Human activities and the natural world
“Nature is an asset and resource that our prosperity depends on, and it is also a source of meaning and value.”
This quote from the environmental report Our land 2024 prompts us to consider the different ways we view te taiao – and the consequences of competing ideas about its use and protection.
Our land 2024 – infographic
This infographic highlights key messages in Our land 2024 – how healthy ecosystems support the land and people in many ways.
Download a PDF of this infographic.
Source: Ministry for the Environment, Stats NZ and data providers and licensed by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Our land 2024 uses the term ‘natural infrastructure’ to describe elements of ecosystems and landscapes that provide benefits for the environment and human wellbeing. Natural ecosystems help to reduce the impacts of natural hazards. Our land-use and management decisions can have consequences in extreme weather events – as seen with the severe flooding and erosion caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. There can be unintended consequences associated with grey infrastructure but projects like Te Auaunga – Oakley Creek demonstrate the environmental, economic and social benefits that come with the restoration of natural systems.
Environmental monitoring – ao Māori perspectives acknowledges the detailed local knowledge held by mana whenua and how it enriches our understanding of the state of the environment.
These resources, produced in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ, are perfect for cross-curricular teaching and learning within the social sciences’ Te tūrangawaewae me te taiao | Place and environment context. The articles feature infographics, which are useful in developing literacy skills. This activity tells you how.
Primary Science Week 2024
It’s nearly here! Primary Science Week is running 13–17 May. Watch our recorded webinar Fun and safety with primary science. It has lots of useful information and PDFs of simple, engaging activities created by classroom teachers.
If you need additional inspiration or ideas – check out this webinar – it has ideas for the classroom, community science events, document templates and more!
Professional learning development
On 30 May, our webinar Observology for the classroom will feature the wonderfully talented Giselle Clarkson, who will introduce us to the world of 'observology'. We will explore ways to engage your class with the nature of science, encourage curiosity and develop observation skills. We have three of her books to give away! We hope you can join us.
Science in Van’s Hive Mind webinar – Putting the A into STEAM – is on 9 May. We’ve more information here.
Please note that we are still working on publishing the recording of the Learning benefits of a knowledge systems approach to science webinar to our site. It’s a complex topic and we plan to break it down into a series of shorter, topic-based videos.
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- 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
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