Online Nature Classroom
Kids Greening Taupō have created the Online Nature Classroom to connect tamariki to nature and help them to understand the importance of biodiversity. It is our hope that they will learn about the unique flora and fauna of Aotearoa, and the important role that each species plays in the ecosystem.
Each conservation theme is broken down into five days of activities. Each unit contains hands-on activities, inquiry questions, informative videos, and a fantastic read aloud book with a follow up activity. These Nature Classroom units are planned to integrate the learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum and to link to the values and key competencies. They are also planned with the vision, mission, and values of Kids Greening Taupō in mind.
Vision:
All Taupō children are learning and taking action for our native plants and animals.
Mission:
Kids Greening Taupō enables young people to participate in real life projects with opportunities to connect in a culturally responsive way to their local environment and community, increasing biodiversity, student leadership and educational outcomes, and shaping the future of our place, now.
Values:
Connectedness | Kaitiakitanga | Student-led | Sustainability | Tikanga
Akomanga Taiao ā Ipurangi:
Kua whakaritea e Kids Greening Taupō he akoranga ā ipurangi e pā ana ki te taiao me ōna tini āhuatanga hei ako mā ngā tamariki. Ko te tūmanako ia, ka ako rātou ki ngā toiora o te taiao o Aotearoa me te pānga nui o ia momo ki te oranga pāpori taiao. Kua wāwāhi i ngā kaupapa taiao ki ētahi ngohe. Ia wiki ka whakaritea he mahi mō ia rā e hāngai ana ki te taiao. He mahi i roto ake i te taiao, he uiuinga, he kiriata whakamārama me tētahi pukapuka kōrerorero.
Whāinga matua:
Ko tā Kids Greening Taupō he tūhono i te tamaiti ki te taiao mā ngā akoranga whai take, mā ngā akoranga ahurea kē anō. Mā konei e whanake ai te māramatanga o te tamaiti ki tōna taiao ake, ki tōna hāpori whānui anō hoki. He mea whakapakari te rerenga pāpori, te ārahitanga ākonga me ngā whainga ako.
Stay tuned on our social media for new topics
River Ecosystems
River/Stream health
Freshwater macro-invertebrates
Freshwater Art
Mapping rivers
Wellbeing and Connection to Place
Climate Change
Climate Science & Weather
Mātauranga Māori
Planting Trees to combat Climate Change
Impacts on Flora & Fauna
Carbon Footprint Calculator and Pledge
Exploring Soil
Explore Soil Layers
Learn about Decomposers
Investigate Biodegradability
Make a Biodegradability Garden
Set up a Compost or Worm Farm
Pekapeka/Native Bats of Aotearoa
Learn about Mammals
Echolocation Game
Build a Bat Box
Learn about the NZ Bat-fly
Calculate your Wingspan
Lizards and Tuatara of Aotearoa
Lizard Identification
Aotearoa’s Living Fossil- The Tuatara
Create a Lizard Friendly Garden
Advocate for Aotearoa’s Native Lizards
Learn about Biomimicry
Kiwi Conservation
Go on a Nocturnal Adventure
NZ’s icon
Make a Papier-mâché Kiwi Egg
Create a Korowai
Kiwi Burrow Construction
Funky Fungi of Aotearoa
Fungi and Lichen Scavenger Hunts
Learn about Zombie Fungi
Make Spore Prints
Learn about Fungi as Decomposers
Create a Fungus Time-Lapse
Tipu/Plants of Aotearoa
Plant Dissection
Native and Introduced Plant Scavenger Hunts
Seed Propagation
Plant like a Ninja
Grow a Leaf-Litter Garden
Manu/Birds of Aotearoa
Native and Introduced Bird Scavenger Hunts
Bird Call Identification
Five Minute Bird Count
What would NZ be like without Birds?
Shadow Puppets- How the Kiwi Lost its Wings
The World of Minibeasts/Bugs
Go on a Minibeast Hunt
Investigate Invertebrates
Waggle Dance- Bee Communication
Become a Master of Camouflage
Identify Minibeasts by Sound
Aotearoa and Conservation
Te Reo Māori in Nature
NZ Pest/Mammalian Predator Species
Make Tracking Tunnels
Where do NZ Pest Species come from?
Mapping your Place
Hauora/Wellbeing and Nature
Connect with Nature
Create your own Nature Journal
Near, There, and Far - Still Observation Activity
Mindfulness Nature Colouring
Belly Breathing and Nature Moves