A group of Springlands School students made the most of the sunny autumn days by taking their learning to McKendry Park and using nature as their classroom for maths. They counted chestnuts, created repeating patterns, counted trees, measured the distance between them, and used tally marks and skip counting in 5s to count sticks. Learning was hands-on, meaningful, and lots of fun!
Connecting with nature helps to make us smarter, healthier and happier, this is the purpose for Blenheim’s new nature exploration space. Located on the Taylor River beneath a stand of large trees is Blenheim’s new Nature Exploration Space. The ideal spot with the surrounding environment offering an extension to the dedicated space for running, climbing and exploring. The project started last year with the Council's Environmental Education team and support from Parks and Open Spaces officer Kiri Whiteman. It began with a consultation process with young tamariki in Blenheim. They were asked what they would like to see, do, feel, hear in the new space. Tamariki were encouraged to discuss, draw and even create a...
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It was great to meet up with some of the other providers that work in the environmental education space in Marlborough. This was the first of what we all hope will be many catch ups to come. It was an opportunity to share what we do in our work programmes. From Landcare to Te Hoiere, Climate Karanga Marlborough and The Falcon Trust, Envirohub and Forest and Bird, to name just a few who showed interest in the first catch up. The initial catch up, hosted by the environmental educators with Marlborough District Council was held at Te Kahu o Waipuna. Here we were able to chat about what we are all currently working...
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Where does energy come from? What types of energy are there? How is it used for? What Atua are associated with energy? These are just some of the energy concepts that the tamariki at Springlands Kindergarten have been learning about. At the beginning of Term 1 the kaiako at Springlands Kindergarten volunteered to be the first to try out the new Energy kit that our Environmental Education team put together. The kits contains activities from the Enviroschools theme area Energy plus a few extras. Alongside the activities are resources that are needed to facilitate the activities. After exploring with the kit and their own ideas and experimentations for majority of the term, the tamariki have...
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Earlier this term over 25 ECE teachers came together to share and learn from each other. Teachers with a range of nature connection experiences had the opportunity to share what they do, how they do it and the outcomes they have seen. It was also an opportunity for those that are new to the kaupapa to hear how it can be done. Over the past two years there has been a growth in the number of nature connection programmes being offered in Marlborough. Nature connection resource kit All of the programmes operate and run in different ways depending on a number of logistical matters such as location, timing etc. However, they all...
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A group of 20 Year 7 and 8 rangatahi led by Di Huntly from Queen Charlotte College celebrated Sea Week the best way possible by getting wet, muddy, and hands-on with tuangi/cockle monitoring at Whatamango Bay. The beautiful rimurimu meadow of Whatamango Bay The day was a special collaboration with Glenis Paul from the NZ Marine Studies Centre, Kiara Duke-Love from Te Ātiawa, and the college, bringing together science, mātauranga Māori, and local knowledge in one learning experience. The morning began with Matua Neville Tahuaroa-Watson, who opened the day with a karakia and the laying of a treasured pou. This set the intentions for the mahi ahead and asked for the protection...
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For tamariki at Waikawa Bay School, the moana isn’t something far away; they can see it from their school grounds. It’s part of their everyday landscape, featuring in their murals, artwork, and local stories. So when Glenis Paul from the NZ Marine Studies Centre (Whakatū/Nelson) found time in her busy schedule to support learning during Sea Week, the school jumped at the opportunity. I was also keen to learn a thing or two and joined in for the morning! The focus was the Nature of Science, with students rotating through ten hands-on marine activities, each one deepening their understanding of the sandy bay close by.
Moisture testing Every Thursday morning Joy-Marie visits Seymour Kindergarten to facilitate the KEGs (Kids Edible Garden) programme. Joy facilitates a planned programme based around the garden as well as supports tamariki interests. Over the last few weeks she has been discussing 'water as energy for plants'. How water is essential for plants to grow and move nutrients throughout the plant. Each week tamariki have been testing the soil to see if it is too dry or too wet. They have discussions about what the soil feels like and if the plants need water. Last week tamariki made 'Nettle tea' by soaking stinging nettle in water for the week. When Joy-Marie brought it out tamariki...
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Teachers from the Marlborough Kindergarten Association immersed themselves into the topic of "energy" at their teacher only day at the beginning of the year. Ramona and Annie from the MDC Environmental Education team were invited to the MKA teacher only day in January. This was an opportunity to share their new Energy kit available for teachers to borrow and use with students. This kit explores the key concepts of energy - its different forms and how we use it, that it is everywhere and that it is continuously changing. Mostly based on Enviroschools activities the kit involves all the resources needs to get hands on and explore energy in its many different forms. The workshop gave teachers an...
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From a bucket of water, 19 little tadpoles have delighted tamariki across Blenheim. Tadpoles when they first arrived...
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