Mike’s News Mar 24

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
29 Mar Partial solar eclipse not visible from NZ
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
6 Apr Tsunami warning siren test at the end of daylight savings. Info here
7 Apr World Health day Info for 2025 focus here
Moon NM Mar 29        1Q Apr 5        FM Apr 13        3Q Apr 21
  1. Talks that may be relevant for us
    • The science, technology and ethical issues of gene editing by Dr Barry Scott, 6-7pm Th 27 March, Lecture Theatre 1, EIT, Taradale, Napier
    • Sally Birdsall & Georgina Stewart are speaking on Knowledge systems, mana ōrite, he awa whiria and Māori knowledge in science education Tues 25 Mar, 4-5:30 pm in room WG809 at AUT city campus (map here). If they can record the talk they will, but make no promises.
  2. Science Learning Hub lists science events by region https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/events
  3. NZIP registration is now open, with both NEX funding and PPTA providing some support. If teachers wish to present, abstracts must be submitted by 4 April.
  4. Fully complete year’s calendar of science events, now that the language weeks are known. Dates for 2025

Info

  1. Pedagogy:
  2. Student opportunities:
    • Science Roadshow brings hands-on science & technology experiences to your region with live shows about planet earth and pressure. $10/student. Complimentary resources for teachers.
    • Prof Harry Messel International Science School (Sydney) has a space for 3 NZ students from yr 12 or 13 considering a career in science. For 2 weeks 6-19 Jul. Fully funded. Apply by 5pm Th 27 March.
  3. Scientists and Science Careers:
  4. For the tramping buffs out there, The Spinoff reviews and ranks our 11 Great Walks wrt logistics https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/07-03-2025/all-11-of-new-zealands-great-walks-ranked-and-reviewed

Resources

  1. Biology:
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
    • Science Alive NZ has Ag/Hort resources on soil, insects, agricultural engineering, plant life cycle, careers
    • HATA has new Numeracy resources available on their website
  3. Earth & Space Science:
  4. Chemistry:
  5. Physics:
  6. Primary & intermediate:
  7. Middle School:
  8. Education for Sustainability (EfS
    • Illuminate is an educational simulation game to teach players about the impacts of climate change, explore ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to climate risks
    • American infographic about using macro-invertebrates as biological indicators of water quality.
  9. Nature of Science:
  10.  Science:
    • Jacqui Knight reports a female tagged butterfly has been found in Napier, having travelled 160km from Feilding in 23 days, going either through Manawatū Gorge or over the Ruahine Ranges. If schools want to be involved in this tagging project, register here.
  11. A science book you or your students might like to read
    • In Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea by Elizabeth Suneby, a boy designs a project to win his school’s science contest. Steeped in the customs & language of Bangladesh while celebrating curiosity and ingenuity, this story is about solving a problem at home.

MoE/NZQA

  1. The Curriculum Insights & Progress Study was established in 2023 to monitor student achievement & progress against the NZC at Yrs 3, 6 & 8. A random selection of schools has been invited to take part in the 2025 study to give a representative sample. More information here.
  2. Careers NZ website will be deactivated later this year. It will be replaced by the new Tahatū Career Navigator website from 24 March. Relevant secondary people will be contacted about the change, PLD available, hardcopy kits and expo events around the country.
  3. NZQA is advertising for moderators for AgHort & all areas of Science. Apply by 25 March.
  4. National Moderator reports  on  general issues and trends identified during external moderation of 2024’s internally assessed standards are available for AgH, Bio, Chem, ESS, Phys and for the L1 Sciences.

Can you help?

  1. House of Science is part ofGlobalGiving’s Little by Little Campaign. This means from March 25-28 any donation (up to $50USD) will be matched with a 50% donation, til the funds run out. You can donate here.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. Uplifted education conference has some world renowned speakers. 30-31 Oct, Massey uni campus, Wellington. https://www.aec.org.nz/
  2. Explorify and STEM Learning are putting on a series of 90min online CPD on different science topics (rocks, forces, electricity etc) to support those teaching primary science. They’ll be delivered at UK times & cost £100 each. https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/cpd/explorify
  3. UK’s Primary Science Teaching Trust is running 5 webinars 4-5:30pm GMT (next day 5-6:30am NZT) from 6 May–8 Jul on how to run different types of science investigations with students. £20 each
  4. Patrick Walsh, a principal with a legal background, runs courses on Education Law for senior leaders. Register for Christchurch May 2 or Auckland May 23.
  5. The Wellington cluster will meet at Th 27 Mar (arrive at 1:30pm for a 2pm start) with a focus on NCEA, mostly L1 but also B3.4. Venue has been confirmed as Taita College.
  6. Final NZASE workshops on L1 NCEA for the term: 25 Mar 10-2 Kerikeri HS; 27 Mar 10-2 Northcote College; Online 27 Mar 4pm+ (Zoom link, Meeting ID: 840 1676 2752, Passcode: 023318). Register here.
  7. Ātea a Rangi and Otago Marine Studies Centre are offering PLD to Hawke’s Bay teachers on ways to observe & record environmental indicators & their relevance to ocean health. Meet Tues 1 Apr 3:15-5:30 at Ahuriri wharf. Bring suitable footwear to explore the estuary & learn about mm2 & plankton. RSVP here asap. LT at 2:53pm

Technicians

  1. Density practicals:
    • Drop a marble into cylinders with various contents – golden syrup, cotton wool, water, and measure how  fast it goes down or how far
    • Rainbow in a cylinder prac – instructions here
    • Put a disc of plastic, cork and metal into water, 50% sugar, 25% sugar …
    • Float cubes of different NZ woods in beakers of water

Cheers, Mike

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