Celebrate Connecting with Our Seas
Seaweek 2024 will run from Saturday March 2 - Sunday March 10 and is the perfect opportunity to explore and learn more about your local beach, estuary, or harbour.
We are lucky to have a huge range of resources, tools and education providers focused on connecting ākonga with our precious marine environments. Find something that is relevant for you and your ākonga by clicking on the links within the sections below.
New Resources for 2024
As you start planning your learning for Term One, have a look at these new resources which can help support learning and connection with our local marine ecosystems.
The Beach Activity Book by Rachel Haydon, illustrated by Pippa Keel
Celebrating Sea Creatures of Aotearoa Poster and "Creature Conversation" short articles from Seaweek with illustrations by Giselle Clarkson.
The NZ Seashore Guide by Sally Carson and Rod Morris, updated version published last year with a link to teacher's notes with activity ideas.
Marine Invaders card game - fun learning that makes a difference to help preserve our oceans for generations to come.
What's Beneath the Surface? Marine biosecurity resources for Years 5 - 8 including printable PDFs and Google Slides format.
Respect for Tangaroa and Hinemoana
How can we engage with our ocean and beaches in ways that keep us safe, while protecting and enhancing the mauri of these precious ecosystems?
We can start by learning the names used by mana whenua for significant places in our local area and ask whānau and ākonga if they have stories or pūrākau they can share about local waterways. What are the messages that have been passed down and how do these relate to activities you might do in each area? The article "What Māori place names can tell us about water safety" can help kaiako explore this topic further.
Kia Maanu Kia Ora is a water safety and place-based learning resource that includes lesson and inquiry plans in Te Reo Māori and English, aimed at Kura Kaupapa Māori and mainstream ākonga in Years 1 -8. During Seaweek, you could start by watching Ngaru Toa - Wave Warriors, which explores the skills needed to ensure safety on the water, whilst emphasising the cultural significance surfing can provide for rangatahi Māori.
The Science Learning Hub has curated a wide range of Seaweek resources, including unit plans and materials to support teachers with contexts such as: Healthy Seas - Healthy People, and Mātauranga Māori and the moana.
Field Trips and Citizen Science
Can you walk to your local beach? Make a plan to get out and explore the rock pools, sandy shore or muddy estuary on your doorstep.
You don't have to be an expert, just encourage ākonga to notice the plants, animals, shells, and water and use simple sensory activities to focus their attention. Learn alongside them and role model your own curiosity and excitement for the natural world.
For older students we recommend the Marine Metre Squared citizen science tool and Sustainable Coastlines Litter Intelligence education programme. If you're based in Wellington explore the Love Rimurimu project resources and stories.
Taking Action
Once you've connected with your local beach and discovered what's happening in your area, it's important to empower ākonga with opportunities for positive action. This could be as simple as taking some bags on your next exploration walk or field trip, so each person can pick up one piece of rubbish, or you could encourage students to contact their local council or environmental education provider to help organise a community clean up.
Adopting your local beach or stream and making a plan to reduce waste in your school and wider community provide opportunities for long-term action and inquiry learning that is local and relevant to your students. Read the stories below for inspiration.
Early Childhood: Enviroschools story "Community leadership on waste reduction emerges from a love of local places" about Imagine Childcare in Petone.
Primary - Intermediate: Education Gazette article "Enviro-changemakers take action" about South New Brighton School, Ōtautahi.
Secondary: Litter Intelligence (Sustainable Coastlines) article "The power of storytelling" about Campion College, Gisborne.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa: Education Gazette article "Te Kura Moana - citizen science in action in te ao Māori" about rangatahi in Te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui who worked alongside Te Aho Tū Roa and Mountains to Sea Wellington.
Virtual Exploration
If you're not able to get out to your local beach or explore the hidden world under the water, you could take part in one of the LEARNZ virtual field trips, with two Seaweek focused journeys taking place in February:
Feb 12th: Pakake, New Zealand sea lions
Join an immersive journey, alongside iwi and scientists, to locations around Ōtepoti Dunedin to find out about the population recovery of pakake
Feb 26th: Environmental guardianship in Tamatea Dusky SoundUncover unique ecosystems above and below the water, cultural heritage, and conservation efforts
You could also check out these books, videos, games and online activities to spark curiosity and learning for your students:
- Read books by local authors: Under the Ocean by Gillian Candler, Rock Pools by Ned Barraud, Hauraki Broo by Nikki Slade Robinson and Stranded by Linda Jane Keegan
- Check out the NZ Marine Studies Centre webcams and interactive marine surveys
- Experience marine virtual reality with New Zealand Geographic and contact BLAKE to find out about VR programmes in schools
- Watch some inspiring videos from Young Ocean Explorers
- Play the Marine Invaders card game, available in both English and te reo Māori
Support from Providers
Visit our online catalogue of Environmental Education Providers and use the filters to search by learning context and region.
Organisations such as Experiencing Marine Reserves, Project Jonah and Sustainable Coastlines offer marine programmes across most of Aotearoa and you may also find local groups working in your area who are happy to connect with schools.
Seaweek Events
Visit the Seaweek events page to find out what's happening in your local area and follow the Seaweek Facebook page to stay updated.
You could also organise your own event to help your community learn about, celebrate and protect your local beach. Get in touch with the Seaweek team through their website if you would like them to help promote your event.
