Sea week: Caring for our waterways

This year for Sea Week, we revisited our local waterways; streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans, with a focus on our role as kaitiaki, caretakers of these precious spaces.

Throughout the week, we spent time during our wā whāriki sharing ideas and talking about how we care for our waterways, especially our seas and oceans. Tamariki explored different ways we can look after the environment and developed a deeper understanding of how our actions have an impact.

We had conversations around the harm caused by plastic waste, and how items like containers or rubbish thrown into the sea can be swallowed by marine life, making them very sick or even causing them to die. Tamariki were thoughtful and curious as they asked questions, shared their ideas, and listened to each other.

We also talked about the importance of leaving things as we find them. Taking items from the beach, even things that seem small, can put nesting birds and other wildlife at risk. When their environment is disturbed or taken away, they become more vulnerable to harm.

Together, tamariki and kaiako agreed that if we want our seas and waterways to thrive, we should aim to only take photographs and leave only footprints. This idea really stuck with many of our tamariki.

During this learning experience, tamariki discovered that they are active learners who can think critically about the world around them. We explored books, used the internet, and shared knowledge with each other to research how to care for our oceans and what sustainability means.

We added new words to our kete kupu (word baskets), like sustainability, environment, kaitiaki, vulnerable, and caretaker. These words helped us build a shared understanding of the responsibilities we all have in looking after the natural world.

Our journey does not end with Sea Week. We will continue supporting our tamariki to grow their understanding of what it means to be caretakers of our seas, oceans, and waterways.

We would love to hear from our whānau too. Share with us the ways you and your tamariki look after the sea and beaches near your home. Let’s keep learning and protecting together.