
Adaptation
Levels 3 and 4

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The Biological Environment: Recognise and explain the changes undergone by species (especially those of Aotearoa) over long periods of time.
Te Taiao: Ka āhukahuka, ka whakamārama i ngā panoni o ngā momo koiora (me ngā mea motuhake o Aotearoa), o neherā tae noa ki tēnei wā.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 4
Students can explain the relationships between animals and plants within an ecosystem.
Students can explore and describe how mimicry and camouflage help both predators and prey to survive and reproduce.
Social Sciences: How people organise themselves in response to challenge and crisis eg. Civil defence emergencies
Mathematics and Statistics (Statistics): Collect and display time series data on an environmental phenomenon, such as river heights.

Related Topics
Resources

In this week’s lesson about Aotearoa and Conservation you will be learning some Te Reo Māori: Aotearoa’s indigenous language, learning more about our country and diving into conservation topics such as pest identification and tracking.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Aotearoa and Conservation
Kids Greening Taupō
In this week’s lesson about Aotearoa and Conservation you will be learning some Te Reo Māori: Aotearoa’s indigenous language, learning more about our country and diving into conservation topics such as pest identification and tracking.

This game is helps people to understand the stresses on animals living on the beach. There is choice involved and a certain amount of luck too. The aim of the game is to survive through to the end without succumbing to a bad end!
Level
1-4
Type
Game
Are you a Survivor?
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
This game is helps people to understand the stresses on animals living on the beach. There is choice involved and a certain amount of luck too. The aim of the game is to survive through to the end without succumbing to a bad end!

Our migratory (travelling) native fishes need clear paths so they can get where they need to go, upstream or downstream. However, more and more, there are things that get in their way or stop them travelling altogether. Can you get through all the human-made barriers blocking safe travel in this river?
Level
1-4
Type
Game
Barricade
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Our migratory (travelling) native fishes need clear paths so they can get where they need to go, upstream or downstream. However, more and more, there are things that get in their way or stop them travelling altogether. Can you get through all the human-made barriers blocking safe travel in this river?

Ready for an eggs-citing show? It’s the “Birds” episode. Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcKZOO5OWk
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Birds
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Ready for an eggs-citing show? It’s the “Birds” episode. Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcKZOO5OWk

How climate change is affecting Canterbury is what this booklet is all about. We investigate what it will mean for you, your family and friends, and the natural environment.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Canterbury's Changing Climate: an educational resource for schools...
Environment Canterbury
How climate change is affecting Canterbury is what this booklet is all about. We investigate what it will mean for you, your family and friends, and the natural environment.

To become familiar with the coastal environment with a special focus on rock pools and their environment.
Level
1-4
Type
Lesson Plan
Canterbury's Spectacular Rocky Shore
Environment Canterbury
To become familiar with the coastal environment with a special focus on rock pools and their environment.

Join Bill as he explores the fascinating, spooky, bizarre world of caves!
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXcujmx6P98
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Caves
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Join Bill as he explores the fascinating, spooky, bizarre world of caves!
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXcujmx6P98

Bill Nye’s storming in to tell you all about climates.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2UfI0rXQE
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Climate
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye’s storming in to tell you all about climates.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2UfI0rXQE

On a scorching hot day in 1989, near the small Central Otago town of St Bathans, a group of scientists were digging in the soil. What they would find would change our ideas about the animals that have lived in Aotearoa.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 3: ‘A New Zealand Crocodile?’
Ministry of Education NZ
On a scorching hot day in 1989, near the small Central Otago town of St Bathans, a group of scientists were digging in the soil. What they would find would change our ideas about the animals that have lived in Aotearoa.

An interview with ecologist Phil Lyver about Adelie penguin population dynamics and the marine ecosystem in the Ross Sea.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 4: ‘An Ecologist on Ice’
Ministry of Education NZ
An interview with ecologist Phil Lyver about Adelie penguin population dynamics and the marine ecosystem in the Ross Sea.

Scientists know that global warming is leading to rising sea levels, but the rate of change and its likely impact are less clear. Scientists investigate what is happening and use the evidence to suggest how we might adapt to the changes.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2014 Level 3: ‘Rising Seas’
Ministry of Education NZ
Scientists know that global warming is leading to rising sea levels, but the rate of change and its likely impact are less clear. Scientists investigate what is happening and use the evidence to suggest how we might adapt to the changes.

