| Year level | 3 to 10 |
| Curriculum level | 1 to 6 |
| Availability | Year-round |
| Times | 9.30 to 12noon or 12.15pm to 2.30pm |
| Site | Victoria Park, Halswell Quarry Park |
| Cost | Free |
| Number of students | Maximum of 35 |
| Special requirements | None |
Discover how the unique Port Hills environment has changed over time and take a multi-sensory walk through majestic Podocarp forest.
Book a Learning Through Action school programme
Risk analysis and management information (RAMS) will be sent out once a programme booking is confirmed. If you require this at any other stage please email LTA@ccc.govt.nz or contact us(external link).
Programme overview
Key concepts
- History of Banks Peninsula and its ecosystems.
- Native flora and fauna.
- Pests and pest management.
- Biodiversity.
- Sustainability.
Lesson description
At Victoria Park or Halswell Quarry Park, students investigate how changing values are reflected in different landscapes on the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula.
Students discover the native flora and fauna that make up this special environment.
They will develop their tracking skills to gather information to find out which pests are in the area before learning how Rangers deploy pest management techniques.
Students will also consider the impact of pests and how they affect the sustainability of our local landscapes.
Learning outcomes
We are learning to:
- Explore the different habitats that exist in Banks Peninsula and identify why they are valuable.
- Explain how plants and animals that live in native forest and tussock lands are interdependent.
- Explain how pests impact our native forests and explore some solutions to these problems.
- Identify actions that they can take to encourage sustained growth of native animal and tree species.
Key competencies
Using language, symbols and texts
Students will interpret text and images to identify which pests are present in the Banks Peninsula area.
Thinking
Students will use creative and critical thinking to understand the impact of introduced species and the importance of a variety of pest management techniques.
Managing self
Students will manage their learning and think and act independently in a variety of outdoor environments.
Participating and contributing
Students are invited to become actively involved in supporting Park Rangers’ efforts to eradicate pests from our native habitats.
Relating to others
Students are required to consider and suggest reasons for different groups of people recognising and placing a variety of values on different habitats.
Achievement objectives
| Curriculum area | Strand and level | Objective |
| Science Pūtaiao |
Nature of Science Levels 2 to 6 |
Investigating in science Communicating in science Participating and contributing |
| Living World Levels 2 to 6 |
Life processes Ecology Evolution |
|
| Planet Earth and Beyond Levels 2 to 4 |
Earth systems | |
| Social Sciences Tikanga ā-Iwi |
Levels 2 to 6 | Social studies Geography |
| Health and Physical Education Hauora |
Healthy Communities and Environments Levels 1 and 2 |
Societal attitudes and values People and the environment |