Kitekite Falls

As part of our inquiry into the New Zealand bush we visited Kitekite Falls in Piha

Pests Cause and Effect

Continuing our inquiry into the native bush we collaborated on a cause and effect of introduced species to New Zealand.

Possums, rats and stoats have had a huge impact on our environment since their introduction to Aotearoa. To combat these pests New Zealand has an ambitious aim to be rid of them all by 2050.

Possums

Possums were introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur trade. However there numbers soon grew to such an extent that there is now approximately 30 million possums in New Zealand. The effect of this invasion is the serious damage of native trees. Possums eat a huge number of leaves. This can stress a tree so much it will eventually die. Some forests have lost all of their rata and kamahi, two of the possum’s favourite species. Possums have no natural predators in New Zealand therefore numbers must be controlled with traps, poison and by being hunted.

Stoats -

Stoats are public enemy number one and were introduced to New Zealand by European settlers in 1879 to control the number of rabbits and hares.  An unexpected effect of their introduction though was to cause the extinction of many native birds. Stoats attack birds that nest in trees such as the mohua and kaka. Stoats can take out eggs, chicks and incubating adults in one go. The stoat has also caused many subspecies to become extinct such as the bush wren, laughing owl and the New Zealand thrush.

Rats -

Norway (brown or water) rats were introduced to New Zealand unintentionally by being stowaways on the boats and ships that arrived in the late 1700’s. The introduction of rats contributed to the extinction of some native bird species. Rats are especially dangerous because they are able to climb the trees and enter the nests of native birds.

Possums, rats and stoats are New Zealand’s most wanted pests having caused the destruction of the native bush and the extinction of native birds and animals. To protect our native forests, animals and plants we must rid these species from our shores for good.

Kereru Vs Kakapo

After reading "Kaupapa Kereru" by Ross Calman the X-Men used a SOLO Hot map to compare the kereru with the kakapo.

When walking through the bush, you’re likely to hear kereru crashing through the trees, wings flapping noisily. You may also catch a glimpse of their plump shape and sleek, colourful plumage. Another native bird you may encounter, if you are lucky, is the largest flightless parrot in the world, the kakapo.

Native to New Zealand - Liam and Connor

The  kereru and kakapo are amongst many birds native to Aotearoa. The kereru can be found in the lowland, native forests of the North and in the South island. The kakapo is found in the forested islands of Maud island and Little Barrier Island.

Vulnerable to Extinction - Arav and Sam

Like many of our native birds, the kereru and kakapo is under threat of extinction. The kereru is under threat by Illegal hunting. Some other threats include being eaten by animals such as cats, possums, stoats and rats. These creatures have been reducing the numbers of kereru over the years. The kakapo however is in more immediate danger as numbers have reduced to only 126 birds.

Eggs in nests - Siya and Sarah

Both the kereru and kakapo build nests to lay eggs and raise their young. Kereru lay between one to three eggs depending on the food source available. The nest is an untidy platform that sits in the trees. The parents lay one egg at a time and take turns looking after their young which takes about a month to hatch. However the kakapo is different as it lays between one to four eggs on the forest floor.

Organisations helping protect them - Angelika and Sativa

Luckily for the kereru and kakapo there are organisations that have been formed to help protect them. Kaupapa Kereru was first created in 2000 by Ngai Tahu to help protect the kereru. Actions Kaupapa kereru have taken have been growing plants that kereru eat, trying to keep cats away from breeding grounds and schools have also been helping by making and selling kaupapa kereru calendars. As for the kakapo a partnership between D.O.C and forest and birds was formed to protect the kakapo.

Although both birds are taonga to Aotearoa it is the kakapo that is under more serious threat of extinction. Therefore we need to take action to prevent their loss by donating money and volunteering our time to the D.O.C and forest and bird, as well as helping eradicate threats such as cats, dogs, stoats and rats.

Possum Vs Rats

As part of our inquiry into the New Zealand Bush we compared two of our most destructive pests - the Possum and the rat.

The New Zealand native bush is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. However not all of these species are native or even helpful to the bush ecosystem. Certain animals have done immense damage to the native New Zealand bush. Two such animals are the possum and the rat.

