1-31 Mar	Melanoma March www.melanoma.org.nz/news-events/recent-news
1-31 Mar	Hearing Awareness Month https://www.nfd.org.nz/hearing-awareness-month2020
1-31 Mar	Whio Awareness month https://www.doc.govt.nz/whioforever
1-9 Mar	Sea week http://seaweek.org.nz/ & Seafest Wgtn https://www.loverimurimu.org/festival
3 Mar	World wildlife Day http://wildlifeday.org/
3 Mar	World Hearing day https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day
4 Mar	World Engineering day https://worldengineeringday.net/
5 Mar	4pm NZASE webinar for OTT on teaching science in the NZ classroom. Link.
10-16 Mar	Brain Awareness Week – Neurological Foundation, Dana Foundation
13 Mar	World Kidney Day www.kidneys.co.nz (2nd Th in March)
14 Mar	Pi Day NASA Challenge (also day Einstein born, Hawking died)
14 Mar	Total lunar eclipse visible from NZ, 7:50 – 11 pm More info
Moon	1Q 7 Mar      FM 14 Mar      3Q Mar 23      NM Mar 29

1. Talks that may be relevant for us
   • Seaweek talk at Cawthron on Marine Restoration in Aotearoa Tues 4 Mar, 5:30-7pm. Can opt to register for face to face or to receive a recording later.
   • Seaweek talk by an underwater photographer at the National Aquarium, Napier, Tues 4 Mar, 5:30pm. https://hawkesbay.rsnzbranch.org.nz/
   • Marine ecologist Dr Laura Jordan-Smith is doing an Aus/NZ seminar Understanding the influence of climate on ocean communities for ages 15+ at 2pm Th 6 Mar. Teacher resources
2. Stardome Observatory events in March: a Mars planetarium show, a doco about the Mars Rover & Sci-Fi films about Mars every Wed from 5 March. https://www.stardome.org.nz/mars-month-
3. NZIP is open for registration and calling for abstracts from presenters (deadline 4 Apr)
4. ASTA Events 2025 for Auckland primary & secondary teachers for the year. The 1st PLD:  Science and Literacy Event 19 Mar
5. Genomics Aotearoa’s resources from their 2024 workshops in Auckland & Wellington. https://www.genomics-aotearoa.org.nz/education/dr-wilda-laux-teacher-workshops

Info

1. Pedagogy:
   • Metacognition, thinking about thinking, helps students learn https://edu.rsc.org/education-research/how-metacognition-improves-student-engagement-and-outcomes/4020885.article
2. Student opportunities:
   • First Foundation provides financial support, paid work experience and one-on-one mentoring in yr 13 & while at uni for students with good grades from poor backgrounds. Year 12 students apply from 3 March.
   • More from Waikato uni: UoW Experience Engineering
   • A STEM UK course on nuclear physics starts 3 March (join STEM UK for free) https://community.stem.org.uk/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread
3.  Podcasts:
   • Principals share their experience and advice https://moe-pld.podbean.com/

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Practicals to observe water movement in plants https://practicalbiology.org/cells-to-systems/transport-in-plants/observing-water-moving-through-plants
   • Use Parts 1-5 of this inquiry-based activity resource to assess student understanding of the steps of gene expression, transcription and translation details, mutations & protein modeling.
   • Schol Bio online tutorials will start Wed 5 Mar at 7pm. Join the FB group (remember to answer Qs!) to find the link closer to the time. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1434168673514234
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Regional forestry data factsheets will be great for AHS 1.2 Place & Purpose and 2.9 Land use [Suzy Newman] https://www.canopy.govt.nz/forestry-data-research/
   • Useful videos: All About Seeds, Rachel’s Farm, Clarkson’s farm, Private life of cows/chickens/ plants (all these on YouTube); Kiss the Ground (Netflix); Six Inches of Soil (Amazon);
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A star gazing guide: The March Night Sky
   • Activities that focus on the atmosphere https://sciencelessonsthatrock.com/10-atmosphere-lessons-for-high-school/
   • ABC short videos on tectonic plates and predicting earthquakes
4. Chemistry:
   • Making an indicator from red cabbage & using it to investigate the action of the enzyme urease.
   • Cmpd Chem Infographics on weight-loss drugs, fly agaric mushrooms, Porphyria, C-14 dating
5. Physics:
   • How do hoola-hoops work https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/how-do-hula-hoops-work
   • PocketLab live field trip recording about the physics of crashes. G-force cars available here.
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Use pizza to teach primary-school children about salt and sugar content – and fractions
   • An eBook that dives into the science of our oceans. Stories about turtles, wonky holes and undersea cables, as well as experiments to do at home. Free to view or download as a PDF.
7.  Science:
   • Recent research shows NZ teens have worrying misconceptions about vaping. Here’s an article you could use with them:
   • Ngāokeoke velvet worm Peripatus won Bug of the year. Find out more about them here https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/invertebrates/peripatus-ngaokeoke/
8. A science book you or your students might like to read
   • Impact!, Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World by Elizabeth Rusch starts with the story of a meteor that exploded near Chelyabinsk in 2013 then explores how meteors are found, tracked and their impact craters analysed & the scientists involved.

Can you help?

1. NZIP is asking Physics teachers to take a few minutes to complete a survey to gauge PLD needs.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Science Learning Hub
   • Webinar on Drawing for Thinking with Andrew James 11 March, 4-4:45pm. Draw to generate & communicate ideas, plan, take notes, make connections between concepts …
   • With NZASE, Puna Aronui is a 4 week PLD program developing understanding of inclusive science education for all sectors. 17 Mar – 14 Apr. Find out more here. Register by 12 March
2. Learning Network NZ, Cnr Universal/Soljan Drives, Henderson, Auckland
   • Boosting Student Engagement – James Nottingham. 20 May 9:30-3.
   • Effective Writing in the NZ Classroom – Murray Gadd, 30 Jun, 9-3. Primary & Intermediate.
3. NZASE is offering primary teachers PLD through Science Alive from term 2, free workshops around the country. Info will be posted on https://nzase.org.nz/nzase-network-expertise/
4. New webinars from The Education Hub ($60/year or $10/webinar):
   • Understanding the relationship between a secure cultural identity and school engagement with Dr Tania Cliffe-Tautari. Tues 18 Mar 7:30pm. Link here.
5. NEX funding has allowed NZIP to employ 2 lead facilitators: Brenda MacKechnie (North Island) and Sue Napier (South Island). They will assist regional facilitators to organise workshops, communicate with teachers, produce newsletters & help with Physikos 2025 Conference. pldsupport@nzip.org.nz

Technician

1. Recommended leaves for leaf tear and leaf cross section: Tradescantia, spinach, Agapanthus

Vacancies

1. Work at Scott Base starting Sep 2025 for 6 months or 13 months. Info here.

Cheers, Mike

Mike’s News is brought to you with the generous support of NZASE and Warp Computers