In Term 2, 2021 Kaipara College’s Year 9 class, 9OI, had fun learning and taking action to support The Kaipara Harbour Remediation Project, a project which aims to reduce environmental degradation by halving sediment loss from land to sea.
Led by teacher Lisa Gordon, the big whakaaro (thinking) for this project was ‘exploring perspectives’. Using research from Rose Hipkins (NZCER) and the Enviroschools Guiding Principles, Lisa wove capabilities across the curriculum through the project including making meaning of the issue in discipline specific ways, considering perspectives, digging into the issue and solutions through inquiry, and planning and taking part in authentic action.
How do we learn from the past?
Looking at local solutions.
Students explored a variety of scientific, cultural, and economic perspectives around why sediment loss occurred, so they understood the significance of restoring the harbour. They also examined this issue from a Te Ao Māori perspective and started thinking about what it means to be a kaitiaki.
Sediment makes its way into the Kaipara Harbour from tributaries.
The students then used their learning to clean up the stream at neighbouring Rautawhiri Park, set tracking tunnels and traps, planted 500 trees, and created wooden plant ID signs. Students used leadership skills acquired during this project to educate Year 7s in local primary schools on the issues facing the Kaipara Harbour.
Learning about pest control.
The following term, students looked at Water as a Sustainable Resource and their big idea was around ‘innovation’. Have a look at this inspiring video below made by a Kaipara College teacher, Zac Dickinson, of the great work by 9OI.
Banner image: Planting in the local catchment.
Print