
Animalia Kingdom
Levels 3 and 4

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The Organism: Make detailed scientific classifications of some organisms.
Te Rauropi: Ka whakarōpū whāiti ā-pūtaiao i ētahi rauropi.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 3
Investigate subgroups within large groups, using observed differences in external characteristics.
Levels 3 and 4
Students can distinguish groups of both distantly and closely related animals by investigating how their external characteristics differ.
Level 4
Investigate and classify closely related living plants and animals according to easily observable features
Students can investigate and describe how individuals of the same species resemble, or differ from, each other in terms of their visible physical features.
Coming Soon!

Related Topics
Resources

Get ready for “toad-al” fun with Bill Nye and the “Amphibians” episode.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMRCsjrjkpo
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Amphibians
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Get ready for “toad-al” fun with Bill Nye and the “Amphibians” episode.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMRCsjrjkpo

This book focuses on the common birds of towns and gardens, local bush, waterways, and coasts, including both introduced and native New Zealand birds. These birds show how their various physical features, adaptations, and lifestyles enable them to survive in environments in which people's influence figures strongly.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Birds: Structure, Function, and Adaptation
Ministry of Education NZ
This book focuses on the common birds of towns and gardens, local bush, waterways, and coasts, including both introduced and native New Zealand birds. These birds show how their various physical features, adaptations, and lifestyles enable them to survive in environments in which people's influence figures strongly.

In “Spying on Starfish”, students are introduced to the work of Dr Miles Lamare, who tested a new tagging technique that could be used on sea stars. Although tagging marine animals is a common practice, tagging a sea star presented Dr Lamare and his team with several challenges.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2012 Level 4: ‘Spying on Starfish’
Ministry of Education NZ
In “Spying on Starfish”, students are introduced to the work of Dr Miles Lamare, who tested a new tagging technique that could be used on sea stars. Although tagging marine animals is a common practice, tagging a sea star presented Dr Lamare and his team with several challenges.

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.

Scientist Hannah Rainforth investigated kākahi in the Whanganui River to find whether the evidence supports claims by local kaumātua that kākahi have nearly disappeared.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2014 Level 3: ‘Counting Kākahi’
Ministry of Education NZ
Scientist Hannah Rainforth investigated kākahi in the Whanganui River to find whether the evidence supports claims by local kaumātua that kākahi have nearly disappeared.

Humans and animals have a powerful bond. Some people think that this bond could have a positive effect on human health and behaviour. But what does the science say? Investigate the evidence for yourself.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2017 Level 3: ‘Pet Power’
Ministry of Education NZ
Humans and animals have a powerful bond. Some people think that this bond could have a positive effect on human health and behaviour. But what does the science say? Investigate the evidence for yourself.

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 resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance the native and endemic biodiversity in your green space.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Enhancing biodiversity in your green space
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
This resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance the native and endemic biodiversity in your green space.

Use this resource to experience invertebrates (insects) in your school grounds or another local green space.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Experiencing invertebrates in your green space
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
Use this resource to experience invertebrates (insects) in your school grounds or another local green space.

See what variety can you find in flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Can you find something different to go in each box that matches the description?
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Explore your local environment Scavenger Hunt
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
See what variety can you find in flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Can you find something different to go in each box that matches the description?

In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Dave explores the meaning of biodiversity in Aotearoa and how we all fit into that picture.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Exploring biodiversity
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Dave explores the meaning of biodiversity in Aotearoa and how we all fit into that picture.

In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Aroha explores the meaning of conservation in Aotearoa and what that means for us and our taonga species.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Exploring conservation
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Aroha explores the meaning of conservation in Aotearoa and what that means for us and our taonga species.

A series of posters to support learning about Auckland's unique animal life, and to encourage outdoor exploration.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Fabulous facts about Auckland's wildlife
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
A series of posters to support learning about Auckland's unique animal life, and to encourage outdoor exploration.

Bill Nye’s reeling them in with the “Fish” episode.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enGm10BsAxk
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Fish
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye’s reeling them in with the “Fish” episode.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enGm10BsAxk

Test your knowledge of nature in NZ with this quiz! Looking for more of a challenge? Try General Nature Quiz 2
Level
1-4
Type
Game
General Nature Quiz 1
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Test your knowledge of nature in NZ with this quiz! Looking for more of a challenge? Try General Nature Quiz 2

Plants, animals and fungi can be difficult to see easily - especially if they are very small, very shy or well camoflagued. Hence scientists use a variety of tools and techniques to help find what they are looking for.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
How scientists find organisms
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Plants, animals and fungi can be difficult to see easily - especially if they are very small, very shy or well camoflagued. Hence scientists use a variety of tools and techniques to help find what they are looking for.

We are going to practice our observation skills on a mū (insect) we find in our yard or a nearby
park. We will then build a model with the features of the insect we studied.
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Insect Tracking
Whenua Iti Outdoors
We are going to practice our observation skills on a mū (insect) we find in our yard or a nearby
park. We will then build a model with the features of the insect we studied.

Bill Nye the Science Guy is back to talk about invertebrates.
Link for video: https://www.schooltube.com/media/Bill+Nye+Invertebrates/1_fi5etzl0/126637091
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Invertebrates
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy is back to talk about invertebrates.
Link for video: https://www.schooltube.com/media/Bill+Nye+Invertebrates/1_fi5etzl0/126637091

Have you ever wondered which animal might be the smartest, and how we might measure intelligence? Make this memory game at home and see how your memory compares to your friends!
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Make your own animal puzzle
Nanogirl
Have you ever wondered which animal might be the smartest, and how we might measure intelligence? Make this memory game at home and see how your memory compares to your friends!

Bill Nye gives you the furry facts about mammals.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT-T8Y_WfxQ
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Mammals
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye gives you the furry facts about mammals.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT-T8Y_WfxQ

Mammals are the animals that are most familiar to many children. The wide cross-section of mammal forms and lifestyles provides an opportunity to show clear differences and similarities between different groups of mammals and for children to understand how these groups are related.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity Book
Mammals: Investigating a Group of Animals
Ministry of Education NZ
Mammals are the animals that are most familiar to many children. The wide cross-section of mammal forms and lifestyles provides an opportunity to show clear differences and similarities between different groups of mammals and for children to understand how these groups are related.

The Marine Mammals episode is smooth; it’s like blubber.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0dEBXKf61s
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Marine Mammals
Bill Nye The Science Guy
The Marine Mammals episode is smooth; it’s like blubber.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0dEBXKf61s