ECE Archives - Enviroschools Marlborough

September 23, 2026

Pokapoka Visit

As an extension on their learning about Energy, tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten took a trip to visit a local historical site - Pokapoka, Seventeen Valley At Mayfield Kindergarten, tamariki had been learning about the energy from Ruaumoko when Wairau began sharing the story passed to her from her papa about the tsumani that washed across our shores many years ago. To empower Wairau with her korero, kaiako Natasha organised a trip to Pokapoka. Wairau’s papa, Keelan Walker, also came and together they shared the history of the site. Tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten, staff and management from the Marlborough Kindergarten Association and our Environmental Education team had the pleasure of listening and learning about the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Growing Kūmara, Growing Knowledge

Over the past few years there has been an increasing interest in growing kūmara in Marlborough. We have seen this in both schools with our Kids Edible Gardens facilitators and ECE centres. So this term we hosted a workshop to deepen and strengthen this knowledge alongside Reuben Molnar from Te Whatu Ora and Tane Anderson from Sports Tasman. Reuben and Angela demonstrating how to set up a tāpapa Reuben Molnar, has been raising kūmara tipu with rangatahi at NMIT and growing crops at the community gardens. Over the past couple of years the rangatahi have generously shared some of the tipu they raised with Kids Edible Gardens. This has given our...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 28, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Exploring Energy at MKA

Tamariki and kaiako from across the Marlborough Kindergarten Association have been learning all about Energy. Here are a few examples of what they have been up to. Mayfield Kindergarten

: The plates are moving it makes a volcano and earthquakes – Wairau

: Rūaumoko is in his māmā’s puku, he is happy. He gets angry he kicks his māmā’s puku and it makes a big earthquake – Wairau

: This is a tsunami, when the plates move and crack under the water – Wairau

At Mayfield Kindergarten they have explored energy through a te ao Māori lens and learnt about Ruaumoko, the atua of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Tamariki discovered that when Ruaumoko moves beneath Papatūānuku, the earth can shake, rumble and change. This supported them to hold both mātauranga Māori and scientific understandings alongside each other as they made sense of the natural world.

: Making a volcano

: Creating a tsunami

Tamariki have been creating volcanoes, which sparked conversations about why they erupt. This led to learning about tectonic plates and how...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 24, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Outdoor Classroom Day

Outdoor Classroom Day is celebrated internationally twice a year on the 21st May and the 5th November. It is a global movement to set aside dedicated time to get children outdoors. Below we hear from Springlands Kindergarten and Little Acorns Acamdemy about their time spent outdoors. Springlands Kindergarten We spent the morning at McKendry Park. We invited Springlands school to join us, so Cathee and Courtney brought a small group over. Tamariki could do their usual exploring, tree climbing etc, however we also took two mats to set up water paints, pens/pencils on. We used also had paper with double sided tape that they could collect things on. These were then later put all together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 31, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Nature Exploration on the Taylor River

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...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 24, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Energy at Springlands Kindergarten

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...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 11, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

KEGs at Seymour Kindergarten

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...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

February 17, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

MKA Energy Workshop

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...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

February 5, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Tadpoles delight tamariki

From a bucket of water, 19 little tadpoles have delighted tamariki across Blenheim. Tadpoles when they first arrived...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

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