Unit 10 · Week 6
🌍 Week 6: Climate Change & Local Food
Students explore how climate change affects food production in Aotearoa. Through case studies, data analysis, and writing, they connect climate impacts to food scarcity and consider adaptation strategies.
Focus Question
How will climate change affect food in Aotearoa?
🎯 Learning Intentions
- Understand how climate change affects local food production
- Analyze rainfall data and climate patterns
- Write about climate impacts on food security
- Connect to kaitiakitanga (guardianship)
✅ Success Criteria
- I can explain how flooding/drought affects food
- I can analyze rainfall graphs
- I can write a news article about climate impacts
- I can connect to kaitiakitanga and adaptation
📚 Curriculum Links
- Social Studies: Understand environmental impacts
- Mathematics: Analyze data and graphs
- English: Write news articles
Ngā Mahi - Week 6 Activities
1. Case Study: Waikato River (25 mins)
Activity: Use the Waikato River Case Study handout. Students explore flooding/drought impacts on kai production.
- Read about Waikato River flooding and drought events
- Identify impacts on local food production
- Consider kaitiakitanga responses
- Discuss: How do communities adapt?
2. Numeracy: Rainfall Graph Analysis (25 mins)
Activity: Use the Rainfall Graph Analysis handout. Students analyze rainfall graphs for the Waikato region using NIWA 2024 data.
- Examine 2024 rainfall data from NIWA
- Identify patterns: droughts, floods, extremes
- Calculate averages and compare to normal
- Connect data to food production impacts
3. Literacy: News Article Writing (30 mins)
Activity: Use the News Article Writing handout. Students write a news article titled "Climate Change Hits Hamilton's Kai".
- Write a news article about climate impacts on local food
- Include: headline, lead, body paragraphs, quotes
- Use data from rainfall analysis
- Consider solutions and adaptation strategies
4. Video Resources (15 mins)
Activity: Search for and watch videos about climate change and NZ agriculture.
Search YouTube for:
• "climate change New Zealand agriculture" or "NZ farming climate" (RNZ, Stuff, Plant & Food Research)
• "Māori climate change" or "kaitiakitanga climate" (Māori perspectives on environmental protection)
Connection: Link to kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and how Māori frameworks can guide climate adaptation.
• "climate change New Zealand agriculture" or "NZ farming climate" (RNZ, Stuff, Plant & Food Research)
• "Māori climate change" or "kaitiakitanga climate" (Māori perspectives on environmental protection)
Connection: Link to kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and how Māori frameworks can guide climate adaptation.
💡 Differentiation Strategies
- Lower support: Provide scaffolded article templates, simplified data, work in pairs
- Extension: Research specific climate adaptation strategies, compare regions, investigate future projections
- Cultural connection: Encourage students to think in Māori frameworks (kaitiakitanga, whakapapa). Connect to how Māori communities are adapting