Chemicals, weeds and socio-scientific issues

Our pānui for Hune introduces new content on environmental issues and the perfect PLD to get ready for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Friends or foes? Exploring socio-scientific issues

We have new resources that focus on environmental issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. Approaching these issues with a socio-scientific lens helps to build students’ science literacy, critical thinking, argumentation and decision-making skills.

Space invaders – weeds and native ecosystems

Over 25,000 exotic plants have been introduced to New Zealand. Every year around 20 plants escape our gardens and become established in the wild. Learn more about invited and uninvited plants – friends and foes – in these resources:

• Weeds – threats to native ecosystems
• Tackling weeds to safeguard native ecosystems

Weeds and native ecosystems – a context for learning offers suggestions on using this issue to combine conceptual knowledge (mauri, habitats, adaptation and seed dispersal) with cultural and social awareness. Weeds are an ideal topic for exploring local curriculum and offer learning experiences for early years through to seniors.

Chemicals in the environment

Chemicals – like medicines and fertilisers – provide benefits to society. Problems arise when they enter environments where they are not usually present or in quantities above naturally occurring levels. Chemical contaminants in the environment explores how a chemical’s physical and chemical properties influence its mobility, persistence, bioavailability and toxicity.

Use case studies to take a deeper dive into this issue. They highlight how and why we use the products in Aotearoa, their chemical structures, key concerns and impacts:

• Case study: Tetracycline antibiotics in the environment
• Case study: Neonicotinoid insecticides
• Case study: Zinc in the environment

The environmental fate of chemicals – a context for learning includes pedagogical considerations, key science concepts, mātauranga Māori and curriculum links.

Our thanks to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for their assistance with developing these resources.

Free PLD opportunities

On the topic of native ecosystems, join Greta and botanist Norm Mason for He rauemi reo Māori mō ngā rākau – Te reo Māori plant resources. Learn more about this suite of articles developed to support kaiako and ākonga to learn about rākau trees. The free webinar will feature a simple unit plan that includes getting to know the trees in a local area through observation, discussion and the sharing of knowledge. Get ready for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with kupu Māori for our amazing rākau!

Date: 27 July, 4:00–4:45 pm

Register here

In case you missed them, check out our recorded webinars:

• Picturebooks for Matariki – supported by the collection Matariki picture books and science resources.
• Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa – The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey – supported by New Zealand Garden Bird Survey – a context for learning.
  The Garden Bird Survey is running 24 June–2 July.

Upcoming events

Are you familiar with our Events section? We feature education and science events across the motu. Check out our Winter school holidays and Matariki events – we’ve curated experiences from north to south! Please email us if your event is not featured or we’ve missed any.

Follow us

We offer added value through our social media. Contact us about creating collections or boards tailored to your needs. We can help foster connections between the education and science communities.

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nzsciencelearn
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/NZScienceLearn
• Pinterest: nz.pinterest.com/nzsciencelearn
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sciencelearninghubnz

Your feedback

We hope you enjoy using the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao in your teaching and would love to hear from you. Your comments, ideas and feedback can be emailed to enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.

Noho ora mai

Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao