Enviroteach
Term 4 - 2019
We know that our climate is changing and we know that these changes are already have an effect. This issue of Enviroteach focuses on the importance of adapting to the effects of climate change. Read on to discover how schools can support children and communities to develop the knowledge and capabilities they need to be able to develop the knowledge and capabilities they need to be able to adapt and thrive in a changing climate.
Download the Enviroteach - Term 4 - 2019
Back issues
Right now, the attention of the world is sharply focused on climate change. This creates an opening for schools to learn about something that is very topical and incredibly important. Fortunately, the NZ curriculum provides opportunities in most learning areas for students to learn about climate change. This issue of Enviroteach suggests a range of ways that teachers can structure students' learning around this topic. It also provides information about how climate change could affect Southland, what various people and organisations are doing about it, and ways schools can get involved and make a difference.
Nitrogen is essential for growth and survival of all life on earth. It is also one of the most important fertilisers for plant growth. But when nitrogen gets into rivers it can cause river habitats to deteriorate and may even poison fish. Excessive levels of nitrogen in drinking water are harmful to human health. The aim of this publication is to explain in clear and simple language why nitrogen management is such an essential part of looking after our environment. It's a complex topic that can seem a bit obscure - so here some suggestions for ways to make the topic more relatable and engaging for students. It includes information for teachers, experiments and activities you can do in the classroom, and actions that everyone can take to help protect water from nitrogen contamination.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on stormwater and waste. Read on to learn more about where stormwater comes from, how plastic and other pollutants get into it, and how it gets carried down to the sea. You'll find lots of ideas around things that individuals, schools and communities can do to keep our stormwater clean and help protect our oceans.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on weeds. It contains information about some weedy plants commonly found in Southland, and activities that will complement a range of learning areas. We've selected species that school children are likely to encounter in their school grounds or natural areas, and a range of "child-friendly" weed control methods so that children of all ages can participate in getting rid of weeds to help our native plants and ecosystems to flourish.
Is your school thinking about doing an inquiry focusing on the coast? This issue of Enviroteach has been written for teachers and contains information, activity ideas and tools to help you plan and carry out student-led projects focusing on the coast. Find out how you and your students can learn more about your local coastal environment and the big issues facing our coastal ecosystems, explore a range of perspectives, identify what you would like to change, learn how decisions are made, make a plan and take informed action.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on the birds, insects and other animals that pollinate our plants. Learn about explosive flowers and where you can see them in Southland. Find out why, without the help of flies, we probably wouldn't be able to grow carrots or onions! Read about Environment Southland's High Value Area programme which offers landowners free ecological surveys of native habitats on private land. Be inspired by stories from schools around Southland that are doing their bit to save our pollinators.
This issue focuses on the health and quality of Southland's freshwater ecosystems. It's packed with ideas to help teachers create opportunities for students to learn about water, and introduces the mantle of the expert' approach to help students think and act like scientists.
This issue focuses on the value of democratic participation and the ways our community, particularly our young people, can be part of the important conversations and influence change. It explores the role that Southland schools can play in raising a generation of people who think and act sustainably and who have the skills and capacities to participate actively in the decisions that affect our region.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on animal migrations - the epic journeys made by some of Southland's wild creatures. It's crammed with information and suggestions for teaching and learning. Feel free to pick up any ideas that are relevant to your class, adapt them and integrate them with the curriculum area and learning outcomes you want to achieve.
The issue of Enviroteach focuses on beaches and sand dunes. Inside, you'll find information for teachers and ideas for activities and investigations featuring these fascinating ecosystems. Let your students reconnect with nature by taking your lessons outdoors.
In this issue, find out how Southland teachers are making literacy more fun and meaningful for their students by choosing interesting environmental themes. Learn how to bring your own literacy curriculum to life by creating opportunities for students to learn in, about and for the environment.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on ways to bring the mathematics curriculum alive through learning experiences outside of the classroom and environmental education. We hope it will inspire teachers to take advantage of the abundant opportunities provided by Southland's outdoor spaces to stimulate and enhance learning in maths.
In this issue of Enviroteach, Environment Southland staff share some of their top tips for school planting projects. This helpful resource covers everything from planning and selecting a site to preparing, organising the planting event, running the planting day itself and doing follow-up maintenance. It also includes links to other publications and websites that provide helpful, practical information for planting projects.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on Southland's rocky shores and the rich opportunities they offer for learning about marine biodiversity and ecology. Contact us if you would like us to talk to your class or help with a field trip.
This issue of Enviroteach highlights a range of tools for accessing information about, and investigating, Southland's environment. It also offers free resources and professional development opportunities for teachers.
This issue of Enviroteach explores the topic of energy and offers information and resources for teaching and learning about energy and sustainability. It looks at how energy production and use can impact on our environment - particularly our air and water. It includes suggestions for experiments your students can do to discover more about energy efficiency, heating, insulation, building design, moisture, ventilation and air quality.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on soils. It explains why it's so helpful to know the properties of our soil and provides some simple methods students can use to assess soil health. It offers several fun and meaningful activities students can do to support their learning.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on estuaries. It includes information for teachers on these remarkable ecosystems and lots of ideas for exciting activities for field trips and classroom-based learning. It features the 'Marine Metre Squared' survey, which is ideal for school field trips to estuaries or rocky shores.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on wetlands in Southland. It provides information for teachers on these ecosystems and the fascinating creatures that live in them. It also features some of the spectacular wetlands you can visit as part of a school field trip and a brand new resource we've produced to help primary school teachers in Southland to teach about wetlands.
This issue of Enviroteach focuses on pest animals in Southland. It provides information for teachers on some of our most destructive pest animals and includes lots of examples of teaching, learning and assessment activities you can try.
Because groundwater is usually out of sight', it is also out of mind' for most people. This issue of Enviroteach provides information to help teachers prepare lessons on groundwater, classroom activities, practical guidelines to help schools protect groundwater from contamination, and some suggestions for a programme of inquiry, learning and action.
This edition focuses on whitebait and is crammed full of information about these fascinating creatures, plus lots of lots of ideas for teaching and learning about whitebait both in the classroom and on field trips.
