Water Kaitiaki

Transforming People, Places & Information

Nau mai, Uru mai.

Welcome to the 'Kaitiaki of Water' website; that's what you are - 'You are a Kaitiaki of Water'. Here you will begin a journey of discovery. A discovery of what, where and when water begins and ends. Where does your drinking water come from? And what can we do to better understand this process. Let's go.

First, create a Google Slide:

name your Google Slide, share it to your kaiako
create a title page 'Water Kaitiaki' - (Slide 1)
Take a photo that represents 'water' to you and use this in your Google Slide
Note there are 4 pink slides - copy these into your Google Slide - use the checklist to tick off as you complete work and fill in the two slides about careers and 'beinga a kaitiaki'. See links below.

See this link to a template of what your Google Slide might look like.

See this link to your sessions - here you can follow daily what to do.

Let's start with -

Your Name

What is in a name?

You were named something and it identifies you as someone from somewhere.

Do some research on your name.

What language is it in? What culture does it come from?

What is your name?
Where does your name come from?
What does your name mean?
Who named you? Ask them why they named you this.

Make a Google Slide (#1) of the collection of your discoveries about your name. Tell us all about you, your name and where you are from.

Next, you will look at creating and naming your own avatar.

Your Super Avatar

It's time to explore your 'Super Powers'. Everyone has them. Including you. Think about it, what are you good at? Ask others what they think you are good at.

You could also look at, what would you like to be super at?

Make a Google Slide (#2) that gathers the ideas you have collected about what you are good/supper at.

It's now time for you to create your own Avatar that represents your 'Super You'.

Name your avatar. Give it a background; a land that they are from, a family, where born, and what they like to do. Put this into Google slide (#3).

Picture insert credit: dreamstime

Alternative to creating your Avatar - Hero Machine 2.5

Next, let's look at how water come to be on Earth.

The Origins of Water

Has water always been here on Earth? If so, how was it created? If not, where did water come from? Where does it originate from? or who/what gave birth to water? See this Youtube Clip from MinuteEarth on Where did Earth's Water come from?

See Another Youtube Clip - Where did Earth's Water come from?

or Did Earth Always Have Water? - Youtube Clip

What is water? What does water look like? What does it look like under a microscope? What does water look like at the molecular level?

How does water form? Can water be made? Can water be destroyed? How much water do we have on Earth? Can we drink all the water available to us on Earth? - See Nasa Space Place Youtube Clip on How much water is on Earth

Collect your findings on Google slide (#4).

Picture insert credit: Indian Express Article - Meteorites brought water to Earth in first two million years: Study; 2018

Remember: There is more than one point of view on the origins of water eg there is a biblical view, a Maori view, a science view. Do your own research and discover your own view.

Next, let's look at some interesting facts about Earth and then where the water goes.

Interesting Facts about Earth

History of Earth. How old is Earth? How old is the sun?

The Earth is moving through space at what speed? The planets not only move at high speeds but also move around the sun in a vortex motion - see the planets movement in this helical model.

All about Earth - Earth 101 - National Geographic - youtube clip

History of Earth in 9min - youtube clip

See this Youtube clip on a Scale Model of our Solar System.

See this Youtube clip for a size comparison of Earth to the moon, to the other planets to the sun and other stars - Universe size comparison 2020

What is the water cycle?

Water has been on Earth longer than you. Is it possible for water to run out? or to be destroyed? or even for us to create more?

If water is not here where has it gone?

Find or create a picture for your own local water cycle. What is the flow of water in your area.

Collect your discoveries on Google slide (#5).

Picture Insert: The Science Learning Hub - The Global Water Cycle

Next, let's look at where the water in your tap comes from.

Interesting Facts about water

Water is made of what two atoms?

What would happen if you didn' drink water? TedEd Talk Video

How amazing is water and it's relationship to Earth and our human body - Introduction to Water Video

My water supply

If you're thirsty, you can go to a tap near you, for water.

Where does your water come from?
Find out and draw this up?

Collect your discoveries on Google Slide (#6).

Picture insert credit: Watercare Auckland - Where your water comes from

Next let's look at the dams where our water comes from.

Te Wairoa Dam

Where does water get collected? What is a dam?

Where is our nearest dam? What is a dam for?

What are the benefits of the dam?

What happens if you live downstream of a dam?

Take a screenshot of Te Wairoa Dam level and put this in your Slides - add the date to it too.

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#7).

Picture insert credit: Watercare Auckland - Dams

Next let's look at how we treat the water from our dams.

Why is it not dirty?

If the water comes from a dam in a whole in the ground then why is the water I drink not dirty?

Why does the water look clean when it comes from our taps?

