
New Zealand Biodiversity
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 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

This unit includes a series of activities which focus on the shells made from animals in the Phylum Mollusca (e.g. snails, mussels, limpets, chitons). Link to teacher guide: https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/resources/download/otago062811.pdf
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
All About Shells Poster
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
This unit includes a series of activities which focus on the shells made from animals in the Phylum Mollusca (e.g. snails, mussels, limpets, chitons). Link to teacher guide: https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/resources/download/otago062811.pdf

This unit includes a series of activities which focus on the shells made from animals in the Phylum Mollusca (e.g. snails, mussels, limpets, chitons). Link to poster: https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/resources/download/otago371801.pdf
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
All About Shells Teacher Guide
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
This unit includes a series of activities which focus on the shells made from animals in the Phylum Mollusca (e.g. snails, mussels, limpets, chitons). Link to poster: https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/resources/download/otago371801.pdf

He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā ākau pōhatuhatu o Aotearoa ki te Raki.
Level
1-4
Type
Te Reo Māori
Aotearoa Ki Te Raki Puka Ārahi Mō Te Ākau Pōhatuhatu
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā ākau pōhatuhatu o Aotearoa ki te Raki.

He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā tapātai one o Aotearoa ki te Raki.
Level
1-4
Type
Te Reo Māori
Aotearoa Ki Te Raki: Puka Ārahi mō te Tapātai One
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
He puka ārahi ngāwari mō ngā kararehe me ngā tipu e kitea noatia ki ngā tapātai one o Aotearoa ki te Raki.

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.

Can you cross off a line, a diagonal, or even the whole board, by finding each of these NZ tree species?
Level
1-4
Type
Outdoor Activity
Bark Bingo!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Can you cross off a line, a diagonal, or even the whole board, by finding each of these NZ tree species?

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?

We can dream up new ways to bring nature into our games, too. Try these co-operative, nature-themed versions of three games you might know well.
Level
1-4
Type
Game
Better Together
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
We can dream up new ways to bring nature into our games, too. Try these co-operative, nature-themed versions of three games you might know well.

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?

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.

To review the past, gather information from the present and therefore develop a potential future vision for a local coastal wetland environment
Level
1-4
Type
Lesson Plan
Canterbury's Spectacular Coastal Wetlands
Environment Canterbury
To review the past, gather information from the present and therefore develop a potential future vision for a local coastal wetland environment

We want to get people thinking about our native white species as loveable fish, rather than food. Come up with a clever/funny caption to go with this picture to help.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Caption this picture…
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
We want to get people thinking about our native white species as loveable fish, rather than food. Come up with a clever/funny caption to go with this picture to help.

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!

Find he rākau toa - a mighty tree - in your backyard, your school grounds, your neighbourhood, or in your wider region
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Compare a rākau with the giant kauri Tāne Mahuta
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Find he rākau toa - a mighty tree - in your backyard, your school grounds, your neighbourhood, or in your wider region

This article describes an environmental decision that had terrible consequences. In the late 1800s, ferrets, stoats, and weasels were introduced into New Zealand to get rid of rabbits. However, these mustelids caused unforeseen destruction. They didn’t eat only rabbits – they discovered that New Zealand’s native animals and birds were very easy prey.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2011 Level 3: ‘It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time’
Ministry of Education NZ
This article describes an environmental decision that had terrible consequences. In the late 1800s, ferrets, stoats, and weasels were introduced into New Zealand to get rid of rabbits. However, these mustelids caused unforeseen destruction. They didn’t eat only rabbits – they discovered that New Zealand’s native animals and birds were very easy prey.

In “Voyage of Exploration”, students read about the marine diversity in New Zealand’s territorial waters and the process that NIWA scientists use to classify organisms.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2012 Level 4: ‘Voyage of Exploration’
Ministry of Education NZ
In “Voyage of Exploration”, students read about the marine diversity in New Zealand’s territorial waters and the process that NIWA scientists use to classify organisms.