Educational experiences

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Virtual classroom

Virtual visits

‘Celebrate March - the month of Sea Week’ by beaming one or more of the ocean experts, animals or experiences into your classroom!

Antarctic and marine science from space

A virtual visit with International Antarctic Centre

Learn about how Antarctic Science has changed due to COVID19 restrictions.  Discover how technology on and above the ice has changed over time. Observe satellites in space and understand the way data provides information about ecosystems for scientists. Find out about the threats climate change is posing on marine systems and how Antarctic programmes monitor this.  Hear about the Mission to Space programmes at the International Antarctic Centre.

• Suggested year groups: 9-13
• Suggested length of visit: 30 minutes
• Cost: $40 per class
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: 12.30 am – 2.30 pm on the hour Tuesday; 9.30 am – 3.30 pm on the hour Wednesday; 9.30 am – 2.30 pm on the hour Thursday and Friday

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Amazing Adaptations

A virtual visit with the National Aquarium of New Zealand

In Amazing Adaptations, we learn what an adaptation is, then discover sea creatures that have amazing adaptation “superpowers”. See some weird and wonderful real pieces from our biofacts collection, like shark jaws and whale teeth. Do you have adaptations too?

• Suggested year groups: Year 4 - 8
• Suggested length of visit: 30mins
• Cost: $40
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Monday – Friday, 9 am to 3 pm

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EC LAB –Powerful Earth!

A virtual visit with the National Aquarium of New Zealand

Students will uncover more about how the Hikurangi Plate boundary shapes Hawke's Bay’s relationship to earthquakes, liquefaction, tsunami and volcanic eruptions. Learn about the cutting edge science used to study patterns and risks for natural hazards.

• Suggested year groups: Year 9-11
• Suggested length of visit: 30mins
• Cost: $40
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Monday – Friday, 9 am to 3 pm

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Fish Dissection

A virtual visit with the National Aquarium of New Zealand

Discover the internal and external features of fish, in particular looking at the gill structures and how they work in the respiration process. Bonus – there’s no mess or cleanup to deal with!

• Suggested year groups: Year 12 (NCEA Biology 2.6)
• Suggested length of visit: 30mins
• Cost: $40
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Monday – Friday, 9am to 3pm

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Go Fish! So, you want to be a fisher?

A virtual visit with the Deep Sea Fishing School

Chat with the head of a Deep Sea Fishing School, who helps Kiwis enter the fishing industry and explore fishing, fishing schools, possible employment and job opportunities in the fishing industry.

• Suggested year groups: Years 4-8
• Suggested length of visit: 15 minutes
• Cost: FREE
• Availability: During Seaweek, except for Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning
• Limited to: Unlimited  

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Ocean far from land – what it’s like and who lives there!

A virtual visit with the Marine Stewardship Council

What is it like to be at sea? What does the word pelagic mean? Discover some of the amazing animals that live in the ocean far from land? How can we help look after the ocean? Cool stories to inspire and ignite your curiosity about the ocean! (Watch out! - you might fall in love with the sea!)  

• Suggested year groups: Year 6-10
• Suggested length of visit: 20 minutes
• Cost: FREE
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9.30 am to 2 pm

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Penguin conservation

A virtual visit with International Antarctic Centre

Observe rescued penguins and learn about the hazards in the sea which cause them injury. Hear what is involved in looking after injured penguins and look at what we can do to prevent such injuries.  Meet Turk the penguin (see image). Her injuries were directly caused by human activity. 

• Suggested year groups: 4-13
• Suggested length of visit: 30 minutes
• Cost: $40 per class
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: 12.30 am – 2.30 pm on the hour Tuesday; 9.30 am – 3.30 pm on the hour Wednesday; 9.30 am – 2.30 pm on the hour Thursday and Friday

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Primo penguins

A virtual visit with the National Aquarium of New Zealand

Students will discover how penguins survive in the incredibly harsh environments they inhabit and learn about what really makes them who they are and live the way they do.

• Suggested year groups: Year 1-6 
• Suggested length of visit: 30mins
• Cost: $40
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Monday – Friday, 9 am to 3 pm

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Sustainable fishing – what is it and why do we need it! 

A virtual visit with the Marine Stewardship Council

Discover what we mean when we talk about sustainable fishing. Is sustainable fishing just about counting fish? What is bycatch? Why do we even need sustainable fishing? Who are the Marine Stewardship Council anyway? 

• Suggested year groups: Year 6-9
• Suggested length of visit: 20 minutes
• Cost: FREE
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9.30 am to 2 pm

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Sustainable fishery and ocean science

Request a bespoke virtual visit with an expert from the Marine Stewardship Council

The Marine Stewardship Council is a sustainable fishery standard-setting body with a vision that oceans be teaming with life! A raft of ocean experts and fisheries scientists work for the Marine Stewardship Council at its many offices around the world. Contact us to arrange a bespoke opportunity to beam an expert into your classroom to talk about a fish or sustainable fishery-related topic of your choice! 

• Suggested year groups: Year 10-13
• Suggested length of visit: 30 minutes
• Cost: FREE
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: Monday – Friday 9 am to 3 pm

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Wetland Wonders – Ngā Repo Mīharo

From Auckland Zoo

In this virtual session, we will explore the wonders of one of Aotearoa’s most biodiverse yet forgotten habitats, the Wetlands. With examples from our backyard and around the zoo, students will appreciate the importance of wetland spaces and learn about some of their key inhabitants. We will also take a closer look at the life cycle of an eel and ongoing threats to the biome, such as whitebait (īnanga) fisheries.

Students will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and brainstorm ways to practice kaitiakitanga, not only for wetlands but also for the wider environment.

• Suggested year groups: Years 1-8
• Suggested length of virtual visit: 45 minutes
• Keywords/topics or bespoke: wetlands, waterfowl, eels, tuna, whitebait, kōkopu
• Cost: $100
• Availability: Tuesday – Friday. Three spots available per day. 9:30 10:30 11:30.

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Wonderful whales

A virtual visit with International Antarctic Centre

Learn about how whales including Southern Right whales – tohorā -  are tāonga for Māori.  Observe whales and understand the hazards in the sea that cause them injury.  Hear what is involved in science to monitor and protect whales. Look at what we can do to protect whales.

• Suggested year groups: 4-13
• Suggested length of visit: 30 minutes
• Cost: $40 per class
• Limited to: One class at a time!
• Availability: 12.30 am – 2.30 pm on the hour Tuesday; 9.30 am – 3.30 pm on the hour Wednesday; 9.30 am – 2.30 pm on the hour Thursday and Friday

Book now >