5-29 Nov	NZQA exams
10-16 Nov	Papua New Guinea Language week, Papua Niugini Tok Pisin www.mpia.govt.nz
14 Nov	World Diabetes day https://worlddiabetesday.org/about/theme/
17 Nov	Peak of Leonid meteor shower 4 am. http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/meteor-showers
18 Nov	International day of LGBT people in STEM. https://prideinstem.org/lgbtstemday/
18-24 Nov	Antibiotic Resistance www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/en/
Moon	FM Nov 16        3Q Nov 23        NM Dec 1        1Q Dec 9

All PLD events in a separate document this term – see below

1. Café Scientifique – Dr Simon Muncaster talks about sex change in fish at the Tauranga Yacht club, 18 Nov 7pm, $10.

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori:
   • NZ article about Teaching Indigenous Knowledge alongside Science.
2. Professional reading/watching/listening:
   • Set 2, 2024 summary https://www.nzcer.org.nz/nzcerpress/set/set-2024-no-2
3. Science Careers:
   • Types of engineering https://www.teachengineering.org/k12engineering/types-of-engineering
4. Science gifts
   • Greenpeace 2025 calendar https://shop.greenpeace.org.nz/shop
5. The revision webinars – unfortunately, AgH 3.5 / AS91532 Environmental Issue & AgH Scholarship has not been updated to reflect the changes in contexts for 2024, so will not be helpful. NCEA revision recordings
6. MacDiarmid Inst offers scholarships for students starting tertiary science courses in particular fields. More info here.

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Activity comparing organelles in eukaryotes and prokaryotes: Cells and organelles
   • A podcast & resources about countering the misconception Evolution is only a theory.
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Article on Common garden insect pests
   • Solarisation – using sun to keep pests away – quiz, PPT, activity https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/ucd_soil_solarization_lesson01
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Volcanic features at Whangarei Heads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEukWHJIHm0
   • Earth and Space Science Careers https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vWuYkrkuC-1T37zmoL_a9j0eAWIV0MV1/view
4. Chemistry:
   • Keri Garlick’s tips and practice exercises when her kids ask how to get Achieved on L3 organics 
   • Practicals to identify plastics https://waterlibrary.aqua.wisc.edu/plastics-uploads/curr_5gyres_identify.pdf
5. Physics:
   • Free Virtual fieldtrip exploring the Science Behind Crashes. Th Dec 12 10-11am ET (2-3am on Fr Dec 13 NZT!!). Recording will be available to all who sign up. Includes follow-up lesson.
   • Physics in Advent presents a daily physics investigation with a question to answer from 1-24 Dec. Register now https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2024/physics-in-advent/
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Activities on fossils from American Geo sciences (scroll down to page 6 for the activity Lasting Impressions: Making Molds) and National Park Service (NPS) .
   • Activity mixing household substances to make a fire extinguisher – student sheet, video intro
   • Mrs Priestly’s resources for the new Maths & English curriculum. Small cost.
7.  Science:
   • The Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust are working on various projects:
     • They will be encouraging schools to tag monarch butterflies next year (Feb – May).
     • Last year they embarked on butterfly counts and this has developed into an I Love Butterflies Week that schools can take part in.
     • Together with Daltons they give an award for school butterfly habitats
     • For more info contact trustee Jacqui Knight, MNZM jacqui@nzbutterflies.org.nz

MoE/NZQA

1. As TKI content is moving to Tahurangi, the following websites will close at the end of 2024 & will not be available in 2025: Alternative Education, Assessment Online, e-asTTle, Education Outside the Classroom, Enabling e-learning, English Online, Literacy Online, Secondary Education Portal, Social Sciences Online, Special Education Online, Success for Boys, Technology Online.
2. PowerPoint and recording of the RAMP webinar giving general info on the changes to science standards for 2025. More details in forthcoming PLD (see below). Note the new exclusion between AH1.1 and CB1.1 discussed here.
3. Concerns about the exams? Make an official complaint through your PN or through subject associations. Or fill in NZQA form here https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/contact-us/feedback/
4. There will be no more regionally allocated PLD. https://pld.education.govt.nz/news/professional-learning-and-development-update/

Can you help?

1. Sarah Elizabeth is doing research on active learning in secondary science classrooms for her Masters. If you are happy to answer a 10-15min survey, go here.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Term 4 Science PLD 241104 – update. Includes
   • 3 more RAMP webinars focussing on specific changes to the science subject stds for 2025
   • 2 more Physics teachers’ days
   • And here are the fliers Ak Exam Review and BOP Cluster
2. Recording of recent webinar from Science Learning Hub on Māori concepts for animal ethics https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/3370-maori-concepts-for-animal-ethics

Technicians

1. Optica microscopes are on special this month. Microscope INDENT Form
2. The technician’s forum recently discussed borax in slime, which may be toxic. Technicians suggest not letting students use the powder, instead give out a 4% solution. That cuts out a major safety problem since it is the powdered solid which is the issue (and has a SDS). Article here.

Cheers, Mike

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