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This interactive diagram groups resources into key aspects of ocean literacy, biodiversity and pest management. It includes teaching resources and student activities underpinned by science and mātauranga Māori. Most of the teaching resources are Word documents and can be edited for classroom use.
Click on the labels for links to supporting articles, media and student materials. To use this interactive, move your mouse or finger over any of the labelled boxes and click to obtain more information.
The article Kaitiakitanga o te moana – a context for learning provides pedagogical suggestions and links to the New Zealand Curriculum.
Transcript
- Introduction
- Learn about kaitiakitanga
- Learn about ecology and biodiversity
- Learn about classification
- Learn about DNA and inheritance
- Learn about biosecurity
- Learn about eDNA and pest management
- Taking action
Introduction
Kaitiakitanga o te moana is all about te taiao – specifically te moana, our connections to it and what we can do to protect it. The following resources will be helpful for planning. The teaching and learning materials incorporate SOLO taxonomy.
Teaching resources
- Kaitiakitanga o te moana – unit plan: an overview of the unit’s SOLO taxonomy objectives and associated teaching resources – Word document
- Student overview – using SOLO taxonomy: chart student progress – Word document
- Ocean literacy – pre-survey: gain an understanding of prior knowledge and interests – Word document
Image: vapi, 123RF Ltd
Learn about kaitiakitanga
Learn about kaitiakitanga and what it means to you.
Kaitiakitanga has been described as guardianship or protection. A kaitiaki is a guardian, keeper, preserver, conservator or protector. The addition of the suffix ‘tanga’ denotes preservation, conservation and protection.
Explore the concept of kaitiakitanga, what it means for individuals and what it means for te moana and te taiao.
Background information
- Understanding kaitiakitanga – article
Teaching resources
- Kaitiakitanga o te moana – looking after the environment: watch a LEARNZ video and answer questions – Word document
- Kaitiakitanga o te moana – concepts: read or listen to a LEARNZ article and complete a conceptual diagram – Word document
- How different people show kaitiakitanga – videos and responses: watch three videos and analyse the responses – Word document
- Taking care of our kupu: read an article and consider how and why we use the words ‘kaitiaki’ and ‘kaitiakitanga’ – Word document
Image: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Learn about ecology and biodiversity
Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and their environment. Biodiversity is the number and variety of species found in a particular region. Our terrestrial species evolved in isolation and became uniquely adapted to life on our islands. Our marine species are also diverse due to the wide variety of coastal environments and habitats.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique biodiversity comes from our unique ecology. Over 50% of our marine species are endemic.
Background information
- New Zealand’s unique ecology – article
- Biodiversity – article
- Marine diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand – image map and infographics
Teaching resources
- Exploring biodiversity and whakapapa – videos and responses: watch two videos and record ideas – Word document
- Food webs in Aotearoa New Zealand’s marine environment – three-level reading guide: read a short article and answer questions – Word document
- Marine biodiversity and food webs: become an expert on a producer or consumer and work with a team to create a food web – Word document
- Investigating a marine organism: look at a single organism, its habitat, what it needs to survive in the habitat and the impact of pests – Word document
Image: petervick167/123RF Ltd
Learn about classification
People have always given names to things, including plants and animals and non-living things like soils or rocks.
Taxonomy is the science of classification – a system that arranges things into natural related groups based on some factor common to each.
Whakapapa denotes familial connections, genealogy, ancestry and lineage of living things and non-living things.
Background information
- Classification system – article
- Taxonomy – the science of species discovery – article
- Classifying marine organisms – article
- He pūnaha whakarōpū ❘ Classifying and identifying plants – article
- Whakapapa of stone – video
- The whakapapa of trees – video
- Plants and whakapapa – video
Teaching resources
- Classifying and identifying: explore scientific classification and whakapapa with responses to video and text – Word document
- Living organisms – create a mihi: use classification to introduce an organism – Word document
- What can DNA in the environment tell us about an ecosystem? – teacher instructions: use a journal article to actively research and answer questions about taxonomy and eDNA – Word document
- What can DNA in the environment tell us about an ecosystem? – student questions: – Word document
- What can DNA in the environment tell us about an ecosystem?: journal article – PDF
Image: Public domain
Learn about DNA and inheritance
DNA is a molecule that contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop and function. This genetic information is passed from generation to generation. We can identify species by their unique genetic codes.
