1-31 Oct | Health Literacy month www.healthliteracymonth.org/ |
1-31 Oct | Save Kiwi month www.kiwisforkiwi.org/save-kiwi-week/schools |
1-31 Oct | Breast Cancer Awareness month www.nzbcf.org.nz (Pink Ribbon) |
5 Nov | TEDxNelson https://www.commerce.org.nz/event/tedxnelson-connection |
7Nov-2Dec | NZQA exams – timetable |
7Nov-5Dec | Young Explorers 21 Day Challenge. sign up here |
3 Nov | Outdoor classroom day, some ideas here. |
8 Nov | CSTA science leaders PLD. Register here link. |
8-9 Nov | Total lunar eclipse (11:59pm – 2:56 pm) https://rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/eclipses |
10 Nov | World science day https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day |
10 Nov | Protecting Our Planet Day – CC program http://protectingourplanet.org.uk/ |
10 Nov | Auckland ESS teachers’ day. Flyer |
10-11 Nov | Science is Cool Conference, 7am +. Register here |
14 Nov | World Diabetes day https://worlddiabetesday.org/about/theme/ |
Moon | 1Q Nov 1 FM Nov 9 3Q Nov 17 NM Nov 24 |
- The planetarium at Auckland’s Stardome observatory has a new show on the birth of planet earth https://www.stardome.org.nz/movie/birth-of-planet-earth
Info
- Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
- Article on values, wokeness & decolonizing the curriculum by PLD facilitator Stephen Ross.
- Mātauranga Māori
- Article from Ako Journal about schools following maramataka (there is a te reo version too) https://akojournal.org.nz/2022/09/14/a-return-to-wisdom/
- One teacher’s journey with Mana ōrite https://nzareblog.wordpress.com/2022/09/20/mana-orite/
- Student opportunities:
- Innovative Young Minds is offering two exciting programme options in 2023 for young women in years 11 and 12. Apply from 1 Nov. Flyer 1, flyer 2, flyer 3
- First Foundation provides a university scholarship, mentoring & paid work experience for students from challenging backgrounds. https://www.linkedin.com/company/firstfoundationnz
Resources
- Biology:
- The Conversation article on Svante Paabo’s Nobel-worthy work on Neanderthal & Denisovan genomes
- Revision posters from Ben Himme at Pathways https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-j5WqdaXHOuBMNpF5GquDCo0Tga1YR_y
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- A video about farmers transitioning from conventional farming to regenerative agriculture. It’s free to join Waterbear.
- Inquiry to build a slow-drip watering system https://info.eie.org/keep-it-watered-activity-book
- Earth & Space Science:
- Night sky 1 Nov: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Nov-night-sky.docx
- An article on glaciers and ice sheets https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/how-the-ocean-works/frozen-ocean/glaciers-ice-sheets/
- An article & video simulation on what we know about the Hikurangi Subduction Zone
- Chemistry:
- Infographics on insecticides, textile fibres and acids and bases
- Jo Standley’s Halloween Pumpkinator: To a 250 mL beaker, add 125 mL of water, 2 tsp cream of tartar and 1 tsp Na2CO3. Then add 2 Tbsp (30 mL) 3% H2O2. (If the mixture is not mostly clear, then add slightly more Na2CO3.) Then, add 0.5 tsp of CuSO4 solution (prepare by adding 1 tsp CuSO4 to 1 Tbsp water). Gives you a lovely orange mix. 🡪 write redox equations.
- A simple reading on fireworks and an infographic
- Physics:
- Energy sources resources (US) https://www.need.org/energyawarenessmonth/
- The video vault here is sortable & filterable. Looks useful https://universeandmore.com/
- Primary & intermediate:
- Primary Science Teaching Trust’s Autumn issue of their magazine is a treasure trove
- Halloween pumpkin stencils on marine science https://www.whoi.edu/whoi-halloween-stencils/
- Stories with a science theme: On a beam of light by Jennifer Berne about Albert Einstein
- Science:
- Some Halloween science https://sciencelessonsthatrock.com/halloween-science-ideas-html/
- Education for Sustainability (EfS):
- Some really great activities here for investigating kauri dieback with students. E.g. simulation on the page numbered 56 https://www.kauriprotection.co.nz/assets/Documents-PDFs/School-Resources/Kauri-Protection-School-Resource.pdf
- Landcare research Manaaki whenua resource on detecting pests using tracking tunnels and chew cards: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Identifying-pests-from-chewCards.pdf
- STEM:
- PSTT’s STEM club Eco Science is a set of 8 activities related to recent research about the environment and climate with a teacher overview and practical guide.
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- Kohia Teacher’s Centre, Gate 2, 76 Epsom Ave, Epsom
- Making talk count for Teacher Aides: Kerry Upson, 1 Dec, 1 – 3pm, online. $120
- From 28 Jan to 3 Feb 2023 an international volcanoes conference is coming to Rotorua. It includes opportunities for teacher PLD and student activities. A flyer has been emailed to all science leaders in BoP, Waikato, Auckland. If you are interested but outside those regions, then contact Mike mikhal@actrix.co.nz.
- Georgina Stewart is giving a webinar on mātauranga Māori for secondary Science teachers on 10 Nov, 3:30-4:30pm. Register by 4 Nov by emailing tataiangitu@massey.ac.nz . Flyer attached: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Matauranga-Maori-n-Sec-Sci-Tchg.pdf
- Steve Spangler’s free virtual Everyday STEM workshop is live on Mon 7 Nov at 7PM EST (12pm Tues 8 Nov NZST). Here’s the registration link to get your Zoom link.
- Lincoln University Agriculture Teachers Day is on the 25 Nov at LU (Chch). Teaching resources, in-class experiments, field trips at Lincoln and hearing from experts. Register here
Technicians
- In The Safety in Science webinars there was some confusion about the exact info required on containers. WorkSafe has clarified that as well as identity and concentration a pictogram is sufficient for hazardous substances of these classes: (i) class 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4; or (ii) class 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 3.1A, 3.2A, 4.1.2A, 4.1.2B, 4.1.3A, 4.2A, 4.3A, 5.1.1A, 5.1.2A, 5.2A, 5.2B, 6.1A, 6.1B, 6.1C, 8.2A, or 8.3A. The Risk Assess program includes pictogram on its labels.
- Extracting DNA from bananas, strawberries, cauli etc works best from frozen because ice crystals rip open cell membranes, making them more susceptible to detergent lysis, releasing more DNA.
Vacancies
- House of Science is looking for a new manager for their Horowhenua/Manawatu branch based in Palmerston North. Apply now @ https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=3823318318
Cheers, Mike
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