A Journey of Discovery for Tikipunga Science Students

21 senior science students from I Have a Dream partner school Tikipunga High School took part in a two-day, hands-on Science Enrichment / STEM trip designed to blend excitement and experience with education and bring science to life beyond the classroom.

The trip saw the lucky students visit Auckland Zoo, Kelly Tarltons, and Rainbows End while completing specific biology and physics learning modules, and was a long-held dream of Leader of Learning – Science, Anita Taylor, whose passion for equitable education is shaped by her own background and postgraduate studies which include a Masters in equity.

“We’re all taught the same curriculum, but it doesn’t land the same way for every student,” Anita said.

Anita developed the Senior Science Enrichment Overnight Trip to expose students to diverse science careers and make learning more tangible. Drawing on her previous experience at Tauranga Girls’ High, she aimed to build whanaungatanga (strong relationships) and give students momentum heading into the final stretch of the year.

“It was a chance to coalesce the learning around real activities so that the thinking and the writing comes naturally,” said Anita, adding that both she and Principal Emma Leyland felt it was important to build their own science culture at school.

“It also gives the kids some impetus, some energy and momentum working towards their exams at the end of the year when everyone’s getting tired.”

Principal Emma Leyland expressed her appreciation to I Have a Dream for funding the trip, saying it would not have been possible without their support.

To celebrate student voices and visual memories from the trip, students were invited to take part in a pre- and post-trip survey, along with a photography and video competition, with prizes offered to those who took part. The journey began at Auckland Zoo’s Careers Day, where students heard from professionals in conservation and environmental science. For students Te Aaatahua and Liam, this was the highlight, as the workshops opened their eyes to new career paths. Next, students completed real-time behavioural observations of primates for their NCEA Biology internal, noting everything from grooming to dominance displays.

The group then visited SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium to support another NCEA standard, demonstrating understanding of how animals are adapted to their way of life. They explored gas exchange, body support, and movement in aquatic environments.

With clipboards and cameras in hand, students sketched specimens, annotated diagrams, and gathered observational data to build their portfolios. For many, it was their first close encounter with marine ecosystems.

While the focus was on adaptations and respiration in fish, some Dreamers came armed with wider questions about freshwater vs saltwater species and careers in marine biology and environmental science.

Trent Bowater said he was surprised to learn that rising sea levels aren’t caused solely by Antarctica’s melting icebergs. “The water level is rising from the heat in the air. When particles such as water heat up they move around and expand more, the water expands, and the higher the water level actually becomes.”

After a relaxed dinner, students took part in an Underwater Sleepover. They fed the fish, toured the aquarium, and spent the night beneath the glowing shark tunnel.

Te Aroha Romana McNeil Watts said she loved the experience sleeping under the tank and was particularly fascinated by the penguins and that they use oil from their behinds to waterproof their feathers.

On the final day, the group visited Rainbow’s End to study the science behind amusement park rides, something Anita knew from previous experience was an exciting way to bring physics to life. Students selected rides such as the roller coaster and free-fall tower to measure height, speed, and g-forces. 

They calculated centripetal force, analysed energy transformations, and discussed how gravitational forces affect the body during different phases of motion. These hands-on experiences fed directly into their physics internal assessment, as students gathered data through technical calculations, diagrams, and analysis. Every student successfully passed the Roller Coaster Assessment, with two achieving Level 2 Excellence and one earning Level 3 Excellence. All grounded in the excitement of real-world application.

Trent acknowledged how valuable that was, saying, “Having learned about what was actually going on during the roller coaster and getting the feeling of weightlessness and knowing how it occurs via the phenomenon of inertia was really amazing.”

Beyond gaining credits, the trip offered students a powerful glimpse into their potential.

“We need to broaden what our students see as possible,” said Anita. “A lot of them think the only career pathway in science is becoming a doctor. But this trip showed them that zoology, environmental science, marine biology, and conservation are all within reach.”

The trip provided deep, lasting learning and inspired new ambition and thanks to I Have a Dream, a powerful new chapter in science may have just begun at Tikipunga High School.