Teaching resources

NIWA's educational resources and scientific data are tools for young people to learn about science.

Links with teachers

NIWA collaborates directly with teachers through its involvement with the Royal Society of New Zealand Teaching Fellows. As part of the programme, Teacher Fellows participate in the life of the institute (including field work), engage in discussion and generally enhance their science skills and background. They work on defined projects and create teaching resources and activities to take back to the classroom.

Calculating the weather

Use our climate data to devise mathematics-orientated exercises for secondary school students. We also provide an overview of New Zealand climate data for use in school projects.

Climate and weather

Resources

When fresh water meets salty water

  • A classroom exercise that explores the physics of estuaries.

New Zealand’s Sandy Coasts

  • A NIWA CD resource for science and geography teachers which covers coastal processes and hazards such as the effects of erosion on development. The introductory material includes information on how the content fits into the New Zealand science, physics and geography curricula. 

Sponge resources

Specific project ideas

Royal Society of New Zealand

The Royal Society of New Zealand has assembled a range of teaching and learning resources, including many on ocean and marine topics.

NIWA Invertebrate Collection Manager Kareen Schnabel showing students some of the Collection. [NIWA]