Geography Level 1 1.1 AS 91007 “Demonstrate geographic understanding of environments that have been shaped by extreme natural event(s)”.
Rotorua Duck Tours provides New Zealand teachers with the resources and educational experiences for students to explore volcanic eruptions in the Rotorua region. Focusing on the Tarawera Eruption of 1886, students will discover first-hand the results of the natural processes that shaped the region.
Through a tour of the Tarawera Lakes in an authentic, restored WWII Landing Craft, led by a knowledgeable and informative guide, students will have an interactive and exciting exploration of the key learnings required for AS 91007 “Demonstrate geographic understanding of environments that have been shaped by extreme natural event(s)”.
- Natural and cultural characteristics (features) of the environments that make them vulnerable to the extreme natural event(s)
- Natural processes that operate to produce the extreme natural event(s)
- Effects of the extreme natural event(s) on the natural environments
- Effects of the extreme natural event(s) on the cultural environments
- How different groups of people have responded to the effects of the extreme natural event(s).
Teaching and planning resources are provided, giving New Zealand geography teachers everything that they need to facilitate success in their Level 1 programme. For more information on the educational package offered by Rotorua Duck Tours, please email us today.
The Tarawera Lakes Tour
Students will participate in the Tarawera Lakes Tour to experience the volcanic Rotorua region first-hand, developing their own appreciation and understanding of the extreme events surrounding the Tarawera Eruption of 1886.
On this guided tour, students are provided with a worksheet to complete from the guides’ knowledgeable and informative talk during the tour and their own observations. Detailed information is given on the Rotorua Volcanic Area and the Tarawera Eruption and covers all aspects of the standard. There is space and time for the students to complete their own sketches to show the effects on the natural landscape.
The two-hour journey of discovery of Rotorua and its lakes region begins in central Rotorua where students will board their WWII Landing Craft and meet the Duck Tours guide who is in charge of the tour. On the way to the first lake visit, Lake Ōkāreka, the guide will give background information on past volcanic activities in the Rotorua region and the effects on the natural and cultural environment which students can see first-hand from the windows of the Duck.
Next, we journey out past the Sacred Lake Rotokākahi (the Green Lake) to see the magnificent volcanic domes of Mount Tarawera. The second plunge will be into Lake Tarawera where students will hear the stories of the devastation of that fateful day of the eruption in 1886. After cruising Tarawera for 15 minutes students can disembark for the opportunity to sketch and photograph the Tarawera environment – bringing the experience to life and cementing the day’s learnings.
The return trip brings into view Te Wairoa (The Buried Village) before splashing down into Tikitapu (the Blue Lake) for the third lake visit. Finally, the homeward leg takes students past Rotorua’s burgeoning Te Whakarewarewa Forest back to the sulphurous aroma of Rotorua.
Provided Resources
- Achievement Schedule and content for Geography Level 1 1.1 AS91007 “Demonstrate geographic understanding of environments that have been shaped by extreme natural event(s)”
- Student worksheet for Tarawera Lakes Tours. (Answers provided for teacher reference)
- Guided Tarawera Lakes Tour by Rotorua Duck Tours
Contact Information
For more information and a personalised quote please contact your us on 073456522 or click here to get things underway.
