Koputoroa pupils learn the wonders of wool

Koputaroa School student Jessica Gouldsbury, 12, trying on a fleece at The Wool Shed as part of The Campaign For Wool, a travelling project that visits schools teaching children about the uses and value of wool in New Zealand.

There was no need to take a field trip to a woolshed for Koputaroa School students - the woolshed came to them.

The Wool Shed, in this case, is a 6m shipping container packed with interactive learning tools for students to learn about this natural fibre and the many ways it can be used. It is a free resource for schools from The Campaign for Wool NZ Trust partnered with PGG Wrightson.

Koputoroa School student Hana Stewart 11, smelling lanolin at The Wool Shed.

Koputaroa School teacher Lavnan Shuher said students were really engaged with learning from The Wool Shed.

"As a sustainable and renewable resource, it's great for children to understand the importance of wool for our economy," she said.

Pupil Tuawhio Porima was amazed to learn that New Zealand produced the only wool to be used on the inside and outside of Wimbledon tennis balls, while another student discovered lanolin was good for dry skin.

From back, Hana Stewart, 11, and Tia Watson, 11, feeling unprocessed greasy wool, cleaned wool and combed wool at The Wool Shed visiting their school. Photo / Ashleigh Collis

Renata Apatu, Campaign for Wool NZ Trust Chair, said wool has many unique and wonderful properties that younger people are generally unaware of, including its "good crimp characteristics" giving it more bounce and why it is used for Wimbledon match balls.

More information can be found at www.woolinschools.nz