(^This video outlines the week’s contents, announces prizes, shows previous highlights etc. Play this video to your class to introduce the week! Teaching resources are further down this page.
Summary: Non-native predators have been introduced to NZ over the last few hundred years, and have decimated our native biodiversity. Many animals and plants endemic to NZ have not evolved to protect themselves from the likes of rats, stoats, ferrets, cats, possums and mice - an estimated 25million native birds are killed each year by introduced predators. This week focuses on our unique birdlife and is designed to stimulate discussion and action towards achieving Aotearoa’s audacious goal of “Predator Free 2050”.
Core objective:
Learn about Aotearoa’s unique bird-life and explore how introduced predators have caused a significant decline in their populations.
UPDATED: HIGHLIGHTS REEL BELOW
Thanks to all the teachers that submitted videos back to us to compete for prizes! See the “Week 2 Welcome Video” for the prize announcements.
A massive thank-you to Christchurch City Council’s Innovation and Sustainability Fund for enabling this week to happen!
Curriculum links:
Levels 1 and 2:
Major link: Science: Living world, ecology.
Minor links: Technology: Nature of Technology, characteristics of technological outcomes. Science: Nature of science, investigating in science, communicating in science. Mathematics: Statistics
Levels 3 and 4:
Major link: Science: Living world, ecology.
Minor links: Technology: Nature of Technology, characteristics of technological outcomes. Science: Nature of science, investigating in science, communicating in science. Mathematics: Statistics
Years 1-4
60 minute lesson-plan focus:
Learn about Aotearoa’s unique native birds and the threats they face via virtual reality!
Extra resources:
1) “Squawk’s Journey” - virtual reality experience
2) Make a nature scrapbook
3) Bird watching!
4) Zealandia trading card game
5) Inquiry based learning
Call to action: Tell your whānau about what you’ve learnt!
NB - each week we provide a simplified 60-minute lesson plan. However, we will also provide more activities for the extra keen teachers… we know you’re out there! Check out the “extra activities + content” button above. (Got questions/improvements for the resource? Comment directly on the pdfs)
^Take footage of your class in action and go into win the weekly prizes, feature on the weekly highlights video and be in the running for the GRAND PRIZE…!
Prizes for this week are:
Top 5x classes receive a Squawk Squad care package which includes:
1x a Good Nature A24 rat/stoat trap for their school
1/20th share in a Squawk Squad trap at Punakaiki
3x T-shirts for lucky students
2x Google Cardboard virtual reality headsets to use in their class
Chance to feature on the weekly highlights reel!
Years 5-8
60 minute lesson-plan focus:
Learn about Aotearoa’s unique native birds and the threats they face via virtual reality!
Extra resources:
1) “Squawks Journey” - virtual reality experience
2) Become a backyard detective
3) Introduced predator mystery solving
4) Zealandia trading card game!
5) Inquiry based learning
Call to Action: Start a school trapping project!
NB - each week we provide a simplified 60-minute lesson plan. However, we will also provide more activities for the extra keen teachers… we know you’re out there! Check out the “extra activities + content” button above. (Got questions/improvements for the resource? Comment directly on the pdfs)
^Take footage of your class in action and go into win the weekly prizes, feature on the weekly highlights video and be in the running for the GRAND PRIZE…!
Prizes for this week are:
Top 5x classes receive a Squawk Squad care package which includes:
1x a Good Nature A24 rat/stoat trap for their school
1/20th share in a Squawk Squad trap at Punakaiki
3x T-shirts for lucky students
2x Google Cardboard virtual reality headsets to use in their class
Chance to feature on the weekly highlights reel!