Learning Activities for KIWI Outdoors in Aotearoa
The activities in this resource come from the 'Kiwi Outdoors' manual put together by the Hillary Commission in 1995. EONZ has made this into an online version so the activities can continue to be used to enhance all areas of the curriculum. Use them for; units of work within a class; outdoor education units or programmes; environmental units or programmes; school camps or however you see fit. They are a great way to give our tamariki more connection to nature and the outdoors in our own backyards.
EONZ wishes to acknowledge Sport NZ (formally the Hillary Commission), the individuals who worked on the manual and the originators of the activities.
|
Activity Name and Link |
Type |
Learning Area |
Task |
|
Level 1-4 |
Alphabetical search and record |
Science, English |
Find an object for each letter of the alphabet. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Role Playing |
Health and Physical Education, Arts, English. |
To role play an animal, plant, object from nature. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Group problem solving |
Health and Physical Education, English |
To move a billy of water along a string obstacle course without spilling any. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Observation and communication |
Health and Physical Education, Language and Mathematics |
To use all senses except sight to explore an unknown route then describe it. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Group problem solving |
Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education |
To coordinate movement and effort to achieve success. |
|
Level 4 |
Group problem solving
|
Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Technology |
To build a safe rope bridge.
|
|
Level 1-4 |
Observation game
|
Science, social sciences and language |
To match objects in the environment to given criteria. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Construction |
Arts, Technology
|
To construct an object from available materials. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Group construction problem |
Arts, Technology |
To design and build a useful object from collected material. |
|
Level 1-4 |
A group listening experience
|
Health and Physical Education, Language |
To form sub-groups by listening to sounds. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Exploring and coping with fear
|
Language, Social Sciences |
To explore a strange and perhaps frightening place. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Health unit |
Technology, Language,Maths, Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education |
To study and gain some understanding of a waste disposal system. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Science activity |
Science, Maths
|
To map the evaporation of a pool of water. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Search and record |
Language, Science, Arts |
To find objects of a given texture. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Observation, recording and classification |
Science, Maths |
To carry out a study of ferns. |
|
Finding direction from the stars Level 3-4 |
Survival Skills |
Maths, Science, Health and Physical Education |
To find north using the stars. |
|
Finding direction from the sun Level 2-4 |
Survival Skills |
Maths, Science, Health and Physical Education |
To find north using the sun. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Collect and classify |
Science, Maths |
Collect objects from the area and classify them. |
|
Level 4 |
Height estimation |
Maths, Science |
To estimate the height of objects using different methods. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Observing and classifying |
Maths, Science, Language |
To classify objects in the environment by age. |
|
Level 4 |
Distance estimation |
Maths, Science |
To estimate an inaccessible distance. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Observation test |
Language, Science, Arts |
To find out what detail can be taken in from a 1 to 3 second viewing. |
|
Level 3-4 |
A practical problem solving communication exercise |
Health and Physical Education |
To guide blindfolded “sheep”into a pen without using the voice. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Group problem solving |
Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education |
To untie a human knot without breaking the line. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Environmental care |
Health and Physical Education, Maths and Science |
To clean up an untidy area and classify the rubbish collected. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Tag game |
Physical Education |
To find the other teams magic potion and get it back to their own territory. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Group role play |
Science, Arts
|
To construct a tree by role-playing its various parts and to understand their functions. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Construction |
Technology, Social Sciences, Arts, Science |
To make and fly a Manu Taratahi (traditional Māori kite). |
|
Level 1-4 |
Art and craft activity |
Arts, Language, Health and Physical Education |
To make a mask then use it in a story/play/dance. |
|
Level 1-2 |
Tag game |
Health and Physical Education, Science |
To run from one point to another without being caught. |
|
Level 3-4 |
A communication exercise |
Health and Physical Education |
To direct a blindfolded group along a set course. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Observe and Collect |
Science, Health and Physical Education |
To collect a set of memorised objects. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Group problem solving |
Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education |
To get as many people as possible inside a hoop. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Story making and photography |
Language, Arts, Technology |
To tell a story illustrated by photographs. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Observation game |
Science, Social Sciences, Language |
To find different objects according to given adjectives. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Group Problem Solving |
Health and Physical Education, Social Sciences |
To change groups from one end of a pole to the other without touching the ground. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Night Hunt |
Health and Physical Education, Science |
To move through an area in the dark without being spotted. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Observation and Data |
Science, Maths |
To find what exists in a small defined space. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Practical Problem Solving |
Language, Health and Physical Education |
To move an object by team effort. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Colour Matching |
Arts, Science |
To find an object which matches each colour on a colour chat. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Tag Game |
Science, Health and Physical Education |
To use the sense of hearing to play a tag game. |
|
Level 4. |
Identifying an issue and expressing a point of view |
Science, Language |
To investigate and debate an environmental issue |
|
Level 2-4 |
Search and record |
Science |
To find examples of given types of seeds. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Colour and Shade |
Arts, Language |
To find objects with several shades of the same colour then put them in order from darkest to lightest. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Data gathering in science - finding direction |
Maths, Science, Language |
To determine north and south using a shadow stick. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Shape matching search |
Maths, Arts |
To find objects which match given shapes. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Group problem solving |
Health and Physical Education, Language, Maths. |
To form given shapes with a long rope |
|
Level 3-4 |
Compass activity |
Health and Physical Education, Maths
|
To complete simple miniature compass courses |
|
Level 2-4 |
Group construction problem |
Health and Physical Education, Arts, Social Sciences |
To make a secure shelter without damaging the environment. |
|
Listening, recording and storytelling |
Language, Technology
|
To record sounds and use them in a story. |
|
|
Level 3-4 |
Creative drama |
Science, Arts, Language |
To act out an interaction in the environment. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Group problem solving |
Health and Physical Education, Language |
To fill a bucket from a source at a distance, keeping within the given rules. |
|
Level 4 |
Compass activity |
Maths, Health and Physical Education |
To make a simple compass course for a partner to follow. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Compass activity |
Maths, Health and Physical Education |
To complete a compass course. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Group study |
Maths, Health and Physical Education, Language, Science, Social Sciences |
To carry out the task on the cards. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Finding and recording |
Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, Language, Social Sciences |
To identify given features of the immediate school environment. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Group problem solving |
Health and Physical Education, Language, Technology. |
To improvise a stretcher and carry someone on it. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Observing creative writing |
Language, Science |
To write a story using natural objects as prompts. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Practical problem solving experience |
Language, Health and Physical Education |
To move a group across an area without touching the ground. |
|
Level 4 |
Group problem solving |
Health and Physical Education, Language |
To transfer the group and water across a “danger” area. |
|
Level 1-2 |
Imaginative fun activity |
Science, Health and Physical Education |
To have fun while exploring a chosen environment. |
|
Level 3-4 |
Data collection |
Maths, Social Sciences |
To survey and record a chosen factor/s of traffic. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Observation without using the sense of sight |
Science, Health and Physical Education |
To explore a tree while blindfolded and then try to identify it by sight. |
|
Level 1-4 |
Information gathering by questioning |
Science, Language |
To identify a word pinned on your back by questioning. |
|
Level 2-4 |
Environmental ‘snakes and ladders’ |
Social Science, Language |
To get through the ‘snakes and ladders’ type game first. |
Related information
- Classroom, Curriculum & Assessment
- Learning Activities for KIWI Outdoors in Aotearoa
- Junior Outdoor Education
- Haerenga (Journeys)
- Outdoor Education programme interviews.
- Low cost and local Outdoor Education ideas, activities and resources
- Outdoor Education planning considerations
- NCEA Level 1 PE in an OE context
- EOTC Conference 2020
- EOTC Research
- Good Practice Stories
- Publications
- Revisioning School Camps
- Sustainability
- Te Ao Māori
- Te Whakatika
- Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education
- Unit Standard Assessment Resources
- Embracing Uncertainty Conference (EONZ, NZHEA, PENZ) 2021