4 Feb | World Cancer Day https://www.worldcancerday.org/ |
5 Feb | Applications close for Science Teaching Leadership Programme. Info here. |
7 Feb | National Periodic Table day http://www.periodictableday.org/ |
11 Feb | International Day of Women and Girls in Science http://bit.ly/UNESCO2Rp0zpr |
11 Feb | Women in STEM panel 11 Feb, 6:30-7:30 Te Pae Chch Convention Centre. |
12 Feb | International Charles Darwin Day www.darwinday.org/index.php |
Moon | 1Q Feb 5 FM Feb 13 3Q Feb 21 NM Feb 28 |
Info
- Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
- Latest book from Ann Milne: Beyond Whiteness – Eight Steps Every Teacher can Take to Build an Antiracist Classroom.
- Pedagogy:
- Some basics of managing challenging behaviour (join teacher toolkit for free) https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/2022/11/29/challenging-behaviour
- Variations on Think-Pair-Share https://www.edutopia.org/article/think-pair-share-variations-16-ways-up-your-game/
- Professional reading/watching/listening:
- Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned report was released recently and the recommendations for education make interesting reading.
- Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking: The Knowledge Revival has several authors including Paul Kirschner, Dylan Williams, John Hattie and E D Hirsch [source Ian Torrie]
- Teacher Opportunities:
- Runa provides teaching modules (history, science, EfS) along with a sailing experience for years 4-10. Info zoom for teachers 10 Feb 5pm. Register here.
- Literacy
- Daniel Tawhai suggests getting the class to ask AI to write a short report about something eg homeostasis. Then ask them to identify the ‘fact’ type statements & find reliable sources to back them up. They often find info that proves some of the facts wrong, an eye-opening exercise.
- Learn Coach provides video tutorials & practice questions for NCEA standards for students & a digital tutor and classroom tools with an ability to assign auto-marked homework for teachers. They have a 2025 special offer of free access to student & teacher resources. Sign up here.
- LEARNZ virtual field trips for this year include seaweed, pounamu, place names, landslides and Maungatautari Sanctuary mountain https://mailchi.mp/learnz/learnz-trips-2025
- Useful info about the subject associations for those new to teaching science in NZ. Science Subject Support 2025
Resources
- Biology:
- Some great practicals for year 9 and 10 and kit list for the pracs from Royal Society of Biology
- LiveScience article on genetically isolated human populations showing their higher incidences of some inherited conditions – exemplifying the founder effect
- Last week’s Schol Bio spreadsheet was incomplete, apologies. Here is the finished and corrected version: Schol Bio Rdgs finished
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- Activities to determine the sugar, alcohol and acid content of wine
- HATA has uploaded summaries of 3 TV programs for its members: Country Calendar; Rural Delivery; Home, Land & Sea. Earlier & 2025 episodes will be added over the year (CC and RD).
- Earth & Space Science:
- A star gazing guide: February Night Sky
- Richard Hammons wild weather video on wind and Najin Suvi’s worksheet
- An Earth Learning Idea showing how simplified calculations can be used to demonstrate the immense age of the Earth (before the discovery of radioactivity).
- Chemistry:
- Compound Chem Infographics: chemistry of the menstrual cycle, fluoro chemicals, diabetes, tin
- RSC article on how to effectively teach the mole (you’ll need to join the education arm, it’s free)
- Physics:
- A Teach Engineering activity where students create a tabletop game that uses sliding friction.
- The Perimeter Institute has PLD, resources, 2024 news, star guide, videos, science channels.
- Primary & intermediate:
- Activity identifying plastics from their properties
- A new PhET interactive on buoyancy basics looks like it may be useful for primary students
- Science:
- Young Rutherfords sells online courses with hands-on activities (gear shipped for the 1st 3) on:
- the science of wind turbines (yr 11,12) https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/14221
- light and reflection (for yr 3 up) https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/14223
- forensic science 101 and 102 (yr 5 +)
- Science at home (for families) – book for 1 science area or book for all 4
- Engineering challenges https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/14225
- Classroom units for years 6-11 http://youngrutherfords.com/programme-2/
- Young Rutherfords sells online courses with hands-on activities (gear shipped for the 1st 3) on:
- STEM/STEAM:
- STEM Dorado online magazine https://community.stem.org.uk/browse/stemdorado (free to join)
- Nature of Science:
- How to spot misinformation – from Unbiased Science Podcast
MoE/NZQA
- New resources coming from SCENZ – practice assessment for CB1.4 & how to support Schol Chem students (by end Jan); a complete rewrite of CB 1.2 assessments (drafts by end T1).
Can you help?
- To develop career resources Youth Engineering Solution’s survey is asking how you currently encourage STEM career exploration and how YES can help address gaps and challenges,
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- The next online Science is Cool event is a webinar on citizen science, Th 13 Feb 5pm ET [Fri 14 Feb at 11am NZT]. https://www.thepocketlab.com/events/citizen-science-with-scistarter-feb-2025
- Recording of an OpenSciEd webinar: The Why and How of 3D Phenomenon-based Learning.
- HHMI free online PLD for bio teachers using their resources
- Core Ed PLD
- Whiria te Reo webinars on Tues 3:30-4:30, once a month. https://core-ed.org/en_NZ/professional-learning/further-learning-opportunities/whiria-te-reo
Cheers, Mike
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