Author: Mike Stone

Mike’s News Sep 18

Posted on by Mike Stone
11-18 Sep Māori Language week www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz
19 Sep Hochstetter lecture on the Kaikoura Earthquake, Palmerston North. Details here
20 Sep MOTAT’s online History of Robotics workshops. 9.30am or 1.30pm. Sign up here.
21 Sep PLD at Rosmini College on incorporating mātauranga Māori into ESS. registration link
22 Sep Entries close for Interface’s Minecraft comp https://interfaceonline.co.nz/minecraft2023/
23 Sep Spring Equinox NZ https://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set-1
24 Sep World Rivers day http://worldriversday.com/ (last Sun Sep)
24 Sep Tsunami warning siren test at the beginning of daylight savings, (last Sun in Sep)
25 Sep uLearn registration closes https://ulearn.nz/
25Sep-1Oct Chinese language week https://mhaw.nz/
26 Sep-2Oct Mental Health Awareness Week https://mhaw.nz/
26 Sep Hochstetter lecture on the Kaikoura Earthquake, Auckland. Details here
26 Sep-2Oct Mental Health Awareness Week https://mhaw.nz/
28 Sep Hochstetter lecture on the Kaikoura Earthquake, Tauranga. Details here
1 Oct Tuvalu Language week www.mpia.govt.nz.
1-31 Oct Health Literacy month www.healthliteracymonth.org/
1-31 Oct Save Kiwi month www.kiwisforkiwi.org/save-kiwi-week/schools
1-31 Oct Breast Cancer Awareness month www.nzbcf.org.nz (Pink Ribbon)
2 Oct World Habitat Day https://www.un.org/en/events/habitatday/
Moon 1Q Sep 23        FM Sep 29        3Q Oct 7        NM Oct 15
  1. NZIC & UoA ChemSoc are hosting a quiz night on Th 21 Sep 4:30-6:30 pm at Old Government House at Ak uni (quiz starts at 5:15 pm). Free and open to all. Register here. Queries to Cameron here.
  2. Woodshole Oceanographic Inst is holding a webinar on the impact of climate change on the Arctic. 7:30-8:30 pm Wed 20 Sep ET (11:30 am – 12:30pm Th 21 Sep NZT). Register here.
  3. Remuera Primary School is holding The Unbelieve-a-Bubble Science Show Sun 24 Sep for primary aged children. Sessions at 9:30, 11:15am & 1:15. pm Includes fire & loud noises. $8.50 Book here
  4. Student researchers to share their Curious Minds and WeSTEM projects with their peers and the wider community at the Curious Minds Conference 10am – 1pm, Fri, 20 Oct,  MOTAT Aviation Hall, Western Springs, Auckland. Register for free here.
  5. NZARE Special Interest Group is hosting a panel discussion with Michael Johnston, Stuart McNaughton and Agate Ponder-Sutton on the challenges and opportunities for quantitative education research in Aotearoa New Zealand. 4 Oct, 4-5:50pm. Register here
  6. Just a reminder to sign up for the NOVEMBER round of MWC free bio PD days with 5 talks apiece. In Christchurch Monday 13th, New Plymouth 14th Nov, Rotorua 15th. Sign up here.
  7. ESSE are hosting a webinar with Dr. Kim Currie Th 21 Sep 4-5pm. This scientist will discuss how teams work together & make meticulous observations to understand how the global oceans are responding to the rise in CO2. Contact Justin.zani@obhs.school.nz for details and Zoom link.

Info

  1. Pedagogy:
  2. Student opportunities:
    • ESS scholarship tutorial (audio recordings found here) on Geology: Wed 20 Sep, 7.00 – 8.30 pm. Google Meet link. [Not Oct as first advertised]
    • Māori & Pacific Women in Tech is the 1st STEM conference for future Women leaders in STEM! Wed 11 Oct , 9–3, AUT (Manukau campus). Register student interest by 12 Sep (try anyway?). More here
  3. Literacy:
  4. The latest NZASE newsletter, due out on Monday, has an articles on picture books in science, the genetics of kakapo conservation for anyone and disciplinary literacy 2 reading for members only as well as 2 Māori scientist profiles, a biologist and a chemist. Sign up for the newsletter or find resources here https://nzase.org.nz/. Join NZASE here https://nzase.org.nz/membership/ .
  5. Revision:

Resources

  1. Biology:
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
  3. Earth & Space Science:
  4.  Chemistry:
  5.  Physics:
    • Student activity for the Netflix movie, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, about a boy who brings electricity to his village.
    • NZIP is making some videos about teaching energy. Progress so far
  6. Primary & intermediate:
    • Slow Reveal Graph is an instructional routine that promotes sensemaking about data, using scaffolded visuals and discussion. https://slowrevealgraphs.com/
    • Yr 13 student Anthea Husein, of Cromwell College, has created a children’s storybook for her young enterprise project. Anahera’s Adventures encourages young girls to pursue STEM careers. Buy for $27.99 from her website https://empowhermind.mystorbie.com/
  7. Nature of Science:

MoE/NZQA

  1. MoE sends out several bulletins which HoDs may want to subscribe to. Info here https://bulletins.education.govt.nz/bulletin?brands=te-pout%C4%81h%C5%AB-curriculum-centre-school-update
  2. MoE has also announced Dates for external assessment in 2024 and Teacher Only Day dates 2024
  3. More about the Science NiFs online workshops in the NCEA newsletter here.
  4. Past exams will be removed from NZQA website by 30 Sep. Access Bi, Ch, Px, Sc from No Brain Too Small.

Can you help?

  1. Are there any teachers that might be keen to trial an integrated agricultural and horticultural science unit of work for juniors in term 4? Please contact Kerry k.allen@stpauls.school.nz
  2. The teachers Council is consulting on Initial Teacher Education. If you want to give feedback the consultation document and survey is here. The consultation closes at 5pm on Fri 29 Sep.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. A blog about STEM UK’s online course on managing behaviour for learning. https://community.stem.org.uk/blogs/karen-hornby1/2023/08/25/preparing-for-your-first-teaching-role-managing-be
  2. NZASE has scheduled some PLD for secondary teachers in term 4 and is looking for hosts for others. Find out more here https://nzase.org.nz/nzase-network-expertise/

Cheers, Mike

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