sustainability
Activity
Farming and environmental issues
In this activity, students explore ethical issues related to farming and environmental pollution. They learn about the science involved and the range of perspectives among stakeholders....
Article
Farming development and changing landscapes
Farming is a way of life in New Zealand. Farms cover about half of the country’s land and are important to our economy. Agriculture has shaped...
Article
Farming and environmental pollution
New Zealand has had a reputation for being ‘clean and green’ – a country of environmental beauty. Compared to many countries in the world, this is...
Activity
Aspects of sustainability – teacher resource
The New Zealand Curriculum guide for senior secondary schools discusses education for sustainability – learning to think and act in ways that safeguard the wellbeing of...
Activity
Mapping the future
In this activity, students use the Ake Ake model to explore changes that have taken place in their local environment in the last 50–100 years and...
Article
Developing a new plant-based protein
We all need protein to live and stay healthy. However, many protein sources are becoming an increasingly expensive way to meet our needs – both economically...
Article
Kiwi Kai – key terms
Kiwi Kai is a farm simulator that explores the relationships between a healthy environment, healthy kai, healthy people and communities. The goal is manaakihia te taiao,...
Activity
Utilising Navigating our freshwater environment
Navigating our freshwater environment is an interactive storymap that explores the state of rivers, lakes and wetlands – in a novel and engaging way. The storymap...
Teacher PLD
Freshwater resources – planning pathways
Freshwater is defined as inland water – springs, streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. It includes water that is stored in glaciers and under the ground within...
Article
Our freshwater 2023
Ki uta ki tai – from the mountains to the sea – acknowledges the journey that water makes from the atmosphere to the mountains and across...
Article
Seed banks – protecting biodiversity
Seeds are part of most plant life cycles. Seed-producing plants and the seeds they produce provide resources for humans and other living things. These include food...
Article
Waitā – ocean and marine conditions
Waitā is a whetū in the Matariki cluster. It is the star connected with the oceans and marine conditions and represents the many types of food...
Article
Waitī – freshwater environments
Waitī is a whetū in the Matariki cluster. It is the star connected to freshwater: springs, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and the plants and animals that...
Article
Seagull Centre – reducing, reusing and recycling
Many communities around Aotearoa have looked at the challenges of rubbish disposal. In Thames, one community organisation has developed its own response to the challenge. In...
Activity
Determining the properties of plastic and glass
This activity supports students to use their senses to closely observe and identify a range of properties in order to classify items for different purposes. The...
Activity
Te mana o te wai
Te mana o te wai describes the first right for water being with the water – rivers, lakes and streams as well as the ocean. After...
Activity
Water in nature
The water cycle happens all around us. Changes in the state of water and the water cycle are driven by the Sun’s energy. There is no...
Article
The Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor
The world we live in and the society we’re a part of is increasingly underpinned and informed by science and technology. This can include many products...
Article
Making bioplastic clips from wine industry waste
We all know that single-use plastics are a problem for our environment, but many single-use products can be convenient and more economic than less-problematic alternatives. So...
Activity
The Plastic Tide – unit plan
This unit plan shows how teacher Dianne Christenson used the online citizen science (OCS) project The Plastic Tide as part of a year 2–4 unit to...
Activity
Thinking about landfills
This activity is a ready-to-use cross curricular teaching resource. It is intended for NZC levels 4–5. The student worksheet can be printed, making it suitable for...
Article
Structure of landfills
We all throw away rubbish, we all produce waste – items we decide we cannot use any more. This may be anything from food wrappers to...
Article
Rivers and Us – introduction
Rivers and Us is a Waikato Regional Council (WRC) initiative to help educators, students and the community to consider the state of water in their local...
Article
Rivers and Us – a context for learning
Rivers and Us is a Waikato Regional Council (WRC) initiative to help teachers, students and communities investigate the water in their local area. It explores how...