Kia Ora. Explore ocean-themed education resources aligned with the New Zealand curriculum suitable for Years 7-10, including ocean lesson plans, videos, fact sheets, games, and activities.
Ocean lesson plans for the New Zealand curriculum
Explore a wide range of ocean lesson plans and education resources.
All resources are:
- Curriculum Aligned (NZ National Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Māori Curriculum))
- Ocean and sustainable fishery focussed
Te Kawa o Tangaroa online resources are:
- Designed for Years 7-10 (STEM and Social Sciences)
- Include resources adaptable for NZC Level 3-8
Our hands on education resources developed in partnership with the House of Science are:
- Science curriculum aligned NZC Level 1-4
- In English and te reo Māori
HOT TOPICS AND RECENT ADDITIONS:
Seaweek activities and events
Visit www.seaweek.org.nz to stay up to date with Seaweek events around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ocean themed education resources. Search by topic:
Overfishing & sustainable fishing
Includes: Overfishing, sustainable fishing, the importance of the sea, the Marine Stewardship Council Blue Fish Tick...
Marine ecology
Includes: Characteristics of fishes; body shapes of fishes; adaptations; using a scientific key; marine habitat; food webs...
Science and the sustainable catch
Includes: the role of science and scientists in fisheries management; maximum sustainable yield; what happens when fish stocks decline; how fish stocks are assessed in Aotearoa / New Zealand...
Protecting the marine environment
Includes: Different fishing methods; environmental impacts of fishing (habitat and other species); bycatch; Tāiko (Black Petrel) bycatch case study; reducing impacts of fishing; new fishing methods...
Fishery management
Includes: Characteristics of a well managed fishery; what is a fishery; traditional fisheries management (rāhui and kaitiakitanga); the Quota Management System (QMS); the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Law of the Sea...
Seafood supply chain and illegal fishing
Includes: Seafood industry jobs; the seafood supply chain; verified seafood; illegal fishing and its impact; human rights at sea and forced labour in the fishing industry...
Fishing history, technology and innovation
Includes: A brief history of Aotearoa fishing; the business of fishing today; future challenges and opportunities; exploration, innovation and enterprise in the fishing industry...
Ocean citizenship
Includes: Connecting with the ocean; ko āu te Moana (my relationship with sea; kaitiakitanga; taking action (when fishing); taking action as a consumer; consumer choice; a collaborative project...
Plastic ocean
Includes: A student directed and inquiry-based learning module (adaptable for levels 5 - 8) focussing on plastics in the ocean ...
Antarctic and Southern Ocean
Includes: Sustainable fishing in the Southern Ocean; Antarctic krill; Antarctic food webs; Southern ocean whales; the relationship between whales, krill and climate...
Science, Seaspiracy and different viewpoints on sustainable fishing
Includes: Viewpoints on overfishing and sustainable fishing; use of good and not so good science to make a point; Seaspiracy; responses to Seaspiracy (MSC and University of Washington); the oceans will not be empty by 2048; eating fish can be a good choice for the planet; bycatch does not equate to 40% of the catch...
Mātauranga Māori
Ocean themed content that grows and supports Mātauranga Māori learning.
Or search by keyword A-Z:
A-Z of sustainable oceans and fisheries teacher resources
Search ocean themed education resources grouped by resource type:
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PowerPoint Slides
Search our library of PowerPoint slides. Free for teachers to use and adapt. NZC Levels 4-8.
Unit plans and lesson plans
Explore our library of curriculum-aligned unit and lesson plans for teaching ocean centred learning topics relevant for STEM & Social Sciences.
Kahoot! Quizzes
Unleash the fun in classrooms with our ocean and fishery themed Kahoot! Quiz games.
Mātauranga Māori
Resources that support Mātauranga Māori learning.
Local curriculum contexts
Find ocean centred education resources relevant to your local area and the Aotearoa New Zealand ocean environment.
Classroom activities (indoors and out)
Explore our learning activities
Short films
Explore our library of short film clips. Perfect for the classroom and ocean centred learning.
Resources to support Mātauranga Māori
Explore resources that support Mātauranga Māori in the classroom.
Hands on learning resources
Hands on learning with our House of Science education kits. NZC Level 1-4. Bilingual. We have two kits developed with and available through House of Science: The Big Blue Future kit and the Antarctica kit (launching 8th June 2024)
Ocean Literacy Aotearoa Teacher Directory
The Ocean Literacy Aotearoa Teacher Directory includes key organisations who currently offer ocean literacy related: virtual or face to face experiential learning; ocean (field based) experiential learning; online learning resources; and/or, curriculum aligned learning resources and experiences.
Teacher resources for social science teachers
Free teacher resources especially for social science teachers!