Introduced Species - X - Men

Both the rat and possum were introduced to New Zealand from other countries. The possum was brought from Australia in the mid 1800s to be used for fur. Whereas the rat was not brought here intentionally, they were stowaways on ships that carried Polynesian settlers in the 1250’s - 1300’s. Ship rats or Norway rats came to New Zealand with the first European settlers. The introduction of rats is thought to have contributed to the extinction of native birds.  

Pests - Guardians of the Galaxy

The possum and the rat are both pests. They both wreak havoc on the New Zealand bush. Possums eat seedlings and leaves preventing the regrowth of native trees, they also devour buds, fruit, flowers, fungi, insects and eggs.  The rat similarly eats eggs but also birds and is responsible for killing native species of birds and bats. Although both destructive pests possums are considered more dangerous due to their large numbers, there is thought to be around 30 million possums in New Zealand.

Numbers being controlled - Avengers

We all know that possums and rats are some of the biggest pests in the native bush. They destroy many important resources like native trees, birds and eggs. People are trying to control the number of possums by shooting and setting traps to kill them. To control rat numbers people such as the Department of Conservation (D.O.C) have enlisted the help of inventors to create self setting traps.

Other uses - Justice League

Although possums and rats are considered pests there are other uses for these animals. Possum fur can be used to make hats, gloves and scarfs. Possum meat can also be used for cooking purposes such as Possum Pie. Rats can be useful in numerous ways, one of these uses is for scientific experiments such as testing different types of medicine. Rats can also be household pets, as rats can be trained to do a variety of tricks.

The native New Zealand bush is a taonga and needs our help in preserving it. We believe it is essential that pest numbers are controlled to preserve our native bush. The possum and rat need to be targeted with new and improved traps in order to reduce further damage to our native bush.

Birds of the Native Bush Analysis

"The Bush Supermarket" by Julie Stroud inspired us to analyse how native birds interact with our native bush.

All ecosystems, whether they are marine, freshwater or located in native bush, involve relationships between plants and animals. In our native bush there is an important relationship between birds and our plants and trees.

Fantail - GOTG

The fantail or piwakawaka eats flying insects, caterpillars and spiders low down among the ferns and tree ferns in the bush. The fantail is able to eat these insects as they use their upright tails for hovering and have bristles around their beak which act like a net. If the fantail was to be removed from the bush ecosystem the number of insects would multiply. Pest insects would spread disease and damage crops meaning fewer native plants and trees.

Wood Pigeon - GOTG

Many of our native trees depends on the wood pigeon or kereru to eat their fruit and spread seeds. The bird’s loss would be a disaster for our bush. Native plants are dependent on birds for successful seed dispersal and regeneration. Once a seed has passed through the digestive tract of a bird, it will often be dropped far away from the host tree’s location, enabling the tree to potentially colonise a new area. Without the kereru native trees would not grow as widely. Trees are needed for oxygen, shelter and to control the temperature and without them our world would not be the same

Harrier Hawk - X-Men

The Harrier hawk has a vital role in the bush environment as it cleans up the leftovers of dead animal carcusses. By doing that role the bacteria from carcusses will not spread disease across the forest. The Harrier Hawk also controls pests such as rats and mice. Without the hawk controlling numbers the rats, mice and rabbits would destroy seedlings and spread disease.

Kingfisher - Avengers

The kingfisher or kotare eats small fish called minnows, shrimps, crayfish and frogs. If the kingfisher was removed from the bush ecosystem the food chain would collapse. There would be an overpopulation of fish, frogs and crayfish. This would mean there would be more competition for food sources meaning more animals would die.

New Zealand native birds have a key role in the pollination and seed dispersal of our native flora as well as protecting the bush from predators. Birds are essential to ensure the future of our native bush ecosystem for generations to come. Therefore it is important to protect them from harm by conserving our native bush.

Fantail Vs Wood Pigeon

After reading 'The Bush Supermarket" by Judy Stroud the X-Men, Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy compared the fantail and the wood pigeon.

New Zealand is home to a range of birds that live nowhere else on earth. Our unique and remarkable native birds include the kiwi, weka, kotare, pukeko, takapu, tui, ruru and many more. Many of these birds are found in our native forests and bush. We are comparing two native birds, the fantail and the wood pigeon.

