1-30 Apr	Auckland’s MOTAT is offering free entry for teachers during April. Info here.
26 Apr 1986	Chernobyl Link here.
28 Apr	Café Scientifique Ak on Virtual Reality, Horse & Trap, 3 Enfield St, Mt Eden, 6-8pm
3 May	Deadline to feed back on histories draft curriculum
7 May	World Asthma day http://asthmafoundation.org.nz/
8 May	World Migratory Bird Day www.worldmigratorybirdday.org
9-15 May	Rotuman Language week www.mpia.govt.nz
10-16 May	NZ Sign Language Week http://nzslweek.org.nz/
Moon	FM 27 Apr     3Q 4 May       NM 12 May      1Q 20 May

1. U-Learn conference is calling for abstracts, to be submitted by 24 May. Presenters can register for $120 + GST. https://core-ed.org/events/ulearn/call-for-abstracts
2. The Whau River Community Trust is holding 2 science activities on 1 May – a Biodiversity Survey 10 am, then DNA collecting 11:30 am. justine@whauriver.org.nz or 021 627864

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Facebook page on decolonizing education https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620462084943019
2. Mātauranga Māori
   • Mātauranga Māori connecting Indigenous Knowledge with Science – Dr John Perrot AUT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT8o2j9nADE
3. Pedagogy:
   • Why is it important to give students mastery, autonomy and purpose in the classroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8CXL4br_Cc
4. Digital support:
   • Trying to get students to collaborate on zoom?
     • Try a waterfall to get students ideas out. Ask a question. Get students to type their answer in chatbox but not send til you give the word. Wait for them to write then give the go. A cascade of ideas moves down through the chatbox.
     • Google Jamboard is a free app from Google Play or iTunes designed to encourage students to collaborate on a common screen. Students can add sticky notes into which they type their ideas
   • Remote science lessons from STEM UK https://www.stem.org.uk/remote-lessons

Resources

1. Biology:
   • UoO resources on evolution https://www.otago.ac.nz/genetics/news/resources/otago038365.html
   • A collection of models of body parts and systems for students to cut out and assemble: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/models.zip
     
   • Video on building human muscles from the ground up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOyNUiYcl4
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • A marine biologist explains what Netflix’s documentary Seaspiracy gets wrong about fishing. https://www.vox.com/2021/4/13/22380637/seaspiracy-netflix-fact-check-fishing-ocean-plastic-veganism-vegetarianism
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • This website gives you a star map for your location https://in-the-sky.org/skymap.php
   • To generate discussion on how we can discover what is inside the earth use 7 tennis balls filled with air, coffee beans, sand, water, cement, a steel ball, a ball cast from lead. Students given a list of contents are asked to work out which is which.
4.  Chemistry:
   • The chemistry of a runner’s high https://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-a-runner-s-high
   • In this activity students analyse & interpret some data on conservation of mass https://read.activelylearn.com/#teacher/reader/authoring/preview/2165171/notes
5. Physics:
   • Investigate collisions in 1D and 2D in PhET’s Collision Lab HTML5.
   • A lesson challenging students to come up with a way to keep COVID vaccines cold during transportation. https://app.thepocketlab.com/lab-report/vPM-xetv0001shWV
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • A unit on Forces https://pstt.org.uk/application/files/7816/1166/3537/EEE_-_Forces.pdf
7. Nature of Science:
   • Types of bias that can affect scientific studies https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/10-types-study-bias.htm
8. Science of COVID:
   • Countering some of the common misconceptions about COVID vaccines https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/armed-with-facts-navigate-casual-vaccine-chat-at-your-next-gathering
9.  EfS:
   • In this activity students analyse & interpret data on Ocean acidification https://read.activelylearn.com/#teacher/reader/authoring/preview/1138023/notes
   • Research shows how to reduce your moggy’s tendency to hunt local wildlife https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/animals/herding-cats/
10.  Science
    • Free project-based learning materials https://open3d.science/
    • ELI card-sorting activity on what factors might have killed the dinosaurs https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/360_Dinosaur_extinction.pdf
11. STEM
    • Stem activities for aerospace https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/aerospace-education/curriculum/lessons-activity-resources
    • An online collaborative community for STEM teachers to share ideas https://community.stem.org.uk/home?_ga=2.41932966.523250831.1618428233-59841766.1601877795

MoE/NZQA

1. Growing Curiosity is a report by ERO on strategies to engage students in yrs 5-11 in science. https://www.ero.govt.nz/…/Growing-Curiosity-Teaching…

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Nathan Wallis is giving presentations on the Developing brain and the Teenage brain at various centres, 4-25 May: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Nathan-Wallis-tour.jpg
2.  Mark Osborne workshop on Innovative Learning Environments , 9:30 – 3:00, May 14 at Learning Network NZ, 214 Universal Drive, Henderson, Auckland
3.  Despite requests from nearly every region, BEANZ has only managed to get NZQA to agree to run 2 face-to-face workshops on making assessor judgements: 24 Jun in Nelson, and another that same week in Napier (date tbc). These will focus on AS 91604 (L3, homeostasis) and one L2 std. $120. BEANZ will notify members when registration opens.

Cheers, Mike

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