4-28 Nov	NZQA exams
23-29 Nov	Solomon Islands Language Week, Solomon Aelan Pijin www.mpia.govt.nz
24 Nov	2-4pm, Academyex, 99 Khyber Pass Rd, Ak, Practical cases using AI. Register here
23-29 Nov	Solomon Islands Language Week, Solomon Aelan Pijin www.mpia.govt.nz
25 Nov	3:30-5pm Sow the Seed Regional Hub, Wellington online Info here. Register here.
25 Nov	12:12:30pm Webinar on urban forest soil biodiversity in Aotearoa. Register here.
25 Nov	FREE physics focussed PLD New Plymouth. email Kerry Parker
26 Nov	4-5:30pm NZASE PLD reviewing 2025 (stds, num/lit) next steps 2026, online. Zoom link, Mtg ID 845 4840 1585; Passcode 320147. Register here
26 Nov	8:30-3, Hands-on Genetics Lab workshop, Kelburn Campus, Vic Uni. Register here.
27 Nov	3:15pm MoE webinars unpacking the draft curriculum Science Yrs 0-8. Join here
27 Nov	Dr Simon Stewart talks about food webs & freshwater restoration, Cawthron Inst, book here
28 Nov	Physics Day, Auckland, venue AUT this year. Sorry, it’s full.
30 Nov	Deadline to apply for Science Alive position. https://www.seek.co.nz/job/88503365
1 Dec	World AIDS Day https://www.nzaf.org.nz/ (Red Ribbon)
1 Dec	ESS PLD day at the Space Place, Wellington. No cost, lunch provided. Register here
3 Dec	3:15-4:20pm Practical electricity for yrs 6-10, online. Register with melvindinn@gmail.com
3 Dec	4-6pm ASTA Examination Evening Mt Albert Grammar School. see below
4 Dec	3:15-4:15pm Prac electricity, years 6-10, face-to-face in Taupō, Register with Melvin
4 Dec	3:30pm MoE webinar unpacking the draft curriculum Science Yrs 9-10. Join here.
5 Dec	World Soil Day www.nzsoils.org.nz
Moon	1Q Nov 28        FM Dec 5        3Q Dec 12        NM Dec 20

1. Talks that may be relevant for us
   • Freedom and Responsibility in Science – a panel discussion on the threats to the integrity of science around the world. Free, 6-8pm. Wed 3 Dec, Wellington is sold out. Mon 8 Dec, Auckland Art Gallery, Book a seat.
2. Correct link for ‘Antibiotic Resistance Week‘ https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-amr-awareness-week [Thanks Maria Osborne]
3. Exam review evening: Flier

Info

1. Student opportunities:
   • As part of the Climate and Cryosphere Conference, there is a special session for yr 11-13 students to meet scientists who work to understand climate change in the world’s coldest places & ask them about their career journeys. 11 Feb, 2-3pm at 11 Turnbull St, Wgtn. Info here.
2.  Revision:
   • Doug Walker’s chatbots for L2 Biology, L3 Biology, L2 Chemistry, L3 Chemistry, L2 Physics, L3 Physics, L2 Maths
3. Congratulations to
   • Sophie Ineson from Southland Girls’ who won the PM’s Space Prize for Student Endeavour, worth NZ$50,000 for tertiary study, for her project to design better wound care for astronauts.
4. End of year activities
   • Christmas bulbs – a chromatography activity https://sciencespot.net/Pages/classchem.html#Anchorhalls
   • Case of Xmas cookie – a chemical mystery to solve https://ourjourneywestward.com/the-christmas-cookie-mystery/

Resources

1. Biology:
   • engaging activities to teach anatomy & physiology https://teachtoserve.com/2025/05/05/6-engaging-activities-to-teach-assess-anatomy-physiology-unit-in-psk4u-kinesiology/
   • The naked egg experiment is a great way to demo osmosis https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/naked-eggs-osmosis/
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Once Were Gardeners show on Māori TV shows a Māori approach to horticulture https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/once-were-gardeners
   • Vine to Wine is a resource developed for NCEA L1 – L3 by NZ Winegrowers Assn https://www.nzwine.com/en/careers/vine-to-wine
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A demo of how minerals like tin and lead form from hydrothermal fluids https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/128_Hydrothermal_fluids.pdf
   • A video where scientist Colin Wilson explains the science behind the Taupo volcano. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fiq9TSKiWaw
4.  Chemistry:
   • A demo making a cloud in a bottle to explore evaporation, condensation and equilibrium https://edu.rsc.org/changes-of-state/forming-a-cloud-in-a-bottle/4021852.article
   • Classic viscosity expts – timing how long it takes a bubble to move through (join for free) https://edu.rsc.org/states-of-matter/viscosity-classic-chemistry-experiments-11-14-years/387.article
5. Physics:
   • The PhET simulation on Waves on a String is now in a modifiable form
   • Activities to teach radioactive decay https://scienceinschool.org/article/2025/teach-radioactive-decay-radioisotopes-low-cost/
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Resources on reading nutrition labels https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/how-read-nutrition-label
7.  Science:
   • Resources for teaching Natural Hazards, Y1-13 https://www.crisislab.org.nz/teachingresource
8. New standards
   • Doug Walker recently shared these videos for PES 1.2,and CB1.3, SCI1.4

MoE/NZQA

1. The draft curriculum:
   • A summary of responses to the draft curriculum to date https://www.bayscience.nz/post/draft-science-curriculum-survey-preliminary-findings
   • Dave Thrasher has copied out the survey questions onto a Google Doc so you can prepare your answers
   • Rachel Chisnall’s comments on the skills side of things in the draft curriculum https://ibpossum.com/2025/11/05/unpacking-the-science-curriculum-practices-and-capabilities
   • Some AI-derived draft year plans [Emma Smith] : Yr 7 & 8, Yr 9  and Yr 10
   • MoE have updated the full release of the curriculum: info here https://www.bayscience.nz/post/curriculum-implementation-timeline-science-putaiao
2. RAMP changes to L3 ESS standards

Can you help?

1. Siouxsie Wiles supported us during COVID and now needs our help. She is $400,000 in debt after taking Ak uni to court and crowd-sourcing to try to recoup some of that. Info here.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Toi Ohomai Inst of Tech in Tauranga is offering an Introductory Native Plant ID workshop Sat 6 Dec, 9-12:30. Numbers limited https://events.humanitix.com/introductory-native-plant-id-workshop

Technicians

1. Spherical objects that are the same size but different masses are useful for exploring terminal velocity. They can be obtained from https://readpacific.co.nz/product/1114-drilled-ball-set/ (out of stock til next yr)

Vacancies posted in FB

1. HOD Sci Bream Bay College https://www.breambaycollege.school.nz/jobs.html
2. Open Polytechnic are seeking specialist Science school kaiako to mark on their primary Science course which teaches up to L5 of the current Science curriculum. Could lead to a secondary Chem/ Bio/ESS position as numbers increase. 90min tutorials online after 4pm 1x a month (+90 mins prep).
3. Science teacher, Timaru Boys High School https://gazette.education.govt.nz/vacancies/1HAqTW-science-teacher-bonded-position

Cheers, Mike

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