Maori Names

Maori named a lot of our native birds including the fantail and the wood pigeon. The Maori name for the wood pigeon is kereru and the name for fantail is either piwakawaka, tiwakawaka or piwaiwaka.  Maori also have a long history of using native birds as a food source and for clothing. However it was only the wood pigeon that was used as a food source.

Native Bush

The fantail and wood pigeon are both located within the New Zealand bush. The wood pigeon is located at the top of the trees because this is where they can find, fruits, berries and nectar. The fantail is however located lower down amongst the ferns close to its food source.

Food

Both the wood pigeon and the fantail feed on items found in the native bush.  The fantails diet consists of flying insects, caterpillars and spiders. Whereas the wood pigeon’s diet consists of fruit, vegetable, juices, leaves, flowers and nectar. This is ideal food for a slow and noisy flyer like the wood pigeon.

Equipment

Both birds have adapted differently to help them survive in the bush environment. The fantail has evolved to use its upright tail for hovering and has bristles around the beak that act like a small net. These features help the fantail to catch small insects. On the other hand the wood pigeon has features     such as large wings to help it fly high in the trees to find fruits, berries and nectar.

Many New Zealand native birds have adapted to survive and thrive in their natural habitat, however some of our native birds are under threat from pests such as possums, and from humans through the destruction of native bush to make way for houses. We believe it is important to protect native species through the eradication of pests such as possums.

Celery Experiment

We conducted an experiment with celery, water and food colouring. Plants absorb water through their roots through a process called osmosis. The water travels up tubes in the stems to all parts of the plants, and is used during photosynthesis to make food for the plant. When food colouring is added to the water, it travels with the water into the celery's stem and then into the leaves. Plants also absorb nutrients from the soil through the roots and up through the phloem in the plant's stems. The food colouring illustrates how nutrients are delivered to all parts of the plant.

Feathers and Oil Experiment

As part of our inquiry into the environment we conducted an experiment with feathers and oil. When an oil spill occurs in the ocean hundreds of thousands of birds are killed. Oil spills cause the bird’s feathers to loose their buoyancy which makes it much harder for the birds to float in water. Feathers also help the bird maintain a constant body temperature. When the feathers are penetrated with oil, the bird becomes vulnerable to hot and cold temperature fluctuations and extremes. Additionally, when birds which have been coated in oil try to preen themselves, they ingest the oil causing liver and kidney problems. Much of the bird’s food is also coated in oil furthering the ingestion of oil. Because of this and the limited foraging abilities, most birds suffer from dehydration and starvation. We discovered that the most effective way to clean oil covered feathers is to use a mild detergent. 

The Tundra

Arctic Hare Vs Arctic Fox

We have been learning about the tundra during reading and inquiry. We learnt about the harsh conditions as well as the plant and animal life. Using a SOLO Hot Map we compared the Arctic fox and the Arctic hare.

Arctic Fox Vs Arctic Hare by Liam, Connor, Sam, Mizuki and Boston

The tundra is a cold, windy treeless environment known for its difficult living conditions. However there are a number of animals that have adapted in order to survive the inhospitable climate. These animals include polar bears, snowy owl, Arctic fox and Arctic hare. We are comparing two animals of the tundra the Arctic hare and fox.    

Location:

Both the Arctic Fox and hare are found in the tundra. The Arctic Fox is found in Canada, Russia,  Scandinavia and Alaska. The Arctic Hare is found Northern Canada and various parts of Greenland.

Diet:

The Fox and Hare share a diet based on what is available to them. The fox eats lemmings, voles, birds and their eggs. The hare however eats the limited vegetation found in the tundra such as buds, berries, twigs and mosses.

Shelter:

The Arctic hare forages in the snow to get shelter and be protected from the elements. On the other hand the foxes dig a den with multiple entries and exits to escape from predators and build under snow.

Even though both the Arctic hare and fox have successfully adapted to survive the tundra we believe the arctic hare and the fox have successfully adapted to survive the tundra we believe the hare is better suited to not only survive but to thrive. The hare's fur changes colour through the seasons which helps it camouflage. During summer the hare’s fur changes to grey and blue or grey and brown to help it hide in between the grass and twigs, whereas the fox remains white throughout the year leaving it exposed to predators.

