We have a range of teaching resources about coasts Check out the links below for lesson plans, activities and information.
Canterbury has a spectacular and diverse coastline stretching from Kaikoura in the north to the Waitaki River. In between are the sandy beaches and dunes of Pegasus Bay, the rocky platforms of Kaikoura and Banks Peninsula, coastal lagoons, estuaries and shingle beaches.
Each one is unique, with its own set of ecological processes, biodiversity, values and issues.
What is on?
Seaweek
Each year we coordinate Seaweek activities across Canterbury as part of our commitment to the NZ Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) programme. In 2012, the week ran from March 3rd-11th.
Seaweek Events guide (pdf 723 kB)
Seaweek Community Event - Tūhaitara Coastal Park - Woodend
Sunday 11 March 2012, 10 am - 2 pm
Free family event, hands-on activities for all ages:
- Historic/cultural perspectives
- Saving stranded whales
- Dunes – nature’s coast protectors
- Finding endangered mudfish/kōwaro
- Pesky Pests
- Using plants to restore dunes.
View the poster (pdf 504 kB)
What we offer
Factsheets
Back to the future - the culture, traditions and history of the sea (pdf 370 kB)
Godwits - the world famous, record-breaking birds! (pdf 259 kB)
Coastal Birds - New Zealand Kingfisher (Kotare) & South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Torea) (pdf 602 kB)
Large-bellied seahorse (pdf 217 kB)
One Ocean - Turning the Tide (pdf 852 kB)
Sea Chest
A coastal resource for teachers. Canterbury’s Spectacular Coast and Marine and Coastal Animals are free to all schools and interested community groups in Canterbury. These books have been designed to be used in combination but can be used separately.
Supplements include lesson plans and activities:
Canterbury's Spectacular Coast (pdf 1.57 MB)
Canterbury's Marine and Coastal Animals (pdf 1.36 MB)
Spectacular Coast - Coastal Dunes (pdf 991 kB)
Spectacular Coast - Coastal Wetlands (pdf 1.61 MB)
Spectacular Coast - Rocky Shore (pdf 3.97 MB)
Your Environment, Canterbury (E-box) The Canterbury coastline
The Canterbury coastline is spectacular. This issue explores the many different features along this diverse stretch of New Zealand's coast, from dunes to lagoons.
The Canterbury coastline (pdf 3.35 MB)
Interactive websites