JHC Year 8 Science Classes - Action for Climate Change May 2022
The 3rd, 4th and 6th of May sessions with James Hargest College (JHC) Junior Campus Year 8 Science classes were held at Thomsons Bush and at the Environment Southland Waihopai Restoration Project site. These classes have been looking at climate change and looking at the impact of taking action by planting natives and how this mitigates the effects of climate change.
The Thomson Bush sessions with each class earlier in the week focused on the identification of NZ natives that are used in restoration plantings and learning about growing plants for restoration projects. We learnt that growing native plants from seeds is easy, once you can recognise what seeds you are wanting to source (for restoration we want nursery species of plants), how to prepare the seeds ready for sowing and what time of year to collect seeds! We noticed a number of different types of seeds in Thomsons Bush and looked at the restoration planting being undertaken there, noting the importance of eco sourcing seed and choosing the right plant for the right conditions here in Southland. The students were set the challenge of growing some native plants from seed (see the helpful instructions at School Activities • Southland Community Nursery) and taking home a pack of seeds eco sourced from the Southland Community Nursery.
On the Friday I teamed up with the Environment Southland team and the classes got hands on at the Waihopai Restoration Planting Site. We learnt about the history of this site and the community input into the plantings happening there. We planted broadleaf, ribbonwood, cabbage trees, mingimingi and pittos, with many of these native nursery species now being recognised. The students growing knowledge about native plants was added to with specific discussion around what plants do for our environment and for climate change, through the process of photosynthesis and carbon sequestration. Some facts and figures of how much CO2 can be used by one mature native tree and how much oxygen is realeased surprised us all. Taking action for climate change as part of their learning will help the students relate to their own ‘taking action’ assignments that they will be completing to finish off their science unit learning. It was great to see these JHC students (dressed up in house colours) taking action for climate change - climate change heroes in tutus!
Bronwyn
Posted: 7 May 2022