Students will be up close and personal looking at animals and plants of the rocky shore. Students will explore tidal zones, food chains and animal and plant adaptations, with consideration for how they can enjoy the area with minimal impact on the environment.
| Age/level: | Years 3–8 |
| Availability: | Available all year round (tide dependent) |
| Length: | 2.25 hours
|
| Site: | Taylors Mistake |
| Cost: | Free |
| Number of classes: | One at a time
(One class = 35 students) |
Note: This programme is both tide and weather dependent. As the rocks are located on an exposed area of the beach, consideration should be given when booking that midwinter conditions may not be suitable.
Programme outline
Key concepts
Biodiversity and the interdependence of the rocky shore, sustainability of the resource, human impacts, tidals zones and adaptations.
Lesson description/intentions
At Taylors Mistake your students will observe coastal residents in their real environment, examining their wider habitat and the different zones of life. Students will consider animal adaptations which help them survive in the rocky shore environment. They will examine the complexity of the relationships between people, the plants and animals living at Taylors Mistake through food chains and human impacts on this special environment.
It is possible to create a full-day programme focusing on the rocky shore habitat by visiting the Southern Encounter Aquarium and using their touch tanks.
Possible success criteria
Students may be able to:
- Identify key reasons why the rocky shore is a special place.
- Identify different organisms that live in the three zones of the rocky shore.
- Explain how animals and plants can adapt to their environment to ensure survival.
- Identify an action that they can take to protect the Taylors Mistake environment.
Key Competencies
Feedback
"Great enthusiasm and variety. Hands on activities. Great information aimed at the right level."
Teacher, Years 4-6
What were the best aspects of the programme? "The students' excitement at exploring the area. The valuable information the educators shared with them."
Teacher, Years 7-8
"Little mistakes can have a huge impact on the ocean."
Student, Year 6
Learning areas
|
Science | Nature of science | Levels 1–5 | - Communicating in science
- Investigating on science
- Participating and contributing
|
Living world | Levels 1–4 | |
Level 5 | |
Planet Earth and beyond | Levels 1–4 | |
Social sciences | | Level 1 | - Understand how places in NZ are significant for individuals and groups
|
Level 2 | - Understand how places influences people and people influence places
|
Level 3 | - Understands how people view and use places differently
|
Level 5 | - Understands how people’s management of resources impacts on environmental and social sustainability
- Understands how people’s ideas and past actions impact significantly peoples’ lives
|
Health and physical education | Personal health and physical development | Levels 2–5 | |
