School visits
We love getting out to share our passion for science with kids from local schools in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.
We offer a range of science outreach activities that we can bring to your school, which are fun and help to reinforce the science curriculum being taught.
For primary and intermediate school students, our emphasis is simply on sparking an interest in science and fostering the natural curiosity that all kids have about the world around them. For senior secondary school students, the science activities are closely linked to the NCEA curriculum, as we know how precious time is for preparing for these assessments.
To arrange a time for our scientists to visit your school, please complete our enquiry form.
Year 13-12
Expert science speakers
Description: We offer a selection of public science talks that can be tailored to suit a senior secondary school audience. See details of the available talks.
Curriculum supported: A range of different NCEA science standards, depending on the chosen talk
Duration: 1 hour
Science Pathway presentation
Description: We can appreciate that it is not always easy for young people to visualize what a career in Science could look like. Our Science Pathway presentation covers the broad range of job opportunities available from our Science majors, what a career in these jobs would typically look like and the industries that employ Science graduates.
Duration: 30 - 45 minutes
Year 11-7
Earth Sciences: Hometown geology
Description: In this activity we will discuss the geological history of the region surrounding your school. We will bring a variety of rock samples that represent the local geology, and (weather permitting) go for a walk in the school yard to view the natural landscape. The evidence we see will help to weave the rich geological story behind these natural landscapes.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Year 6-1
Scientists in Schools programme
Description: Host a third-year university science student in school term 3 and have them help teach science at your local primary or intermediate school. A broad range of different science activities can be included, limited only by your imagination.
Curriculum supported: Nature of science; living world; planet Earth and beyond; physical world; material world
Duration: 1-2 hours per week
Biology: What's buzzing in the garden?
Description: In this activity, students will learn to count pollinators using different entomology methods. There is a focus on learning to think like a scientists, using insect diversity as a good example of how science can be done.
Curriculum supported: Nature of science - levels 1-3
Duration: 2-3 hours
Marine Science: Marine Invaders
Description: Marine Invaders is a survival of the fittest card game, where your species will fight other species to be the last one standing. Based on local taonga species against invasive species here and yet to come, this game uses ecological principles to highlight species interactions in the unique ecological niche that is Aotearoa.
If you are interested in purchasing your own set of the card game, please visit www.marineinvaders.com
Duration: 1 hour