For Teachers
This page contains numerous resources that can be used in teach children about environmental education.
Stream Connections
It's been around for a while now, so we are looking to revamp the Stream Connections programme - and teachers we want your help. During the next few months there will be a host of different ways you can get involved and have your say about what you think should be in the programme and how it should be delivered to students.
The first port of call is a workshop on November 15 to to help us critique the original materials and recommend improvements.
Download further information below.
STREAM CONNECTIONS is a resource for Southland Schools to CONNECT with the many accessible rivers and streams in their catchment, both inside and outside the classroom. It allows students to explore and discover their local waterway, learning about its environmental value - encouraging students to make CONNECTIONS with their waterway.
STREAM CONNECTIONS is available on CD Rom, which will allow you to explore in your own time the value of this resource and how it can be incorporated into your classroom.
STREAM CONNECTIONS gives you access to Environment Southland staff who are more than happy to assist you with identifying activities suitable for your planned study location and the Environmental Education Officer is also available to assist you in your introductory and follow-up classroom sessions.
STREAM CONNECTIONS has both introductory information; classroom activities; worksheets for in the various stations in the field and follow-up classroom activities for Levels One through to Level Eight.
Download the Stream Connections pack from our Resources page.
Stream connections feedback
Feedback is an integral part of undertaking the Stream Connections programme. It helps us to monitor and improve the service and learning we provide. Please take the time to complete the feedback form. Thank you for your time and participation.
Ongoing Water Quality Monitoring - a guide to support schools in their own ongoing water qualtiy monitoring programme.
In addition with the documents you can download below is a CD contaiining an Excel file to assist in creating graphs. If you would like a copy of this CD, please contact us at education@es.govt.nz.
3R Kit
What's the 3R kit all about?
- Interested in teaching about reducing rubbish, re-using rubbish, or recycling?
- Are you looking for a topic that covers real world issues and links to a number of curriculum areas?
- Are you looking for a teacher resource kit that has detailed curriculum unit plans?
- You can have all this for FREE!
If you answered YES to all of the above, then the 3R Kit is for you.
Environment Southland has produced a 3R's Education Kit, jam-packed full of resources to help you teach your students about Reducing Rubbish, Re-using Rubbish, and Recycling Rubbish!
The 3R's Kit is available in electronic format and is packed full of information and teaching resources... unit plans, activities for all ages, DVDs, mini-books and its FREE! We also encourage you to host one of our council waste officers as a guest speaker.
Please feel free to download the entire 3R Kit as a single PDF, or if you prefer, in parts from our Resources page.
The 3R Kit is also available on CD, please contact the Education Officer at education@es.govt.nz to order your copy today!
Measuring change
Throughout New Zealand hundreds of schools are engaging in learning for sustainability – a holistic process that has a range of environmental, educational, economic and social benefits for students and their community.
Every year we see and hear of schools diverting tonnes of waste from landfill, planting thousands of native trees and taking action to use energy and water efficiently. So how much change are schools actually making? What difference does this make towards creating sustainable school communities and collectively, a more sustainable New Zealand? The measuring change tool measures the physical environmental outcomes happening in schools.
The measuring change tool was developed by The Enviroschools Foundation with support from the Ministry of Education and is available forALL SCHOOLS to use, not just Enviroschools, and can be used by Early Childhood Centres through to Tertiary Institutes.
The measuring change tool currently has four sections. You can chose to do all of the sections or one at a time. The sections are;
Worm farming
The folowing section covers some of the most commonly asked questions about worm farming.
How do I get some worms?
Contact any of the suppliers listed below and they will be able to either supply worms (possibly post them) or let you know where you can buy the worms.
How many will I get?
250 grams will approximately yield 1,000 worms and prices generally range from $20-45 per 250 grams.
What type of worm bin can I use?
You can make your own bin from any of the following:
- Tyres
- Packing crate
- Old bath
- Drum cut in half
- An old drawer
Or you can buy one of these ready-made solutions:
- Worm-a-round
- Swag
- Can-o-worms
- Warehouse model
- Central Wormworx Ltd worm bin
Contact the worm farmers above for advice about making or purchasing a worm bin. Some commercial bins are available from department stores, hardware or gardening outlets.
Guides for how to compost or worm farm
Christchurch City Council put together a very informative and useful guide to Worm Composting. The brochure can be downloaded from their website at http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/CompostWormFarm.pdf.
Create Your Own Eden run by the North Shore City Council has a fantastic website (http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz) which tells you how to compost using three different methods:
- Traditional composting using a heap or bin
- Vermiculture or worm farming
- Bokashi
They also provide a guide for composting which can be downloaded from their website http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/comp.html
Southland has its own website for learning how to reduce your rubbish and compost or worm farm. Visit "Making Black Gold" to learn the secrets of making great compost http://www.wastenet.org.nz.
Worm suppliers
Southland Worm Breeders Association:
Margaret Martyn (03 208 9034)
Janet Cloake (03 248 6256)
South Coast Environment Society:
Maggie Booth - Riverton Environment Centre (03 234 8717)
Limehills: Mrs Swale (03 236 0859)
Other: Bruce Hunter (03 230 4722)
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.