Enviroschools Marlborough, Author at Enviroschools Marlborough

June 26, 2024

Montessori tamariki connect to nature

At Montessori Blenheim, children live and breathe the guiding principle, Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship. Children see themselves as active global citizens who are responsible for their actions. They engage in sustainable practices and show aroha for Papatūānuku. This means the children are finding ways to connect with the local community, step into their role as a kaitiaki and recognise themselves as part of the natural world. As they build their sense of belonging and connect with their natural environment, they are learning to show respect for Tāne Māhuta and the Mauri of his ngāhere. "Just enough people to give it a cuddle" - Cameron Last month, a group of little Montessori explorers embarked on...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 21, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Wetland Warriors

Every Wednesday morning a volunteer team calling themselves the Wetland Warriors meet at Grovetown Lagoon to plant natives, weed, clear paths, raise plants and trap pests to protect the beautiful environment around the Lagoon. This term on partnership with Junior Landcare, Envirogroup’s have the opportunity to work alongside the Wetland Warriors (WW) volunteers while learning about the wetlands and why its restoration is so important. Unfortunately the first session was called off due to wet weather, and so in the first week of June Tua Marina and Waikawa Bay Schools became the first groups of students to join the WW team. Their job for the morning was to plant grasses and trees on the banks of...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tai Tōrua workshop – Nature Connection

On a clear crisp Marlborough Autumn morning Ramona and Angela invited a group of ECE and Primary teachers to join them outside for an introduction to Nature Connection. The Marlborough District Council Environmental Education team had been invited to present at the Tai Tōrua workshop. The focus for this workshop was to "support teachers to move from traditional views and practices in Health & PE to more inclusive, culturally responsive and innovative initiatives within the curriculum and its delivery". Nature Connection was the perfect fit to this brief. With substantial research highlighting the benefits that nature has on our Hauora, Ramona and Angela were able to introduce a variety of activities and ideas under the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Te Kura at Pollard Park

Angela hosted a small group of enthusiastic Te Kura students in the Backyard Garden at Pollard Park at the beginning of the term. Thankfully Tamanuiterā had melted the frost and warmed the garden making it the ideal place to observe the changes in season and investigate the types of vegetables that enjoy the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter. They found spinach, broad beans, parsley, spring onions, kale, cauliflower, silver beet and beetroot, taste testing some of the leaves as they went. They discovered that the tender young leaves of the broad beans can be eaten, these taste very similar to broccoli. To their delight they also discovered eating enough of the leaves turns...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tuarua – giving back – at Waikawa Bay School

The students at Waikawa Bay School have been learning about the values of Matariki with a focus on tuarua - giving back. Free Fair at Waikawa Bay School The first three weeks of term 2 students explored what it means to help and support others. They explored ways that appreciation can be shown and developed an understanding of how in working together as a community everyone is valued. Ideas came flooding in as to how the school could say thank you to the people and local community groups that had given time, shared their knowledge and expertise, donated sports and classroom equipment, and funding for projects. The ideas were sorted and grouped together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 8, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Kahikatea Reserve Planting

If you haven’t visited Kahikatea Reserve between Springcreek and Tua Marina, you must put it on your to-do list! This 20 year restoration of bare pasture land features beautiful Rimu, Totara, Kahikatea, Matai, Manuka, Tarata, Lancewood, Harakeke, Kawakawa, Koromiko and a myriad of other natives. The aim of the restoration is to return the land to its origins of a lowland swamp ngahere dominated by the mighty Kahikatea of which there are only 3 semi-mature trees left standing on the Wairau Plains. This was the backdrop of a planting project with Tua Marina and Springcreek Schools. Unfortunately, a small fire destroyed part of the restoration late last year. The crew of Landscape Marlborough wanted to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Building a Sustainable Community through Kai

Term 4 and 1 are always favourites in the Kids Edible Gardens calendar as there is so much to harvest. There is nothing better than fresh peas, broad beans (and their leaves), crunchy lettuce and broccoli eaten in the garden. School kitchens get a work out too – vegetable fritters and stir-fry’s are whipped up and lettuce wraps are folded. Apples cooked into crumbles or roasted potatoes have everyone’s mouth watering. As well as an oldie but a goodie, pikelets with cream and fresh berries from the garden. Once the children at Picton School have finished their gardening jobs they aim to deliver vegetables to the Picton School Kitchen to be used in their school...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 5, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Enviroschools 101 Workshop

An Enviroschool is full of active learners developing skills, understanding, knowledge confidence and working together to plan, design and create a sustainable place … but how do we get to that point? This term Angela and Annie ran an Enviroschools 101 workshop. This was for those new to Enviroschools or wanting to know a bit more before stepping into a lead role for Enviroschools at their school. Where was the best place to start? Out in the environment! Fairhall School was the background for our activities, noticing and observing te taiao in a slower more deliberate way. A place to map what we found to build a puna mātauranga, pool of knowledge. Creating a map is...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 5, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tua Marina Stream Study

The Tuamarina Awa is a tributary of the Wairau Awa and flows through the largest remaining wetland in the Wairau catchment, the Para Wetland. Unfortunately, the water quality of the Tuamarina awa is rated as marginal, unacceptable water quality that needs to be improved. The awa passes Tua Marina school on the opposite side of SH1. It’s not an easy place to get to but the senior students wanted to learn more about it. Particularly its health and what they could do to care for it now and in the future. With a whole school inquiry into science, they leapt at the chance to investigate the awa with a scientific lens. They studied the cycle...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 4, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Koru Native Wildlife Centre

As the clouds parted and the sun broke through Marlborough ECE teachers descended upon Koru Native Wildlife Centre. The first event offered to Marlborough ECE teachers as part of the new Environmental Education support pilot for Early Childhood Centres was underway. In line with the regional focus of PLACE and CONNECTION this was an opportunity for teachers to meet Ellen. and see what resources she can support kaiako and tamariki with when learning about some of New Zealands native species. Koru Native Wildlife Centre is situated in Grovetown. It invites you to get up close and learn about brightly coloured Yellow Crowned Kākāriki, fascinating Giant Wētā and Marlborough Green Geckos.

: Gecko

: Kākāriki

The centre is set...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

Author: Enviroschools Marlborough