Assessing the Impact: Why Should This Matter?
Zealandia and WWF Collaborate on Pest-Free New Zealand Lesson Plans
Zealandia, a renowned ecosanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand, has partnered with WWF New Zealand to develop a series of educational resources aimed at encouraging students to contribute to a pest-free New Zealand.
The resource series, which includes lesson plans from Inspire to Lesson 5, is designed to help students become familiar with both te reo Māori and English terms used throughout the resource. The lessons are not intended as a one-off activity, but rather as a comprehensive tool to be used throughout the whole unit.
One of the key activities in the series is "Observation: learning to see", which emphasizes the importance of careful observation in understanding the local environment. Another activity, "Making a tracking tunnel", involves students monitoring the presence of pest species in their local environment.
The lessons also incorporate mathematical skills and statistics in a real-world context, making learning engaging and relevant. They encourage students to consider questions such as what they have discovered, their long-term vision, and the impact of their actions.
A comprehensive teaching resource, titled "Lesson 5: Evaluate: So what?", is available for schools to explore the concept of a pest-free New Zealand. This lesson makes connections by mapping biodiversity and its relationship to tracking tunnels and traps.
For schools in the Wellington region, Zealandia offers a free Outreach programme. Moreover, additional educational resources can be found on Zealandia's Education Programmes "Activities & Resources" page.
For those interested in individual or community involvement in conservation efforts, the Predator Free New Zealand Trust offers opportunities. Information about local and global conservation efforts can be found on the WWF website.
Schools looking for assistance in implementing this program can contact the Zealandia Education team at [email protected]. By working together, we can better understand how living organisms interact and effectively target pest species, ultimately contributing to a pest-free New Zealand.
- To support the vision of a pest-free New Zealand, environmental science lesson plans at Zealandia integrate elements of both lifestyle and education-and-self-development, inspiring students to develop observational skills in their local environment while fostering a long-term conservation mindset.
- Recognizing the significance of science in the realm of conservation, the WWF website provides resources on global conservation efforts, inviting individuals and communities to explore opportunities within the environmental-science sector through the Predator Free New Zealand Trust.
