Discover the world beneath our feet with Planet Earth and Beyond resources for NZ Curriculum levels 1 and 2. Rights: Michael Simons, licensed through 123rf Ltd. More than dirt Soils are full of ...
Phosphorus is a chemical element found on Earth in numerous compound forms, such as the phosphate ion (PO43-), located in water, soil and sediments. The quantities of phosphorus in soil are ...
Nitrogen is the most abundant element in our planet’s atmosphere. Approximately 78% of the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen gas (N2). Rights: Copyright 2013. University of Waikato. All rights ...
All soils contain mineral particles, organic matter, water and air. The combinations of these determine the soil’s properties – its texture, structure, porosity, chemistry and colour. Soil ...
An interactive showing the main components of the terrestrial nitrogen cycle. Select one of the buttons to find out more.
Observation is something we often do instinctively. Observation helps us decide whether it’s safe to cross the road and helps to determine if cupcakes are ready to come out of the oven ...
Charles Darwin is well known for his work on natural selection. He published widely on topics ranging from barnacles to geology to plants. He travelled the world and saw many unusual animals ...
Although earthworms are classified as animals, their bodies are quite different to animals that live above the ground. This video highlights some of the interesting physical characteristics ...
What’s in soil? When you pick up a handful of soil, what do you see? All soil is made up of inorganic mineral particles, organic matter (including living things), air and water. Inorganic mineral ...
Just as we have essential needs for our growth, plants also have essential needs for their survival. These include: sunlight air water nutrients appropriate temperature. As long as plants have ...
New Zealand has a wide variety of landscapes. A day’s sightseeing journey might include volcanic plateaus, rolling hills, river basins and coastal lands. It is easy to notice how the scenery ...
Clover grows well in New Zealand pasture and has long been used to get nitrogen into the soil. It was introduced in the 1800s from England along with most of our pasture plants. Introducing ...
A habitat is an area in which something lives. Soil is a habitat, and it is full of life! Around 25% of everything alive on the Earth uses soil as a habitat. Some animals live on top of the soil ...
What do soil, farming and science have to do with each other? Actually, they are inextricably related. For centuries, humans have used science to improve soil productivity and crop yields. The ...
If you dig a hole in your school playing field, will the soil there look the same as the soil in your home garden? Is soil the same all over New Zealand? Rights: Waikato Regional Council Similar ...
In this activity, students use observation to explore earthworm anatomy and the nature of science. By the end of this activity, students should be able to: identify various physical ...
Along with the water we drink and the air we breathe, soil is one of our most important natural resources. We need to protect soil by keeping it healthy and using it wisely. Soil scientists help ...
Most people are familiar with the Linnean classification system used to identify living things. We use scientific names to describe and categorise living things precisely. For example, New ...
Farming is a way of life in New Zealand. Farms cover about half of the country’s land and are important to our economy. Agriculture has shaped who we are as a nation, but it has also had a big ...
When Māori arrived in Aotearoa/New Zealand in the late 13th century, they found a land quite different to the Polynesia from which they had travelled. The cooler climate meant that some of the ...
In this activity, students use an interactive or paper-based graphic organiser to explore their ideas about the components of soil. By the end of this activity, students should be able to ...
Dr Selai Letica explains the process of denitrification. This is the phase of the nitrogen cycle where nitrate is converted back to atmospheric gaseous nitrogen (N2). Jargon alert: Dinitrogen is ...
Earthworms are useful indicators of soil health. This project aims to capture information on earthworm abundance and species distribution throughout New Zealand. Information provided will be used ...
In this activity, students explore ethical issues related to farming and environmental pollution. They learn about the science involved and the range of perspectives among stakeholders. By the ...
