Addington Te Kura Taumatua Teacher PLD Workshop
Yesterday, I had the absolute joy of running a professional development workshop with 50x amazing kaiako at Addington Te Kura Taumatua alongside Climate Action Campus, Ōtautahi Tūhono Taonga, Tūhono Tāngata community Christchurch Envirohub, Te Tuna Tāone and Christchurch City Council.
In my workshop, kaiako got stuck into some fun, hands-on activities playing Awa Bullrush, exploring Awa Tohu/Signs, diving into the Macroinvertebrate Community Index Game, and investigating buckets full of live macroinvertebrates.
Two highlights stood out:
Not a single teacher had heard of the Macroinvertebrate Community Index... exactly why I created this game! These tiny, often overlooked critters are river superheroes, helping us to investigate the health of our awa beneath the surface.
Many kaiako said they could explore the buckets of macroinvertebrates all day, amazed by the vibrant life hidden beneath the water. It truly is a whole other world down there!
Moments like these remind me why bringing nature into the classroom is so powerful; opening eyes, sparking curiosity, and growing guardians for our environment. These kaiako left feeling engaged, inspired, and empowered to teach their ākonga sending out ripples of impact far and wide. Grateful to have had this opportunity to share and connect!
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