1-28 Feb	Bikewise month https://can.org.nz/article/february-is-bikewise-month
1-28 Feb	Heart Awareness Month www.heartfoundation.org.nz/for-women
19 Feb	Deadline to apply for free regionally-allocated PLD https://pld.education.govt.nz/
Moon	1Q 20 Feb FM 27 Feb 3Q 6 Mar NM 13 Mar

• For your diary: the physics teacher day at Ak uni is on Nov 19 (Friday of week 5, term 4).
• Café Scientifique, 90 Keith Allen Dr, Tauranga Mon 22 Feb, 7-9. Topic is Sharks in the Bay. Register here, pay $5 at the door.
• Waikato uni is running a seminar on the ‘crisis’ in maths/science education Wed 17 Feb from 4pm. Zoom option available: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TIMSS-talk-17-Feb.pdf

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Science Alive Mātauranga is an online learning resource available from Science Alive and Education Perfect. It is designed to inspire engagement in the areas of science, technology and innovation – with a Mātauranga Māori lens. A video about it is available on demand: https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet
2. Pedagogy:
   • Smartphone apps for science [Ian Torrie]: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Science-SmartPhone-Apps.pdf
   • Some schools are trying wifi-free days https://twitter.com/OhLottie/status/1357733676755398660/photo/1
3. Literacy:
   • Why students should write in all subjects https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-students-should-write-all-subjects
4. Science Careers
   • MOTAT’s Fire & Emergency Live day is 21 Feb, 10-4. https://www.motat.nz/events/motat-live-day
5. Victoria University of Wellington is offering a 200-level course on Te Putaiao Māori/Māori Science again in 2021, 5 Jul – 7 Nov at 2:10 on Wednesday’s and Fridays. https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/courses/maor/202/2021/offering?crn=27089

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Finding a Roquefort mould in NZ. https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/moulding-true-blue-kiwi-cheese
   • An online lesson on the chi squared test https://stemlearning.wistia.com/medias/kkrck663cc
   • A TedEd talk on what makes muscles grow
2. Earth & Space Science:
   • Teaching moon phases using hands-on activities http://solar-center.stanford.edu/activities/MoonPhases/
   • Microscopic views of rocks https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/collections
   • FaceBook page for NZ astronomy educators https://www.facebook.com/groups/astredu/
3. Chemistry:
   • Article on the chemistry of the natural elastomer rubber https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/how-rubber-is-bouncing-back/4012952.article
   • Reading, poster, fact sheet and flashcards on allotropes of carbon https://edu.rsc.org/infographics/allotropes-of-carbon/4012885.article
   • An online lesson for years 7-9 on different types of chemical reactions, their similarities and differences https://stemlearning.wistia.com/medias/v24zqy9zs2
4. Physics:
   • An online lesson at KS4 on drawing ray diagrams https://stemlearning.wistia.com/medias/bnceui8lcp
   • Lesson from teach engineering on energy https://www.teachengineering.org/curricularunits/view/cub-energy-conservation-unit
   • This TedEd lesson on how smart phones know where you are. It touches on atomic clocks and quantum mechanics. (sign up for free)
5. Primary & intermediate:
   • An online lesson for yrs 3-6 that explores the structure & function of different kinds of skeletons https://stemlearning.wistia.com/medias/1iqn4xlo7l
   • ID cards for bugs (from Landcare). https://www.otataralandcare.org.nz/site/assets/files/1065/beaut-bugs-olg.pdf
   • From Teach Engineering, units on energy for yrs 3-5 (heat, sound, electrical, renewable) https://mailchi.mp/teachengineering/energy-mini-units
6. Science of COVID:
   • Siouxsie & Toby’s article & images on how different variants of SARS-CoV-2 arise https://sciblogs.co.nz/infectious-thoughts/2021/01/26/how-worried-should-we-be-about-these-new-covid-19-mutations/
7.  EfS:
   • Kiwi Conservation Club has heaps of posters suggesting conservation activities https://kcc.org.nz/activities/

MoE/NZQA

1. 2020 Scholarship results are now here on NZQA.
2. An NZQA workshop (Making Assessor Judgements) is being planned for Northland Biology teachers and they are trying to decide on a date. If you are interested please let Teresa tjackson@kerikerihigh.ac.nz know if you can attend on 14 or 17 May.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. STEM Learning (UK) has some online PLD available on demand focussing on differentiation and on formative assessment
2. Kohia Teachers’ Centre, 78 Epsom Ave, Auckland
   • Intro to NZC (primary) by Gayle McIlraith 15 Feb, 1:30 – 4:30 pm, online
   • Middle Leaders professional learning group, (primary) by Jenny Thompson, 7 dates from 25 Feb, 9:30-12, face to face (ftf)
   • Understanding NCEA (secondary), by Robyn Headifen, 3 Mar, 9:30-2:30. Ftf
   • Intro to NZC (primary & secondary) by Gayle McIlraith, 10 Mar, 9:30-2:30. Ftf
   • Enhanced Induction and Mentoring program – extra support available for new teachers who trained in NZ in 2020. Mentor comes to your school.
   • A program for primary Provisionally Certificated teachers is offered in 3 cities, starting 24 Feb (Ak – Epsom & North Shore), 19 March (Whangarei) & 26 March (Kerikeri). Ftf
3. From Learning Network NZ, 214 Universal Drive, Henderson, Auckland.
   • First Year Beginning Teachers (Primary) by various, 8 dates from 24 Feb, 8:30-12, face to face
   • Mentoring by various, 3 dates from 24 Feb, 1-4pm. ftf
   • Future-Ready Leadership webinars, 4 dates from 1 Mar, 7-8:30 am. Online.
   • Co-Teaching and Collaboration by Mark Osborne, 8 Mar, 9:30-3, ftf.

Cheers, Mike

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