Lesson plans and activities

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Exploring nature

The following lesson plans have a focus on exploring the natural environment.

Image cover of unit plan
Experiencing native trees in your green space. Image credit: DOC.
Image of lesson plan, text and illustration
Restoration through the seasons. Image credit: DOC


Investigating issues and taking action

The following lesson plans encourage the children to focus on an issue and work towards a solution.

The ripples in this image represent the range of different approaches – ethical frameworks – that can be used to guide how people make decisions about controversial issues.
Ethical toolkit. Image credit: Waikato University
Image of two conservation dogs
Conservation dogs. Image credit: DOC

Cover of unit plan for "Enhancing Biodiversity"
Enhancing biodiversity. Image credit: DOC
  • Can we make NZ Pest Free? Inquiry Unit for Years 4-8, Levels 1-4. This inquiry journey will allow students to be actively involved in improving New Zealand’s biodiversity through such actions as data collection, introduced predator control, wildlife monitoring and community engagement.
  • Ethics thinking toolkit. This toolkit provides a structured framework for scaffolding student thinking about an ethical issue. Before students attempt using the Ethics thinking toolkit, it is recommended that you explore the ethical issue and ethical thinking with your students to establish a foundation for informed decision making.
  • Ethics and bird conservation. A case study provides an example of introducing ethical thinking into the classroom to explore a controversial issue in science.
  • Conservation dogs programme. Inquiry unit for Levels: 1-4. Use this resource to learn about conservation dogs and their role in Predator Free 2050.
  • The how and why of possum control (PDF, 2MB). National Pest Control Agencies have developed a Teachers’ Booklet to assist with planning a unit of work based on possums and associated issues. The accompanying Students’ Booklet can be used as part of teacher planned study.

Special species

We’ve collated resources from around NZ about our unique and special species. 

  • Mahoenui wētā. Unit for Levels: 3-4. Find out how the wētā evolved, why it’s threatened and how we are protecting this ancient insect. This resource is supported by Meet the Locals episode Mahoenui wētā.
  • Tāiko/black petrel education resource. Inquiry unit for Levels: 2-4. This resource is an integrated unit of teaching and learning material about the tāiko/black petrel and other seabirds, for use in primary schools.
  • Kākāpō Recovery. A classroom activity for Levels 1-4 to learn about one of New Zealand’s most endangered species.
A rūrū
Morepork Education Kit. Image credit: Sabine Bernert Wingspan.
Diagram of Kākāpō
What is a kākāpō? Image credit: DOC.
  • Whio Forever. Inquiry unit that covers years 1-8. This classroom ready resource is broken into Junior and Senior levels and covers all aspects of the endangered whio / blue duck and how to help them.
  • Science Learning Hub Conserving Native Birds Unit Plan. A science unit plan for levels 3-4 based around the evolution of our native birds and various conservation methods.
  • Tūī Education Kit (PDF, 1.3MB). Level 3 programme focusing on tūī and their importance in New Zealand. Developed by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust for Canterbury schools.
  • Morepork Education Kit (PDF, 1.5MB). Level 2 programme focusing on morepork and their importance in New Zealand. Developed by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust for Canterbury schools.
  • Blue Penguins. Year 10 ecology curriculum on Blue Penguins, teacher notes and lesson plans.

Tips for teachers

We’ve collated a couple of resources for teachers to help them teach in the classroom. 


Slideshows

  • What is that animal pest? (PPT, 11.7MB) — there’s a mystery to be solved. This presentation from DOC provides signs and descriptions of pests – the ‘clues’ you need to identify the animal involved.
  • Methods of predator control — this Science Learning Hub presentation allows students to consider some of the pros and cons of various methods of predator control in NZ. What’s good? What’s not? What do you think about the different methods and issues involved?
  • Tawaki, Marathon Penguins — researchers have been studying the tawaki (Fiordland Crested Penguin), one of the world’s rarest penguins. Their findings have been summarised and presented in a clever cartoon by Giselle Clarkson.