Mikes News

Mike’s News Mar 31

Posted on by Mike Stone
1-31 Mar Melanoma March www.melanoma.org.nz/news-events/recent-news
1-31 Mar Hearing Awareness month https://www.nfd.org.nz/hearing-awareness-month2020
1-31 Mar Whio Awareness month https://www.doc.govt.nz/whioforever
2 Apr World Autism day www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day
2-5 Apr Ak ASB Polyfest at Manukau Sports Bowl www.asbpolyfest.co.nz
4 Apr Deadline for students to apply for ESSE scholarship to go to the May astronomy conf
4 Apr Deadline for presenters to submit abstract for NZIP conference.
6 Apr Tsunami warning siren test at the end of daylight savings. Info here
7 Apr World Health day Info for 2025 focus here
10 Apr Deadline to submit proposal for Beamline for schools
12 Apr International Day of Human Space Flight www.un.org/en/events/humanspaceflightday/
13-17 Apr HATA conference in Canterbury. Info here & register here.
Moon 1Q Apr 5        FM Apr 13        3Q Apr 21        NM 28 Apr
  1. Talks that may be relevant for us
    • Cafe Scientifique Tauranga: Geoff Brunsden speaks on bumble bees on 14 Apr at Tauranga Yacht Club. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7pm start, $10. RSVP julia.banks60@gmail.com
    • Prof Sridhar Anandakrishnan talks about how the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland work and how they are changing. 1 Apr 6-7pm, RHLT1, 33 Bunny St, Pipitea, Wgtn. Register here
    • Profs Tammy Steeves & Jack Heinemann talk about our new laws & whether gene technology could help save our threatened species. 10 Apr 6-7pm Tūranga Chch Library. Free. Info here.
  2. Science Learning Hub has a list of science events happening in the holidays. Select your region to find info. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/events/2949-autumn-school-holidays-2025
  3. Greenpeace is showing a film documentary about the state of freshwater in Waitaha/Canterbury. 6pm Th 3 Apr in Chch and Sat 5 Apr in Ashburton. Free tickets here.
  4. Looking for accommodation for SciCon 2025? John McGlashen College hostel has some spaces. Please contact scicon25@gmail.com ASAP in to get yourself booked in.

Info

  1. Student opportunities:
  2. Teacher Opportunities:
    • Ak Writers Festival (13-18 May) events that may be of interest https://www.writersfestival.co.nz/
      • John Connell – Nature writing, $65, May 15
      • Gavin Bishop – Children’s writer, free, May 16
      • Mathilde Walter Clark – A blind eye, free, May 17
      • Shaun Hendy – NZ’s pandemic story, $30, May 18
  3. Science Learning Hub is switching to their new website in the holidays. After this you will need to reset your password. So before then, please check your email address in My Details is current.

Resources

  1. Biology:
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
    • Within Hamilton Gardens is Te Parapara, a traditional Maaori productive garden, showcasing traditional practices, materials and ceremonies relating to food production and storage.
    • Mātiki Minecraft has been developed to help students learn about ag & hort science, show-casing Beef, Sheep, Kiwifruit, Arable, Dairy, Pipfruit & Forestry. Video. Link to info, including resources to help teachers plan units & how to install. New junior units using this game are on the HATA website.
  3. Earth & Space Science:
  4. Chemistry:
  5. Physics:
  6. Primary & intermediate:
  7.  Science:
  8. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
    • A resource jam-packed with activities to help deal with mental health around climate change
  9. A science book you or your students might like to read

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. A link to the recording of the Empower KEA PLD held last week, discussing strategies & tools for teachers in high equity schools https://youtu.be/wiyMBLwLu6Q. Join the group here.

MoE/NZQA

  1. The final version of documents for CB1.2 have been published – standard, conditions of assessment, expected student responses (at the bottom of the page).
  2. MoE is asking for teacher input on L1-3 stds as part of their RAMP review of the sciences. Are the standards working well for teachers and students? Please share your thoughts/concerns on the Google form below. The subject associations will compile feedback & send it to MoE.

Technicians

  1. Viscosity tests:
    • Drop a marble into a column of different liquids (water, oil, honey) and time how quickly it falls.
    • Introduce an air bubble into a stoppered boiling tube (by not filling the tube completely) with cooking oil, golden syrup or water (+ food colouring), tip upside down and measure how long it takes the bubble to reach the end.
    • From a spoon drip substances down white laminated A4 paper sitting on a wooden board. Time how long it takes each substance to reach the bottom of the paper.
    • Good thick fluids – The Warehouse has cheap, large bottles of clear/pink hand-soap/body wash; could also use different thickness of wallpaper paste; oil;

Cheers, Mike

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