Background information
- DNA, chromosomes and gene expression – article
- DNA sequencing – article
Teaching resources
- DNA and inheritance – prior knowledge: use a graphic organiser to brainstorm prior knowledge – Word document
- Learning from past scientists – video and focus questions – Word document
- DNA and scientific discoveries – teacher notes: use beads to create a model of the structure of DNA by using historical data as pieces of evidence that build over time – Word document
- Extracting DNA from a strawberry: watch a video and complete an activity – Word document
- DNA as taonga: exploring key ao Māori terms and concepts – Word document
- Listening to the Land – using mātauranga Māori and Western science: read a Connected journal article and complete a worksheet – Word document
Image: CaseyTucker, Wild Auk Photography
Learn about biosecurity
Our unique and fragile ecosystems require protection from organisms that are not native to Aotearoa. Biosecurity is the process of detecting and controlling unwanted plant and animal pests and diseases.
There are many facets to pest control – including modern technologies and traditional methods.
Background information
- Biosecurity – article
- Improving Aotearoa New Zealand’s biosecurity detection – article
- RNAi for pest control – te ao Māori considerations – article
- 1080 and pest control – exploring the history and science of mammalian pest control in Aotearoa – timeline
Teaching resources
- Student SOLO overview – investigating a pest species: chart student progress – Word document
- Pest management and biosecurity – Tame Malcolm webinar: watch a video to answer questions – Word document
- Biosecurity statements – Venn diagram: use a Venn diagram to compare statements from three organisations – Word document
- Make a wanted poster: create a poster about an individual pest – Word document
- Native marine species versus pest marine species – teacher notes and student worksheets: multi-step activities with formative assessment – Word document
- Traditional methods and modern solutions to pest control – three-level reading guide: read a short article and answer questions – Word document
- Indigenous pest control: read a short article and answer questions – Word document
- Mātauranga Māori and pest management – teacher notes: learn aspects of mātauranga and tikanga as it pertains to biosecurity, pest management and the protection of te taiao – Word document
- Mātauranga Māori and pest management – student worksheet – Word document
Image: Department of Conservation
Learn about eDNA and pest management
All living things shed genetic material like hair, scales, skin and faeces into their local environment. This is known as environmental DNA (eDNA). Environmental DNA is used to monitor or detect species within an ecosystem – including organisms that shouldn’t be there. It can detect invasive species before their populations grow, helping to stop their spread.
Background information
- Environmental DNA – article
- eDNA explorers – discovering life in the lakes of Aotearoa – video
- DNA extraction – article
Teaching resources
- Using eDNA to detect and protect taonga freshwater species in Aotearoa – three-level reading guide: read a short article and answer questions – Word document
- Draw as a scientist: read two articles about how scientists are using eDNA in novel ways and communicate an idea from one of the articles via artwork – Word document
- Modelling eDNA in a marine ecosystem – teacher notes: simulate how eDNA can help to identify pest species – Word document
- Modelling eDNA in a marine ecosystem – student worksheet – Word document
- Species cards for modelling eDNA in a marine ecosystem – PDF
- Species tokens for modelling eDNA in a marine ecosystem – PDF
- DNA sequences for modelling eDNA in a marine ecosystem – PDF
- What can DNA in the environment tell us about an ecosystem? – teacher instructions: use a journal article to actively research and answer questions about taxonomy and eDNA – Word document
- What can DNA in the environment tell us about an ecosystem? – student questions: – Word document
- What can DNA in the environment tell us about an ecosystem?: journal article – PDF
Image: Schallenberg, L., Wood, S., Pochon, X. & Pearman, J. (2020) What Can DNA in the Environment Tell Us About an Ecosystem? Frontiers for Young Minds. 8:150. doi: 10.3389/frym.2019.00150. Released under CC BY4.0. Download a PDF of this image.
Taking action
Equipped with knowledge about ecosystems, biodiversity, biosecurity and pest management, consider how to take action for te taiao. Although the main focus of this suite of resources is on marine biosecurity, Aotearoa also battles with pests on the land and in freshwater. If you are inland, eDNA tests can be used to see what is living in streams, rivers or lakes along with eDNA from land-based species that is carried into the water.
It is not always possible to conduct fieldwork or engage with restoration or eradication projects, but engaging students’ curiosity and raising awareness of issues can become a form of action as students take this information to whānau and the wider community.
Background information
- Inquiry and action learning process – image map
- Taking action for conservation – webinar
Teaching resource
- Taking action for te taiao – Word document
Image: Department of Conservation
Acknowledgement
Gerd Banke created Kaitiakitanga o te moana resources as part of the Royal Society Te Apārangi Science Teaching Leadership Programme. Gerde worked with scientists at Cawthron Institute who were part of the Marine Biosecurity Toolbox programme, which received funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
