean Explorers - Love Our Ocean
Freshwater
Take action for water resource
An in-depth unit of teaching and learning for Year 5-8 students. It is an integrated programme of work that is intended to be completed over the course of a term.
Produced by Greater Wellington Regional Council
Inquiry unit | Levels: 3-4: Take action for water
Investigating freshwater – an inquiry resource
Produced by MTSCT - Whitebait Connection
Inquiry unit | Primary: Investigating freshwater
Tōku awa koiora: Restoring and protecting the river's health and wellbeing
Website includes research articles, activity ideas and online videos and images.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Website | Levels: 1-4: Tōku awa koiora
Fish factsheets
The factsheets focus on New Zealand's unique freshwater fish and highlights the factors that impact on their survival.There are English and Te Reo versions available.
Produced by NZ Landcare Trust
Factsheet | All levels: Fish factsheets
Estuaries
Learning about estuaries
Information answering the following questions - what is an estuary? How are they formed? Why are estuaries valuable? Why do we need to protect them?
Produced by NIWA
Website | Levels: 3-4: Estuaries
Estuary metaphors
In this activity students discuss how a variety of everyday objects can serve as metaphors for the important characteristics and functions of estuaries.
Produced by the Science Learning Hub
Activity: Estuary metaphors
Estuaries and farmland run-off
This article explains how humans can impact the plants and animals that live in estuaries .
Produced by the Science Learning Hub
Article: Estuaries and farmland run-off
Wetlands
Wonderful wild wetlands
Covers general wetland biodiversity and threats
Produced by Environment Canterbury.
Online/interactive game | Levels: 3-4: Wonderful wild wetlands
Te Reo and Mātauranga Māori
Climate and Māori Society
Projected climate change impacts, and the adaptation they will demand, will present new challenges (as well as opportunities) for iwi/hapū/whānau and Māori enterprise.
Produced by: Taihoro Nukurangi – NIWA
Report | All levels: Climate and Māori Society
Mātauranga Māori
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Mātauranga Māori
Resources with Māori content
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Resources with Māori content
Kapehu whetu
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Kapehu whetu
Rongoā Māori
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Rongoā Māori
Pre-European Maori measurement
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Pre-European Maori measurement
Taewa (Māori potatoes)
Produced by the Science Learning Hub, University of Waikato
Activity | Primary and secondary: Taewa (Māori potatoes)
Takatū Ake
An online interactive magazine for primary school age reo Māori students.
Produced by CORE Education
Interactive website | Levels 1-4: Takatū Ake
Ngā rauemi i te reo Māori
Ngā kararehe o ngā Ākau pōhatuhatu o Aotearoa - He puka karakara
Kaituhi: Whare Mātai Moana o Aotearoa Marine Metre Squared
Pukapuka | Tau 1-8: Ngā kararehe o ngā Ākau pōhatuhatu o Aotearoa - He puka karakara (PDF, 3850K)
Puka Ārahi mō te tapātai one - Aotearoa ki te raki
Kaituhi: Whare Mātai Moana o Aotearoa Marine Metre Squared
Pukapuka | Tau 1-8: Puka Ārahi mō te tapātai one - Aotearoa ki te raki (PDF, 2400K)
Puka Ārahi mō te tapātai one – Te tai toka
Kaituhi: Whare Mātai Moana o Aotearoa Marine Metre Squared
Pukapuka | Tau 1-8: Puka Ārahi mō te tapātai one – Te tai toka (PDF, 2300K)
Nga Kōraha Māminga – He puka mahi
Kaituhi: Whare Mātai Moana o Aotearoa Marine Metre Squared
Pukapuka mahi |Tau 1-8: Nga Kōraha Māminga – He puka mahi (PDF, 4100K)
Ngā tikanga Māori o te Tiro Huarere, me te Āhuarangi
Kaituhi: Taihoro Nukurangi - NIWA
Pānui whakaahua | Tau 1-8: Ngā tikanga Māori o te Tiro Huarere, me te Āhuarangi (PDF, 3000K)
Ngā pepeke me ngā pūngāwerewere o Aotearoa
Kaituhi: Manaaki whenua- Landcare Research
Pae tukutuku | Tau 1-8: Ngā pepeke me ngā pūngāwerewere o Aotearoa
He aha tēnei pepeke?
Kaituhi: Manaaki whenua - Landcare Research
Pae tukutuku | Tau 1-8: He aha tēnei pepeke?
Te rārangi ā-rōpū
Kaituhi: Manaaki Whenua- Landcare Research
Pae tukutuku | Tau 1-8: Te rārangi ā-rōpū
Te rārangi pepeke
Kaituhi: Manaaki Whenua- Landcare Research
Pae tukutuku | Tau 1-8: Te rārangi pepeke