ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES

UNDERSTANDING OUR SENSES

How do humans, alongside other animals, survive and thrive in the environment? Using this explorer resource pack, students explore their own senses, alongside those of other animals, to find out what makes them adapted to survive across a range of habitats.

The first lesson plan looks into the structure and function of senses in people and how they help us to explore, grow and survive. The plan can be used before your trip to ZEALANDIA to introduce the topic. The second plan then investigates the similarities and differences between human senses and the senses of different species, and how the senses of animals make them well suited to their environment. It has a particular focus on endemic species (ones that are only found in Aotearoa), and can be used after your trip. They link to various parts of the New Zealand Curriculum, each of which is described in more detail below.

These lesson plans are flexible, and contain basic components that you can modify to meet both the needs and the interests of your students.

→ 1. Understanding our Senses [PDF 984 KB]

→ 2. Senses in ZEALANDIA - Teacher Guide [PDF 822 KB]

→ 3. Identification Guide for Teachers [PDF 1.1 MB]

→ 4. Activities in ZEALANDIA - Teacher Guide [PDF 563 KB]

→ 5. Senses All Around Us [PDF 805 KB]

→ Senses Guide for Teacher Aids and Adult Helpers - ZEALANDIA visit [PDF 1.2 MB] (print "fit to printable area", double sided flipped on the short side)

ZEALANDIA TRADING CARD GAME^©

Introducing the ZEALANDIA trading card game^©!

Your students will have a blast learning about Aotearoa New Zealand fauna, flora and environments through this exciting and relatable resource. The game is designed to be fun and engaging while teaching students about the many diverse and unique inhabitants and environments found across Aotearoa NZ. The ZEALANDIA Education and Youth team have used the game in their education programmes with great results. In one example, using pre and post testing, students showed a significant improvement (over 40%) in their ability to recognise and identify a range of Aotearoa NZ birds.

The five sets, available separately, can be ordered by contacting education@visitzealandia.com

Each set comes as physical playing cards in a nice box and costs approximately $70.00 (excl. postage) 

Available sets are; 

- Forest → download PDF [11.8MB]

- Alpine and Wetlands → download PDF [5.8MB]

- Coastal → download PDF [6MB]

- Island → download PDF [2.4MB] (small set - extension)

- Freshwater (fully bilingual)

→ ZEALANDIA Trading Card Game - Lesson Plan [PDF 2.8MB]

How to play

If you'd like your class to get involved with the ZEALANDIA Trading Card Game, please contact our Learning Team at:

Phone: (04) 920 9204
Email: education@visitzealandia.com

Special thanks to Department of Conservation, Katy & Nick Cottrell, Glenda Rees, Mike Vincent, Michael Hamilton, Emma Rowell, Steve Attwood, Darren van Hoof and Leon Berard for making this card game possible.

CAN WE MAKE NEW ZEALAND PEST FREE?

Learn how to turn your school into a sanctuary with this comprehensive resource created with the help of WWF New Zealand and updated in 2019 with the help of Predator Free NZ Trust.

MANU O AOTEAROA - TEACHER RESOURCE

This resource will expand student knowledge and understanding about the manu (birds) found in Aotearoa New Zealand and show how they are connected to humans and human story telling. Students will do research on manu and learn how to identify them. Students can undertake a bird count and compare their data with data available from scientific sources.

The first lesson plan supports the students to do research on birds; to learn how to identify them and to explore memorable facts and stories about them. The second lesson plan addresses bird counts – how, why, and when. This lesson plan can be used for observations on the school ground, or when visiting ZEALANDIA. The third lesson plan looks at analyzing the data collected.

Lesson plans are flexible and contain easy to modify components to meet the needs, interests, and level of your students.

→ Download the lesson plans for the three lessons [PDF 1.1 MB]

→ Download the student activity worksheet for lesson one [Word docx 1.2 MB]

→ Download the 'Birds of the bird count' powerpoint presentation for lesson two [pptx 6.6 MB]

→ Download presentation notes for 'Birds of the bird count' [Word docx 30 KB]

→ Download the 'Sanctuary' bird count sheet for lesson two [PDF 850 KB]

→ Download the 'Coastal' bird count sheet for lesson two [PDF 830 KB]

CITIZEN SCIENCE & BIOBLITZ - TEACHER RESOURCE

This resource introduces students to the concept of citizen science. Lesson one explores this by looking at the kererū and one of the largest citizen science projects in New Zealand, the annual Great Kererū Count.

Lessons 2-4 explore the use of online citizen science tools for data collection and learning about our endangered taonga. Students will become citizen scientists in their own rohe whilst investigating and reflecting on the natural world around them.