Arctic Fox vs Arctic Hare by Kristy, Charlotte, Sativa and Alexus

The tundra is a treeless, cold, harsh environment. It is known for it’s difficult living conditions. However there are a number of animals that have been able to adapt and live in the tundra, such as the Caribou, Snowy Owl, Polar Bear, Arctic Fox and the Arctic Hare.

Both the Arctic Fox and hare are found in the tundra. The Fox is located in Canada, Russia, Alaska and Scandinavia. Similarly the hare can also be found in Canada, Alaska and Scandinavia as well as Greenland.

The fox and hare share a diet based on what is available to them. The Arctic Hare’s diet consists of buds, berries, twigs and a variety of mosses. However the Arctic Fox’s diet is made up of birds and their eggs, lemmings and voles. The Arctic Fox is opportunistic and can also scavenge for Polar Bear’s leftovers such as whale and seal carcasses.  

Both the Arctic Fox and Hare have thick, white coats to help them survive to the harsh conditions. The Arctic fox also has a long, bushy tail to wrap around their small body. Whereas the Arctic hare has strong hind legs to propel themselves across the snow. Their claws also help them to dig through the thick snow in search for it’s prey.

For shelter the Arctic Fox protects itself by building a den with lots of entrances and exits, in order to escape quickly from any approaching predators. However the Arctic Hare digs for shelter beneath the snow.

Both the Arctic Fox and the Arctic Hare have been able to successfully adapt and survive in the tundra. We believe that the Arctic Fox is better suited to not only survive in the tundra, but thrive. The Arctic Fox is better suited for the tundra because it has a wider variety of food, a more protective place to live and more adaptations to keep it warm.

Globalisation 1 Minute Movies

To conclude our inquiry into Globalisation we produced 1 minute movies focussing on one area of our inquiry.

The United Nations by Jacky and Joshua

Refugees by Sam, Mizuki, Nikhil and Tariq

A Migrant's Story by Liam, Boston, Connor and Suyash

The Evolution of Communication by Kristy, Sativa and Alexus

Fair Trade by Arav, Shreyas, Harrison and Rayan

Globalisation Poetry

We wrote a range of poems related to our inquiry topic of Globalisation. See more fabulous examples on our individual student blogs.

World Health

We used SOLO taxonomy three layers of learning to inquire into World Health.

Communication

World Issues

Economy and Trade

BBQ Wars - Korean Vs Kiwi

The Justice League used the information in "Sam Gyup Sal" by Kat Temitope to complete a comparison between a Korean and a Kiwi Barbecue.

The world is connected in many ways such as through imports and exports, technology and food. Many people when they migrate to another country take their customs, traditions and food with them. Wherever you go in Auckland you have the opportunity to eat the cuisine of many different countries. One cuisine you could try is Korean, and in particular a Korean barbecue. We are comparing a Korean BBQ with a traditional Kiwi BBQ.

Grill - Tvisha and Theo

Both Korea and New Zealand cook their meat on a grill. Kiwi BBQ’s traditionally cook on a rectangular gas, electric or charcoal grill. Kiwi’s always cook a barbecue outdoors to prevent fires. Korean BBQ grills are circular and placed inside a table indoors. Kiwi barbecues are safer than Korean barbecues due to being outside away from flammable materials.

Pork - Joshua and Shreyas

Both Korean BBQ and Kiwi BBQ involve pork. While Korean BBQ uses small chunks of pork and fat, Kiwi BBQs predominantly use sausages. The Sam gyup sal uses less of the pig than sausages as sausages could include any part of the animal. On the other hand, the pork in Sam gyup sal just uses the belly of the pig. The benefits of using sausages over Sam gyup sal is that it's more economical as they don't waste any part of the pig.

Condiments and Sides - Alexus

A Kiwi BBQ and a Korean BBQ are similar in that they come with a range of condiments and side dishes. A Kiwi BBQ’s sides and condiments include the traditional Watties tomato sauce, mustard, Watties BBQ sauce, onions and coleslaw. However in a Korean BBQ the sides and condiments are egg pancakes, kimchi, pieces of yellow radish, spring onions and crab. Korean BBQ seems to have more of a variety of food to eat meaning that you can customise your meal to your own preference.

