1 Dec | World AIDS Day https://www.nzaf.org.nz/ (Red Ribbon) |
5 Dec | World Soil Day www.nzsoils.org.nz |
6-12 Dec | Brian Cox tour http://lateralevents.com/theatre-events/brian-cox-2022/ |
11 Dec | International Mountains day www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp |
14 Dec | Peak Geminid meteor shower 3 a.m. http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/meteor-showers |
22 Dec | Summer Solstice NZ http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set |
Moon | 1Q Dec 1 FM Dec 8 3Q Dec 16 NM Dec 23 |
- Sea week:
- From the Rivers to the Sea, Ngā Kōrero – The Way Forward is a free webinar series. Experts in marine science and mātauranga Māori share the discoveries and progress being made in marine protection as well as increasing awareness of opportunities for action. [HoS]
- Waikato Regional Council and Science Learning Hub have developed an EfS resource for teachers. Download it here. They will run a PLD workshop on it 29 Nov 3:30-5pm. Register here.
- House of Science has won an international award for their chemistry resources: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/HoS-wins-international-chem-award.docx
Info
- Professional reading:
- Free SET reading on student motivation https://www.nzcer.org.nz/system/files/journals/set/downloads/Set2022_2_037.pdf
- The National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA) has released a series of new reports on learning languages, the arts, and technology in years 4 and 8.
- Student opportunity:
- STEMFest is touring with NASA astronaut Dr. Kate Rubins:
- Sunday 8 January 2023 – Palmerston North, Te Manawa Museum
- Monday 9 January 2023 – Taupō & Rotorua, Local Libraries in each centre
- Tuesday 10 January 2023 – Tauranga, Tauranga Waterfront
- These events are FREE to attend, but you will need a ticket. Book here.
- STEMFest is touring with NASA astronaut Dr. Kate Rubins:
- The latest NZASE newsletter has articles on Solar Cells and Field-based STEM for anyone and ELC evolves from LEOTC and STEM learning for members only and 2 Māori scientist profiles. Sign up for the newsletter or find resources here https://nzase.org.nz/. Join NZASE here https://nzase.org.nz/membership/ .
- The November School Journals have some articles relevant to science
Resources
- Biology:
- A 15min video about the Life & Death of Lucy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6kc7rEQXpI
- Chernobyl black frogs reveal evolution in action https://phys.org/news/2022-09-chernobyl-black-frogs-reveal-evolution.html
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- Vote in the NZ Bug of the Year at https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/
- Country Calendar Sun 20 Nov featured 2 young people learning how to farm https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/country-calendar/episodes/s2022-e37
- Earth & Space Science:
- An activity making a Cube Sat and coding a micro:bit https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/3163-make-a-model-cubesat-and-micro-bit-sun-sensor. You could email Science Learning Hub to see if there’s any CubeSat templates left.
- 9 videos explaining the big ideas in earth science, the core concepts everyone should know https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTBBygdCOWWdxBiWiSUs12bjnopJ3AGE4
- Chemistry:
- If students are sharing food in class get them to explain to their group how their food relates to science https://sciencespot.net/Media/scientificsnackswkst.pdf
- Nova Hunting the Elements is a great movie for Periodic Table of Elements https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hunting+the+elements
- Physics:
- Make some balloon canons using cotton balls and paper cups to use for a fun fair test https://www.mombrite.com/how-to-make-snowman-snowball-shooters/
- The effect of fossil fuel emissions on radio-carbon dating https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/fossil-fuels-end-radiocarbon-dating.htm
- Primary & intermediate:
- Story with a science theme: The secret life of rocks by Jo Bourne
- UK’s ASE journal has an open access issue on Teacher Assessment in Primary Science https://www.ase.org.uk/resources/primary-science/issue-151-0 . All resources here.
- All 321Science Labs are unlocked for free access until the end of the year https://321science.co.nz/321-labs/
- Science:
- House of Science’s new Science Talk, features experiments you can do at home with gear, instructions & science explanation. E.g. alka-seltzer lava lamp & chocolate core samples
- Keri Tan Garlick shared her forensic science resources on FB https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uxv6fsn5uwm4v34/AACPNEGSBX1N8ERSLhYgmAqEa
- Science snowflakes for end of year decorations https://www.fi.edu/snowflakes
- Education for Sustainability (EfS):
- Sustainable Schools and Enviroschools have created a live padlet document loaded with Climate Action resources for teachers. Climate Action for Teachers
- Climate change activities from Science Learning Hub https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/search?term=climate%20change&dFR%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D=Activity
MoE/NZQA
- MoE is currently recruiting for Lead Secondary Advisors to lead several Subject Expert Groups and support the piloting process. These positions are primarily Wellington-based and suit experienced school leaders with expertise in secondary pedagogy and NCEA assessment. More info at https://jobs.govt.nz/jobs/EDU-1681463. Applications close midnight 4 Dec
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- House of Science has become an approved PLD provider. If you are wanting to introduce more science into your programs, apply for regionally allocated PLD funding to bring HoS in to work with your teachers.
- Utaina, a hui about learning and exploring science in te reo Māori, will be held 27 Jan 2023, face-to-face and online https://events.otago.ac.nz/2023-utaina/
- Science Learning Hub’s most recent PLD webinar, on simple digital tools, can be viewed here https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/3190-digital-tools-for-science-learning
- Kiwrious has also become a PLD provider. They can offer their Kiwrious sensors and PLD about the Nature of Science to schools in 2023. https://education.kiwrious.com/
- A recording of the mātauranga Māori and Science webinar with Georgina Stewart
Cheers, Mike
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