Reuben Lane, Trust Ranger, introduced thousands of school children to little blue penguins last week when he appeared in a LEARNZ virtual field trip.
LEARNZ produces educational material for school children of all ages including video and audio clips. Each “field trip” is led by a LEARNZ educator, who introduces the local expert, in this case Reuben. The leader for this trip, Andrew, created a diary each day that classes can view and follow various links. The video clips are short and punchy, and are provided alongside activities linked to the NZ curriculum.
Reuben featured in four video clips, covering habitat, breeding season activity and threats to penguins, particularly dogs and vehicles here on the coast. He was also asked questions about penguins by children from selected schools, which are recorded as part of the field trip.
The format allows teachers to access the material when it suits them, for as long as it suits them. For this field trip, the fifth in the series of five short videos featured Scott Freeman, Department of Conservation Ranger, who worked with Reuben after the massacre of 15 penguins by a dog at Cape Foulwind. DOC are installing a new fence to prevent dogs gaining easy access to this area in the future.
If you are wondering why Andrew and Reuben are clutching soft toys in the photo, it is because they used them to demonstrate the route penguins would take as they returned to their nests, yes, really! The Trust hopes to post copies of the videos on the website soon.
While on the coast, LEARNZ also created a virtual field trip about the NZ fur seals at Cape Foulwind, featuring DOC’s marine scientist, Don Neale. Our very own Reuben featured on those videos too, assisting with the capture of a juvenile seal. The seal was then weighed and measured before being released back to its mother.
LEARNZ field trips are available to all teachers and they are free to use.
