Maori language customs and terminology in English and Maori respectively
Empowering Schools to Contribute to a Pest-Free New Zealand
In an effort to protect Aotearoa's unique biodiversity, schools are being encouraged to engage students in hands-on learning about native wildlife, predator threats, and conservation. One resource that is helping schools achieve this goal is the comprehensive teaching resource produced by the urban ecosanctuary ZEALANDIA.
ZEALANDIA offers a series of lesson plans designed to involve students in contributing to a pest-free New Zealand. These lesson plans are intended to be used throughout a whole unit, not just as a one-off activity. They cover topics such as investigating why conservation is necessary, investigating what is present, instigating solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
One of the activities in the lesson plan is "Mapping the Future," where students are encouraged to connect and create a sense of belonging by exploring changes that have taken place in their local environment in the last 50-100 years and to plan for the next 50 years. Another activity, "Observation: learning to see," emphasizes the importance of careful observation in science.
ZEALANDIA's lesson plans are designed to blend ecological knowledge with Māori worldview, encouraging tamariki (children) to participate actively in protecting native species. The resource helps students become familiar with both te reo Māori and English terms related to conservation. For example, "Ngā karangatanga matua mō te wai māori me ngā ika wai māori" covers a series of key terms used within our te reo Māori freshwater streams and rivers and native fish resources.
In addition to ZEALANDIA's resources, schools can also find support from other organizations. For instance, ZEALANDIA and WWF have collaborated to develop a series of lesson plans enabling teachers and students to contribute to a pest-free New Zealand. Another downloadable resource is "Conservation kupu," which focuses on te reo Māori terms related to biodiversity.
If you're interested in getting involved at an individual or community level, you can check out Predator Free New Zealand Trust. If your school is in the Wellington region and you would like support to run this programme, ZEALANDIA's free Outreach programme is available by contacting [email protected].
In the recorded online PD session "Teachers using the Hub - Bird conservation and literacy," teacher Kim MacPherson discussed the Science Learning Hub's resources and how she used a literacy approach to engage and explore science issues with year 7 and 8 students. The Science Learning Hub is another valuable resource for teachers looking to incorporate conservation into their curriculum.
Community members, such as kaumātua, kuia, and extended whānau, can also be involved in discovering local words for biodiversity. For example, the tūī, a native bird, was observed on a tree fern at Zealandia.
By incorporating resources like ZEALANDIA's, schools empower students to become involved in local and national pest control efforts, such as backyard trapping, planting native trees, and volunteering. This educational approach helps instill long-term conservation values and community engagement to protect native fauna and flora across New Zealand.
- In conjunction with the ongoing climate-change discourse, incorporating environmental-science subjects like conservation into personal-finance budgeting and education-and-self-development platforms allows for a comprehensive approach to learning.
- Online-education resources, such as the Science Learning Hub, offer Lesson plans that blend scientific knowledge with Māori worldview, enabling teachers to engage students in hands-on learning about native wildlife, ecology, and conservation.
- To foster a sense of environmental awareness and responsibility, it's essential for individuals, schools, and communities to collaborate with organizations like Predator Free New Zealand Trust, ZEALANDIA, WWF, and others that provide resources for pest control efforts and promoting biodiversity.
- As part of lifelong learning and personal growth, one may engage in language education, like learning te reo Māori terms related to biodiversity, such as "Ngā karangatanga matua mō te wai māori me ngā ika wai māori," which covers key terms used within our te reo Māori freshwater streams and rivers and native fish resources.
