14-18 Sep	New Primary science week. Science of sound. Ideas here. Unit here.
14-21 Sep	Maori Language week www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz
15 Sep	NZASE online forum 3:30-4:30 pm for teachers of years 7-10. Register here
16 Sep	International Day to Preserve O3 www.uneptie.org/ozonaction/events/ozoneday
18 Sep	Deadline for shirt design celebrating women in science
18 Sep	Deadline to enter students for Schol Chem practice day at Ak uni.
20-26 Sep	Chinese language week
21 Sep	Deadline to enter ANZCCART essay competition on use of animals in research. Info here
22 Sep	Deadline to submit expressions of interest for trialling draft science assessments
23 Sep	Spring Equinox NZ http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set
26 Sep	Schol Chem practice day at Ak uni. $40.
27 Sep	World Rivers day http://worldriversday.com/
27 Sep	Tsunami warning siren test at the beginning of daylight saving
27Sep-3Oct	Tuvalu Language week www.mpia.govt.nz
28Sep1928	Fleming discovers penicillin. https://www.famousscientists.org/alexander-fleming/
Moon	NM 17 Sep 1Q 24 Sep FM 2 Oct 3Q 10 Oct

1. Sign Language week will now be 21-25 Sep. Here is a booklet of signs useful at work https://deaf.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019_Lets_talk__Work_web.pdf
2. International EarthCache Day is on Sun Oct 11. Learn more at EarthCache.

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Online dictionary to translate English to te reo Māori https://paekupu.co.nz/
   • A great reading explaining mātauranga Māori https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BVJ_nCkZl1UVsk1drEtxBNU5Qrov0vvU/view
2. Pedagogy:
   • Seven recommendations for improving science in UK secondary schools.
   • Rosenshine’s evidence-based Principles of Instruction https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/periodicals/Rosenshine.pdf
3. Professional reading/watching: An introduction to some of the different forms of neurodiversity & an explanation of a strengths-based approach to learning differences. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/neurodiversity-an-overview/
4. Student competitions:
   • Eurofishion song contest is an international online contest inviting students to sing their hearts out in original songs about our ika/fish and awa/rivers as part of World Fish Migration Day on Oct 24. See Taupo for Tomorrow’s resources for ideas & help.
5. TeachNZ scholarship applications now open & close 23 Sep (2 more rounds to come). These scholarships pay course fees & an allowance for those planning to enrol on an approved initial teacher education course. Info here, email TeachNZ or call 0800 165 225.
6. The NZASE newsletter was distributed to members last week. It included articles on effective revision & the science of kauri dieback for members only and a tribute to Jessie McKenzie & a profile of Māori scientist Dan Hikuroa here. Join NZASE here

Resources

1. Biology:
   • A Claim-Evidence-Reasoning activity with a data set about macroinvertebrate diversity to measure stream health.
   • Explore how organisms with different traits survive various selection agents within the environment in this PhET sim, Natural Selection HTML5!
2. Earth & Space Science
   • Digital copy of Balance’s NZ Geology An Illustrated Guide made available to teachers
   • AF8 online resources What’s On Our Plates? Explore Our Active Plate Boundary. https://af8.org.nz/whats-on-our-plates
3. Chemistry:
   • Diagnostic activities to expose misconceptions about the periodic table (free to join STEM) https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/460890/periodic-table
   • Draw chemistry apparatus with https://chemix.org
4. Physics:
   • A video and yr1-12 teaching resources on simple machines from Teach Engineering
   • Double and multiple slit interference http://dept.swccd.edu/hlee/content/simulation/simulation-physical-optics/index.html
5. Science of COVID-19:
   • Useful data summary on the effectiveness of masks for COVID-19: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jones-2020-Mask-effectiveness-table.docx
   • Analysis of 17,000 genetic samples show COVID-19 may be affecting bradykinin regulation and this points to possible cures.
6.  EfS:
   • Resources for testing local freshwater sources with their students. Waterwatch is free to support schools in the Canterbury region http://www.waterwatch.co.nz/?page_id=73.
   • Scion survey asking how we feel about different methods of controlling pests.
7. Primary & Intermediate
   • NIWA has developed a new online weather & climate curriculum for teachers, called Rangi. These 14 interactive lessons provide easy-to-understand information, videos, an activity or experiment and a quiz for years 7 & 8.
8. Nature of Science
   • MoE has produced a booklet on using the Science Capabilities to measure progress in levels 2 – 5: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Sci-in-NZC-Ug-Progress-L2to4.pdf

MoE/NZQA

1. Centrally funded PLD proposals are now submitted online. Deadline for next round is 9 Oct. https://pld.education.govt.nz/regionally-allocated-pld/apply-for-regionally-allocated-pld/

Can you help?

1. ChemEd is due in 2021. Any Ak-based Chem teachers who are prepared to volunteer to be on the organizing committee (which needs to be established by the end of this term), please send expressions of interest to ian.torrie@stcuthberts.school.nz
2. Sneha Srinivasan is looking for Auckland teachers of Electronics to swap moderation. If you are able to help please email SSrinivasan@pukekohehigh.school.nz

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. The ULearn conference is now online 7-8 Oct https://core-ed.org/events/ulearn/ . Flyer: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/uLearn20-eFlyer-26Aug-electronic.pdf
2.  Smithsonian webcast on bipedalism 23 Sep 11:30 am EDT (3:30 am 24 Sep NZT).

Cheers, Mike

Kia tūpato, kia haumaru te noho, ā, me tiaki tētahi i tētahi.                          Take care, stay safe, and look after each other