Topic planner: Flight theme – Albatross
This topic planner offers suggested pathways through some of the flight resources on the Science Learning Hub and connects to relevant programmes offered by the Royal Albatross Education Centre.
Learn more about the toroa/northern royal albatross in this article and analyse satellite data in this activity.
The toroa/northern royal albatross
These large, graceful giants are the nomads of the Southern Ocean, spending much of their life soaring above and on the oceans.
The topic planner focuses on the following themes:
Flight and feathers
Adaptations for flight
Flight patterns.
The topic planner can be used to create your own personalised teaching unit, and the material can be used in any combination or order. It can also be used to help plan pre/post-activities if your class is going on a flight-themed field trip.
Download the topic planner (see link below).
Useful links
'Royal cam' is live streaming from Pukekura/Taiaroa Head, the world's only mainland breeding colony of albatross in the southern hemisphere. Observe albatross in their natural habitat.
Take a look at these beautiful close-up photos of Buller’s albatrosses on the windswept Solander Island in Foveaux Strait.
Watch this Te Papa YouTube video Do albatrosses have personalities? about the research looking into this question.
See the Department of Conservation Northern Royal Albatross Tracking App.
