Young Ocean Explorers’ goal is for every child to learn about Aotearoa’s underwater world.
They’ve created free lesson plans for primary + intermediate teachers to make your job easier while being highly engaging and motivating your students.
The 21 Day Challenge is designed BY teachers FOR teachers to align moana learning with the NZ curriculum.
- Engages students from year 0-8
- Ocean learning that covers the NZ curriculum
- Super flexible and adaptable for all kaiako
- Inspires rangatahi to make a difference
Click on the link above to visit their website, where you can explore resources and sign up for the 21 Day Challenge.
Through pick and mix lesson plans on different species, core lessons on important topics like kaitiakitanga to specific maths and literacy activities. Your students will encounter all the fascinating creatures that exist on our doorstep, and learn to value and care for the unique marine environment that we have.
“So easy to pick up and run with, really clear and child friendly, the big ideas are expressed in a really easy to understand way, love it” - Primary kaiako
Alongside their lesson plans they have hundreds of entertaining + educational videos designed to provide New Zealand children with an up-close experience of the moana in Aotearoa. The videos on their site are narrated by rangatahi, and explore topics such as conservation, adaptation to habitat, Māori language, and ecology. Each video is 1-5 minutes in length - including episodes with marine experts, polls, quizzes and ‘Learn to Draw’ videos.
Young Ocean Explorers was founded in 2013 by Riley and Steve Hathaway (father daughter duo), after Riley did a school project on turtles and plastic. They went on to make a TV series, release a book and travel NZ presenting to rangatahi about the moana. Their aim is that every kid in NZ will participate in their 21 Day Challenge at least once during their primary and intermediate school journey.
“The authentic learning opportunity allowed us to teach persuasive writing skills, and all the videos, activities etc. really brought the whole context to life” - Kaiako year 5-6
