Take a trip to Travis Wetland, Christchurch's largest freshwater wetland and an important habitat for native wetland plants and birds. Students learn about the biodiversity of the wetland, go pond-dipping to discover the underwater species, and get behind a pair of binoculars to check out the huge variety of bird life.
| Age/level: | Years 3–8 |
| Availability: | Available year round |
| Length: | 2.5 hours (mornings) 2.25 hours (afternoons) |
| Site: | Travis Wetland |
| Cost: | Free |
| Number of classes: | One at a time (one class = 35 students) or two with the rotation option (outlined below). |
For a full day, with two classes, teachers can lead a self-guided walk around the wetland using the resource the 'Travis Wetland Walk - A Field Guide' (free to teachers booking a programme at Travis Wetland) while the other class takes part in Wetland Waders and Waterboatmen. All students break for lunch together and then rotate classes.
Programme outline
Key concepts
Biodiversity of a wetland, interdependence of the plants and animals in a wetland system, native and introduced species, social decision-making, conservation.
Lesson description/intentions
Students will go pond-dipping to find out what lives in the water at Travis Wetland, identifying the water invertebrates through a hands-on approach. They will be able to observe animal life in the bird hide using binoculars, and will be involved in practical rehabilitation of the wetland. At the information kiosk students will be able to read and hear about the past, present and future directions for Travis Wetland.
Possible success criteria
Students may be able to:
- Describe what Christchurch was like in the past.
- Explain why wetlands are valued and give reasons for their protection.
- Name several creatures that live in a wetland and why they live in this habitat.
- Describe the relationships between plants and animals, and the implications for people living in and around a wetland.
- Identify actions they can take to help protect wetlands and other waterways.
Key Competencies
Participating and contributing - students are invited to become actively involved in contributing to the quality and sustainability of the Travis Wetland ecosystem
Using language, symbols, and texts - students will explore the history of Travis Wetland through visual, oral and written texts; communicating and applying their learning through the activities offered
Feedback
"This is fantastic for teachers. It's informative, child friendly and curriculum based."
Teacher, Year 6/7
"We need to look after our wetlands and keep them safe for the future. The water may look disgusting but it’s the home of things like bugs that think it is beautiful!"
Student, Year 7
"Animals are very important to NZ and what we do in a normal life can affect other species."
Student, Year 7
Learning areas
| |
| Science | Nature of science | Levels 2–5 | - Investigating in science
- Communicating in science
- Participating and contributing
|
| Living world | Levels 2–4 | - Life processes
- Ecology
- Evolution
|
| Planet Earth and beyond | Levels 2–4 | |
| Social sciences | | Level 2 | - Understand how places influence people and people influence places
- Understand how the status of Maori as tangata whenua is significant for NZ communities
|
| Level 3 | - Understand how people view and use places differently.
- How people make decisions about access to and the use of resources
- Understand how cultural practices vary but reflect similar purposes
|
| Level 4 | - Understand how exploration and innovation create opportunities and challenges for people places and environments
- Understand how formal and informal groups make decisions that impact on communities
- Understand how people participate individually and collectively in response to community challenges
|
| Level 5 | - Understand that people move between places and how this has consequences for the people and the places
- Understand how people's management of resources impacts on environmental and social sustainability
- Understand how the ideas and actions of people in the past have had a significant impact on people’s lives
|
| Health and physical education | Personal health and physical development | Levels 2–5 | |
