Resources and links
Directory of environmental education resources
New Zealand’s National Directory of Environmental Education Resources has been developed for teachers and educators. You can search using the 15 topic areas or by region.
Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education’s TKI Environmental education site has environmental education curriculum-based learning materials for teachers. It includes an online version of the Environmental Education Guidelines document
Enviroschools
The Enviroschools programme helps schools to promote sustainability using a whole school approach to environmental education. Action projects undertaken by enviroschools have environmental and educational outcomes that benefit the school and the wider community.
Trees for Survival
Trees for Survival is a partnership between
- School children who grow and plant native trees
- Service clubs and businesses who support the schools
- Regional councils who coordinate TFS activities
- Landowners who care for the growing trees
- The Trees for Survival management team
Earth Care Ops
Earth Care Ops (ECO) is Auckland Regional Council’s kids site. It encourages them to become an ‘ECO’ Agent and defend the earth against pollution, animal extinction and global warming etc. Children need to join to accept missions such as the ‘wack a pest’ game. The site includes a databank with links for teachers and children
Department of Conservation
The section of the Department of Conservation website for students and teachers provides information and resources to support conservation education programmes in schools. It has a calendar, classroom resources and information on fieldtrips.
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary offers a variety of programmes and supporting resource materials that provide students and teachers with positive and inspiring environmental experiences: in, about and for the environment. They are an LEOTC provider and have qualified, experienced educators to work with schools.
World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature has an environmental education programme called the 'Nga Taonga o Tane' programme which offers sessions on native plants and ecology.
Wellington Zoo
Wild about learning at Wellington Zoo – the learning team offers a wide range of learning programmes for children.
Wild about New Zealand
Wild about New Zealand is a hands-on biodiversity investigation and action programme that contains simple equipment and methods to help people find out about the pests and native wildlife living near them. It includes links to resources for teachers. Go to the Environmental Education products link for materials such as lizard trackers and weta houses that you can purchase for your school.
Brown teal
Brown teal provides information about New Zealand's critically endangered Brown Teal (Pakete). The information and work programmes covered in this site are part of recovery efforts to conserve this species as part of New Zealand's natural heritage. The site has a curriculum linked teaching programme for 7 - 14 year olds and an excellent funky interactive game showing how pest animals affect New Zealand's natural ecology.
Global footprints
Global footprints has been developed by the London Humanities Education Centre to encourage young people to take steps towards a sustainable future. The site has classroom activities aimed at years 3-6 which cover literacy and numeracy. Subject areas include water, waste/ recycling and fair trade. The global footprint quiz allows you to calculate the global footprint of your school.
Ecokids
Ecokids is a Canadian site for children. It contains environmental games and activities to help them learn about: Environmental Issues, Wildlife, Energy, and Science and Nature. The site also has resources for teachers.
GLOBE
GLOBE is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based education and science program. It provides the opportunity for students to learn by:
- Taking scientifically valid measurements of atmosphere, hydrology, soils, and land cover
- Reporting their date through the Internet
- Creating maps and graphs on the free interactive Web site
- Collaborating with scientists and other GLOBE students around the world
For teachers, GLOBE provides assistance through professional development, a teacher’s guide, support from a help desk, and by enabling contact with other teachers, students, and scientists worldwide
Nga Manu
Nga Manu reserve in Waikanae has an information centre, walk-in aviary, guided school tours and endangered species such as the Tuatara and Kiwi in the Kiwi House.