→ Download the full resource with lesson plans [PDF 590 KB]

WHERE HAVE ALL THE TAKAHĒ GONE?

A fully integrated resource package for NCEA Biology Level 2 biology, supporting AS91158, created in partnership with the Takahē Recovery Programme and supported by the Science Learning Hub.

→ Find the full resource and supporting material on the Science Learning Hub website

BUILD YOUR OWN MINIBEAST PLAYGROUND

Get inspired to make your own slides for snails and seesaws for spiders with ZEALANDIA Educator Anne, as she shows you ideas for creating your own mini activity area for the minibeasts at your ECE centre.

Visit ZEALANDIA on Google Earth

From the comfort of your classroom take yourself and your students on a virtual journey through ZEALANDIA. Enjoy 360 degree views, stop at the kākā feeders and look over the Upper Dam. Discover the inhabitants that call Te Māra a tāne home from the magnificant tree tops to the ground below.

→ Join us for a tour on Google Earth!

BUILD A LIZARD GARDEN - STUDENT PROJECT

This student driven project will empower students and lets them take positive action for the environment and their community. It all starts with students expressing an interest in building a lizard garden. To help them realise this idea and turn it into a success the student project plan booklet will support them through the different phases of the project.

Depending on students’ previous experience working on different types of projects they may need more or less support with the different phases. The adult support that is sometimes needed may come from teacher/s, gardeners/groundskeepers, parents/guardians, community groups and/or environmental educators from organisations like ZEALANDIA.

→ Download the teacher guide [PDF, 400KB]

→ Download the student project plan booklet [PDF, 1MB]

COLOURING IN APP

Discover more about New Zealand native birds with this fun downloadable app. Featuring feathered friends from Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne – colour, create and learn more about these wonderful creatures, including the flightless bird named kiwi, in either te reo Māori or English.

WILDLIFE PUPPET WORKSHOPS WITH STRING BEAN PUPPETS

Join Anna from String Bean Puppets as she shows you how to make your very own wildlife puppets. Using the inhabitants of ZEALANDIA as inspiration, Anna starts with something simple, a huhu grub string puppet, before progressing to shadow puppets and beyond. These workshops are designed for beginners and the more experienced and explore puppetry and puppet making techniques.

Huhu Grub Puppet Workshop

Join Anna as she shows you how to make your very own huhu grub string puppet. A character in the String Bean Puppet production, Once in a Full Moon, the huhu grub puppet is a fun, and simple to make, puppet to start you on your puppetry journey.

Shadow Puppet Workshop

Join Anna as she shows you how to make your very own ZEALANDIA inspired Shadow Puppets and Shadow Puppet Theatre. Shadow puppets, as seen in the String Bean Puppet Production "The Penguin and the Sea Monster", are a fun, and engaging way, to tell your favourite wildlife stories as well as take you on a puppetry journey.

Marionette Puppet Workshop

Join Anna from String Bean Puppets as she shows you how to make your very own ZEALANDIA inspired Wildlife Marionette Puppets. Marionette Puppets, which can be seen in the String Bean Puppet Production "Tree Friends", are a creative and imaginative way to explore Nature and take you on the next step in your puppetry journey.

MANU o AOTEAROA

Learn about birds!

Think you know your tūī from your tiu? How about any good stories about korimako? Or some fun facts about the warou? With the help of Manu o Aotearoa learn how to tell your tūī from your tiu, discover stories about korimako, funfacts about warou and more!

→ Download the activity sheet here! [PDF 1 MB]

WHICH IS WHICH?

Over the last few hundred years mammals and other animals from overseas have been introduced by humans to Aotearoa NZ. As Aotearoa was a land of birds and reptiles (the only land mammals being a few bats) the native wildlife was unfamiliar with these new species that could sniff them out. The introduction of these animals has had a dramatic effect on native wildlife and they are now considered pest species. In this activity you can test your knowledge of these pests. See if you can spot the pest that is NOT a mammal and then match all the animals with their characteristics!

→ Download the activity sheet [PDF 258KB]

You can learn more about these and other animals considered as pest species in Aotearoa NZ here:

- Predator Free NZ - Introduced predator facts

- Pest Detective NZ - Culprits

BACKYARD BIOBLITZ

Ever wondered what might be living in your backyard? Follow this guide for some tips on how to use the iNaturalist app and to discover what creatures and plants call your backyard 'home'.

→ Download the instructions here [PDF 0.5 MB]

MATARIKI, MYTH AND MĀORI STORIES

Watch along as Wellington Storyteller Moira Wairama performs a selection of story and song as part of Matariki. She will reveal some of the meaning and interpretation of Matariki and the actions that we can take at this very special time of the year.

