
Birds
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.
Students can investigate the special features of birds and describe how these are important for their survival.
Levels 3 and 4
Students can distinguish groups of both distantly and closely related birds by investigating how their external characteristics differ.
Level 4
Investigate and classify closely related living plants and animals according to easily observable features
Coming Soon!

Related Topics
Resources

Let’s delve into the realm of the Atua Tāne Mahuta and find out who’s living in
your yard. Let’s find out what they eat and what their tracks look like.
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Backyard Tracker
Whenua Iti Outdoors
Let’s delve into the realm of the Atua Tāne Mahuta and find out who’s living in
your yard. Let’s find out what they eat and what their tracks look like.

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

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.

Climate disruption (or climate change) is causing huge problems for our penguins, and the effects are set to get even worse over time. What changes are your whānau (family) or kura (school/centre) making to help?
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Build your own Penguin Palace
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Climate disruption (or climate change) is causing huge problems for our penguins, and the effects are set to get even worse over time. What changes are your whānau (family) or kura (school/centre) making to help?

New Zealand is an island nation surrounded by expansive oceans. It is fitting that we have a rich and diverse coastal fauna.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Canterbury's Marine & Coastal Animals
Environment Canterbury
New Zealand is an island nation surrounded by expansive oceans. It is fitting that we have a rich and diverse coastal fauna.

Did you know that you can make some unique New Zealand animals from cardboard? Reuse some old boxes at your house and give this activity a go!
Level
1-4
Type
Art Activity
Cardboard Native Animals!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Did you know that you can make some unique New Zealand animals from cardboard? Reuse some old boxes at your house and give this activity a go!

In this article, students learn about the development of the underwater bait setter. This device is designed to reduce the number of seabirds harmed through long-line fishing.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2012 Level 4: ‘Taking the Bait’
Ministry of Education NZ
In this article, students learn about the development of the underwater bait setter. This device is designed to reduce the number of seabirds harmed through long-line fishing.

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.

In 2011, the MV Rena struck Astolabe Reef and caused an environmental disaster. Since then, the clean-up operation has seen lots of debris removed from the wreck – but large parts of the Rena still remained on the ocean floor. What factors were considered when making the decision on the future of the Rena wreck?
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2016 Level 4: ‘What Now for the Rena?’
Ministry of Education NZ
In 2011, the MV Rena struck Astolabe Reef and caused an environmental disaster. Since then, the clean-up operation has seen lots of debris removed from the wreck – but large parts of the Rena still remained on the ocean floor. What factors were considered when making the decision on the future of the Rena wreck?

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.

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.

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.

Twiggy the Pukeko dreams that one day she will live in a warm, dry house. She meets Tua, a tuatara who knows a thing or two about energy from the sun. They visit the Green Dream House and meet Greeny, the owner. Twiggy’s head is soon spinning with facts about insulation, double glazing, solar energy, passive solar design, and a long list of ways to be energy efficient.
Level
3-4
Type
Book
Green Dream House
Genesis School-Gen
Twiggy the Pukeko dreams that one day she will live in a warm, dry house. She meets Tua, a tuatara who knows a thing or two about energy from the sun. They visit the Green Dream House and meet Greeny, the owner. Twiggy’s head is soon spinning with facts about insulation, double glazing, solar energy, passive solar design, and a long list of ways to be energy efficient.

Nanogirl blasts off in her jetvolt with Jasper and his friends from Mt Cook School as they seek to find out how high birds can fly. Luckily, Gary Miskelly from Te Papa is all aflutter to help them find the answer.
Level
1-4
Type
Podcast
How high can birds fly?
Nanogirl
Nanogirl blasts off in her jetvolt with Jasper and his friends from Mt Cook School as they seek to find out how high birds can fly. Luckily, Gary Miskelly from Te Papa is all aflutter to help them find the answer.

New Zealand is home to lots of strange and interesting birds. From the nocturnal kiwi with a long beak and whiskers, to the inquisitive kea. How much do you know about our birds? Test your knowledge with this quiz!
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
How much do you know about New Zealand birds?
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
New Zealand is home to lots of strange and interesting birds. From the nocturnal kiwi with a long beak and whiskers, to the inquisitive kea. How much do you know about our birds? Test your knowledge with this quiz!

Although they spend much of their time travelling the world, lots of albatross choose New Zealand as a stop off. That’s why we’re called the albatross capital of the world. Test your knowledge of this magnificent creature.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
How much do you know about albatrosses?
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Although they spend much of their time travelling the world, lots of albatross choose New Zealand as a stop off. That’s why we’re called the albatross capital of the world. Test your knowledge of this magnificent creature.