You may want to research 'water treatment'.

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#8).

Picture insert credit: Watercare Auckland - Water treatment & Supply - Also go to - Watercare Auckland - Treating Water

Next let's look at what testing water quality is all about.

How do we test our water?

Our water is delivered to our taps at a minimum standard. Are you ok with this standard? What is this standard?

What kind of quality are we testing for?

What do Maori value in water quality? Do we test for this?

Collect your findings in Google Slide (#9).

Picture insert credit: Watercare Auckland - Water treatment & Supply

Next let's look at the river downstream from Te Wairoa Dam.

Te Wairoa River

Down from Te Wairoa Dam springs up Te Wairoa River. Do some research about Te Wairoa River.

Where is it?
How long is it? Where does it end up?
What else can you tell me about the river?

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#10).

Picture insert credit: Auckland Council - Action stations for Auckland's most improved river, 2017

Next let's look at the water quality of Te Wairoa River.

The Health of a River

How Healthy is Te Wairoa River?

What does a Healthy River look like?
How do we measure the Health of a River? - some tests and measurements include - clarity, phosphates, nitrates, macroinverts.
Draw a avatar/kaitiaki that represents a healthy river
You may also do a model of this using plasticine
Draw and model a avatar/kaitiaki that represents a not so healthy river

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#11).

Picture insert credit: How we measure quality? (in a river), How healthy are our rivers?, River water quality for ecological health.

Next let's look at Te Ao Maori.

Wetland Restoration

What can we do to restore a river?

What will we plant? (Include a photo of plants)

Where near the river will we plant them?

You will practise identifying native plants and trees that we will be planting along the river.

Wetland's Restoration Plan - what to plant and where

Planting Stream Edges - Science Learning Hub

NZ River Plant Identification Slide (for at Camp Adair)

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#12).

Practical 1: Mapping

Let's map the sites where we are testing water quality and where we are restoring. Take photos for each site and/or map each site with the GPS location and a description.

To obtain maps use Google Maps or NZ Topographic maps

See this link to a template of what your Google Slide might look like.

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#13).

Te Ao Maori

Who is the Māori atua of water?

What iwi belong to Te Wairoa River?

Is there a kaitiaki of Te Wairoa River?

Create your own River Kaitiaki for at Camp Adair - what would he/she/it look like? - when healthy, when not healthy!

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#14).

Picture insert credit: Ngai Tai ki Tamaki - Umupuia Marae. Ko Wairoa te Awa.

Next let's look briefly at securing your password.

Cybersecurity

Securing your email and google account is important. To do this you need to protect your password by not sharing it and by making sure you have a password that cannot be cracked (by a computer).

You can check how long it would take a computer to crack your password by going to 'How Secure is My Password?'

WARNING - do not enter your actual password.

*Enter a password that would be similar to yours eg if your password has 5 letters in in and 2 numbers, enter in 5 random letters and 2 random numbers - not your actual password.

There are two good types of passwords:

1. Have 3-4 random words seperated by a space eg beard pool truck shirt

2. Have a 8 letter word, with a capital, 3 numbers and a special character eg Grumpyrumble1876!

Now go make sure you have a password that takes over a million years to crack :)

Create a slide (#15) and tell us how long it takes to crack your password. If you change your password how long does it take to crack now.

Next 'do you want to improve your typing speed and to touch type (typing without looking at the keys)?

Who is the fastest?

Let's train to type: (click on the links below)

Beginner - learn where to place your fingers - Typing Club
test your typing speed - typingtest.com
competition typing game - Nitro - Add me: WhaeaShanandore

Set up a slide (#16) title 'Typing Speed' - record the date and your words per minute (WPM).

Next let's look at what the internet is and how it works.

The Internet

What is the internet?

When did it first start?

Who created it?

How does it work?

Which countries have access to the internet?

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#17).

Picture insert credit: Science Kids - Technology Facts.

Next let's look at the Internet of Things (IoTs).

Internet of Things

What is the 'Internet of Things'? What is an example?

Are there IoT's to measure water quality in rivers?

- what do they measure?

- what do they look like?

- how much do they cost?

Gather your findings on Google Slide (#18).

Picture insert credit: SAS - Internet of Things - what it is and why it matters

What did I enjoy?

In your final slide - write up a reflection of what you have enjoyed so far. Have a photo of yourself doing one of your favourite activities.

What are careers are you interested in now?

Also complete the last slide in the Google template about 'Being a Kaitiaki Warrior'.

Complete the final survey.

Enviro Games

Young Meteorologist - Weather Preparedness Adventure

Koiwi - Ecological Games for Smart Kids

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