Sea & Learn

The goals of the programme are to:

• provide students with an opportunity to experience "real life" hands-on science;
• enable students to have direct interactions with practicing scientists;
• provide teachers with a quality teaching resource linked to the New Zealand curriculum;
• provide teachers with an opportunity for their own professional development and interaction with practicing scientists;
• show what is unique about the New Zealand marine environment;
• educate both students and teachers about the human impacts on the marine environment and what can be done to limit these impacts.

The day long programme includes students participating in 5 activities. These are:

1. Water sampling: This involves the students using sampling bottles and nets to collect microscopic organisms and examining the organisms collected.
2. Sampling the sea floor: Students will be sampling the sea floor habitat and the organisms that live there. This activity fits well with Achievement Standard Biology 90461 - Investigate an interrelationship or pattern in an ecological population or community.
3. Ship Technology: Students will investigate methods of shipboard navigation, communication and weather forecasting.
4. Fish trawl: A trawl for fish will be conducted and the students will identify the fish species and their habitats.
5. Impacts of humans on the marine ecosystem: Students will be asked to observe during the day the impacts of humans on the marine environment. A discussion of these observations will be held at the end of the day.

For further details and to see how your school can participate in the programme, contact:

Dr Julie Hall
NIWA
PO Box 11 115
Hamilton
Ph: 07 856 1709, Fax: 07 856 0151
sea&learn@niwa.co.nz