1-7 Aug	Cook Islands Maori Language week www.mpia.govt.nz
6Aug1945	Hiroshima Day http://www.hiroshima-remembered.com/
6 Aug	Deadline for next round of centrally funded PLD https://pld.education.govt.nz/
8 Aug	Deadline to apply for the Ngārimu VC & 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarships
8-14 Aug	Maths Week www.mathsweek.org.nz/
9 Aug	Deadline to apply for moderator positions
11 Aug	Deadline to give feedback on the proposed L2 & L3 NCEA subjects
Moon	NM 9 Aug 1Q 16 Aug FM 23 Aug 3Q 30 Aug

1. Prof Brian Cox will be in Ak 26 Feb 2022, Dunedin 1 Mar, Chch 2 Mar, Wgtn 7 Mar 7:30 -10 pm each. Tickets now on sale https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2022/professor-brian-cox-horizons-2022-space-odyssey/auckland

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori
   • Kawakawa https://meaningoftrees.com/2020/05/22/kawakawa-piper-excelsum/
   • Waka activities L1-4 https://eng.keitemohiokoe.tki.org.nz/Overview-of-Biology
   • A group of Ak uni professors wrote a letter about mātauranga Māori in the Listener last week. Some of the online comment: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/UoA-scientists-dismiss-matauranga-Maori-as-not-science.docx
2. Professional reading/watching:
   • SET 2020 #2 has an article on collaborative teaching (needs a subscription for access)
3. Student opportunities:
   • Registration for the first stage of the 2022 NZIBO programme, the entrance exam, closes 5 Aug.  Exams are posted to the school, students sit it 25 Aug.
   • Morrinsville College hosts Alison Campbell’s Biology Scholarship workshop 18 Aug, 1-4pm. Spaces limited. Register here. More info fiona-wolff@morrcoll.school.nz
4. Science Careers
   • Science podcasts (Ologies) interviewing scientists in different fields https://www.alieward.com/smologies

Resources

1. Biology:
   • A blog about bipedalism evolution https://blog.waikato.ac.nz/bioblog/2020/09/first-steps-jerry-desilva-on-the-evolution-of-bipedalism/
   • For Australian Science week STILE have released a lesson on GM food. Preview here.
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Free Rapid Soil Regeneration Webinar Series on using the Soil food Web Approach to increase yield/profit. https://webinar.soilfoodweb.com/webinar-reg-rapid-soil-regeneration
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Visualisation of gravity – balls dropping on various solar system bodies
   • NZH article on what drives eruptions in the Auckland volcanic field
   • Order an American Earth Science Week 2021 Toolkit which has a focus on water
4. Chemistry:
   • Update from the PM’s Science Advisor on the evidence about fluoridation https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/fluoridation-an-update-on-evidence/
   • Practical testing the solubility of 4 solutes in 4 different solvents:
5. Physics:
   • Video and text on Electromagnetic Spectrum https://education.australiascience.tv/explainer-the-electromagnetic-spectrum
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • The NZ Association of Science Educators has gained funding for providing support to Primary Teachers to teach Science in their classes. Please complete this survey to tell NZASE what you need https://forms.gle/6cqt2Nd4o3oa1HEe9
7. Nature of Science:
   • A unit exploring the socio-scientific issue of imposing a tax on sugar & fat http://ri2.missouri.edu/ri2modules/Fat%20Tax/sequences
8. Science of COVID:
   • By January 2020 scientists had already developed a vaccine platform for an expected unknown virus. Once they had the genome sequence, they were ready to order the DNA in 3 days. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026240792101174X
9.  EfS:
   • This activity uses classroom discussions about how the water level in a plastic cup can be changed to teach the processes of changing sea level on Earth. https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/369_Global_sea_level.pdf
   • Award-winning 4-minute film Three Seconds about human impact on planet earth https://vimeo.com/208145716
10.  Science
    • A science history podcast https://player.fm/series/science-history-podcast/episode-44-chemical-sense-nonsense-joe-schwarcz
    • Some colourful science posters to buy https://greengrubsgardenclub.com/shop

MoE/NZQA

The accord days on the draft L1 standards begin this week. The PLD resources are all online at https://training.education.govt.nz/logon.asp  – go to the bottom & click on Guest access, then click on the arrow beside Teachers Only Day for the Secondary Sector . The chem/bio and physics/ESS materials are online at https://ncea.education.govt.nz/.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. From Learning Network NZ, 214 Universal Drive, Henderson, Auckland
   • STEM Unleashed – Chris Clay, 11 Sep 8:30-12:30
   • Leader Preneurs leadership conference – several, 24 Sep, 8:30-4:00.
2. Do you want support, e.g. to incorporate mātauranga Māori into your programs, or to design a more locally-focused curriculum? Apply by Fri 6 Aug to MoE for regionally allocated PLD hours for your science dept or your school. https://pld.education.govt.nz/ You will know by week 8 if you have been successful so you can contact a PLD facilitator & plan to start delivery next term.
3. Teach Engineering has 2 x 2-day workshops online, Aug 9-12. $55 each. https://www.teachengineering.org/pdworkshop
4. Ocean Observers’ virtual Workshop 29 Nov-1 Dec focuses on educational activities linked with ocean observations https://eurogoos.eu/events/2nd-ocean-observers-workshop-2021/
5. PLD on boys’ literacy 13-27 Aug in 8 centres from Dunedin to Auckland. $299 + GST https://www.growthculture.co.nz/cracking-the-code-boys-in-literacy
6. Science Learning Hub is providing free online professional development webinar, Having fun with the science capabilities, on Thurs 19 Aug, 4:00–4:45 pm

Cheers, Mike

Brought to you with the generous support of Warp Computers