Education
Education plays a key part in the Trust's activities. If given the opportunity, children can develop a lifelong appreciation for nature, particularly in the age range 6-10. Not only that, but they love penguins and share their enthusiasm with their extended family and friends.
Unique artwork made by Golden Bay school children
COMING TO GOLDEN BAY SOON - Education resource
The Mohua Penguin Trust's Education Ranger visits schools to educate students about penguins, encouraging discussions about the environment and conservation issues. It is never difficult to get the students and staff to fall in love with penguins. Excited to find out they have these wonderful creatures on their local beaches, and then devastated to find out the struggle of survival they face due to humans.
The Blue Penguins & Other Seabirds resource book links games and activities throughout the entire curriculum, fitting into any subject. Schools get involved in activities to learn lots of facts and then move on to learn how to become guardians of penguins, taking the message home to their local communities.
The Trust has developed a penguin and seabird education resource aligned to the NZ Curriculum especially for Golden Bay, but it will be of value to educators and children everywhere, particularly in coastal areas of New Zealand.
"Blue Penguins & Other Seabirds. Activities for exploration and action for schools and community groups" is aimed at children in the age range 5 to 9 but can be adapted for younger or older children. The goal is for local people to learn about and take action for the wildlife in their own backyard. Research has also shown that children gain essential values for the environment and a lifelong connectedness to nature in this age group.
Fun learning activities are included within the education resource, including games and arts and crafts. With all the resources on line they are readily available to home school parents and students and indeed anyone with an interest in sharing a love for and interest in the coastal environment with children.
The project focuses on kororā, but also includes a section on Golden Bay's coastal birds. The coastal habitat of these species around New Zealand has been modified or disturbed by humans and their activities.
We welcome any feedback on the resource and we would love to receive photographs and stories as you have a go at the various activities. Please send them to us at: info@goldenbaypenguins.org.nz
Spotting Tracks
Download our resource "Tracking Little Penguins on Golden Bay Beaches" here:
http://www.goldenbaypenguins.org.nz/doc/tracking-little-penguins-on-golden-bay-beaches.pdf
Helping kororā - A child's perspective
Meet Ashton from Nelson
"Hi my name is Ashton, I am 10 years old and go to Hampden Street School in Nelson.
When my Mum was young she lived at Tata beach and she remembers the Little Blue Penguins nesting under her deck outside. When my family stay at the beach house in Onekaka, we sneak outside at night to see the penguins hiding in the corner of the barn.
Yesterday my teacher said that we have to create a speech that is informative, emotive or persuasive. I have decided to do my speech on the Little Blue Penguins as I was sad to hear that their numbers were declining. I want to tell everyone about the penguins and what we can do to help save them. I also want to build a nesting box at school and get some donations from the kids to get some materials. Ashton"
Takaka Central School
