Our programmes and resources
We offer a range of environmental education programmes and resources for Canterbury/Waitaha schools that align with the New Zealand Curriculum. These are FREE for schools in the Waitaha region and content can be tailored to meet your needs.
Note: We are reviewing our programmes and resources. If you can’t see what you are after in our drop-down menus, or if you have any questions, please contact our team at education@ecan.govt.nz.
We work with you to deliver these programmes in or outside of your classrooms in the following areas:
- Biodiversity and pests
- Civics
- Coastal environments
- Transport
- Stormwater
- Water (Waitaha Wai Programme, stormwater, wetlands).
Benefits
Facilitated – We work with you to deliver this programme and can provide hands-on support.
Local – Our programmes address local environments and issues. Activities can happen on the school grounds or in areas close by.
Comprehensive – Programmes include teacher and student support, suggestions for further action, and access to useful resources.
Tailored – We can adapt our programmes to suit you, your environment, and your learners' needs.
Free – Our programmes are free to schools in Waitaha.
Booking a Programme
To book a programme for your school please fill out this form.
Please contact us at education@ecan.govt.nz if you have any questions.
New Zealand Curriculum Programmes
Brief: ‘What a Pest!’ is an inquiry learning programme designed to identify the effects that invasive pest plants and animals have on the natural biodiversity of Canterbury and to investigate what can be done to combat them. This programme was developed in partnership with the Department of Conservation.
Year level: 7–8 (we can adapt for other year levels)
Learning areas: Science, Social Studies, English, Mathematics and Statistics
Availability: All year
Resources
- What a Pest! Investigating the impact of pest species on biodiversity - Student reading booklet (PDF file, 2.68MB)
- What a Pest! Investigating the impact of pest species on biodiversity - Teacher/Facilitator guide (PDF file, 7.04MB)
Supporting information
Brief: This Stormwater inquiry learning programme delves into the big issues — where stormwater comes from, where it goes, why it is contaminated, and what effect this has on the health of our waterways.
It also investigates actions that schools, individuals and communities can take to help improve urban stormwater quality, to protect the unique stream environments that make up our towns.
Year level: 7–8 (we can adapt for other year levels)
Learning areas: Science, Social Studies, English
Availability: All year
Resources
- Stormwater, Investigating stormwater in Canterbury, a Level 4 learning programme – Student booklet, 2013 (PDF file, 2.6MB)
- Stormwater, Investigating stormwater in Canterbury, a Level 4 learning programme – Teacher/Facilitator guide, 2016 (PDF file, 4.9MB)
Supporting information
Brief: 'A to B with Billy the Bus,' is a programme that focusses on bus awareness and safety. It also looks at the environmental and health reasons for public and active transport.
Year level: 1–3
Learning areas:
Availability: All year
Resources
- Bills day out transport resource (PDF file, 582.96KB)
- Panning a day out transport resource update (PDF file, 49.08KB)
- Metro magic mission transport (PDF file, 283.53KB)
Supporting information
- Find out more about our role in transport
Brief: Waitaha Wai educates young people and their communities about the importance of water and waterways in their environment, and how to maintain them for future generations.
We can provide a water monitoring activity that enables your students to discover the wonderful world of macro-invertebrates, their habitats, and what makes for a healthy stream.
Year level: 1 – 10
Learning areas: Science, Social Studies, Health
Availability: All year
Waitaha wai programme
- Waitaha wai: An education programme for Canterbury teachers (PDF File, 43.58MB)
- Waitaha wai: Waterways of Christchurch (PDF File, 6.5MB)
- Waitaha wai: Canterbury mudfish / kowaro - a taonga species for iwi - An environmental resource for schools (PDF File, 2.03MB)
- Waitaha wai: Discovering your local waterway : The Kaiapoi Catchment (PDF File, 2.45MB)
- Waitaha wai: Discovering your local waterway : Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and Its Tributaries (PDF File, 1.57MB)
- Waitaha wai: Discovering your local waterway : Banks Peninsula / Horomaka (PDF File, 1.57MB)
Supporting Information
Air quality
Resource
Supporting information
Climate change
Resources
- Canterbury’s Changing Climate, an educational resource for schools and communities – full resource, 2020 (PDF file, 23.6MB)
- Canterbury’s Changing Climate, an educational resource for schools and communities – background section, 2020 (PDF file, 13.9MB)
- Canterbury’s Changing Climate, an educational resource for schools and communities – Everyday Superheroes, practical ideas for taking action, 2020 (PDF file, 4.8MB)
- Canterbury’s Changing Climate, an educational resource for schools and communities – classroom activities, 2020 (PDF file, 4.4MB)
Supporting information
- Find out more about climate change in Canterbury
- Christchurch City Council, Climate change
- Christchurch City Council, Learning programmes, Future Proof: Climate change – Kaitiakitanga
- NIWA, Science topics for students, Climate change information for climate solvers
- New Zealand Curriculum, Education for sustainability
Coastal environment
Resources
- Canterbury’s Spectacular Coast 2004, (PDF file, 17.9MB)
- Canterbury’s Spectacular Coast – Coastal Dunes, 2022 (PDF file, 13.1MB)
- Canterbury’s Spectacular Coast – Rocky Shore, 2016 (PDF file, 4MB)
- Canterbury’s Spectacular Coast – Coastal Wetlands, 2016 (PDF file, 1.6MB)
Supporting information
- Find out more about our coastal environment
- Seaweek.org.nz
- MM2 Marine Metre Squared
- Sustainable Coastlines, Litter Intelligence Programme
We have kits to conduct MM2, and Litter Intelligence beach litter monitoring. Please get in contact if you would like to borrow these or need some assistance.
Education and sustainability
Resources
For more information and support on how the work at Environment Canterbury connects across the NZ Curriculum, please contact the education team.