Programmes
Our programmes are developed by qualified teachers. All our materials align with the NZC and reference relevant learning outcomes. Talk to us about how we can support you using these programmes in your classroom. Our service is free for all Canterbury schools.
New Zealand Curriculum Programmes
Brief:
Waitaha Wai is a water education programme designed to educate young people and their communities about the importance of water and waterways in their environment and how to maintain them for future generations.
Level:
1-10
Curriculum Area:
Science, Social Studies, Health
Benefits:
- It’s local – we offer materials for different zones within Canterbury, which can be adapted to suit the year level taught.
- Field activities – we provide a water monitoring activity that enables your students to discover the wonderful world of macro-invertebrate, their habitats, and what makes for a healthy stream.
- Partnerships – we work closely with a diverse range of organisations supporting waterways enhancement such as Te Ara Kakariki, Department of Conservation and local communities. The Waterways of Christchurch inquiry learning unit was developed by Environment Canterbury with the support of the Christchurch City Council.
Waitaha wai issues
- 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: An education programme for Canterbury teachers, 2nd edition: April 2008 (PDF File, 2.46MB)
- 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)
Other useful links
Brief
This inquiry learning programme was developed in partnership with DOC. It is designed to identify the effects that invasive pest plant and animals have on the natural biodiversity of Canterbury and to investigate what can be done to combat them.
Level
Suitable for Year 7/8 inquiry learning program for Canterbury students
Curriculum Area
Science, Social Studies, English, Maths and Stats
Benefits
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It’s local – this facilitated programme focuses on plant and animal pest species that disrupt the native environment in Canterbury. Activities can happen in the school grounds or bush areas close by.
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It’s interactive – The learning activities have a focus on students becoming experts on a particular pest and to initiate actions to support native biodiversity
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The hard work is done – the package includes teacher guides, student booklets, relevant pamphlets, suggestions for further action. Can be adapted to suit the year level taught.
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It’s facilitated – we work with you to deliver this programme. Community outreach staff within DOC can also support this programme as can CCC Park Rangers
Supporting material
Other useful links
Brief
A classroom programme for Years 7 to 10. It includes a free class set of workbooks, a teacher resource kit and a box of visual resources on loan for the duration of the unit (about three weeks).
Brief:
An education programme for years 1-3. From 'A to B with Billy the Bus' that focusses on bus awareness and safety plus looks at the environmental and health reasons for public and active transport.
Level:
1 and 2 of NZC
Benefits
- The preparation and resource development has been done for you. It is a free programme facilitated in partnership with you, the teacher. It includes student and teacher booklets, access to an animation, song posters and a bus visit (if this can be arranged).
Other useful links
- Environment Canterbury's role in transport
- Spokes, a transport lobby group
- Healthy Christchurch
- Cycling Christchurch
- CCC Cycle Safe programme
Brief
This Stormwater inquiry learning programme is aimed at year 7/8 students and delves into the big issues — where the water comes from, where it goes, why it is contaminated, and what effect this has on the quality of surface 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.
Level:
4 of NZC
Benefits:
- The preparation and resource development has been done for you. It is a free programme facilitated by an Environment Canterbury educator in partnership with you, the teacher. It includes student and teacher booklets, and access to a number of useful resources.
Supporting Material
- Education Stormwater Resource : Student workbook (PDF File, 2.6MB)
- Stormwater - Teacher/Facilitator Guide - Investigating stormwater and the role it plays in our waterways- Level 4 (PDF File, 4.89MB)
- Animation Canterbury’s stormwater story
Other useful links
- Mahinga Kai
- Animation Protecting Canterbury’s Water
- Spill Management Training
- Urban Waterways programme
- Rain Gardens - Stormwater Pollution Solutions (US video)
Brief
The Enviroschools programme supports children and young people to plan, design and implement sustainability actions that are important to them and their communities.
In Canterbury, Enviroschools is coordinated by Environment Canterbury in partnership with the Department of Conservation, Waimakariri, Selwyn, Timaru, Hurunui, Mackenzie and Christchurch City Councils.
Benefits:
- The programme provides pathways from early childhood through primary, secondary school and beyond.
- Using our collaborative approach of building strong relationships and sharing information, we are growing a collective puna mātauranga or pool of knowledge.
Click here if you would like to read or subscribe to our latest Enviroschools Chatterbox newsletter, and learn more about what we’re doing around the region.
If you would like to know more about this programme please contact your regional coordinator.