6-12 Jul	Kiribati Language week, Te Taetae ni Kiribati www.mpia.govt.nz
10 Jul	Deadline to apply for PM’s Space prize. Info here.
10 Jul	6pm Grey Lynn Library. Hek Busby’s film about resurrecting waka navigation. Book here.
11Jul	World Population Day www.stats.govt.nz . Go to Schools Corner
16 Jul	Deadline to apply for MWC teacher scholarship to QRW microbiology conference.
18 Jul	Deadline to enter Wellington students for STEMM student challenge
20 Jul	MOTAT’s LIVE Day (10am-4pm), an interactive, hands-on day focused on energy.
21 Jul 1969	1st moon walk https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-11/#.UtmgLOuBr-k
Moon	FM Jul 11        3Q Jul 18        NM Jul 25        1Q Aug 2

1. NZ Geothermal Week will be held from 28 Jul – 2 Aug in Taupō region:
   • NZGA Winter Seminar 30 July, 9-4:30 $ 270. Great Lake Centre in Taupō (GLC).
   • The Energy Career Pathways field trip, for local Yr 11-13 students. Free. 23 Jul 9-3. GLC
   • GNS panel on geothermal energy. 28 Jul 4-5:30 pm. Free. GLC
   • Contact Energy public open day Sat 2 Aug shows behind the scenes at Tauhara Power Station. Bus departs on the half hour from 8:30-11:30 am.  Free but you need to book.

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori
   • A video from Matt Wilson on preparing a hangi https://www.facebook.com/reel/741190124968971
2. Student opportunities:
   • Lincoln uni Open Day is Fri 18 Jul. https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/study/key-dates-2/open-day/
   • Applications for the 2026 Otiwhiti School of Agriculture Cadet Training Programme close July 18. Apply here: https://www.otiwhiti.co.nz/apply

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Practical investigating the effect of temp on trypsin https://biology-teacher.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/rp1-cpac-sheet-and-methods.docx
   • The Chase is a game to review photosynthesis and cellular respiration [Matthew Simmons] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yin3hBeq-WaaRjC5ARMgotP1xDY8zzfy/view
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • AgBrief gives a weekly summary of news in the Primary Industries. $196 for a subscription to 4 email addresses. So 4 schools could share a sub for $49 each – interested? Sign up here.
   • New classroom resource – farming calendar – poster & DIY wheel.
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A star gazing guide: The July night sky
   • An activity using photos to simulate relative dating https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/459_Photo_dating.pdf
4.  Chemistry:
   • Compound Chem infographics on the chemistry of intrauterine devices, flame retardants, solvents.
   • A teach Engineering activity exploring the periodic table. https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/uol-2853-clustering-exploring-periodic-table-elements-activity
5. Physics:
   • An Alpha article on Hydrogen Fuel Cells
   • A game using understanding about resistors: Circuits game
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • An Animoes game works a bit like a dominoes game with different animals and their features.
7.  Science:
   • Alpha resources on NZ scientist Michael Walker in te reo Māori and in english.
8. A science book you or your students might like to read
   • In A City on Mars, Kelly & Zach Weinersmith investigate what it would take to achieve different stages of living in space as well as extreme environments, Biosphere II, and space ownership.
9.  Numeracy:
   • Figure it Out activities on WindChill and Hypothermia 
10.  Literacy
    • A collection of vocab clusters for years 3-10. Cluster Examples
11.  Assessments
    • HATA has practice Ag/Hort exams on their website for members.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Thinking of offering some Ag/Hort assessments for the first time? There’s a bit of prep to do. Muka Tangata will run a Consent to Assess workshop for HATA on Wed 16 July, 3.30pm – 4.30pm. Register here.

Cheers, Mike

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