Mike’s News May 24

24 May Deadline to submit abstract for ULearn conference
24 May Café Scientifique. 7 – 9 pm Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club, 90 Keith Allen Dr.
26 May Total lunar eclipse, max at 11:18 am https://rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/eclipses
27 May ASTA dinner at Mt Eden Bowling club, Stokes Rd, 6:45 pm, 27 May, $35
30 May-5jun Samoan language week www.mpia.govt.nz
31 May World Smoke-free Day www.worldsmokefreeday.org.nz
1 Jun World milk day https://worldmilkday.org/
5 Jun World Environment Day www.4million.org.nz www.mfe.govt.nz
5 Jun Arbor Day www.treesforsurvival.org
8 Jun World Oceans day www.theoceanproject.org/wod/wod_ideas.php
Moon FM 26 May    3Q 2 Jun     NM 10 Jun     1Q 18 Jun
  1. Phrases for Samoan language week: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Common-phrases-Samoan-2p.docx
  2. Explore slime at MOTAT 29/30 May. https://www.motat.nz/events/slime-weekend/
  3. Get into Gaming! Online events for all Year 7-9 students and their teachers 14-18 June to discover pathways into gaming.  More info: https://getintogaming.nz/

Info

  1. Pedagogy:
    • Ideas for Do-Nows
      • An incorrect diagram on the board/screen for students to re-draw and label correctly
      • Statements, some true, some false. Students re-write wrong statements correctly.
      • From 3 pictures, words or phrases, pupils pick the odd one out & explain why.
      • Students write a sentence using as many key words as possible from a list provided
      • Teacher puts up answers. Pupils write the questions
      • Key vocab: some terms to define or some definitions to give the term for
      • Two concepts/terms to compare and contrast in a Venn diagram
  2. The latest NZASE newsletter has articles on a Māori scientist, teachers working with scientists for members and making oxygen on Mars in the public domain. Sign up for the newsletter here https://nzase.org.nz/. Join NZASE here https://nzase.org.nz/membership/
  3. Turnitin software is now available to NZ schools at a discounted education rate. Products and contact details can be found at: Turnitin – Education in NZ
  4. The Good Earth Foundation of Pacific Collections Ltd has been donated funds for planting native trees. If you are planting native trees as part of school project please get in touch with Trevor trevor@paccol.co.nz and he will let you know the next steps.

Resources

  1. Biology:
    • Video building the bones from the ground up via 7activemedical.com. On mobiles you need to download SCIENCETUTS App first.
    • Article and audio from a Kathryn Ryan interview about research suggesting climate change could slow photosynthesis in C3 plants so less CO2 is absorbed.
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
  3. Earth & Space Science:
  4. Chemistry:
  5. Physics:
  6. Primary & intermediate:
  7. Nature of Science:
  8.  EfS:
    • An interactive module about the causes & impacts of sea level rise, which challenges students to think about what they can do in response.
    • A lesson based around released balloons as plastic pollution

MoE/NZQA

  1. MoE Curriculum Leads are a new resource to support to teachers to design local curriculum. They can also introduce and guide teachers through new curriculum wellbeing supports. Ask to connect with one through your local MoE office: bit.ly/2S4z3fF
  2. To develop new standards at L2 & 3, MoE needs more leaders – 12 new Lead Secondary Advisors (LSA) & 3 Lead Advisors. The LSA will be responsible for leading several Subject Expert Groups (SEGs) to develop the complete suite of material for L2 & 3 from Aug 2021 – Jan 2024. Lead Advisors lead either the subject development or the pilots & work with LSAs to ensure high quality materials are delivered on time. Applications close on Sun 6 Jun.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. Maurice Wilkins Centre is offering free PLD on COVID-19 on Jun 21 at Wakatipu High School, Queenstown. Info https://www.mauricewilkinscentre.org/events/mwc-biology-teacher-professional-development-day-queenstown-2021/
  2. Education Hub webinar: James Lamb and Kris Watson of Tauhara College discuss how they improved Yr 9 & 10 students’ engagement and motivation in STEM using real-world problems drawn from their local community. 3:30 pm, Th 3 June. Register here
  3. COREed FREE online webinar To sprint or stumble: pursuing equity in a digital world on using technology as a morally neutral accelerant to political and social action. Th 27 May 3:30-5pm.

Cheers, Mike

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