Information for educators

A step by step guide for educators part of a Mountains to Sea, Experiencing Marine Reserves or Whitebait Connection Programme.

Experiencing Marine Reserves

Kia ora to the teachers part of a full Experiencing Marine Reserves programme!

The key ways our programme supports the curriculum is via Science (Living World - ecology and evolution), Social Science (cultural values of the marine environment, community response to challenges etc) and Health and PE (snorkelling). We are committed to delivering safe snorkelling excursions and have robust health and safety documentation to match. We provide ALL the snorkel equipment required. We are adventure activity safety audit certified (AAO 534).

Step 1: Planning your programme

Once you have expressed interest for a programme a coordinator in your region will contact you - either to organise a planning meeting or requesting more information to apply for funding.
If you have been successful in getting a programme we will organise a planning meeting to set dates and to sign the schools agreement
Once signed your dates are locked in - your coordinator will send you a finalised version of the School Itinerary which has the timeline for your programme.
We have a template permission form - your school can amend this to suit. We don't need signed forms from every student - just a spreadsheet of all the student's names, medical conditions and emergency contacts. All Health and Safety forms can be found here. Site specific forms will be sent to you by your coordinator.
If you would like a combine marine and freshwater approach to your programme we have also developed a Mountains to Sea version of our programme, that partners with our sister organisation Whitebait Connection. If you would like to know more about the Mountains to Sea programme check out the programme outline here.

Step 2: Get the resources to integrate into your curriculum before the programme starts

Download the EMR educator's manual

Download and print the EMR or Mountains to Sea Learning Journal for the students participating in the programme - ready for the start of the programme. We recommend students to name the journals to be held by the teacher.

Check out these optional lesson plans for teachers - see all marine resources here.

Step 3: Start your programme

Please note that the programme structure varies for each region.

Classroom session

An EMR coordinator will come into the classroom and present the introduction powerpoint. They may also have a treasure box of marine critters to share or play interactive games. Which may include the Kina Game, Who dirtied the harbour or other Activity Sheets.

Local investigation

Either snorkelling or intertidal activities dependent on region. Tailored to your local environment.

Local snorkel led by EMR - ID Charts
Marine Metre Squared surveys led by EMR - create a login on the website to download ID charts and resources.
Para Kore ki Tāmaki - Waste free initiatives through a Te Ao Māori lens
Clean up of local area - bags and gloves can be sourced from Sustainable Coastlines
Whitebait Connection stream survey

Facilitated Action Workshops (only in some regions)

An EMR coordinator will come into class to run a workshop with the students to brainstorm issues in their local area and to start planning their action projects.

Utilise pages 11-16 of the Learning Journal and page 29
EMR_Action_Planning_Booklet.pdf

Pool session

Either held in your school pool or a local public pool. The school needs to book 2 side lanes and have a teacher poolside.

Marine Reserve/ Rāhui Snorkel

It's time to go snorkelling! Your coordinator will have sent you the site specific RAMs for your snorkel site and any other site specific information that might be important. Refer to our H&S page here.

Action project marking

An EMR crew member will come back into the classroom to mark and document all the actions from the students. Some schools create a science fair style expo in the school hall. While others nominate the top projects to present to the class/year group. The coordinator will also get evaluations at this time - the Student & Staff Evaluations can be found here.

Our marking criteria

PoorKnightsCompetitionTrip_Criteria_2023.pdf811.94 KB
Bobby_Stafford_Bush_-_Art_prize_Criteria_for_PK.pdf419.05 KB
EMR_Action_Planning_-_Action_project_reflection.pdf22.4 KB

Step 4: Wrap up your programme

Your coordinator will get both students and teachers to complete an evaluation. This helps us secure funding in the future.

They will share the images from the programme with you via a link to our Gallery.

Success Criteria | Learning Outcomes
From the Educators Manual pages 20-41

Students will be able to:

Give at least 3 examples of New Zealand marine biodiversity & explain what a marine reserve is.
Explain & use snorkel equipment
Describe their local marine area and what lives in it.
Identify & classify some of the marine creatures they see and local threats
Make comparisons between a marine reserve and unprotected marine area
Base their opinions about the value of marine reserves on their personal experiences and learning throughout EMR
Take action in their community – embody kaitiakitanga

The EMR key learning concepts are:

The interdependence of living things in the marine environment.
The impact people have had, and can have on the marine environment.
The significance of marine reserves for protecting and enhancing marine biodiversity.
The importance of working together as local communities, including the ethic of Kaitiakitanga (stewardship).