1-29 Feb	Bikewise month https://can.org.nz/article/february-is-bikewise-month
1-29 Feb	Heart Awareness Month   www.heartfoundation.org.nz/for-women
11 Feb	Safer Internet Day.  https://www.netsafe.org.nz/safer-internet-day/
11 Feb	International Day of Women and Girls in Science.  http://bit.ly/UNESCO2Rp0zpr
12 Feb	International Charles Darwin Day   www.darwinday.org/index.php
Moon	3Q 16 Feb      NM 24 Feb        1Q 3 Mar     FM 10 Mar

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Core Education resources on building Cultural Capability https://bit.ly/2OF7Kqz
2. Literacy
   • This article on spotting fake news includes basic source-checking skills relevant for science teachers too. https://europeanmedialiteracyforum.org/a/H-_4E6zHtRFCM
3. Pedagogy:
   • The EEF Metacognition and Self-regulated Learning guidance report offers practical, evidence-based recommendations to support teachers to develop metacognitive skills and knowledge in their pupils. Cindy Wynn http://li/metacognition
4. HoD:
   • Royal Society of Chemistry on curbing colleague conflict https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/curb-colleague-conflict/4010968.article?utm_source=house-list&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monthly-alert
5. Science Careers
   • Career opportunities in science is a career day for yr 13 science students Tues 24 March at DairyNZ’s Lye research farm 9-3:30. Info here: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/career-day-2020-flyer.pdf Registration here: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/career-day-2020-registration.pdf
6. eLearning
   • LEARNZ digital field trips this term: Exploring outdoors, sustainable seas, climate change, river restoration, Antarctic penguins http://www2.learnz.org.nz/core-fieldtrips.php?utm_campaign=learnz&utm_source=explore-outdoors-edm&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2020-trips-link

Resources

1. Geology:
   • An activity sorting rocks, products and processes of the rock cycle. https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/253_Rock_cycle_product_process.pdf
2. Biology:
   • On the wisdom of establishing koala in NZ. https://bit.ly/30D6SIp
   • A summary of Coronavirus: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Coronavirus-summary.docx
3.  AgHort:
   • To support the international Year of Plant Health, Science Learning Hub highlights the work of NZ scientists working to breednew apple varieties & create mānuka plantations.
4. Astronomy:
   • Some notes to guide your observations of the summer night sky: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Night-Sky-summer.docx
5. Chemistry:
   • TED talk on the chemistry powering your smartphone https://bit.ly/36Oalpj
   • Everyday materials originally designed for use in space https://bit.ly/2RQdzEk
6. Physics:
   • Straw rocket activity from NASA. Erik Veermat https://go.nasa.gov/2RSKY17
   • Heat transfer and swimming pools. https://sciblogs.co.nz/physics-stop/2020/01/24/the-swimming-pool-paradox/
7. Science:
   • Connected plus holds the digital versions of Connected MoE resource including 2019 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F66G1jCBUVe8l2Pa2sFjBkwcXVy0u2HjpDgjdsgguJQ/edit
   • Article that puts ocean acidification in context. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2020/02/01/no-the-oceans-are-not-acidic/amp/
8. EfS:
   • Jamie Morton (NZH) created an infographic on sustainability – NZ’s bioeconomy. He uploaded a scan to twitter: Here is the online version. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12302396
9. Primary
   • A record number of primary and intermediate students from across Canterbury designed, developed and showcased their digital creations recently as partD of Grow Waitaha DigiAwards. Check out the winning entries – inspiration for things your learners could create this year! https://www.growwaitaha.co.nz/digiawards/#DigiAwards-2019-results 

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. The American Meteorological Society is offering two teacher PLD workshops this summer. Teacher participants will be required to engage in online learning modules prior to the on-site portion of the workshop. After the on-site portion, participants will be asked to complete work in the course management system with Pennsylvania uni. Apply by March 27.
   • Project Atmosphere (Jul 26-Aug 1) is for K-12 teachers who teach science courses with atmospheric content. The on-site workshop will be in Kansas City, Missouri.
   • Project Ocean (Jul 12-18) is for precollege teachers who teach science courses with oceanography content. The on-site workshop will be in Chestertown, Maryland.
2. The Lunar & Planetary Institute is giving a presentation Looking Inside the Moon 5 Mar, 7:30 pm in Texas (2:30 pm 6 Mar NZT). The detailed structure of the moon provides many clues about the moon’s history. Dr Walter Kiefer explores our current knowledge and how future exploration can help fill the gaps. View online at theUSRA Ustream Channel.

Technicians

1. Experiment to demonstrate geotropism – grow a plant in a test tube, change the orientation of the test tubes plants still grow upwards. What plant is best?
   • Corn seeds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzk06EISvUs
   • Wandering Jew  (Tradescantia fluminensis) is readily available and works well
   • Petrie dishes standing side-on, holding sprouting seeds in moist cotton wool (held in place w glue) – mustard seeds. Keep moist.

There will be no Mike’s News next week as I will be out of the country.

Cheers, Mike