Mikes News

Mike’s News Oct 13

Posted on by Mike Stone

 

12-18 Oct

Earth Sciences week (USA) http://www.earthsciweek.org/about-esw

16 Oct

4-5pm, SLH webinar on myth-busting de-extinction. Register here

17 Oct

9:30 am NZ ShakeOut, EQ drill & tsunami hikoi.

18-23 Oct

Diwali

19-25 Oct

Niue language week, Vagahau Niue www.mpia.govt.nz

20 Oct

7pm Cafe Scientifique: Prof Beasley gives the Rutherford lecture at Tauranga Yacht Club

20-21 Oct

3:30 pm CoreEd webinar for mentors of new teachers. Register here.

21 Oct

Peak of Orionids meteor shower http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/meteor-showers

21 Oct

3:30-4:45pm, NZASE/Science Alive webinars for primary teachers. Register here

21-22 Oct

STEAM Education Summit Crown Plaza, Auckland. $900. Info here.

22 Oct

3:30-4:45pm, NZASE/Science Alive webinars for primary teachers. Register here

23 Oct

Mole day http://www.moleday.org/

24 Oct

World climate action day https://www.climate-action.info/day/

24 Oct

World polio day http://wpd.typepad.com/worldpolioday/

24-27 Oct

iNaturalist is running the Great Southern BioBlitz

26Oct-1Nov

Tokelau language week, Te Gagana Tokelau www.mpia.govt.nz

30 Oct

NZ teachers’ day

Moon

3Q Oct 14        NM Oct 21        1Q Oct 30        FM Nov 6
  1. Nobel science prizes https://www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2025/
    • Physics – John Clarke, Michel Devoret, John Martinis for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit. Teaching: Audio & lesson.
    • Chemistry – Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, Omar Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks. Teaching: Compound Chemistry Infographic
    • Physiology or Medicine – Mary Bruknow, Fred Ramsdell, Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance. Teaching: PowerPoint
    • Look out for free lessons on the 2025 prizes due Oct 15 https://www.nobelprize.org/educational
  2. Niue language week: Classroom phrases Niuean 2025
  3. Beware: NASA education is no longer funded or staffed.

Info

  1. The latest NZASE newsletter has fascinating articles on analysing bug splatter as well as AI in the classroom and the profile of an oceanographer. Sign up for the newsletter or find resources here https://nzase.org.nz/. Join NZASE here https://nzase.org.nz/membership/ .
  2. Revision ideas
    • Students in pairs, give them a different question each, work on them individually, then give to partner to check and correct. Discuss.
    • Literacy activities to revise vocab – eg matching list (15 terms max), clusters: A Behaviour matching list and Anthropology cluster
    • STEM Online NCEA resources are handy for revision https://www.stemonline.auckland.ac.nz/
  3. Otago Uni has launched 2 new postgraduate quals in Science Communication taught entirely online. Their format is designed with busy, working professionals in mind, with direct upskilling benefits transferable to the student’s place of employment.

Resources

  1. Biology:
    • A forensic activity that looks at estimating time of death from decomposition, including a poster showing the stages of decay. In time for Halloween.
    • An interactive exploring trophic cascades with otters, sea urchins and kelp
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
  3. Earth & Space Science:
    • A reading with videos about what happened after the big bang
    • LEARNZ field trip to explore BoP natural hazards – earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions. Starts Oct 13 – some resources here, sign up here to get recordings & more resources.
  4.  Chemistry:
  5. Physics:
  6. Primary & intermediate:
  7.  Science:
  8. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
  9.  STEM/STEAM:
  10. A science book you or your students might like to read
    • A Discovery in the Rocks by Mary Duff (5-9 yrs) describes a child’s discovery being displayed in a local fossil museum and follows the scientific work done at Waitaki Whitestone Geopark. Teacher discount from https://maryduff.co.nz/, pls use code ROCKDISCO40% & bank transfer.

MoE/NZQA

  1. Exams for S1.3 and S1.4 are currently available from NZASE. Members $30 and non-members $50 Please send requests to Donna at NZASE@xtra.co.nz
  2. This year’s RAMP review has led to some changes in NZQA materials for NCEA standards in the L1 sciences (L2 & 3 changes uploaded in 2026): Also 2026 exam specs are avail. More info and links here [thanks to Lian Soh] https://www.bayscience.nz/post/ncea-level-1-reviewed-materials-science-2026

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. Melvin Din is offering PLD in practical electricity for years 6-10, 3:15 – 4:15pm; online 19 Nov, 20 Nov, 3 Dec; & face-to-face in Taupo 4 Dec. Practical activities (morse coder & steady-hand game) & literacy and numeracy worksheets. For more details & to register contact melvindinn@gmail.com 
  2. Term 4 PLD on offer to date.
  3. Please be aware that the Earth and Space PLD (Ak & Wgtn) welcomes any primary teacher with an interest in the subject. Free, food provided. Wgtn program
  4. Applications are now open for the 2026 Sir Angus Tait Science Teaching Enrichment Program. It provides paid release (1 day a week all year) for an Ōtautahi-based primary teacher (or anyone within cooee!) to be extended & invigorated about teaching science. PM Brigitte Glasson asap
  5. NZASE PLD:
    • T4: Science education: moving forward: Looking back at 2025 science education, L1 stds, inclusion of literacy & numeracy, next steps for 2026. Taupō, Gisborne, Wgtn, Nelson, Chch. Dates tbc here.
    • T3: resources & online workshop recording on Explicit Writing Instruction in Science avail here.
    • T2: Recording of online workshop on Enhancing Numeracy in Science avail here.
        •  

Technicians

  1. Mouse toothpaste for those wanting students to do it for themselves: a wee dab of KI solid, a few drops of detergent, a squirt (about 5mL) of 6% H2O2 in a narrow necked 150mL conical flask.

Cheers, Mike

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