12-18 May	Rotuman Language week www.mpia.govt.nz/programmes
13 May	Deadline for teachers to enter Blake Inspire Teacher Program. Apply here
13-17 May	Primary Science Week (Term 2 week 3) http://nzapse.nzase.org.nz/
16 May	International Day of Light https://www.unesco.org/en/days/light
16 May	National Support Staff day www.nzei.org.nz (now aligned with the International day)
17 May	Pink Shirt Day NZ (bullying) www.pinkshirtday.org.nz/
17 May	Deadline to apply for Regionally Allocated PLD. Apply
18 May	Fascination of Plant Day www.plantday12.eu
20 May	World Bee Day https://www.un.org/en/observances/bee-day
20-26 May	Tech week https://techweek.co.nz/
22 May	International Biodiversity Day www.doc.govt.nz
22 May	Talk on te Ao Māori wrt history & the environment. Puke Ariki, Taranaki 6-7:30pm
26May-1Jun	Samoan language week www.mpia.govt.nz
Moon	1Q May 15      FM May 24      3Q May 31      NM Jun 7

1. Talks that may be relevant for us
   • Dr Michael Harvey’s webinar 15 May 8pm EST (16 May 12pm NZT) is about how to effectively integrate AI into assessment. Register here: https://forms.wix.com/f/7181491077239538413
2. Resources and ideas: Environment Days term 2 2024
3. Don’t forget to thank your science technicians on Thursday
4. Resource for the Language week this week: Classroom phrases Rotuman 2024
5. A Primary Science Week event in Wellington: PSW Wgtn Flier 2024
6. New Lynn Memorial Library is holding a homework club for 2h after school on Tuesdays from 14 May.

Info

1. Student opportunities:
   • AF8 & E Coast Lab are hosting a panel of earthquake and hazard risk scientists live online to answer questions 15 May, 7-8pm. Tune in here.
2. Teacher Opportunities:
   • Maurice Wilkins Centre offers teacher scholarships to Queenstown Molecular Biology conf for 1-3 Sep. Deadline 7 Jun. QMB Teacher scholarships
3. Podcasts:
   • Science is Cool Unplugged https://www.thepocketlab.com/podcast
4. Book Hub is a NZ site that allows us to search titles/authors and then see the nearest book stores to have copies in stock, which you can order online and pick up or have delivered. World-first.

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Australian Shore birds identification booklet is free (we have many species in common)
   • Activity for students to identify organelles, the type of cell they are found in and functions
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Must be spring in northern hemisphere. Activities on dissecting, classifying and growing seeds from US Ag Classroom and from UK Royal Horticultural Society
   • Feijoa, a story of obsession and belonging by Kate Evans – botany, science, history, politics …
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Article explaining why the ISS doesn’t run out of air
   • Video of NIWA experts myth-busting on La Nina
4. Chemistry:
   • Video showing how to determine the hottest part of a Bunsen flame with a paper clip. Can also use a copper wire (MP 1083 ^oC) which will only melt at a few places, if at all.
   • Videos for C3.6 aqueous equilibrium (91932) include Mrs Burton’s Chem, and Khan Academy as well as Professor Dave and Learn Coach. STEM online now has a video for this too.
5. Physics:
   • Simple demo of photoelectric effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO38qVDGgqw
   • An activity where students develop simple models to illustrate the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay. PocketLab is free to join.
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Explorify activities matched to UK investigation types and appropriate for Ages 5-7, Ages 7-9 and Ages 9-11. Explorify is free to join.
   • Australian bitterns are critically endangered. Some resources that may help us include this swamp bird in our teaching https://lovebittern.com/resources/
7. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
   • A 16min video about the science of climate change
8. New standards
   • L1 climate change unit from Ange Fox, videos and S1.2 task, here
   • CB1.3 practice question now available here for BEANZ members (you’ll need to log in).

MoE/NZQA

1. Want to earn some extra $ marking NZQA lit/num assessments in Sep hols? Apply here
2. Exemplars for PES standards 1.1 and 1.2 recently uploaded here.

Can you help?

1. House of Science’s main financial support in the Hutt Valley, Wgtn is ending. Any potential local donors, sponsors and partners to ensure continued support for the 15,000 students in this area, please contact Chris. Others who want to help can vote for HoS here https://onegoodkiwi.nz/
2. NZIBO is trying to raise $30,000 to send 4 ordinary, hardworking & talented students from Mt Maunganui, Oamaru, Auckland & Havelock North to Kazakhstan in July. Can you give a little?
3. Science Alive is looking for 20 year 3-8 NZ classrooms who would like to test their brand new learning portal. If you are keen to do a virtual classroom activity please fill in this form

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Science Learning Hub webinar Observology for the classroom will explore ways to engage students with the nature of science, encourage curiosity & develop observation skills. 30 May, 4-4:45pm
2. Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre run an annual day/night intro to astronomy course. Great for teachers new to our southern skies. Next 8 Jun. To register interest email here.
3. NiF workshop on L1 NCEA at MoE Office, 24 Kaka St, Morningside, Whangarei, Wed 29 May, 9am – 3pm or when you can get there. Bring your Qs to figure it out together. Register here.
4. Info about this term’s NZASE PLD is online https://nzase.org.nz/nzase-network-expertise/

Technician

1. One school is only doing the Pb(NO₃)₂/KI reaction as a teacher demo now after a student drank the bright yellow solution. Despite the teacher going thru the SDS with the students beforehand!
2. Greenhouse gas experiment showing change in temperature from CO₂: take carbonated water (eg a soda stream carbonated twice) & tap water. Bring both to boil & measure the temp every 30 sec. The CW heats up at a much faster rate than the TW. [Arwen Heyworth, Onehunga HS]

Vacancies

1. The Ak Zoo is looking for a Conservation Learning Facilitator, permanent part time, 24h/wk, includes some evening and weekend work. Apply here by 16 May
2. Kip McGrath Howick is looking for a tutor in senior Physics & Chemistry https://www.kipmcgrath.co.nz/howick

Cheers, Mike

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