Serving - Charlotte and Kristy

Both Korea and New Zealand have different ways of serving their meats and salads when having a BBQ. In Korea for a BBQ they serve their food in a lettuce leaf, and then fill the lettuce leaf with pork, and whatever types of sides that they would like. However in New Zealand the meat and sides are usually served in rolls or buns. Korean BBQ’s are much healthier than a Kiwi BBQ, this is because they eat less bread. Korean BBQ is also gluten free.

Conclusion -

Overall Korean and Kiwi BBQs have a lot of similarities when it comes to how they cook the meat, what meat they use, what condiments and sides they have and how they serve their food. Food is a way of connecting with the world, not only through migration but through imports and exports. As Martin Luther King once said “Before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half the world“. In Auckland we have many different restaurants that serve many different cuisines such as Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Indian and many more. We are lucky to have such variety and be able to connect with cultures from around the world.

Do you know a Universal Language?

After reading "Do you know a Universal language?" on Wonderopolis the Justice League used a SOLO hot map to evaluate the claim "The world would be a better place if a single language was spoken by everyone on Earth"

Some legends hold that, thousands of years ago, there was a single language spoken by everyone on Earth. However would the world would be a better place if a single language was spoken by everyone on Earth?

One benefit of everyone speaking a single language is that you could understand everyone easily without needing translation. There wouldn’t be miscommunication through translation such as what happened during the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Some people argue that during the treaty translation there was language that conveyed a particular meaning in Māori that had a different meaning in English.

However speaking a single language would mean people would lose a connection with their culture. Culture and language are entwined with each other. Losing your language would mean a loss of identity.

Another benefit of a single global language would be new migrants would find it easier to find employment. Many refugees/migrants struggle to find work due to language barriers however this barrier could be removed if we all spoke the same language.

If Earth chose to have a single universal language it would be boring. A great part of travelling is experiencing different languages. Having many different languages also provides us the opportunity to learn.     

While there may be advantages for speaking a universal language such as English because there would be less miscommunication and migrants would have better opportunities the loss of people’s own language would have a greater impact. Having your own unique language means you have a way of connecting with people of their own culture.

Overall we believe the world is a better place because of the diverse number of languages spoken. With new technologies it is easier than ever for us to connect and communicate with people all over the world, even without speaking the same language.

Population Explosion

After reading an article on Wonderopolis called "How many people are on Earth?" the Justice league collaborated on a Cause and Effect map and summary about the population explosion on Earth.

Globalization is a way of connecting with the world. In New Zealand we connect with the globe through trade, migration, science and technology, to name a few. New Zealanders have the potential to connect with over seven billion people globally. Scientists believe that the number of people on earth will continue to increase. This is because more babies are born each year than there are people who die. Experts expect this trend to continue for the next couple of decades causing a population explosion.  Scientists identify the advancements in science, technology, and medicine as the reasons why people today live a lot longer than they used to.

Science

The scientific developments in agriculture has helped the population explosion. People are now able to produce food on a greater scale e.g. farm more animals and grow more crops. However these advancements can have some negative impacts on the earth. Rivers are polluted from runoff from farms and intensive farming methods mean animals are treated poorly. Another negative effect of farming at such a great scale is that people are cutting down forests and jungles to make space for farmland thus eradicating the animals habitats.

Technology

Technology advancements such as airbags, seatbelts and fire extinguishers now means people are kept safer than ever before. Fire alarms are helping people to avoid deaths caused by fires and car safety features mean people can survive even serious crashes. Without these advancements people would be at a higher risk of losing their life.

Medicine

Scientists have created cures/vaccinations causing the eradication of diseases such as polio and smallpox. Preventative vaccinations means thousands of people are now immune to the deadly diseases that wiped out large numbers of people in the twentieth century.

While we are living longer than ever before we need to be aware that as Earth's population continues to expand, strains on resources will continue to grow. The problem for future generations will be to expand, conserve, and better distribute Earth's resources (food, water, shelter and energy) to meet the needs of its growing population.

Rube Goldberg Machine

After lots of hard work we completed our Rube Goldberg Machine to conclude our inquiry into Functions.