Chemicals, weeds and socio-scientific issues
Our pānui for Hune introduces new content on environmental issues and the perfect PLD to get ready for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Friends or foes? Exploring socio-scientific issues
We have new resources that focus on environmental issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. Approaching these issues with a socio-scientific lens helps to build students’ science literacy, critical thinking, argumentation and decision-making skills.
Russell lupins at Lake Tekapo
Russell lupins (Lupinus polyphyllus) are valued for their beauty and for nitrogen fixation. However, in places like Canterbury, they are a threat to braided river ecosystems.
Space invaders – weeds and native ecosystems
Over 25,000 exotic plants have been introduced to New Zealand. Every year around 20 plants escape our gardens and become established in the wild. Learn more about invited and uninvited plants – friends and foes – in these resources:
Weeds and native ecosystems – a context for learning offers suggestions on using this issue to combine conceptual knowledge (mauri, habitats, adaptation and seed dispersal) with cultural and social awareness. Weeds are an ideal topic for exploring local curriculum and offer learning experiences for early years through to seniors.
Chemicals in the environment
Chemicals – like medicines and fertilisers – provide benefits to society. Problems arise when they enter environments where they are not usually present or in quantities above naturally occurring levels. Chemical contaminants in the environment explores how a chemical’s physical and chemical properties influence its mobility, persistence, bioavailability and toxicity.
Properties and processes that influence if and how chemicals reach the environment
This figure illustrates the physical and chemical properties that influence what happens to chemicals in the environment and the biological and ecological processes that can result in toxicity to living things.
Diagram adapted from the National Research Council, 2014.
Use case studies to take a deeper dive into this issue. They highlight how and why we use the products in Aotearoa, their chemical structures, key concerns and impacts:
The environmental fate of chemicals – a context for learning includes pedagogical considerations, key science concepts, mātauranga Māori and curriculum links.
Free PLD opportunities
On the topic of native ecosystems, join Greta and botanist Norm Mason for He rauemi reo Māori mō ngā rākau – Te reo Māori plant resources. Learn more about this suite of articles developed to support kaiako and ākonga to learn about rākau trees. The free webinar will feature a simple unit plan that includes getting to know the trees in a local area through observation, discussion and the sharing of knowledge. Get ready for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with kupu Māori for our amazing rākau!
Date: 27 July, 4:00–4:45 pm
Ngā rau o ngā rākau taketake o Aotearoa
Tino rerekē te āhua o ngā rau o ngētehi rākau.
View in EnglishIn case you missed them, check out our recorded webinars:
Picturebooks for Matariki – supported by the collection Matariki picture books and science resources.
Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa – The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey – supported by New Zealand Garden Bird Survey – a context for learning.
The Garden Bird Survey is running 24 June–2 July.
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Noho ora mai
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao
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