Enviroschools stories Archives - Page 2 of 10

August 9, 2023

Renwick Kindergarten Pause and Reflect

A key aspect to the Enviroschools journey is reflection. “Reflection is an integral part of the learning cycle, helping us to make sense of our experiences, deepen our learning, and gain direction for the journey ahead”. Renwick Kindergarten have been a Green Gold Enviroschols since 2019. Earlier this year they decided to reflect on their journey. They had completed all their “next steps” from their Green Gold reflection and felt it was time to identify some new ones. Renwick Kindergarten tamariki, John Leggett and Anne Best test out the new water access at Rousehill Reserve As their team reflected on the last four years it quickly became apparent the Enviroschools kauapapa is no...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 14, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Nature Connection Workshops

Did you know that spending time in nature can support multiple developmental domains including intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual and physical? There has been a growing interest and awareness of nature connection benefits amongst kaiako/ teachers. In support of this Enviroschools and REAP Marlborough hosted Celia Hogan from Little Kiwis Nature Play to come and share her knowledge and expertise with kaiako this term. Across two workshops, Celia unpacked the benefits of nature connection. How tamariki/ children play and what they require to do so. As well as ideas on how to enhance the outdoor environment. She facilitated discussions around the barriers and opportunities that nature connection offer from a diverse and cultural perspective. This covered opportunities such...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 3, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Waikawa Bay School Stream Restoration

This year we have access to some funds through Enviroschools from the 1 Billion Trees Fund. Through this fund we have been able to help Waikawa Bay School purchase trees to plant and restore the stream that they have been successfully trapping for a number of years. Angela, one of our Environmental Educators worked alongside some of the Waikawa Bay School students involved in the trapping and replanting project to identify which trees would be the most suitable to plant and encourage birds to return to the area. Names of plants are important especially for trees with large numbers of species and varieties such as Comprosma and Pittosporum. A name can tell you how tall...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 26, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Mandala at Montessori

Montessori Blenheim ignites intellectual interest and allows children to perpetuate curiosity and propel forward to further explore all the natural wonders of our world. Through the prepared environment, kaiārahi offer authentic opportunities for children to connect to their environment. To foster a love and appreciation of their surroundings and support a deeper understanding of the 'big ideas' that underpin all life on earth.

Acknowledging children's enthusiasm to discover rich and diverse cultural concepts is important as it enables their endeavours, regardless of the limit of kaiārahi understanding and knowledge. Respect for the Diversity of People and Cultures acknowledges the unique gifts, contributions and perspectives of individuals and groups, reinforcing the value...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 20, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Action Fund makes dream a reality

An Enviroschools Action Fund makes the Wairau Valley school Enviro Teams dream a reality last year. The plan was to create a native corridor for native birds. The team researched what type of plants native birds like and also discussed the flowering times of different native plants to provide food through out the year. It was a great practical activity and the students really enjoyed mucking in. ...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

February 21, 2023

Enviroschools stories General

Witherlea School’s Ngahere expansion

The Enviro Team at Witherlea School were excited to be granted with an Enviroschools Action Fund for the expansion of their School Ngahere. They used the money to purchase a variety of native trees, climbers and shrubs to add to the expansion of their School Ngahere. Originally they had two separate forests divided by a flying fox. When the flying fox came down they were left with a large gravel area. They filled in this gravel area with soil and purchased native plants with the Action Fund. The children chose plants and trees that would attract native birds and a variety of insects. A big thank you from the Enviro Team! ...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

February 7, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Building a Sustainable Community through Kids Edible Gardens

Initially organised for the beginning of the year to kick start our focus on Sustainable Communities, it was great to finally see this workshop take place in term 4. Tamanuitera shone, though Tawhirimatea made his presence known, and we were able to start in the Kids Edible Gardens of Blenheim School talking about some of the companion plants we could see growing and nibbling on the new leaves of the prolific broad beans. Identify Getting down to the nitty gritty we identified what a Sustainable Community could look like. We found that in building a Sustainable Community we are also building our hauora as we connect with nature and foster relationships with people around us. Explore Kids...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

January 20, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Nature Play – Springlands Kindergarten

Under the warm rays of Tamanuitera| the sun the tamariki| children at Springlands Kindergarten gather together ready for their weekly hikoi| walk to McKendry Park. A place that they have become very familiar with and comfortable to explore, discover and play. As they pass through the kura| school grounds they wave and say hello to past students before arriving at the large open space. The park is spotted with multiple plum trees and a gentle stream running down one side. Identify Recognising the importance of connecting with nature and the benefits it offers, the kaiako at Springlands Kindergarten decided that they wanted to find a way to integrate more of this into their programme. They identified...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

October 6, 2022

Enviroschools stories

Renwick Kindergarten Enviroschools journey with Rousehill Reserve

When we started out on our Enviroschool journey in 2013, it started out with wanting tamariki | children and whānau | families to have a sense of belonging here at Renwick Kindergarten. We never envisioned what we would learn, create and change along the way. Our decision to weave the Enviroschools guiding principles into the fabric of our Kindergarten saw us gain Bronze in June 2014; Silver in December 2016 and GreenGold in February 2019. Bringing in water to water the trees Identifying the current situation: As part of our mission towards Silver, our practice and thinking evolved. From promoting sustainability within our own Kindergarten, our eyes looked towards the horizon to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 27, 2022

Enviroschools stories

Classification of Living Things

The students at Richmond View School became Botanists this term as they explored the classification of native plants on the Taylor Awa. People have always given names to things that they see, including plants and animals. So, of course most of us turn to names as the first form of classification. It was a scientist, Linnaeus, that first developed a hierarchal naming structure (of 7 parts no less). This conveyed information about what a living thing was and also its closest relatives. Earlier this term, if you happened to be walking your dog down the Taylor Awa, you may have come across Richmond View School students studying the Tui to Town plantings. Their inquiry for...

by Enviroschools Marlborough