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)
30 Oct	NZ teachers’ day
31 Oct	Talk on melting ice sheets, 5:30-6:30pm, L2, Hunter Building, Gate 2,VuW. Book here.
31 Oct	Nominations close for Cawthron’s Freshwater Champions award at 5pm
5 Nov	Deadline to apply for award for teachers of gifted students
5 Nov	World Tsunami Awareness Day
6-30 Nov	NZQA exams
8 Nov	National STEM/STEAM day US website
10 Nov	World science day https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day
12 Nov	Diwali https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/new-zealand/diwali
14 Nov	World Diabetes day https://worlddiabetesday.org/about/theme/
Moon	3Q Nov 5 NM Nov 13 1Q Nov 20 FM Nov 27

1. Stargazing 101, astronomy for beginners Wed 8 Nov at Carter observatory, Wellington. $40 https://www.museumswellington.org.nz/stargazing-101-astronomy-for-beginners/
2. Mantras of the Mountains: A public lecture by geology prof Michael Petterson, 9 Nov, 4:30–7:30pm, WA224A & B, AUT City Campus, 55 Wellesley St E, Auckland. Register here.
3. Earth Fest is a festival of earth science Sat 11 Nov 9 am – 3 pm, Walter Nash Centre, 22 Taine St, Taita, Lower Hutt. https://earthfest.nz/

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Guidelines for attending a pōwhiri https://metawhenua.com/blog/whakatika-essential-guidelines-for-attending-a-pwhiri and an explanation of the tikanga https://metawhenua.com/blog/5-ways-to-embrace-pwhiri-a-journey-through-the-mori-welcome
2. Mātauranga Māori:
   • A lesson from Canterbury uni on dyes from different cultures linked to a Science Alive resource on Education Perfect . Matthew Cowan is happy to talk with teachers about it.
   • A book by Andrew Crowe and Rick Fisher: Those Magnificent Voyagers of the Pacific. https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/the-supreme-navigators-of-history/
3.  Pedagogy:
   • A report, poster and additional tools on metacognition for beginners https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/metacognition
4. Professional reading/watching/listening:
   • Video on Cognitive Load theory https://fillingthepail.substack.com/p/elevator-pitch
5. Student opportunities:
   • The MacDiarmid Institute’s Discovery Scholarship supports Māori & Pacific Island students studying in the physical sciences. These scholarships will pay uni fees up to $8,000 for the 2024 academic year, and a one-off cash award of up to $3,000. Details here, apply by 5pm Dec 17
   • The Motutapu Outdoor Education Trust has an opportunity for a school leaver or young person to work on a paid Internship.Motutapu internship
6.  Revision:
   • Exam command words https://twitter.com/ImpactWales/status/1713657253276835900/photo/1
   • SciPAD’s unicorn L1 sci exam follows the Zombie, aliens ones https://scipad.co.nz/free-stuff
7.  HoD:
   • Engaging Learning Voices has some activities to unpack Te Mātaiaho (curriculum refresh) and the Common Practice model https://www.engaginglearningvoices.com/tekākano

Resources

1. Biology:
   • A series of images showing the taxonomic groups butterflies belong to https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=341303095136957&set=pcb.341307485136518
   • A really good description of the implications of mRNA vaccines for health (Nobel prize): The future of mRNA technology
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Article about taro and early Māori https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/133098120/taro-expert-explains-what-the-food-meant-to-early-mori
   • Ag&Ed is a publication that produces NZ-relevant modern agricultural and horticultural resources and projects for teachers. https://www.agrihq.co.nz/our-education-resources
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Using an umbrella to model the night sky https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/427_Astronomical_umbrella.pdf
   • Activity building a model of the global carbon cycle considering five major Earth systems: atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere.
   • Research on the underwater flow of rock, ash and gas from the Tongan eruption
4.  Chemistry:
   • An activity exploring sedimentation and centrifugation of a blood model (V8, tomato juice). It needs a centrifuge https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/gat_mixture_activity1
   • How do firefighters put out a fire in an EV? https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/firefighters-electric-vehicle-battery-fire
5.  Physics:
   • An activity on estimating: Fermi Qs AndrewChinworth
   • NZIP members can apply for a book prize for their school https://nzip.org.nz/education/school-prize-sponsorship
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • An interactive activity from SLH to find out what students already know about light https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/60-light-and-sight-true-or-false
   • Design a parachute – what size, shape, material works best https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/freefall.html
7.  Science:
   • Auckland Volcanoes as water sources https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R65CL7T_BByMN7L-MMGltmmqUO37yapO
8. Nature of Science:
   • Use the CRAAP test to decide which of these 2 readings on climate change is more credible and reliable: one or two?

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Hive Mind, free online PLD from Science in a van & the Science Learning Hub, is next happening on 9 Nov, 4 – 4:45pm Come along to hear what teachers from all around Aotearoa are up to & share planning tips & tricks. Useful for years 1-10. Register here. Resources from the last one here.
2. HATA is running AgHort regional hubs on developing course and resources for new L1 NCEA assessments. Info here AgHort Hub Info  Register here
3. Understanding the weather is a series of 4 2-hour webinars Tues evenings in November, watch live or watch recorded. https://www.oenz.co.nz/courses/weather-course-3

Cheers, Mike

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