4 Aug	3:30 pm. Science Alive Prim Science PLD, Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawerau, Qtn. Register
5 Aug	3:30 pm. Sci Alive Prim Sci PLD, James Hargest Coll Jun campus Invercargill. Register
6 Aug	3:30 pm. Science Alive Primary Science PLD, Tahuna N Int Sch, Dunedin. Register
6 Aug 1945	Hiroshima Day
6 Aug	Deadline to register students for NZIBO 2026. https://nzibo.org/nzibo-registration/
7 Aug	7pm ESSENZ webinar on 91193 Physical Principles in Earth Systems. Register here
8-14 Aug	Maths Week www.mathsweek.org.nz/
10 Aug	11 am Hiroshima memorial at the Peace Bell in Botanic Gardens, Christchurch.
13 Aug	National entrance exam for NZIBO. https://nzibo.org/
14 Aug	4pm SLH PLD on participatory science & monitoring our waterways/ oceans. Info here.
17 Aug	MOTAT’s LIVE Day (10am-4pm) with a hands-on focus on flying
17 Aug	Midnight deadline to apply for Girls on Ice https://www.inspiringgirls.org/goi-aotearoa-nz
17 Aug	Deadline to apply for MacDiarmid’s Nano Camp or Discovery Camp
17-23 Aug	Tongan Language week, Lea Faka-Tonga www.mpia.govt.nz
Moon	FM Aug 9        3Q Aug 16        NM Aug 23        1Q Aug 31

1. Talks that may be relevant for us
   • Cafe Scientifique: Rose Riley talks about urban green spaces. 18 Aug. Tauranga Yacht Club Doors open at 6:30 for a 7pm start, $10. Book with julia.banks60@gmail.com
   • A series of talks on what we can learn from pandemics (from Otago uni). Register to join online.
     • 12pm Mon 18 Aug – Black Death & others
     • 12 pm Tues 19 Aug – the 1918 influenza pandemic
     • 12 pm Thurs 21 Aug – COVID
     • 12 pm Fri 22 Aug – protecting ourselves from future pandemic threats
2. ASTA’s annual dinner is at Akarana Golf Club Th 21 Aug. ASTA Dinner Flier

Info

1. Pedagogy:
   • Some classroom management mistakes and the research on how to fix them. https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-classroom-management-mistakes-and-research-how-fix-them
2. Student opportunities:
   • Rotary National Science & Technology Forum for this year’s year 12 students, held in Jan 2026. Info 36th annual Rotary Sci n Tech Forum * and https://rotaryscienceforum.nz/
3. Digital tools:
   • LEARNZ offers virtual field trips –
     • Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain ecosanctuary Launches Mon 4 Aug with a focus on kiwi (translocations, dogs, health, telemetry, Taonga)
     • Te Wahi Pounamu – Exploring origins, collection, significance, kaitiakitanga, use with Ngāti Waewae
4. Buying Assessments: Subject Associations provide their mock exams for members only.
   • Bio – L3 BEANZ; L1,2 & 3 Exams4U; CB1.3 and L2 Bio CSTA;
   • L1 Sci – NZASE (Sci 1.3 here, Sci 1.4 here); SCI1.3 CSTA
   • Chem – L1, 2 & 3 SCENZ; L1, 2 & 3 Exams4U; CB1.4 CSTA
   • Physics – L1, 2 & 3 NZIP; L1, 2 & 3 Exams4U; PES 1.4 CSTA
   • ESS – L1, 2 & 3 ESSENZ; L1,2 & 3 Exams4U

Resources

1. Biology:
   • A free Gizmo interactive exploring antagonistic muscle pairs and muscle function https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/find-gizmos/launch-gizmo?resourceId=1089
   • A clever free bingo game for homeostasis on joining this newsletter https://biology-roots.kit.com/91e5389667
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • NZH article about a group of NZ winemakers following Māori beliefs: NZ winemakers n Māori beliefs *
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A star gazing guide: The August Night Sky *
   • An article about the recent earthquake in Russia. Russian earthquake  
   • A free interactive Gizmo on building Pangea: https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/find-gizmos/launch-gizmo?resourceId=633
4. Chemistry:
   • Some chemistry contexts you may find useful https://edu.rsc.org/feature/contextualising-core-practicals/4021172.article
   • Solving equations using the GUESS acronym https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/success-with-guess-for-solving-equation-based-problems/4020659.article
5. Physics:
   • A collection of resources on Newton’s third law, targeting misconceptions about interacting pairs of forces
   • A practical on pressure and force from IOP https://spark.iop.org/pressure-and-force
6. Middle School:
   • A free interactive Gizmo on reducing noise pollution (you’ll need to sign up for free) https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/find-gizmos/lesson-info?resourceId=3242
7.  Science:
   • A video from Bozeman science on scientific inquiry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Q6NMCsLq8
   • A collection of science posters from UoC: measure, observe, discover, experiment, explore, extract, grow, improve, manipulate.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Two-day workshops on Rongoa. $260 – $420. 1 Identification & tikanga (Ak & Tauranga). 2 Harvesting & prep (Ak & Tauranga). 3 Harvesting & Prep (Kawhia). 4 Making medicine (Northland). https://titokieducation.co.nz/workshops/
2. MWC/BEANZ Biology PLD dates for your diary: 3 Nov Taupō, 4 Nov Tauranga, 5 Nov Auckland, 10 Nov Queenstown (make a weekend of it!), 11 Nov Timaru. Travel fund available for PPTA members.
3. Exploring Giftedness Conference Christchurch 6:30pm Fri 26 Sep to 4pm Sat 27 Sep. https://www.exploringgiftedness.org.nz/
4. NZ sign language training for educators. 1h/wk for 3 weeks, evenings, $65 (includes handouts). https://www.mergenz.co.nz/nzsl-schools

Cheers, Mike

Mike’s News is brought to you with the generous support of Warp Computers and NZASE

P.S. At present all items I physically attach have to be pdfs. Some of these are available as an editable Word document (marked with an asterisk). If you would prefer the Word version you are welcome to email me.