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 |
3-31 Mar | Brain Awareness Month www.neurological.org.nz |
31 Mar | Café Scientifique on dark matter, Horse & Trap, 3 Enfield St, Mt Eden, Ak, 6-8pm |
1-30 Apr | Auckland’s MOTAT is offering free entry for teachers during April. Info here. |
2 Apr | World Autism day www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day |
4 Apr | Tsunami warning siren test at the end of daylight savings (‘fall back’) |
7 Apr | World Health day www.who.int/ Events calendar |
12 Apr | International Day of Human Space Flight www.un.org/en/events/humanspaceflightday/ |
12Apr-12May | Ramadan http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/tp/ramadan-hub.htm |
Moon | FM 29 Mar 3Q 4 Apr NM 12 Apr 1Q 20 Apr |
- Science is Cool 5 is a free virtual all-day unconference on 1 April (9am PDT = 5am 2 Apr NZT) on teaching science – pedagogy, tools, online. https://www.thepocketlab.com/scic
- Events as part of West EcoFest
- explore pekapeka tou roa long-tailed bats in the bush (several dates). Book at facebook.com/CommunityWaitakere .
- find out how to test the health of a stream Sat 10 Apr, 10-11:30 Margaret Griffin Park. Book with justine@whauriver.org.nz
- Otago Museum has a science show on light including light-sabres, glowing money, and rainbow vision. Barclay theatre, 2pm weekends & public holidays
- Landcare Webinar on biocontrol of wasps on Tues 30 Mar, 10:30 – 11:30 am https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5930843099718849804
Info
- Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
- Morgan Bowen Hammerich has made a periodic table in both English & te reo https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p5Tl-9tqEDJOXOC6I97cI1WVzpN9Eoeb/view
- Student opportunities:
- The Birds NZ Youth Camp is being run from 18 – 24 April in Hawke’s Bay. $200. Apply by 10 April https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/birding/birds-nz-youth-camps/
- Alison Campbell workshop on critical thinking for Schol Bio students / teachers. Sancta Maria College, 319 Te Irirangi Drive, Botany South, Ak. Sat 8 May, 9-12. Free. Please send names of school & all students to Shane s.williamson@sanctamaria.school.nz
- Science Careers:
- How to become a NASA engineer video.
- Teacher Opportunities:
- Julian Thomson (of Out There Learning fame) will work with teachers to help develop units to teach geology and environmental science with field trips and workshops, according to his website. https://outtherelearning.co.nz
Resources
- Biology:
- Geniverse is free, web-based software exploring heredity & genetics by breeding and studying virtual dragons. https://learn.concord.org/geniverse
- Flower dissection https://www.otago.ac.nz/genetics/otago038240.pdf
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- COSMOS article on seaweed helping with cattle burps https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/agriculture/seaweed-stops-cattle-burps
- Earth & Space Science:
- School Journal article on what NZ scientists are learning from coprolites (fossilized faeces). https://instructionalseries.tki.org.nz/Instructional-Series/School-Journal/School-Journal-Level-3-November-2020/The-Coprolite-Hunters
- Apollo rocks reveal the moon’s early history https://www.universetoday.com/150448/apollo-rocks-reveal-the-moons-early-history/
- Chemistry:
- Teacher resource on materials of the future – animate materials. https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/education-skills/teacher-resources-and-opportunities/resources-for-teachers/animate-materials
- Ions, health and salt lamps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ–scjcAZ4
- Physics:
- Fermilab clip about why bananas produce neutrinos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvNTnvQMEM8
- FizziQ is a free smartphone app with lots of science sensors to detect & record physical data https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3JsreXPH80
- Primary & intermediate:
- Primary science resources from UK’s ASE. https://www.ase.org.uk/ase-coronavirus-hub-primary-remote-learning-resources#year3
- A resource for teaching about bees https://www.otago.ac.nz/genetics/otago038245.pdf
- Nature of Science:
- Resource using 10 images to construct explanations, link ideas with evidence, challenge others’ ideas and use scientific terms (with teacher guides). https://pstt.org.uk/application/files/4016/1599/1844/Picture_for_Talk_Booklet_FINAL.pdf
- Science of COVID:
- With the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out proceeding across NZ, OPMCSA has curated a list of annotated links to trusted information about COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/
- EfS:
- Australian research that used fake news to protect endangered birds. Very clever! https://sciblogs.co.nz/hot-press/2021/03/11/scientists-used-fake-news-to-stop-predators-killing-endangered-birds-and-the-result-was-remarkable/
- A resource on protecting estuaries https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/conservation-education/resources/protecting-our-estuaries
- Science
- Air Aware is a collection of air quality lessons for schools – theory, videos, activities and quizzes. https://niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/teaching-resources/air-aware
MoE/NZQA
- MoE draft materials for L1 AgH, Bi, Ch, ESS, Ph found at https://ncea.education.govt.nz/ Subjects (tab at the top). Have your say by 19 April.
- MoE is currently recruiting for 5 Learning Area Lead (LAL) positions to assist in the development and implementation of the NCEA Review Changes including supporting teachers to understand the new Achievement Standard and assessment resources: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MoE-job-description-LAL-2438.pdf
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- STEM Learning (UK) has some free online PLD available on demand
- Differentiation https://www.stem.org.uk/cpd/ondemand/86996/differentiation-learning
- Managing Behaviour https://www.stem.org.uk/cpd/ondemand/45271/managing-behaviour-learning
Cheers, Mike
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