Recorded at ZEALANDIA |Te Māra a Tāne, Moira is a well known New Zealand | Aotearoa Storyteller. This performance was part of the 2020 series of events held at ZEALANDIA |Te Māra a Tāne as part of the Matariki celebrations.

Our Puanga Matariki Whānau Activity Book is full of fun things to do when visiting, and at home. Take some time to notice your surroundings as you explore the sanctuary, learn about the stars of Puanga and Matariki, and set goals as a whānau for the year ahead. 

→ Download the booklet HERE

ZEALANDIA COLOURING SHEETS

These beautiful colouring sheets created by Margaret Tolland will keep you and your children occupied for hours! Featuring "My Big Backyard", Wetland, Coastal, Night-time, and Stream.

→ Download colouring sheets here [PDF 2.4 MB]

MAKE A LIZARD GARDEN

Invite some wilderness into your garden! Follow these simple tips and tricks to make your backyard more attractive for lizards to live in. We have collated a bunch of resources that will help you on your way to turning your backyard into a safe haven for native wildlife.

There are two types of lizards in Aotearoa NZ - geckos and skinks. Geckos are good climbers and eat both insects, berries and nectar. They are even important pollinators for some flowers! Skinks on the other hand live mainly on the ground and eat mainly insects although some will munch on fruit if they come by it. 

When designing and building your lizard friendly habitat you will need to take into account what lizards might be in your area and what they would need to thrive - shelter, food and mates. As they are cold blooded they also need a nice safe place where they can bask in the sun.

Have a look at what our friends at Predator Free NZ have put together! There are also more resources linked below.

Resources for more information on building a lizard friendly habitat:

- Learn more about geckos and skinks on Department of Conservation (DOC)'s website

- Have a look at DOC's guide on how to attract lizards into your garden

- If you live on the North Island this guide from DOC will tell you which lizards might be in your area

- Predator Free NZ's guide to creating a lizard friendly garden

- Learn more about native skinks and geckos with this resource from Science Learning Hub

- Science Learning Hub also has an activity supporting students through planning for a lizard garden

- If you're in the lower North Island this guide from Te Motu Kairangi Miramar Ecorestoration is great

MAKE A WHARE WĒTĀ

Keep the tree wētā in your garden safe from predators by providing them a cosy motel that they can check into during the day when they really need their beauty sleep.

Simple wētā camp grounds can be made by drilling 10-15 mm holes into logs, moving the tip of the drill around to create a small cavity inside the entrance hole.

For a more elaborate a luxurious motel for the wētā in your garden, try the design below. Also have a look at the links we have collated on this topic, that can give you some more information on how to make your perfect motel and learn more about wētā so that you can provide them with what they really like.

Other resources for building your own wētā motel:

- Learn more about wētā on the Department of Conservation (DOC)'s website

- Earn a Kiwi Guardian medal by creating a wētā motel, more instructions here on the DOC website

- DOC instructions for building your own wētā motel

- PDF with instructions for building a wētā motel

- Science Learning Hub (SLH) have some good information where you can learn more about wētā and what they like

- SLH also have a school activity supporting students through planning and building a wētā motel

MINDFULNESS IN YOUR BACKYARD

Print this poster and take it with you into your backyard, local park or simply put it up on your wall to remind you to take some time in your day to do this sensory grounding.

→ Download the poster HERE [PDF 256 KB]

ZEALANDIA NATURE QUIZ

Make your way through the Nature Quiz and discover some weird, fun and fascinating facts about creatures and plants living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

→ Take this eight question quiz and fill up your kete (basket) of nature knowledge!

CONSERVATION CAREER KŌRERO

Are you interested in working with nature? Would you like to find out more?

Conservation Career kōrero is a series of short films where ZEALANDIA staff tell you a bit about the many and varied tasks they undertake daily as part of their jobs. As well as giving you behind-the-scenes details about daily tasks, team members talk about the pathways they took to get these roles and give advice for anyone interested in doing something similar.

Sales and Information Ranger

Kaitiaki Ranger

Infrastructure Ranger

NGĀ MAHI TIAKI TAIAO | CONSERVATION CAREERS: NEXT STEPS

NGĀ MAHI TIAKI TAIAO | CONSERVATION CAREERS: NEXT STEPS brings together conservation careers from across Aotearoa New Zealand. Inside, it  has  tips for getting started, information on hands-on conservation jobs, training and degree options, as well as ideas for building your CV.

→ Download the booklet [PDF 5.4 MB]

MINI MASTERCLASSES

Get started with your own creative exploration of Nature with ZEALANDIA Mini-Master classes. Whether you want to practice your photography or improve your illustration, these short films are designed to provide you with tips to get you informed and inspired.

Nature Illustration

Nature Photography