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Activities

The following activities are designed to foster ākonga understanding of marine ecosystems, taoka/taonga species, and conservation in years 4-8, but can be adapted for use across different year levels. They align with the Te Mātaiaho refreshed New Zealand Curriculum's Understand, Know, Do (UDK) framework to support learning progress.

Kaiako can use the Pakake, New Zealand sea lions field trip materials to facilitate discussions and stimulate critical thinking among ākonga, using activities to launch into more in-depth exploration. The Solo taxonomy rubric (below) is an assessment tool that can be used to meet the specific needs of different learning levels and styles.

Group discussion and presentation

• Divide ākonga into small groups.
• Assign each group a specific aspect of the Pakake, the New Zealand sea lion field trip, such as taoka/taonga species, marine ecosystems, habitats, or conservation efforts.
• Each group discusses their topic and prepares a short presentation. This could be an audio, video, slide deck, static image, animation, or other.

Understanding a taoka/taonga species

• Use the Investigation: Taoka/Taonga species (downloadable Word document) to help ākonga record their thinking and ideas about taoka/taonga species. They can use this to springboard into inquiry.

Eco-explorer journal

• Ākonga can be eco-explorers, recording their observations, drawings, and reflections on pakake, marine ecosystems, and conservation during the virtual field trip.

Habitat diorama

• Research pakake habitats, including environmental features and surroundings.
• Ākonga create and share habitat diorama of a sea lion colony, identifying and illustrating environmental features.

Marine ecosystems board game

• Design a board game that simulates a marine ecosystem. Players take on the roles of pakake, other marine creatures, and people.
• Ākonga to consider how they could win the game by building healthy ecosystems or how they might lose by having their ecosystem disturbed or degraded.
• The game can highlight the interdependence of species and the impact of human activity.

Presenting the pakake

• Support ākonga to carry out individual or group projects focused on different aspects of pakake (example: life cycle, behaviour, diet, cultural significance, pūrakau).
• They can use a variety of sources (including virtual field trip resources) to gather information and present their findings.

Artistic expression

• Encourage ākonga to explore different aspects, such as the life of pakake, the challenges they face, or their importance as a taoka species to Ngāi Tahu.
• Ākonga to create artwork, poems, or short stories inspired by the virtual field trip.

Conservation campaign

• Challenge ākonga to design a campaign that promotes conservation efforts to sustain pakake or a taoka/taonga species of their own choice, or a local conservation effort.
• Their campaign should convey the importance and reasons for protecting these species in Aotearoa.

Community outreach

• Investigate community-based conservation efforts that focus on cleaning and preserving important habitats for local species.
• Explore active engagement in community initiatives by investigating local conservation activity and participating in local actions.

Taoka/Taonga species quiz show

• Create teams of ākonga and ask questions related to taoka/taonga species, marine ecosystems and conservation.
• Use a digital platform, buzzers or a whiteboard for teams to record their answers.

Ecological comprehension
Use this Solo taxonomy rubric (downloadable Word document) to assess ākonga understanding of marine ecosystems, taoka/taonga species, and conservation.