10Jun1886	Mt Tarawera erupts www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-volcanic-activity/page-2
10 Jun	3:30pm NZAEE webinar on nature connection in Primary & Intermediate. Register here
11 Jun	ASTA Numeracy event 4-6pm, Tangaroa College, sign up here
12 Jun	4pm SLH webinar on Māori knowledge in science education. Register here.
13 Jun	11am deadline to submit nomination for Peter Spratt Medal.
13-15 Jun	World Vision 40h Challenge weekend. Website
14 Jun	World Blood Donor Day www.nzblood.co.nz
15 Jun	Global Wind Day www.windenergy.org.nz/resources/for-teachers
19 Jun	World Albatross Day Link to RNZ
20 Jun	Matariki celebration (star cluster visible 19 – 22 Jun) teaching resources
21 Jun	Winter solstice NZ https://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set-1
23 Jun	Deadline to enter Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow comp. Link here
Moon	FM Jun 11        3Q Jun 19        NM Jun 25        1Q Jul 3

1. Matariki events and resources
   • TKI: https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/National-events-and-the-NZC/Matariki
   • Booklet of Matariki karakia
   • Rangi Matamua’s book, Matariki the Star of the Year, other books and posters here.
2. The NZASE AGM will be held online Tues 15 July 6pm. Members who wish to attend need to email Donna Sellers at NZASE@xtra.co.nz for the link. An agenda will be shared closer to the date.
3. Term 4 bookings for Rotoroa Island are now open. Each booking involves 2.5h at school, full day on the island, then 1.5h to reflect & plan action. https://www.rotoroa.org.nz/education

Info

1. Pedagogy:
   • An article on the impact of mistakes on engagement
2. Professional reading/watching/listening:
   • Readings on Science curriculum development [thanks to Lian Soh for the heads up]
     • Science in NZ schools: Viewpoint 2025 by Georgina Tuari Stewart & Sally Birdsall
     • What’s the Future for Science in the NZ Curriculum? (2024) by Georgina Tuari Stewart & 9 others
     • Winds of Change Buffeting Science Education in Aotearoa NZ (2025) by Georgina Tuari Stewart & Sally Birdsall
   • An article about the PM’s new Chief Science Advisor and council.
3. Digital tools:
   • OpenAI Academy has recordings of tutorials on using AI https://academy.openai.com/home (free to join).
4. The latest NZASE newsletter has articles on toaster science & teaching forensics as well as a profile of a science artist. Sign up for the newsletter or find resources here https://nzase.org.nz/. Join NZASE here https://nzase.org.nz/membership/ .

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Native species: Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain has info about their native birds and Trees That Count has info about our native plants . An Alpha on Flax: Harakeke A127
   • BioDominoes game to review cell structure and transport [Matthew Simmons] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sl2uPrtzQSwmqTm64GTElA4DACwBIyxw/view?
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Cutlass activity – a radish-growing competition. BB 02 Veges
   • Luffa are a subtropical vine in the cucumber family which can be eaten when young, used as a loofah sponge or combined with other materials to make furniture. Investigate growing them.
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Article & video about the May 2024 aurora
   • Teach Engineering practical on ocean currents https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_earth_lesson2_activity2
   • Activity using a slinky to model p-, s- and surface-waves https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/304_Slinky_seismic_waves.pdf
4. Chemistry:
   • A preview of BioZone’s new Chemistry Explained workbook https://www.flipsnack.com/95F7ACDD75E/chem1-chemistry-explained/full-view.html
   • Teach engineering activity on composite materials
   • Kahurangi is a game to practice spectroscopy skills designed by Jay Vijaykumar at Edgewater College. https://kahurangi-2025.tiiny.site/
5. Physics:
   • A Cutlass activity on electrical safety. EL 01 Safety
   • Video: How Galileo Transformed Our Understanding of the Universe
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • A Cutlass activity on snails. BB 07 Snails
   • To demo the importance of hygiene cough onto 1 piece of white bread, wipe a hand over the other, pop each into a sealable plastic bag. Over a week or two fungi (& bacterial colonies?) will become visible.
7.  Science:
   • The Great Kaikōura Whale Count citizen science event 1-30 Jun. More information
   • A Cutlass activity on measuring temperature. CH 03 Temperature
8. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
   • Teach Engineering activity on microplastics https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/uok-2216-microplastic-extraction-cleanser-beads-filter-design
9. A science book you or your students might like to read
   • Tadpole’s Promise, by Jeanne Willis, read aloud is about a tadpole & a caterpillar both changing. Explores amphibian & insect life cycles, adaptations, predator, prey, food chain.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Learning Network NZ, Cnr Universal/Soljan Drives, Henderson, Auckland
   • Using AI intelligently – Mark Osborne, July 25
2. Evaluation Associates is running free webinars on NCEA co-requisites, 3:30-4:30 pm. https://www.evaluate.co.nz/professional-learning/ncea-co-requisite-support-webinars

Technicians

1. Technicians have been sharing the karakia their schools use for dissections. Dissection karakia

Cheers, Mike

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