21-28 Apr	International Dark Sky Week https://darksky.org/what-we-do/events/dark-sky-week/
22 Apr	Earth day www.earthday.net
25 Apr	World malaria Day http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/malaria/en/index.html
26Apr1986	Chernobyl Link here.
28 Apr	Save the frogs day www.savethefrogs.com/day/ www.nzfrogs.org/
28 Apr	Deadline to have a say on the maths and Te Reo Rangatira curricula. More info here.
5-11 May	NZ Sign Language Week http://nzslweek.org.nz/
6 May	World Asthma day. Info here.
Moon	3Q Apr 21        NM Apr 28       1Q May 5        FM May 13

1. The Beatrice Hill Tinsley Lectures (9-29 May) are by Anna Scaife and focus on the impact of AI on astronomy practice. Details of talk and 9 venues and dates here.
2. House of Science AGM will be online 5:30 Tues 27 May. Click here to register your interest (and receive the zoom link) by 19 May
3. From 15 Apr – 27 May Stardome Observatory is offering Ngā Whetū o Ngahuru / The Stars of Autumn, a show about the stars from a Māori perspective.

Info

1. Pedagogy:
   • A video about scaffolding https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=996404311825443
2. HoD:
   • Suggestions for what to do if a change is not working https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/recovering-from-change-carly-fiorina-ely3e/
3. Digital tools:
   • A tool that makes a worksheet for any YouTube video https://to-teach.ai/use-case/en/youtube
4. Podcasts:
   • Brains On! Is an award-winning science podcast for kids and their families. Each week, host Molly Bloom is joined by a different child to find answers to questions from listeners.

Resources

1. Biology:
   • National Geographic article on biodiversity https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/biodiversity/
   • Activity exploring phylogenetic trees in context of dog domestication https://www.biologycorner.com/2019/01/04/phylogenetic-tree-canines/
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • A video about wool scouring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWnciHxFtiA
   • Calendars of events on a NZ farm and a growing calendar
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Articles from Science Journal for Kids on Space Travel https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/space-travel/
   • A TED talk on the tides https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpRJhhbKLFc
   • An article on MidOcean Ridges
4. Chemistry:
   • The first single crystal structure of capsaicin, the spicy compound found in chilli peppers
   • Activity to make a solar still 
5. Physics:
   • A video lesson using a real-world space mission to help students understand free fall, weightlessness, centrifugal force & gravity. (Join PocketLab for free)
   • Make an electroscope https://www.acsedu.co.uk/Info/Science/Physical-Sciences/Make-an-Electroscope.aspx
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • This academic paper describes one forensic science lesson in a primary classroom https://www.academia.edu/87293897/Forensic_Science_in_the_Elementary_Classroom
   • For Earth Day Tues 22 Apr, BBC Teach is broadcasting a Live Lesson from the Rainforest Biome at the Eden Project. Focussing on the water cycle, the lesson will be available from 9am on https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach (10pm NZDST same day)
7.  Science:
   • A quiz about pi https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/mathematics/pi-quiz-how-much-do-you-know-about-this-irrational-number
   • A lesson plan for teaching students in years 6-12 about vaping – readings, infographic, videos, pre- & post-test.
8. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
   • A calendar of activities to inspire environmental consciousness for Earth Month for all levels.
9.  STEM/STEAM:
   • Chromatography challenge – teacher PPT, Student worksheet
10. A science book you or your students might like to read
    • Dinosaur Hunter by David Hill is the story of our own Joan Wiffen, fossil hunter
11. SCENZ has new resources for new CB1.2 (2025 versions): assessment guidelines, an assessment template with expected student responses, & a L1 Chemistry Resource booklet (2025). Full set of 5 assessment tasks coming in early Term 2. From https://nzic.org.nz/resources_open

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Field-Based STEM is offering flexi-conferences around the country. What are they? FieldBased STEM PLD
2. Save the date ­– 2 moreBiology Best Practice Workshops: Ak 9 May & New Plymouth 12 May. If you’re a 1st year teacher &/or in a rural/isolated/area school in the South Island a grant of $800 is available to cover costs if you tell BEANZ how this PLD will support your growth & lead to a change in practice.

Technicians

1. Needing to get rid of old antibiotic discs or mercury thermometers? Try your local pharmacist

Cheers, Mike

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