Some animals migrate thousands of kilometres every year - so how do scientists keep track of them? Take a look at the different technologies scientists use to study migration patterns, and discover what they have learnt about great migrations.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2016 Level 3: ‘On The Move’
Ministry of Education NZ
Some animals migrate thousands of kilometres every year - so how do scientists keep track of them? Take a look at the different technologies scientists use to study migration patterns, and discover what they have learnt about great migrations.

This article describes the evolutionary development of life in Aotearoa New Zealand and addresses the question of why our flora and fauna are so distinct. It introduces and explains the concepts of evolution and adaptation and offers a brief overview of how the land itself changed over many millions of years.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2020 Level 3: ‘Life in Aotearoa New Zealand’
Ministry of Education NZ
This article describes the evolutionary development of life in Aotearoa New Zealand and addresses the question of why our flora and fauna are so distinct. It introduces and explains the concepts of evolution and adaptation and offers a brief overview of how the land itself changed over many millions of years.

This article explores a scientific issue from a Pacific worldview. It describes how the people of the Cook Islands have attempted to manage and protect their marine resources with the tradition of ra‘ui. The article highlights the very real issues that make success difficult and the diversity and validity of different people’s perspectives on ra‘ui.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2020 Level 3: ‘Ra’ui: Giving It Back to the Gods’
Ministry of Education NZ
This article explores a scientific issue from a Pacific worldview. It describes how the people of the Cook Islands have attempted to manage and protect their marine resources with the tradition of ra‘ui. The article highlights the very real issues that make success difficult and the diversity and validity of different people’s perspectives on ra‘ui.

Connected promotes scientific, technological, and mathematical literacy so that students can engage in a critical and informed manner with real-life science- and technology- related issues and authentic, context-based mathematical explorations. Connected is provided to all primary schools.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2020 Level 4: ‘Wildfire’
Ministry of Education NZ
Connected promotes scientific, technological, and mathematical literacy so that students can engage in a critical and informed manner with real-life science- and technology- related issues and authentic, context-based mathematical explorations. Connected is provided to all primary schools.

Some animals are suited to live in the desert and other animals are suited for a forest home… In this unit, explore the structural features and adaptations that help an animal survive in its environment.
Level
3
Type
Unit
Desert Survivors
Primary Connections
Some animals are suited to live in the desert and other animals are suited for a forest home… In this unit, explore the structural features and adaptations that help an animal survive in its environment.

Raise awareness of the problem of by-catch, caused by aggressive fishing methods, and learn how you can help stop more plastic microfibres getting into our deepest ocean trenches.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Don’t forget deep sea marine
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Raise awareness of the problem of by-catch, caused by aggressive fishing methods, and learn how you can help stop more plastic microfibres getting into our deepest ocean trenches.

Flight: Control in the Air covers the principles of flight and the structures and adaptations that make flight possible.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Flight: Control in the Air
Ministry of Education NZ
Flight: Control in the Air covers the principles of flight and the structures and adaptations that make flight possible.

Aotearoa is home to 110 named species of endemic lizards, yet we don’t hear about them nearly as much as our 170 species of endemic birds. Our endemic lizard species are divided into geckos and skinks (tuatara aren’t lizards). Let’s have some fun learning all about Aotearoa’s lizards and tuatara this week!
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Lizards and Tuatara of Aotearoa
Kids Greening Taupō
Aotearoa is home to 110 named species of endemic lizards, yet we don’t hear about them nearly as much as our 170 species of endemic birds. Our endemic lizard species are divided into geckos and skinks (tuatara aren’t lizards). Let’s have some fun learning all about Aotearoa’s lizards and tuatara this week!

Adaptation is an evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes increasingly well suited to living in a particular habitat. Marine organisms have adapted to a great diversity of habitats and distinctive environmental conditions.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity
Marine Adaptations
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
Adaptation is an evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes increasingly well suited to living in a particular habitat. Marine organisms have adapted to a great diversity of habitats and distinctive environmental conditions.

This educational activity book was designed by staff at the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and illustrated by Melissa Snider and Tessa Mills.
Level
1-4
Type
Colouring Book
Mudflat Mysteries
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
This educational activity book was designed by staff at the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and illustrated by Melissa Snider and Tessa Mills.