Delve deeper, grasp the essence:
In an innovative educational approach, a new learning engagement is set to immerse students in the complex world of water management. The engaging curriculum, designed for students of all ages, aims to foster critical thinking skills and information gathering abilities, while emphasizing the importance of water for various communities and the environment.
The learning activity incorporates a diverse range of topics, including Te Mana o te Wai (the first right for water), water collection in catchments, and global water perspectives. These themes are explored through personal water stories, such as those of Chandran, May, Tai, and Makena, as well as interactive learning materials like the Smart Water: Water is a Taonga slideshow.
To delve deeper into Te Mana o te Wai, students will have access to a variety of resources. DairyNZ's Water Quality Limits page offers an overview of Te Mana o te Wai principles, water quality limits, and community engagement in freshwater management. The Interim Treaty Impact Analysis for the Freshwater Package provides a detailed legal and policy analysis of Te Mana o te Wai within freshwater planning and resource consent decision-making. Additionally, the Choose Clean Water campaign resources and media coverage offer insight into the real-world challenges and scientific debates around implementing Te Mana o te Wai in policy.
The learning engagement also highlights the significance of water collection in catchments, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and local stakeholder involvement in managing waterways at a catchment level. Students will learn how to gather local data, interpret it together, and use evidence to shape practical management approaches.
Furthermore, the learning activity explores global water perspectives, reflecting a broader international trend to integrate indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and scientific data in managing freshwater resources. The principles of mana whakahaere (authority), manaakitanga (care), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) embody a worldview that links water health with wider environmental and community wellbeing.
To foster a deeper understanding and science capabilities related to water management, the learning engagement supports the science capabilities 'Gather and interpret data', 'Use evidence', and 'Critique evidence'. Students will learn to apply scientific findings to shape policy or land use practices that align with Te Mana o te Wai values, analyse policy decisions and governance frameworks to identify where science advice has been applied or ignored, and assess how well different evidence types (scientific, cultural, local knowledge) are integrated.
The learning activity also includes Awa (river) connections, Wai Maori, Wai words, and personal water stories to provide a holistic and engaging learning experience. Downloadable PDFs are available for the learning activity, ensuring accessibility for all students. This comprehensive water learning engagement promises to be an enlightening journey for students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to become responsible stewards of water resources.
In this immersive educational journey, students delve into the realms of environmental science, specifically water management, to foster critical thinking skills and information gathering abilities. As part of this endeavor, they will explore global water perspectives, indigenous knowledge, and scientific data in managing freshwater resources, aligning with the science capabilities 'Gather and interpret data', 'Use evidence', and 'Critique evidence'. Their education also includes water education and self-development, with topics such as Te Mana o te Wai, water quality, and water collection in catchments, ensuring they become responsible stewards of environmental science and water resources.
