
Endangered and Extinct Species
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 3
Students can research and describe how living things have become endangered or extinct.
Level 4
Students can investigate and describe how individuals of the same species resemble, or differ from, each other in terms of their visible physical features.
Social Sciences: How the ideas and actions of people in the past changes the lives of others eg. Individuals and groups who have worked to preserve the environment.

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.

Suzy is all a Buzz about this question. She thinks the answer will be really sweet! Join her and it won't bee long before you know why bees make honey!
Level
1-2
Type
Video
Bees: Why do bees make honey?
Suzy's World
Suzy is all a Buzz about this question. She thinks the answer will be really sweet! Join her and it won't bee long before you know why bees make honey!

Join Bill Nye as he explores environments and ecosystems in a search of biodiversity.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJw1KXAjYS4
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Biodiversity
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Join Bill Nye as he explores environments and ecosystems in a search of biodiversity.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJw1KXAjYS4

We are at real risk of losing the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) we hold most dear - plus many, many more that we just don't hear about...How much do you know about our current situation?
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Biodiversity under threat!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
We are at real risk of losing the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) we hold most dear - plus many, many more that we just don't hear about...How much do you know about our current situation?

Nanogirl visits Te Papa and finds out whether we could bring dinosaurs back to life... And whether we would actually want to.
Level
1-4
Type
Podcast
Can we bring dinosaurs back to life?
Nanogirl
Nanogirl visits Te Papa and finds out whether we could bring dinosaurs back to life... And whether we would actually want to.

Space out with Bill Nye to learn more about comets and meteors.
Link to video: https://www.schooltube.com/media/Bill_Nye_comets_and_meteors/1_b5vy1hun
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Comets and Meteors
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Space out with Bill Nye to learn more about comets and meteors.
Link to video: https://www.schooltube.com/media/Bill_Nye_comets_and_meteors/1_b5vy1hun

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.

In the past, ecologists wished there was an easy way to record data in difficult alpine environments. Now ecologists use data loggers.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 4: ‘Gather Your Data’
Ministry of Education NZ
In the past, ecologists wished there was an easy way to record data in difficult alpine environments. Now ecologists use data loggers.

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.

The future of our kauri forests is at risk from a disease called kauri dieback. Combating the spread of this threat requires expertise from both Western science and mātauranga Māori and calls on everyone to get involved.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2017 Level 4: ‘Kauri Dieback’
Ministry of Education NZ
The future of our kauri forests is at risk from a disease called kauri dieback. Combating the spread of this threat requires expertise from both Western science and mātauranga Māori and calls on everyone to get involved.

We can dish the real dirt about dinosaurs, thanks to fossils – traces of theses astonishing animals.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XjqxgfZwqI&list=PLC1A0KOYvlM4Xqyn3GdQqjVm2-THJY-ZH&index=3
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Dinosaurs
Bill Nye The Science Guy
We can dish the real dirt about dinosaurs, thanks to fossils – traces of theses astonishing animals.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XjqxgfZwqI&list=PLC1A0KOYvlM4Xqyn3GdQqjVm2-THJY-ZH&index=3

Although dinosaurs may not rule the planet anymore, they are still a fascinating topic to discuss and also offer plenty of opportunities for fun games and activities.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Dinosaurs
Science Kids
Although dinosaurs may not rule the planet anymore, they are still a fascinating topic to discuss and also offer plenty of opportunities for fun games and activities.

This activity encourages students to explore various aspects of complex issues. It encourages students to consider the interaction of science and diverse community views.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity
Establishing priorities for solving problems
Ministry of Education NZ
This activity encourages students to explore various aspects of complex issues. It encourages students to consider the interaction of science and diverse community views.

Here’s hoping you’ll dig Bill Nye the Science Guy in the “Fossils” episode.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d-cXkkPecE
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Fossils
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Here’s hoping you’ll dig Bill Nye the Science Guy in the “Fossils” episode.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d-cXkkPecE

This book provides the opportunity for children to investigate fossils and how they are made (the process of fossilisation). By doing so, children gain further evidence that life on Earth was different in the past and have the opportunity to develop their concept of things changing over time.
Level
2-4
Type
Activity Book
Fossils: Digging up the Past
Ministry of Education NZ
This book provides the opportunity for children to investigate fossils and how they are made (the process of fossilisation). By doing so, children gain further evidence that life on Earth was different in the past and have the opportunity to develop their concept of things changing over time.

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.

How much do you know about our charismatic kererū – also known as the New Zealand Pigeon, kūkū or kūkupa. Test your knowledge!
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
How much do you know about kererū?
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
How much do you know about our charismatic kererū – also known as the New Zealand Pigeon, kūkū or kūkupa. Test your knowledge!

This flightless bird may look like the outside of the kiwifruit- fluffy and brown, however unlike the kiwi fruit, the kiwi bird has a long beak with nostrils right at the end, big strong legs with claws, tiny stumps for wings (vestigial wings) and makes a loud chirping or grunting call which can be heard up to 1.5km away!
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Kiwi Conservation
Kids Greening Taupō
This flightless bird may look like the outside of the kiwifruit- fluffy and brown, however unlike the kiwi fruit, the kiwi bird has a long beak with nostrils right at the end, big strong legs with claws, tiny stumps for wings (vestigial wings) and makes a loud chirping or grunting call which can be heard up to 1.5km away!