Sharks
Inspired by some great trivia from our resident shark expert, Adrian Gutteridge. These shark videos and Kahoot quizes focus on shark digestion and how sharks communicate through behaviour.
Student resource page
A page especially for students researching topics related to sustainable oceans, sustainable fishing and overfishing. We plan to add more to this page over time. Let us know what you would like to see here. Email requests to: [email protected]
Seaspiracy: Fact Checking
HAVE YOU SEEN THE NETFLIX FILM SEASPIRACY? EXPLORE HERE TO DO SOME FACT CHECKING... The Seaspiracy film on Netflix raises a wide range of issues relating to our oceans, including questioning the credibility of the sustainable seafood movement and, in particular, our organisation, the Marine Stewardship Council. While we agree more attention needs to be given to the crisis of overfishing, we do want to set the record straight on some of the misleading claims in the film.
House of Science
Find out more about resources developed in partnership with House of Science.
Bring the ocean to your classroom. Celebrate these special dates:
World Ocean Day (June 8th)
Explore our World Ocean Day education resources and celebrate the ocean in your classroom this World Ocean Day.
International Antarctica Day (Dec 1st)
Explore our Antarctic education resources and celebrate the southern ocean in your classroom.
World Tuna Day (May 2)
Most people have a tin of tuna in their pantry! Is your tinned tuna sustainably caught? Learn more these amazing fish and how to support the shift to sustainable tuna harvest.
World Fisheries Day (November 21st)
Use our resources to help celebrate World Fisheries Day in your classroom.
SeaWeek (1-9 March 2025)
Each year, during the first week of March we celebrate Seaweek. Use these (or any of our education resources) to celebrate Seaweek and bring the ocean to you classroom.
World Penguin Day (April 25th)
Penguins are unique and special creatures. Bring the magic of penguins to your classroom using these resources. World penguin day is celebrated each year on April 25th.
More for teachers:
Ocean literacy
Learn more about Ocean Literacy and download our Ocean literacy poster
Learn more about the MSC
Visit our main website to learn more about the Marine Stewardship Council and our mission to ensure future oceans are teeming with life...
Sign-up for teacher updates
A quarterly newsletter featuring the latest education resources, upcoming calendar dates, competitions and the very best ocean-related stories.
“Resources like this are absolutely pivotal in inspiring that next generation of fishers and of New Zealanders in general so that we have a shared vision for and appreciation of our incredible ocean.”
Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Kaitohutohu Mātanga Pūtaiao Matua ki te Pirimia
About Te Kawa O Tangaroa - ocean lesson plans New Zealand
Te Kawa O Tangaroa is an ocean-centred learning programme from the Marine Stewardship Council focussed on solutions to overfishing and how we can ensure oceans teeming with life.
The resources are aligned with the New Zealand National Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Maori Curriculum) and designed for learners in Years 7-10 of the New Zealand education system.
Our oceans are under immense pressure from pollution, climate change, and overfishing. As we pass the baton to the next generation, education is key to generating greater understanding, urgency, and action to protect our big blue planet.
With your help, we can promote ocean literacy in New Zealand.
If you'd like to get in touch to find out more about our education initiative, please email [email protected].
Places for further ocean literacy learning:
National Aquarium of New Zealand
The National Aquarium of New Zealand offers a unique out of classroom visit with curriculum-linked practical learning activities for schools, in addition to virtual classrooms, digital and online learning resources.
International Antarctic Centre
The education programme at the International Antarctic Centre aims to inspire the next generation of scientific explorers. Delivering a range of education programmes the International Antarctic Centre aims to enrich local curriculum for ākonga (students). Offering also a unique school holiday programme for tamariki!
House of Science
House of Science develop relevant, bi-lingual resource kits for use in primary and intermediate schools. The kits come complete with teacher manuals, student work sheets, and all the material needed to carry out engaging science lessons. There are now two ocean education kits sponsored by Marine Stewardship Council: (1) The Big Blue Future and (2) Antarctica.
RŪNĀ - Yachting New Zealand
RŪNĀ supports kiwi kids to learn from the past to ‘steer’ toward a sustainable future. RŪNĀ involves three modules made up of in-classroom learning experiences delivered by teachers, supported by a sailing experience, and followed by a call for learners to take action. Each module is designed for students in years 4 through to 10 but can be easily adapted for older or younger children.
Seaweek
Celebrate connecting with our seas during Seaweek, a nationwide event occurring annually at the start of March. Seaweek aims to inspire all to reflect on their relationship with the ocean. They coordinate both in-person and online events and have a collection of sea creature resources.
Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC)
Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) provide life changing marine environmental education and outdoor experiences for New Zealanders.