Fresh water is essential to life. On this trip you will see how quality freshwater drives a significant part of the local economy around Lake Taupō. Go whitewater rafting and fly-fishing with us and find out. Fresh water is highly valued by local citizens and these values inform the district plan which specifies how water and land are used.
Follow the scientists and rangers as they go about their daily work, doing their bit to ensure the local waterways are sustainable. This trip fits well with big ideas like water, communities, food webs, environments, bugs, land use, rivers and lakes, recreation and special places. This is a highly motivating and fun trip.
To prepare for this field trip, LEARNZ content will support inquiry into:
- the water cycle
- freshwater and freshwater quality
- life cycle of trout and invertebrates
- the strong cultural and historical links that Māori have with water
- Lake Taupō lake, river and stream ecosystems
- the threats to freshwater ecosystems
- wai tourism such as fishing and rafting
- managing the Taupō fishery
During this field trip you will:
- follow Andrew's tweets on twitter
- go rafting on the Tongariro River
- meet DOC rangers and scientists
- explore the Taupō fishery
- use light penetration to measure water clarity and count invertebrates to determine the water quality of Tongaririo River
- sample and analyse fish to check their health at a remote fish trap
- go on a drift-dive, floating down a local river counting trout
- go fly fishing and find out why people love it and pay for the experience
- follow local students who are volunteers and budding science communicators
- use technology to help local rangers do their work
- visit some of our rarely seen native freshwater fish
- find our what "striking the balance" means for people around Lake Taupō
- determine what sustainability means for people around Lake Taupō
After the field trip, challenge yourself to:
- determine what sustainability means for you in your region
- assess the health of a waterway near you
- find out about your community groups taking action for freshwater
- investigate study options and careers in
- recreation
- water
- conservation
Learning Areas/Levels
Health and Physical Education: Healthy Communities and Environments Levels 2-4
Mathematics and Statistics: Number and Algebra Levels 2-4, Statistics Levels 2-4, Geometry and Measurement Levels 2-4; Science: Living World Levels 2-4, Nature of Science Levels 2-4
Social Studies: Continuity and Change Levels 2-4, Place and Environment Levels 2-4
Technology: Levels 2-4
For further information: http://rata.learnz.org.nz/summary.php?vft=freshwaterecology184
Related content
Use these Hub resources prior to the virtual field trip to deepen student engagement. Start with the article Freshwater fish of New Zealand. There are also a number of actions we can take to help our native fish – learn about these in Stream works for fish, Native fish in the city, Healthy farms, healthy fish and Planning for change.
A search on water quality will bring up a range of other useful resources.
Our collection of resources Tōku awa koiora explores of the lower half of the Waikato River. Kaitiaki are working to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the river.
